“THE ANTIOCH WEEKEND”: A RETREAT THAT LEADS TO THE REAL DEAL - JESUS!
Have you grown weary of retreats that ignore the Gospel? Are you at times bewildered in the face of retreats that seem completely clueless as to the content of the Gospel message? Have you become upset with retreats that seem ashamed of the Gospel, and seem to avoid it so as to be more pluralistic and diverse, more “friendly” toward all ethnicities, genders, and orientations?
Have you become disillusioned with retreats that prefer to focus in on the “real issues” while relegating the Gospel to the “back burner”, the store room in the attic, or the “soccer file” - retreats which “move on” to “more pressing matters” while simply paying lip-service to the Apostolic proclamation, that core word of God which is the Power of salvation to all who believe?
Are you often puzzled by retreats that seem oblivious to the fact that the Risen Christ is “alive and still with us!” - retreats which offer nothing by way of Christ present in power to our lives, nothing by way of any real encounter with the power of the Risen Lord, nothing by way of any real experience of the transforming Love that is His Holy Spirit.
And what are these “real issues” and “more pressing matters” which are now surfacing in the themes of sundry parish missions, Lenten retreats and evenings of recollection? Look at some of these themes! “How Much Better We Become When We Get Better!”, “The Purpose of Life Is To Live A Life of Purpose”, “Divorce and Annulments – New Perspectives On Marriage” (No, I’m not making all this up!), “Don’t Be Liked But Not Loved”, “World Religions, The Many ways To God - It’s Really All Fruit And Some Prefer Apples While Others Prefer Oranges”. This last “All Fruit” presentation was actually given as part of the Liturgy of the Word at Mass. Incredible! You talk about being “clueless as to the content of the Gospel”. There’s the quintessential example of it!
Then there’s the “ad nauseam” pitch for teen retreats that go no further than counseling, and serve only to:
* “discuss” where our lives are going
* discern the meaning of life
* “discuss” how our lives are going
* “discuss” our problems
* “feel” community
* “discuss” concerns and worries about guys, girls, or friends in general
And that’s pretty much it – all of it in terms of what the retreat intends to cover!
Now you decide whether the above-stated goals and themes of retreats are good and to be commended. But whether they are or not, they are peripheral to the central and dire need today to evangelize, to proclaim the Gospel!
You may say that many of the above-stated themes have merit. I would agree with you, and even go so far to say that it is important to address many of these concerns and to solve many of these problems. But without Christ at the center of our hearts all these concerns become like a “litter of piglets” without the “mother sow”. What is the “mother sow” in this metaphor? It is the Gospel, the Apostolic proclamation to repent, to turn toward God, and to open our hearts to the Love and Power of the Risen Lord present to our lives in the Person of the Holy Spirit. (Acts 2:38)
And what for a fact is that like, a “litter of piglets” without the “mother sow”? Without the “mother” the piglets become out of control and start running all over the barnyard. So also all our concerns and worries without the Lordship of Jesus – without seeking first the Kingdom of God, the reign of His Love and Power over all the affairs of our lives. It is the gateway to confusion, inner turmoil, lack of peace, even to desperation, the loss of hope, and the sense of “sinking in the sea”. (Mt. 14:30)
But capture the “mother” and you will get all the piglets. They will go right to the mother! So also, “Seek first the Kingdom of God and all else that you need will be yours as well.” (Mt. 6:33) - the fruit of the Spirit, the Love of God present in power to our lives, the guiding Hand of God’s Love leading us to the wisdom, knowledge and discernment that only God can give.
Even retreats that address concerns and themes like “Hope Springs Eternal” (A favorite retreat theme of Red Sox fans in October), “The Need to Believe”, or “To Love With Christ’s Love” – these themes speak of the theological virtues of faith, hope, and love, virtues that are rooted in God and are gifts of Grace, the fruit of living in union with Christ. But if our retreats do not centrally focus on leading people to live in holy communion with Jesus, then what is left of faith or hope or love to talk about? Such virtues are not even possible to experience apart from Life in Him. So again the scriptural mandate to “…Seek first the Kingdom of God…” (Mt. 6:33)
So enough of retreats that ignore the centrality of the gift of Jesus, Jesus present to us now in the Person of His own Love, the Holy Spirit. Enough of retreats that ignore the message that to have Jesus is to have everything.
If you’ve had enough of retreats that leave you empty, that give us everything but the Bread of Life, then entertain the idea of attending any or all of the Antioch advertised on the “Events Page” of this website. After an Antioch retreat experience is over you will know what it is to have an encounter with the Power and Presence of the Risen Lord, with the transforming Love that is His Holy Spirit. You will understand what Jesus means when He says, “I am the Bread of Life; he who comes to me shall not hunger, and he who believes in me shall never thirst.” (Jn. 6:35) You will truly understand what it is to have the gift of Jesus and that to have Jesus is to have everything.
