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Published: August 22nd 2011
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Week 2 at Boston College (BC) was much different from Week 1 with Andrew. Here by myself, I savored the opportunity to read, worship, meditate, study, reflect, and listen to God. As I appreciated this time and space to collect my thoughts and put them to prayer - I realized that the older I get, the more intraverted I am becoming.
Let me back up a step and share why I chose Boston College. Well, besides the fact that I love the city of Boston and pull for the Red Sox, I learned that the School of Theology and Ministry (STM) at BC is one of the few places that has a summer sabbatical program. Clergy and lay professionals from around the world enroll in the BC STM Summer Institute and stay for up to 6 weeks. The Summer Institute offers a wide range of Master-level courses for those working on their Masters of Divinity (MDiv) and preparing for public ministry. Those on sabbatical or renewal leave are essentially a guest choosing to study at the seminary for the summer.
Some of my classmates included: a large group of Catholic school principals from Australia, several Nuns or sisters from
various Catholic orders: two Josephites Nuns from Australia, a Dominican Sister from the Virgin Islands, a Fanciscan Nun from Lithuania (who was also a Cardiologist), a Sister of St. Martha from Nova Scotia, several campus ministers from around the U.S., and a good handful of seminary students working on their MDiv. I was the only clergy person in the Christology class and one of 2 protestants in the room. The other one kept it a secret. At the STM I also became friends with a Marist Priest from New Zealand who was on a 6-month sabbatical and I was pleased to meet a couple of Franciscan monks as well. I must say, this was a very cool place to learn about the Catholic Church and it's various orders.
Now let me tell you about the class on Christology. My professor was a very gifted African American Theologian named Dr. Shawn Copeland. Not only was she intellegent, but also very friendly and kind to quote Lutheran Theologians several different times in class. Our primary textbook was "Christology: A Biblical, Historical, and Systematic Study of Jesus" written by a world renowned Catholic Theologian and Jesuit Priest named Gerald O'Collins. He has
authored over 50 books and is quite a respected Christian Theologian. Granted, to read his book on Christology is not for the faint of heart. It is quite heady stuff, but I enjoy his writting very much.
To begin the course Dr. Copeland had us write a paper answering the question that Jesus put to his disciples: "Who do you say that I am?" (Mark 8:29) or Who is Jesus Christ - to you? Think about that for a minute. What would you write? How many pages would it take you to explain? Well we had to fit it on one page - max. It was quite challenging to put a concise understanding of my personal theology on paper, but after I was finished I thought it was a very good exercise. The readings, lectures, and class discussion first covered a variety of points you might expect: The humanity of Jesus, Jesus as the Son of God, Jesus as a Jew, the social class of Jesus, Jesus described in the Gospels, Jesus and the Kingdom of God, the Passion of Jesus, the Resurrection of Jesus, Jesus as the Redeemer, and Jesus as part of the Trinity.
But then
we got into some very interesting and perhaps controversial points of Christology: Did Jesus know he was God since he was an infant or did he have to learn and grow into his identity and understanding of being God/Christ? Did the Logos/Word of God have a gender before God became incarnate through the virgin Mary? How might the Logos be related to or the same as Lady Wisdom/Sophia described in the Old Testament? (Am I making your head spin yet?) We also looked at Christ and the Jewish People, the Postcolonial Christ, Christ in Mujerista Theology, Christology and Patriarchy, Christology and Social Justice, Docetism, Arianism, Eschatology, Soteriology, and Monothelitism not to mention the different "Christologies" that various races, cultures, and traditions have developed over the centuries. OK now I'm just showing off that I really learned something in Boston and didn't just use this as an excuse to see the Red Sox play baseball. Ha!
Outside of the classroom I also attended 4 colloquium sessions that focused on renewing a sense of call. We read one of my favorite books, "In the Name of Jesus" by Father Henry Nouwen and another book titled "Sustaining the Spirit: Callings, Commitments, and
Vocational Challenges" by Michael and Catherine Cronin Carotta. We discusses different forms of sabbath and spiritual practices. The professor of Pastoral Care and Counseling, Dr. John J. Shea, discussed the importance of reaching "adulthood" and how to journey more deeply into spirituality at midlife and beyond. As part of this discussion he used a very helpful diagram that puts together what Carl Jung taught/believed about midlife and how it relates to spirituality. Quite fascinating. Dr. Shea also led us in a meditative exercise called "Focusing" which helps individuals work on self-realization and change. The readings, discussion, and meditative time was all very fruitful.
I also enjoyed some of the very best worship I have experienced in a long time. The collection of musicians and instruments they have at the STM really made the liturgy and hymns come alive! We were also privileged to have Father Jan Michael Joncas (who wrote the hymn "On Eagles Wings") come to BC and preach/preside for us at Euharist. One day we had a full Taize service that was very nice. And saving the best for last - our final sending forth service was held at the beautiful church of Saint Ignatius of Loyola and featured the most inspiring forms of liturgical dance I have ever seen! The 25+ people involved had been practicing for 3 hours a day for 2 weeks to prepare for this worship service. They filled the chancel and communicated the words of what the congregation was singing through beautiful and elegant motions. They started with the Gospel procession, then continued through a hymn, and even performed an elaborate parade when the gifts of bread and wine were brought forward for the Eucharist. Every time I watched them I was brought to tears because I was so moved. Just incredible!
On my last day at Boston College I took an hour and walked a very beautiful prayer labyrinth. It was a perfect way to center myself with God and listen more carefully to how God is guiding and influencing my life. I ended this time of intense prayer with a very peaceful feeling and reassurance that my life and my call to ministry was secure in God's hands.
Before I end, I guess I should mention that I saw 3 more Red Sox games. It was my dessert at the end of each day. I also became good friends with my Australian rommate, Phil. You can see him in one of the pictures attached. In good English/Australian tradition - we enjoyed hot tea together every afternoon. I appreciated our talks and the bond of friendship that I hope will last. He is a good man and I very faithful Catholic school principal in Adelaide, Australia. I taught him the rules of baseball and he taught me how the game of cricket is played.
Lord Jesus Christ, I thank you for the mountain top experience you provided for me while studying at Boston College. Thank you for the people I was privileged to meet, the warm friendship of my roommate Phil, the challenging and stimulating theology I read and discussed, the opportunities to slow down and just be with you, and the outstanding worship that refilled my cup to overflowing. I will cherish what I have learned, discovered, and reflected on while a guest at the BC School of Theology. Thank you for these many blessings. Amen.
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