Theology on Tap at Blessed Sacrament:Father Dyer and Perfect Love Casting Out Fear

Fear. Life often brings with it all sorts of fears. Fear of dangers, fear of worldly things, fear of losing worldly things, fear of ourselves, fear of God or at least fear of our conception of God. Are these fears justified, are they reasonable, or are some or all of them irrational? What can be done about our fears?

For Theology on Tap this week, Father Rich Dyer explores the question of fear and suggests an answer with his talk "Perfect Love Casts Out Fear." Please click on the link to this mp3 podcast to listen or right click to save it to listen later.

Father Dyer is another in a line of exceptional new priests that we are blessed to have. He was first assigned to Blessed Sacrament as a transitional deacon and then ordained to the priesthood in December 2011. Ever since he has been a bright light of faith. But the journey wasn't always easy - there were fears about what to do in his life, about what God was really calling him to do. Along the way, though, he sought the guidance of a saint, Thérèse of Lisieux, and she helped him to learn and understand that the answer to fear, as it is the answer to all other things, is love - the love of God, the love for God. As is said in the letter of Saint John from which the title of the talk is derived, "There is no fear in love, but perfect love drives out fear" (1 John 4:18).

To be sure, this lesson was impressed upon Father Dyer in a very profound way. Normally, ordinations in Arlington are held in the spring, not December, but Bishop Loverde ordained Father Dyer early so that his father, who was seriously ill at the time, could attend. It was feared that his father would not make it to the spring and, in fact, his father died the day after the ordination. And so, the birth of his priesthood was an occasion of both happiness and mourning, joy and suffering. It was a time of love -- love of the Lord, love for the Lord, and love for one another.

Note: On Monday, September 30, Father Dyer will be appearing in the "live and in person" version of Theology on Tap at 3207 Washington Blvd., across from St. Charles Borromeo in the Clarendon neighborhood of Arlington. He will be speaking about St. Thérèse to kick-off the fall 2013 series, "Want to be Truly Great? Come, follow Me," focusing on the lives of the saints and how we can practically apply their lived heroic virtues in our time. So come and see and listen to Father Dyer and have some food and a pint too!

Theology on Tap at Blessed Sacrament:Father Hurd and Forgiveness

With the anniversary of September 11 still fresh in our minds, and as we learn more about horrors and evils like chemical warfare, the question arises of what to do about such things? One response is to retaliate, to take "punitive action" against the wrongdoers. Another response is far more radical and one that is often as misunderstood as it is avoided - forgiveness. Forgive? Forgive that?? For many the very idea of forgiving is to provoke outrage and the objection "what about justice???"

The idea of forgiveness, especially the forgiveness that our infinitely merciful Lord offers us, has been a big theme for Pope Francis, and it is one that our world greatly needs at this time.

The urge is great that if you injured me, then I'll make you sorry for it and injure you back and call that justice. Of course, when we hit back, then they might say the same thing and hit us back in return, and the cycle of violence and hate goes on and on. Or maybe we don't counterattack, but simply hold grudges and nurse the resentments, saying to ourselves that what was done is "unforgiveable." All the while, thinking that we are somehow getting back at the wrongdoer by being resentful, we are actually allowing all of that anger and bile to destroy us from within.

This week on Theology on Tap we have Father Scott Hurd on "Forgiving Others: A Catholic Approach," which is both the title of his talk and his recent book. Please click on the link to this mp3 podcast or right click to save it to listen later. A native of Alexandria, together with his family, Father Hurd is a member of the parish of Blessed Sacrament, but a priest for the Archdiocese of Washington. He also serves as Vicar General of the Personal Ordinariate of the Chair of Saint Peter, having previously been an Episcopal priest who in 1996 entered the Catholic Church. In 2000, Father Hurd was ordained a Catholic priest under the Pastoral Provision, which permits married former Anglican clergy to be ordained Catholic priests.

"The forgiveness we are called to offer is a decision, a process and a gift. It’s a decision because by forgiveness we choose to let go of any desire for revenge or retaliation, and we free ourselves of the bitterness and resentment that harden our hearts," says Father Hurd. "Forgiveness is a process because letting go of resentment takes time; we may need to make the decision to forgive over and over again! Finally, forgiveness is a gift of love that we give freely, without expectations, exceptions or limits. It is neither earned nor deserved. When we love the ones we forgive, we wish them happiness, not harm; well, not woe; heaven, not hell."

Note what Father Hurd says here: not "when we forgive the ones we love," but "when we love the ones we forgive." Jesus calls us to forgive and forgive and forgive -- forgive even the people we don't like, even those who have done us great harm, just as we ask Jesus in all humility to forgive us for all the bad and harmful and, yes, evil things we have done. The evil that has been done to us or by us is done and cannot be undone, but if prospective danger and evil remain, we can rightly take steps to prevent it. Forgiveness does not preclude justice, but tempers it with mercy and prevents the perpetuation of the evil, all while remembering that Jesus took all that justice upon Himself on the Cross, transforming death to new life.

Theology on Tap at Blessed Sacrament:Father Workman and the Simple Truth

Next up on Theology on Tap is Father Jamie R. Workman, a beloved previous Parochial Vicar at Blessed Sacrament, but now in full-time ministry in the Office of Canonical Affairs and the Diocesan Tribunal, with residence at the Church of Saint Luke in McLean.

What is so interesting and exciting about Father Workman, besides his insightful knowledge of the faith, is his conversion story. It is a love story about his encounter with Jesus and then His Church, which led him to enter the Catholic Church and then answer the call to become a priest.

We at Blessed Sacrament first met Jamie Workman when he was still a transitional deacon and then a newly-ordained baby priest. He is still, as he was then, on fire for the Lord. Please click on the link to this mp3 podcast and listen to this wonderful witness, "The Simple Truth" (right click to save it to listen later).

Theology on Tap Comes to Blessed Sacrament!

That's right, in celebration of the 25th Anniversary of the Dedication of Blessed Sacrament Church, Theology on Tap is here at Blessed Sacrament - or the blog at least.

As summer ends and everyone starts looking to go back to school and back to work, this is a good time to review our lives, assess what is right and what is not so right, and determine where to go from here. Of course, in this Year of Faith, Popes Benedict and Francis have called us to do that with our faith, with our relationship with Jesus Christ, to recognize our need for continual conversion, that is, to constantly be turning toward the Lord, who makes all things new, including us and our faith.

Appropriately, first on tap is our beloved pastor, Father John Cregan, who speaks about "Saying Yes to Christ: Your Call to Serve." He begins with the story of his own vocation, first to the Marine Corps, then to the priesthood. Please click on the link to this mp3 podcast and listen to this powerful witness (right click to save it to listen later).

We are all called by God to some role, to some function. No part of the Body of Christ, of which we are all members, is superfluous. We are all wanted, we are all needed. He asks all of us to serve Him, to serve Him who is Love and Truth. There is none of us who is so lowly or inadequate that he or she cannot serve, especially since He gives us the grace to do what needs to be done. Indeed, it is in serving Him and others that we are made truly free, and it is in humility, in recognizing our lowliness and allowing the Lord to make us His instruments, that we are raised up. And it begins with prayer, in opening our hearts to God and then shutting up enough to allow Him to speak to us.

What is the Lord saying to you? What is He calling you to do? And when He asks, what is your response?