The initial Meeting
We were delighted to welcome those joining us for the journey in Faith program this year, together with supporters, and parishioners.
Sharing a little of ourselves and thinking about the human condition of 'searching' were the aims. This session has no specific 'homework', but it would be good to discuss with a friend or family member these questions:
- What has been your journey in faith so far, that has led to you joining us at this time?
- Did our discussion on Thursday change your thoughts - strengthening or altering your interest in God and your relationship with God?
Here are some readings that might be appropriate for you. In no way do you _need_ to read all of them (or indeed any of them!).
READINGS FROM THE YOUCAT FOR THIS SESSION
If you are using the YouCat, please click here for general advice about the YouCat and how to use the readings. Here are the readings that go with this week’s Sycamore session:
- Foreword by Pope Benedict XVI [4 pages]
- #279 to #290 – freedom and the search for happiness [6 pages]
NB the numbers (#) refer to paragraph numbers in the YouCat and not to page numbers. The number in [square brackets] at the end tells you roughly how long this passage is in terms of the pages you need to read (excluding picture pages).
LONGER READINGS FROM THE CATECHISM OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH
If you have more time, and if you want to go deeper into the topic of this session, you can follow up by exploring the longer Catechism of the Catholic Church. See the standard online version here, and a digital “flip-book” edition here. Here are the readings that go with this week’s Sycamore session:
- #1716 to #1729 – the search for happiness
- #1730 to #1748 – human freedom
NB the numbers (#) refer to paragraph numbers in the Catechism and not to page numbers. Click on the links themselves to read the paragraphs in the online version.
WISDOM FROM THE BIBLE
Psalm 46:10
“The Lord says: Be still, and know that I am God!”
Psalm 23:1-3
“The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside still waters; he restores my soul.”
Deuteronomy 4:29
“You will seek the Lord your God, and you will find him if you search after him with all your heart and soul.”
1 Kings 19:11-13
“The Lord said to Elijah: ‘Go out and stand on the mountain before the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.’ Now there was a great wind, so strong that it was splitting mountains and breaking rocks in pieces before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake; and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a sound of sheer silence. When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave.”
Matthew 7:7-11
Jesus says: “Ask, and it will be given to you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you. For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. Is there anyone among you who, if your child asks for bread, will give a stone? Or if the child asks for a fish, will give a snake? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask him!”
John 14:27
Jesus says: “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid.”
John 16:33
Jesus says: “I have said this to you, so that in me you may have peace. In the world you face persecution. But take courage; I have conquered the world!”
KEY IDEAS FROM THE FILM
1A – The impossibility of sitting still
We are very domestic creatures, and the idea of home is almost built into us like an internal compass. I think it explains why Grand Designs and a hundred other TV programmes about housebuilding are so popular.
On the other hand, we long for adventure, romance, and a little bit of drama. We get easily bored. The writer Jack London said that our deepest purpose is to live, and not just to exist.
You see this in all the great road movies, when the hero leaves home, willingly or unwillingly, and discovers the freedom of the road. You see this in every classic Western, when the cowboy gets on his horse and rides into the wilderness, looking for riches or romance, or both. It’s the Greek mythology of The Odyssey; it’s Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz; it’s Frodo Baggins in The Lord of the Rings. It’s the idea of being on a quest.
There is a restlessness in every human heart. It’s good to acknowledge it now and then. We’re searching for something. We’re made for something more. It doesn’t mean I need to pack up my bags and walk out the door: probably not a good idea. But at least I can give myself permission to listen to the deepest longings of my heart and ask the question: What am I really searching for?
1B – What is happiness?
Sometimes desire is uncomplicated. We want food, friendship, freedom, love. We want the things in front of us. We want the things we don’t have. If you’ve been fired, you want a new job. If you’ve lost your keys, you want to find them. If you’re practicing for your driving test, you hope you can pass the first time. But sometimes we realise we are looking for something more.
The Greek philosopher Aristotle said we are all searching for happiness, even if we can’t agree on where to find it. He believed that true happiness is found in a life that has meaning and purpose. It’s to do with the way I live, and the kind of person I am, and not just with the things I have.
How do you know what’s really important to you? One simple way is to look in your diary, and then in your wallet. What have you spent your time and money on over the last week? It tells you a lot about your priorities and what you think is the meaning of your life.
What are we looking for? What is happiness? I don’t think there’s a simple answer. And perhaps if we think about it too much it tends to disappear. Edith Warton said: “If only we’d stop trying to be happy we could have a pretty good time”.
But imagine if you only had one hour left, or one week. What would you do? Who would you call? Where would you go? And when you get your answer, it’s still worth thinking: Is that it? Or is there something more?
1C – How to press the pause button
This video clip may help you to find yourself some time to reflect. (If it does not help - stop watching it!!)