ain't just whistling dixie

'Whistling Dixie' has become more or less and american idion that suggest that someone is putting a positive spin on reality or perhaps are particpating in what one might call a rosy fantasy rather than looking at relaity. It may be parrallel with rose colored glasses.

If someone is 'whistling dixie' they often have a hard time with reality.

When someone is not whistling dixie then you know they are straight shooters and not just giving you the bull.

Often times poeple will say, I ain't just whistling Dixie.

In todays first reading and even in the gospel we get the sense that john and Jesus both are saying, "I ain't just Whistling Dixie."

John once again directs our attention to reality: "Beloved we love God because God first loved us. If anyone say he loves God but hate his brother, he is a liar...whoever loves God must love his brother..."

There have it straight, no bull and no rosy fantasy.

Today perhaps we should evaluate and examine the "hate" in our heart and do something about it. It is time to be real with the love of God that seeks to drive away the darkness.

Remember to love someone is to what the highest good for them. Here is a Recipe for success: Pray for them. Ask God to bless them. Prayer affects our desire, desire motivates us to action, action makes manifest love.

In this way hatred is slowly dissolved and replaced bu something more meaningful and beneficial.

Then we encounter Jesus in the gospel. He stands tall and erect in the synagogue on the Sabbath day. Which by way shows to us that Jesus went to church on the sabbath. Even the son of God didn't think he was better than worship according to God's plan.

Jesus stands tall, erect and unrolls the scroll. All eyes are on him. They all anticpate this familiar face. They know him. They ate with him. They grew up with Him.

They are all filled with heighten awareness.

Then Jesus reads the scroll and says those words: "Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing."

The shortest homily of Christ given in the synagoue is given to us today and the people were amazed and spoke hiighly at his gracious words.

Were they amazed becasue Jesus was short and sweet? Certainly that would be the case today. Everyone likes short homilist.

Or were they amazed because they knew deep down, Jesus wasn't just whistling Dixie

Perhaps they knew that finally someone arrived who actually could fulfill the prophecy of Isaiah. The scrolls no longer contained dead words on parchment but in Christ they are living words, active and breathing forth love, as St. Thomas says.


JEsus gives us something to believe in. Our deepest desires now have a reality to hold on too. We are all no longer just whistling Dixie. No mere fantasy will do, in Christ reality has come to the front and called us each by name.

We no longer have to just believe in ourselves we can now believe in something greater than ourselves and this is what makes life possible and love a reality.

Jesus ain't whistling dixie.

Here is a little dixie tribute just in case your forgot