Year of Trial, Year of Grace: A Catholic's Search for Faith

By Clayvon C. Harris

Written as a series of weekly reflections, this inspiring book is a provocative revelation of one person’s religious faith. Harris’s themes range from guilt and gossip to dreams and disappointment, from the Catholic priest scandal to the power of prayer.

Topical, deeply intimate and very readable, Year of Trial, Year of Grace: A Catholic’s Search for Faith offers a contemporary perspective on Catholicism that both proclaims and questions the role of faith in everyday life, and in the cultivation of a more personal and practical relationship with God. This is a book of encouragement and support for anyone who has, at one time or another, struggled with faith and acceptance.

• Language: English
• Publisher: BookBaby
• Release date: Sep 15, 2013
• ISBN: 9780988179707

Book preview

Church

Contents

Introduction

St. Michael, the Defender

No Vacation from God

New-age Trends

Jesus Is Love

Catholic Guilt

Patient with Ourselves

Bad Things/Good People

Catholicism Is Complicated

The Devil's Tool

God's Silence

Let God Handle That

Gossip Is Poison

Our Troubles to Ourselves

Faith Is Alive

All Things Through Christ

God & Perfection

The Spirit

It's Not About Us

O Come, O Come, Emmanuel

Faith & Solidarity

God's Handiwork

Credit & Culpability

Dreams

Disappointing God

God & Science

Time to Stand Up

Dragons to Slay

If Not Faith... Hope

Words Are Insufficient

Prayers Are Answered

Forgiving Is So Hard

Intro to Vigil Reflection

Continuing Crisis Vigil Reflection

Giving Ourselves Away

God's Time

Faith & Gratitude

A Spirit of Resurrection, pt. 1

A Spirit of Resurrection, pt. 2

Saintly Advice

Faith Is Long

What's Left Is God

The Believers, pt. 1

The Believers, pt. 2

Is the Devil Real?

God in Our Midst

When Do We Stand Strong?

God Is Forgiving

All God's Creatures

God for God's Sake

The Value of Life...Lost

We Defeat Ourselves

Sometimes We Get Stuck

No False Gods

The Believers, pt. 3

End Notes

About the Author

introduction

I'd like to say that when my pastor, Fr. Joseph Okonski, suggested I write something for the weekly church bulletin my immediate response was, Absolutely, I'd be delighted. But I think it actually went something like, What? No. But Father Joe is nothing if not persistent, and eventually he persuaded me to give it a try. I wrote under the banner of Universal Truths because Catholic means universal and truth, I think, is something we all seek.

The first couple of what Fr. Joe began referring to as my "reflections*" were pretty easy to write. They addressed church history, practical information, etc. However, this experience quickly evolved into something more, a call to examine the issues of faith with which I was personally struggling. Laying out one's religious beliefs and doubts is a heavy responsibility. It often felt like I was either speaking for or questioning God, though it was my intention to do neither. Nor did I have any special insight or training that qualified me to write about religious matters. What I had was questions... questions that seemed to yield answers as I gave them my full attention. This I attribute to God. Each time I sought Him, He was there.

I don't know if these reflections will be of interest to many, but they have been a gift to me. Looking back, I realize that they serve as a road map through my spiritual development over a year that drew me, as Fr. Joe would say, closer to the cross. So, I'd like to say a special thanks to him for giving me a forum through which to explore and express my faith, and for understanding when the time came for me to stop.

I'd like to thank Sister Catherine Bones, SSJ for struggling to fit my wordier entries into our Sunday bulletin, even when it was clear that they were just too long. Thanks also to Father Anayo Nna, who helped steer me to supporting scriptural verses for some of the reflections; Lisa Barnett and Linda Dougherty for proofing assistance; and Sister Joan Alminde, SSJ, Mrs. Paula Jones, Larry Notis and Jeff Paul for their encouragement and support.

Finally, I'd like to thank my dear friend, Juan Martinez, for his insight, talent and – most importantly – for trusting me with the story of his son's miracle. I, along with so many others, am honored to bear witness. May God continue to bless him and his family.

May God bless us all.

Clayvon

*The reflections in this book were written between July of 2010 and September of 2011. They're dated for the Sunday I expected them to run in our bulletin; however, they were occasionally bumped to different dates to accommodate holiday celebrations and other special occasions.

July 25th

St. Michael, the defender. You've seen it. You've read it. You've said it many times. But how much do you know about the Prayer to St. Michael, the Archangel? Did you know there are two versions? The short one and a longer one, which is over 500 words long? Did you know that it was written by Pope Leo XIII after he passed out one Sunday following the celebration of