fireworks of faith

Isaiah 66:10-14; Psalm 66 Let all the earth cry out with Joy; Galatians 6:14-18; Luke 10:1-20

Just a few snippets from the readings today that caught my eye or should I say my ear?

"The Lord's power shall be known to his servants." thus says the prophet Isaiah

"Say to God how tremendous are your deeds!,,,come and see the works of God, his tremendous deeds among the children of Adam." Psalm 66


"May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world." St. Paul to the Galatians


"Jesus said, "I have observed Satan fall like lightning from the sky. Behold, I have given you power to tread upon serpents and scorpions and upon the full force of the enemy and nothing will harm you. Nevertheless, do not rejoice because the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice because your names are written in heaven." Jesus in the gospel of Luke

This weekend I had the great fortune and blessing of presiding at a wedding in San Antonio. The wedding took place in the chapel of the Incarnate Word. The chapel is a true testament of beauty in art and the sacredness that can be in space provided.


The recently renovated chapel was filled with light. Above the sanctuary their hangs Jesus on the cross, though he is resurrected. Beneath his feet is the world, the globe, that is encircled by the crown of thorns.

Most people who look upon the cross admire it yet remain somewhat puzzled as to why the crown of thorns is wrapped around the world and is not on the head of JEsus.

The explanation is as follows: The world continues to experience suffering: suffering of injustice, violence, hatred, inequality, hostility, starvation and the list goes on. All the while the suffering of the world is being transformed and healed by the power of the resurrection that flows through the body of Christ.

We, who are children of Adam, by our new birth in Christ, the new Adam, no longer suffer alone, rather we have access to the power of Christ that seeks to transform and recreate the world a new through his grace and strength. St. Paul speaks of a new creation, a creation that comes through being crucified in Christ.

The suffering we experience in growing in our faith, dying to ourselves, is the suffering that overcomes the suffering of the world. The faith we express in Christ now becomes the fountain of rejuvenation.

With St. Paul, we must learn to bear the marks of Christ in our body, the marks of mercy and love and faithfulness that reach forth to touch and heal a broken world, thus recreating it anew.

As JEsus sends out the seventy-two in the gospel and bring his power into the world, so too we are sent forth to proclaim the kingdom of God by our faith in the Resurrection and by the life we live that is forever crucified to the world. We embrace the cross as the symbol of victory and the crown of thorns that encircles the world and allow the power of faith to bring the healing grace of the resurrection and thus Christ living in us can "raise a fallen world."


Blessed July Fourth to all. May our dependence increase as we celebrate this independence day. May the fireworks of faith from our heart, minds, and lips set the world a blaze and announce the kingdom of God today.