A Message from Fr. Charlie:

Dear Tulane Catholic Center community and friends,

Peace be with you! 

The heat and humidity of New Orleans is more than a reminder that the summer season is here in full force.  There are other indications as well, especially the “ghost town” atmosphere of the Tulane campus as very few students are around this time of year.   Summertime is also a time of change for both higher education and the ministries of the Catholic Church, including personnel changes. 

Now is no exception as effective July 1, 2014, I will no longer be the director of the Tulane Catholic Center and Catholic chaplain.  I will be moving on to assume the position of Director of Vocations for the St. Martin de Porres Province of the Dominican Order, which covers the southern region of the United States.  While it was difficult to leave behind missionary service in Ecuador prior to coming to Tulane, my three years here on campus have been a rewarding experience of helping students, faculty, staff and community members discover the closeness of God by deepening their sense of what it means to be Catholic.

I am excited to announce that my successor will be another Dominican priest, Fr. Thomas Schaefgen, O.P.   For Fr. Thomas (Tulane Class of 2006 – Architecture), coming to campus will be more like a homecoming than a ministry assignment! He will be able to preside over the construction of our new Tulane Catholic Center building, which, God willing, should commence around the time fall semester 2014 gets started.  Most importantly, Fr. Thomas will be able to continue the work of bringing the richness of Christ’s presence to campus through his priestly and sacramental ministry, leadership and carrying on the nearly 800-year old tradition of Dominican preaching.   

All times of transition tend to be challenges.  Please remember Fr. Thomas and I in your prayers as we both set out to begin new ministries and continue following the Lord’s path in the manner of our holy patron St. Dominic.    

God bless,

Padre Charlie

Fr. Charles Johnson, O.P.

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Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity (June 15, 2015) Readings: Exodus 34: 4b-6, 8-9 <> 2 Corinthians 13: 11-13 <> John 3: 16-18

Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity (June 15, 2015)

Readings:  Exodus 34: 4b-6, 8-9 <> 2 Corinthians 13: 11-13 <> John 3: 16-18

Years ago, filled with the confidence of recently learned theological insights from my seminary classes, I proceeded to correct my father when he referred to God as the “Supreme Being.”  No, I responded, “God is not that, He is “Being Itself.”  I went on, waxing theologically with the words of my professor, “God is the ground of all being.”  My dad looked over at me with a puzzled and contrary look and responded, “What do you mean?” 

                                   

“Being itself”?  “The Ground of all Being”? Those are rather lofty and impersonal terms for describing God who creates us, redeems us and guides us.  Those are terms that need to be brought down to earth.  For lack of a better manner to say it, those terms need to be ‘fleshed-out’ with love and tenderness. 

Consider the readings from Sacred Scripture selected for today, the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity.  Notice their brevity: brief, but clear in what is said and understood.  In them there are no lofty terms and concepts about God, but qualities like merciful and gracious, kindness and fidelity. 

  

True, God is not a being in the created sense.  It is more accurate to describe God as the “Ground of all Being.”  However, does that speak of relationship?  Does such obscure terminology move and inspire us?  As today’s Scripture readings teach us, our understanding of God needs to be enriched with the warmth of relationship.  We need to remember qualities like love, tenderness and relationship when we talk about God and seek to understand Him. 

Ancient theologians debated, “Is God more known by his essence or actions?”  St. John’s Gospel surely helps, as in today’s reading Jesus himself describes God, his Heavenly Father, by his actions:  “God so loved the world that he gave his only Son …..”  

God: Almighty? Yes, but obviously very generous.  But, wait a minute, Jesus describing God.  Let’s keep the idea rolling: in the same breath and thought Jesus is describing himself.... of course! 

Noted theologian, Stephen Webb writes that God is “the Giver, the Given and the Giving.”  Now say, “Father, Son and Holy Spirit.”  God, the Heavenly Father’s love is not a concept, but real.  His love is the gift of himself in Christ Jesus. God’s love is given in human and eternal form. 

In the face of the Divine mystery, we also come face to face with our limitations, especially those of an intellectual nature. The good news is that we also come face to face with the love of God that knows no limits.

God is Love.  We say that almost as a “mini-Creed.”  However, it’s true, not only in the mind, but in the heart and body.  As the “Given,” Jesus by his incarnation fleshes out the love of God.  As Jesus breathed on the disciples and said to them, “receive the Holy Spirit,” he made clear that God’s presence is an ongoing gift, a divine “Giving.”  

We have been given a sacred trust, a legacy of teaching on God that seeks to define God’s essence in limited human terms.  The question remains, what is our experience of God?  God seeks to be experienced by who and how he is: through his love and mercy.  God seeks to be known not only by our committing to memory his divine attributes, but more by putting into practice his ways. 

We are not God, but imitating the One who is Given and sharing in the Giving are actions we are fully capable of.  Hopefully, we will remember to thank the Giver. 

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A Message from Fr. Charlie

Dear Brothers and Sisters in the Risen Lord,

Peace be with you!  

This time of year carries two major aspects of significance for us at the Tulane Catholic Center:  thanksgiving to God for the eternal gift of Christ's resurrection and the end of yet another academic year here on campus.  

It is my hope that God's eternal gift is constant source of strength and guidance for all of you.  I invite you to reflect on the meaning of the resurrection in your life and consider the words of Pope Francis:  

​

​​How often does Love have to tell us: Why do you look for the living among the dead?  Our daily problems and worries can wrap us up in ourselves, in sadness and bitterness ... and that is where death is.  That is not the place to look for the One who is alive!  Let the risen Jesus enter your life, welcome him as a friend, with trust: he is life!" 

​As Pope Francis points out, sometimes there is a temptation to look in the wrong places.  At the same time, he reminds us that the search for true life does not concern a place, but a friend ... and a savior.  

Padre Charlie

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V Sunday of Easter (A) – Gospel reading: John 14: 1-12

V Sunday of Easter (A) – May 18,2014

Gospel reading:  John 14: 1-12

The works of Mexican poet Amado Nervo, who died in 1919, have been described as being like a "path or way that walks."  His poetry and prose give the impression to be unmovable and fluid at the same time. That description fascinates me, "a path or way that walks."  The path is firm and solid and dynamic and fluid.  The way is direct but with many turns, clear but fluid.

The early followers of Christ were called followers of the "Way." The Christian faith was understood as a way of life.  They understood that life was a journey with Christ as the source and the destiny, the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. An end, yes, but one that always brings new life. In today's Gospel reading, Jesus, as always, makes it personal: "I am the way, the truth and the life." The way is not just a path to be walked or followed, but a Redeemer to be known and trusted. Yes, Jesus is the way, but he is a "way or path that walks." 

In Christ, the way is neither a rambling, purposeless journey nor a closed, rigid path.   Following Christ has multiple meanings, such as going down a clear path in a resolute manner, blazing a new trail that requires taking a risk or, even, joyfully going along from one moment to another.  Following him is about realizing that if we are thankful for where we've been and mindful of where we are, there will be less room for fear about where we are headed.

Pope Francis writes: "If we want to understand what faith is, we need to follow the route is has taken, the path trodden by believers, as witnessed first in the Old Testament."  Not only can we find inspiration in the faith and struggle of previous generations who struggled and overcame … in faith, but we can see that the way continues. With the ancient patriarch Abraham as a primordial model, Pope Francis explains that "faith is an act of remembrance," not one "fixed on past events but, as the memory of a promise, faith becomes capable of opening up the future, shedding light on the path to be taken." 

In Christ, the way is a living one, without beginning or end.  He doesn't ask, "Do you follow it, believe it and live it?"  He asks, do you follow me, believe me and live in me? To make it simple, Jesus asks, "Do you love me and believe that I love you?" Like the poet's works, we can say Christ is like the "way that walks."  Don't stop there: Christ is the way that lives.   

The same poet Amado Nervo was fond of the old French proverb, "The song signals the way."  Does that mean the path is as transient as the song and the notes and lyrics that waft in the air?  Perhaps it's more that in order to know the way, we need to stop and listen for the music that invites us to follow.  Perhaps it's more about stopping along the path of life to ask ourselves, do we know the way? Or, more importantly, "Do we know Jesus?"

            In Christ, the way is a living one. Walking his way is about trusting him, not about knowing exactly what tomorrow brings. It's not about knowing the truth as "it", but as He is: the truth of his paschal mystery – his passion, death and resurrection. Death is reality, but Resurrection is truth, the truth that life prevails over death, hope over emptiness, love over hate.

Jesus is much more than a map, he's both the way we walk, how we do it, and the path we follow.  If we begin our days in him, in prayer and good works, for example, then we have a good idea where we will end up:  where we started.

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IV Sunday of Easter - Gospel reading: John 10: 1-10

IV Sunday of Easter - A (May 11, 2014)

Gospel reading: John 10: 1-10

      The Gospel reading from last Sunday, the Third Sunday of Easter was the story of the two disciples meeting Christ on the road to Emmaus. It has long been my favorite Gospel reading.  This week, the Gospel reading contains my favorite biblical saying, "I came so that they might have life and have it more abundantly" (John 10: 10).

        In a recent funeral program I found a quote by the poet Ralph Waldo Emerson that helps bring it in to focus, "It is not the length of life, but the depth of life." Life, it's not that we have it; God takes care of that part.  Rather, it's that we live it. 

      We all have life, how is it that we can have it more abundantly? As I was on my return flight here after my father's funeral, I sat in the first row of economy class. The first class section, luxury was just over an arm's length away. In full view, I could see passengers in first class with more room and sipping drinks. Waiting for the green light at almost any major intersection in town you can see poverty and destitution just an arm's length away as more and more poor and homeless stand there waiting for a handout. Abundance of life is not something we can reach out and obtain. We must first reach deep inside us and hold fast to our faith and then with arms outstretched and hands open, share it with others, both with those who appear to have it all and those in obviously destitute situations. 

       I always remember what a recent Tulane graduate said after making several of our mission trips to Honduras: "it really struck me how people could be so happy even though they have so little." I've known many children that have it all, but still long for something else. After the novelty of the latest toy wears off, a child longs for the attention and love of a father and mother. Yes, material things can stimulate us, but sustaining us is another matter.

        Dominican theologian, Padre Gustavo Gutierrez speaks about how suffering is not the same as sadness. That even in the direst situations of poverty, especially where he served in his native Peru, joy can be found. Even in the midst of death, or people dying slowly from poverty and disease, the God of life can be encountered and celebrated. Even in the midst of material wealth and living large, comfortable lives, people are dying a slow spiritual death. Why?  How?  Joy and abundance can be found and lived when we know and trust the One who gives life and we are grateful for the gift …. and the giver.

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2nd Sunday of Easter Homily

II Sunday of Easter / Divine Mercy Sunday (April 27, 2014)

Gospel reading: John 20: 19-31

Years ago, one of my spiritual mentors, Fr. Art Kinsella, O.P. used to say, “Sometimes to keep a friendship, you have to blaze a trail to your friend’s door.”  Friendships cannot be forced, but they need to be maintained. Friends need to be cared for.  Jesus knows that quite well.

To return, Jesus – the Risen Lord – had to cut a path, blaze a trail to the door, the door where the disciples were in hiding.

The first order of business of Jesus’ return was not to convince the disciples and us of him being raised from the dead, but to bring peace: reconciliation and healing with the Risen One. 

My former professor, Fr. Robert Barron writes, “The risen Christ returned to those who had denied and betrayed and run from him – and responded not with answering violence, but with a word of grace and forgiveness.”

His wounds were not incidental to that.  Recalling the prophet Isaiah, St. Peter writes in his first letter, “By his wounds you have been healed (1 Peter 2: 24b).”  At the same time, they were the visible signs of what he suffered now transformed into living signs of his fidelity. 

Even though humanity had no reason to treat Jesus like he was treated, he came back to show that there was a reason why he did what he did, why he does what he does. 

Saint Padre Alberto Hurtado, a Jesuit priest from Chile, writes: “Jesus descended from heaven to earth to look for the only thing that could not be found in heaven: suffering – the consequence of sin; and he took it up without limits out of love for humanity.  …..He took on suffering in his soul, in his imagination, in his heart, in his spirit and in his body …..”

Some might look upon the Lord’s passion and resurrection and wonder what it’s all about.  However, before we can truly believe, we must be forgiven, reconciled …reconciled with Jesus who seeks to blaze a trail to each and every heart, reconciled with him who seeks to unite his wounds with ours. 

Jesus knows that he has to cut through the weeds and brush in our minds and hearts, where fear becomes overgrown, in order to rescue the friendship with us he had worked so hard to make firm. 

Jesus is not ashamed of his wounds.  Why?  For one, he’s not ashamed of us.  

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