Isaiah 54:1-10
"Enlarge the space for your tent, spread out your tent cloths unsparingly; lengthen your ropes and make firm your stakes; you shall spread abroad to the right and to the left."
"My love shall never leave you nor my covenant of peace be shaken, says the LORD, who has mercy on you."
Listen to these words again spoken by the prophet.
Enlarge the space for your tent. Make room for more not less. Open wide and let others in. Do not let you small minded judgments keep people out of your life.
If God is our husband as Isaiah says, then we taken his name, we take on his lifestyle. God's name is generous and magnanimous. We too must become what we celebrate in God.
He has open eternity to us. The passage is made wide by the opening of his son's side.
How do we open up to others? How do we welcome then with a love and peace that harkens back to the God above?
Raise a glad cry…break forth in jubilant song…
Risk opening up to others, to all, to whomever comes your way. See in it the mannerisms of the Father toward us.
Thursday, December 15, 2016
Tuesday, November 29, 2016
JESSE TREE
There once was a tradition that instead of decorating trees with balls and lights and just random things, Christians would take the opportunity to each day reflect on salvation history, trace the streps of god becoming man and create an ornament that represented that reality then hang it on the tree. Each day a new ornament would be created a the journey of Advent brought ever closer to the unfolding of salvation history in the Christ Child, God become flesh.
why not rediscover the beauty of this tradition.
I invite you to go to loyola press.com and type in Jesse tree or click on the link
JESSE TREE
And begin to decorate your tree an your life with the unfolding beauty of God's plan of salvation. Se if it doesn't spark a new wonder in this season of Advent for you and your family. Family trees are important they tells us much about ourselves and where we come from. The family Tree of Jesse is important for it tells us the most important things about us and our family in regards to sin and grace and fall and redemption.
Don't delay.
Come, Lord Jesus.
Pax et bonum
why not rediscover the beauty of this tradition.
I invite you to go to loyola press.com and type in Jesse tree or click on the link
JESSE TREE
And begin to decorate your tree an your life with the unfolding beauty of God's plan of salvation. Se if it doesn't spark a new wonder in this season of Advent for you and your family. Family trees are important they tells us much about ourselves and where we come from. The family Tree of Jesse is important for it tells us the most important things about us and our family in regards to sin and grace and fall and redemption.
Don't delay.
Come, Lord Jesus.
Pax et bonum
Wednesday, November 23, 2016
THANKS
Revelation 15:1-4; Ps 98 Great and wonderful are all your works, Lord, mighty God! Luke 21:12-19
Here are a few words from St Paul: For although they knew God they did not accord Him glory as God or give Him thanks. Instead they became vain in their reasoning. Their senseless minds were darkened. While claiming to be wise, they became fools..." Romans 1:21ff
What was the result of this thanklessness?
"They exchanged the truth of God for a lie and revered and worshiped the creature rather than the creator, who is blessed forever...." Romans 1:25ff
If we pay attention to St Paul, Thanksgiving to God empowers the intellect to truly grow in wisdom where as thanklessness undermines the process and leads us in the path of foolishness.
We are told in the psalm for this evening, "to sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done wondrous deeds." The song may be new in so far as we now recognize the wondrous deeds of God but in reality it is a very very old melody. For this new song we sing is the old song of thanks that as echoed forth from the dawn of creation. Since the first moment of light that scattered the darkness and the first sound of wind rushing upon the waters, thanksgiving as resounded as the only response creation has to the one who gives so freely.
Is there any other more fitting song than "Thanks be to God."
As we are told by the psalmist, "Let the sea and what fills it resound, the world and the who dwell in it; let the rivers clap their hands, the mountains shout for joy."
This is the old song that becomes new for us daily in our journey.
Jesus tells us in todays gospel, "They will seize you and persecute you, they will hand you over to the synagogues and to prisons, and they will have you led before kings and governors because of my name. It will lead to your giving testimony. Remember you are not to prepare your defense beforehand, for I myself shall give you a wisdom in speaking that all your adversaries will be powerless to resist or refute..."
What will be this testimony? What will be this wisdom of tongue that will leave all powerless to refute or resist?
What if it is simply put the word of thanks to God pressed upon our lips regardless of circumstances. What if the song of thanks is the only defense worthy of the gift we have received from Him, God almighty.
Pax et Bonum
Here are a few words from St Paul: For although they knew God they did not accord Him glory as God or give Him thanks. Instead they became vain in their reasoning. Their senseless minds were darkened. While claiming to be wise, they became fools..." Romans 1:21ff
What was the result of this thanklessness?
"They exchanged the truth of God for a lie and revered and worshiped the creature rather than the creator, who is blessed forever...." Romans 1:25ff
If we pay attention to St Paul, Thanksgiving to God empowers the intellect to truly grow in wisdom where as thanklessness undermines the process and leads us in the path of foolishness.
We are told in the psalm for this evening, "to sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done wondrous deeds." The song may be new in so far as we now recognize the wondrous deeds of God but in reality it is a very very old melody. For this new song we sing is the old song of thanks that as echoed forth from the dawn of creation. Since the first moment of light that scattered the darkness and the first sound of wind rushing upon the waters, thanksgiving as resounded as the only response creation has to the one who gives so freely.
Is there any other more fitting song than "Thanks be to God."
As we are told by the psalmist, "Let the sea and what fills it resound, the world and the who dwell in it; let the rivers clap their hands, the mountains shout for joy."
This is the old song that becomes new for us daily in our journey.
Jesus tells us in todays gospel, "They will seize you and persecute you, they will hand you over to the synagogues and to prisons, and they will have you led before kings and governors because of my name. It will lead to your giving testimony. Remember you are not to prepare your defense beforehand, for I myself shall give you a wisdom in speaking that all your adversaries will be powerless to resist or refute..."
What will be this testimony? What will be this wisdom of tongue that will leave all powerless to refute or resist?
What if it is simply put the word of thanks to God pressed upon our lips regardless of circumstances. What if the song of thanks is the only defense worthy of the gift we have received from Him, God almighty.
Pax et Bonum
Sunday, November 20, 2016
SAVE YOURSELF
2 Samuel 5:1-3; Ps 122 Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord; Colossians 1:12-20; Luke 23:35-43
It is often theorized or debated or discussed or even theologized what was Jesus' last great temptation. There was a movie some decades back entitled in fact the Last Temptation of Christ.
There is much to consider in this regards or nothing at all.
But I do believe in today's gospel as we enter in tot he Feast of Christ the King, we do perhaps get a glimpse into a temptation, not saying it was the last or the greatest.
Here are the words of those who taunt Jesus from below, that is while their feet are firmly on the ground and Jesus' feet are set firmly to wood by the nails:
"The rulers sneered at Jesus and said"he saved others, let him save himself if he is the chosen one, the christ of God…Even the soldiers jeered at him, As they approached to offer him wine they called out, "if you are the King of the Jews, save yourself."
"Now one of the criminals hanging there reviled Jesus, saying, "are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us."
Three times is short span of minutes maybe slightly longer Jesus heard that eerily enticing invitation, "SAVE YOURSELF!"
Just as in the beginning his publicly ministry he was tempted thrice so now at the end he must again face a temptation of thrice magnitude.
Save yourself.
The beauty of our King is he doesn't reign for himself. He doesn't seek himself in love. He does not save himself. He refuses to save himself for the sake of saving us.
This is the Kingly Love we celebrate on this day as we get ready for Advent.
Ponder that reality at some point today.
How often do we save ourselves? How often do we hear that early enticing invitation and act on it? Perhaps you can't imagine but then there is fault in our imagination.
Every time we justify our actions even if we know they are wrong we are saving ourselves and not letting Him be our savior.
We do it subtly and not so subtly over and over again.
When the opportunity of goodness toward the other arises and we justify ourselves in not acting we are giving into the temptation.
To enthrone Christ in our hearts, minds, wills, and bodies means we stop justifying our actions and we start letting Jesus hold sway in our lives.
He is King. Let us enthrone him daily in our hearts, minds, wills, bodies. With him, we too must refuse to save ourselves and only then can true liberation and kingly love and peace begin to reign fully.
It is often theorized or debated or discussed or even theologized what was Jesus' last great temptation. There was a movie some decades back entitled in fact the Last Temptation of Christ.
There is much to consider in this regards or nothing at all.
But I do believe in today's gospel as we enter in tot he Feast of Christ the King, we do perhaps get a glimpse into a temptation, not saying it was the last or the greatest.
Here are the words of those who taunt Jesus from below, that is while their feet are firmly on the ground and Jesus' feet are set firmly to wood by the nails:
"The rulers sneered at Jesus and said"he saved others, let him save himself if he is the chosen one, the christ of God…Even the soldiers jeered at him, As they approached to offer him wine they called out, "if you are the King of the Jews, save yourself."
"Now one of the criminals hanging there reviled Jesus, saying, "are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us."
Three times is short span of minutes maybe slightly longer Jesus heard that eerily enticing invitation, "SAVE YOURSELF!"
Just as in the beginning his publicly ministry he was tempted thrice so now at the end he must again face a temptation of thrice magnitude.
Save yourself.
The beauty of our King is he doesn't reign for himself. He doesn't seek himself in love. He does not save himself. He refuses to save himself for the sake of saving us.
This is the Kingly Love we celebrate on this day as we get ready for Advent.
Ponder that reality at some point today.
How often do we save ourselves? How often do we hear that early enticing invitation and act on it? Perhaps you can't imagine but then there is fault in our imagination.
Every time we justify our actions even if we know they are wrong we are saving ourselves and not letting Him be our savior.
We do it subtly and not so subtly over and over again.
When the opportunity of goodness toward the other arises and we justify ourselves in not acting we are giving into the temptation.
To enthrone Christ in our hearts, minds, wills, and bodies means we stop justifying our actions and we start letting Jesus hold sway in our lives.
He is King. Let us enthrone him daily in our hearts, minds, wills, bodies. With him, we too must refuse to save ourselves and only then can true liberation and kingly love and peace begin to reign fully.
Friday, October 28, 2016
SIMON AND JUDE
Today we celebrate the feast of SIMON and JUDE, apostles of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Jesus, we are told, after praying called the disciples and maned the twelve as apostles.
They went from following Jesus to now being ones sent forth ahead of Jesus to announce the goodness of the Father's merciful love.
The word apostles means to be "Sent." It is often associated with sending a letter or a message. You could say the apostle would be considered the modern day mail carriers.
The letter the sent is God' message to the world.
But each of us share in a similar mission. We are also sent forth. We also have received a message from Jesus to broadcast to the world. Our life becomes that "letter of recommendation" that St Paul speaks of in his writings.
Do we consider ourselves a letter of recommendation for others for the world?
Also, Simon is called the zealot. Jude's nameThaddeus means the brave one. They had nicknames that indicated something of their character and perhaps something of want God used so that they could bring forth the message more clearly and profoundly.
Simon lived his passion for the chosen people. Jude was willingly to go boldly in the face of opposition. His brave heart empowered him through difficulties.
What would be the nickname others give u sin regard to living our our faith life an bringing forth the message of the goodness of the Father's merciful love?
Jesus, we are told, after praying called the disciples and maned the twelve as apostles.
They went from following Jesus to now being ones sent forth ahead of Jesus to announce the goodness of the Father's merciful love.
The word apostles means to be "Sent." It is often associated with sending a letter or a message. You could say the apostle would be considered the modern day mail carriers.
The letter the sent is God' message to the world.
But each of us share in a similar mission. We are also sent forth. We also have received a message from Jesus to broadcast to the world. Our life becomes that "letter of recommendation" that St Paul speaks of in his writings.
Do we consider ourselves a letter of recommendation for others for the world?
Also, Simon is called the zealot. Jude's nameThaddeus means the brave one. They had nicknames that indicated something of their character and perhaps something of want God used so that they could bring forth the message more clearly and profoundly.
Simon lived his passion for the chosen people. Jude was willingly to go boldly in the face of opposition. His brave heart empowered him through difficulties.
What would be the nickname others give u sin regard to living our our faith life an bringing forth the message of the goodness of the Father's merciful love?
Wednesday, October 19, 2016
STEWARD
Ephesians 3:2-12; Isaiah 12:2-3,4,5-6; Luke 12:39-48
To preach the inscrutable richness of Christ. This is what St Paul says his purpose and mission in life was.
How about us? Do we preach with our lives the inscrutable richness of Christ?
Everything else pales in comparison to this one reality that holds all of reality together.
Jesus invites us to be prudent stewards in today's gospel, "Who then is the faithful and prudent steward whom the master will put in charge of his servants to distribute food allowance at the proper time? Blessed his that servant the master finds doing so upon his arrival,"
We are all stewards of the inscrutable richness of Christ. For a moment we should remove the dross and the things that are of least important and direct our attention to that which matters most of all.
But first we must ask Jesus to reveal to us his richness in case we have forgotten or never truly experienced it. It is the encounter that makes the mission possible.
Paul encountered the inscrutable richness of Christ and does was able to give to others what he first experienced.
We too must ask the Lord to reveal his richness to us. Then we might become stewards of such beautiful grace to others.
To preach the inscrutable richness of Christ. This is what St Paul says his purpose and mission in life was.
How about us? Do we preach with our lives the inscrutable richness of Christ?
Everything else pales in comparison to this one reality that holds all of reality together.
Jesus invites us to be prudent stewards in today's gospel, "Who then is the faithful and prudent steward whom the master will put in charge of his servants to distribute food allowance at the proper time? Blessed his that servant the master finds doing so upon his arrival,"
We are all stewards of the inscrutable richness of Christ. For a moment we should remove the dross and the things that are of least important and direct our attention to that which matters most of all.
But first we must ask Jesus to reveal to us his richness in case we have forgotten or never truly experienced it. It is the encounter that makes the mission possible.
Paul encountered the inscrutable richness of Christ and does was able to give to others what he first experienced.
We too must ask the Lord to reveal his richness to us. Then we might become stewards of such beautiful grace to others.
Wednesday, September 28, 2016
PRAISE and FOLLOW
Job 9:1-12,14-16; Ps 88 let my prayer come before you, Lord; Luke 9:57-62
We continue to read from the book of Job. In today's segment, Job finds his voice, he finally speaks up. This is Job's second time to speak up after his friends tear into him.
The first time job complains. He just complains a lot. Go read chapter 6 and you will find comments such as, "for the arrows of the Almighty are in me, and my spirit drinks in their poison" and much more.
But now we find job with a different sentiment in his mouth. Here after his second friends commentary, Job stands differently; he begins not with complaint but rather with praise. Here is a man who has lost everything and with every reason to complain and shake his fist at the heavens he dug deep within and he formulates a litany of praise to God, "God is wise in heart and mighty in strength...he alone stretches out the heavens..."
It is praise rooted in the reality that before God no man is justified. No man can stand on his own merit before the Lord. In this reality check can praise truly begin to be authentic and healing as it becomes for job.
In the gospel today we hear the words of Jesus, "Follow me."
What is this but an invitation to learn, to watch, to keep close attention. It is a pathway of apprenticeship. Only in staying behind Jesus can we truly know him and love him. Only in staying behind Jesus can we actually begin to imitate him in our own lives. The best perspective is always from behind.
True leaders in faith are those who never take over the driver seat but refer the back seat and let Jesus drive.
What excuses do we use to keep from following? What excuses do we come up with to justify taking the lead?
Like with Job, praise resounds the greatest when we lean in from behind and stay close to the footsteps of the one who calls out "follow me."
We continue to read from the book of Job. In today's segment, Job finds his voice, he finally speaks up. This is Job's second time to speak up after his friends tear into him.
The first time job complains. He just complains a lot. Go read chapter 6 and you will find comments such as, "for the arrows of the Almighty are in me, and my spirit drinks in their poison" and much more.
But now we find job with a different sentiment in his mouth. Here after his second friends commentary, Job stands differently; he begins not with complaint but rather with praise. Here is a man who has lost everything and with every reason to complain and shake his fist at the heavens he dug deep within and he formulates a litany of praise to God, "God is wise in heart and mighty in strength...he alone stretches out the heavens..."
It is praise rooted in the reality that before God no man is justified. No man can stand on his own merit before the Lord. In this reality check can praise truly begin to be authentic and healing as it becomes for job.
In the gospel today we hear the words of Jesus, "Follow me."
What is this but an invitation to learn, to watch, to keep close attention. It is a pathway of apprenticeship. Only in staying behind Jesus can we truly know him and love him. Only in staying behind Jesus can we actually begin to imitate him in our own lives. The best perspective is always from behind.
True leaders in faith are those who never take over the driver seat but refer the back seat and let Jesus drive.
What excuses do we use to keep from following? What excuses do we come up with to justify taking the lead?
Like with Job, praise resounds the greatest when we lean in from behind and stay close to the footsteps of the one who calls out "follow me."
Wednesday, September 7, 2016
JESUS FREAK
1 corinthians 7:25-31; Ps 45 listen to me, daughter; see and blend your ear; Luke 6:20-26
Because all the early Christians assumed that the second coming of Jesus was imminent, all stable human institutions were under judgment and were approached with caution.
The expectation of the second coming colored the perspective of the early Christians. sometimes unfortunately this expectation is lost to us and we go about our business as usual. This business as usual approach can be destructive. Also, just living with the expectation of the second coming as if it were everything can also be destructive.
The proper attitude is to keep both in tension as we journey through life.
It is the expectation of the coming of Jesus that empowers the daily grind of living and loving to be elevated, to become supernatural experience of charity, hope, and of faith as we anticipate tomorrow as another day to work vigorously for the vineyard.
This is why the church holds in great regard the beauty of the sacrament of Marriage as a source of grace not only for the couples themselves but for the world. In the sacrament the couples become a witness to divine love. This is not as st Paul describes an affliction to run from but an affection or pressure that purifies and makes holy.
We turn to Jesus in the gospel. We encounter the beatitudes. Blessed are the poor, the hungry, weeping, those who are hated account of the son of man. Rejoice and leap for joy.
Recently i came across a christian song that was popular when i was in college. DC Talk was the all the rave as christian bands went and one of their songs was entitled, "Jesus Freak."
Here are a few of the lyrics,
"What will people think
Because all the early Christians assumed that the second coming of Jesus was imminent, all stable human institutions were under judgment and were approached with caution.
The expectation of the second coming colored the perspective of the early Christians. sometimes unfortunately this expectation is lost to us and we go about our business as usual. This business as usual approach can be destructive. Also, just living with the expectation of the second coming as if it were everything can also be destructive.
The proper attitude is to keep both in tension as we journey through life.
It is the expectation of the coming of Jesus that empowers the daily grind of living and loving to be elevated, to become supernatural experience of charity, hope, and of faith as we anticipate tomorrow as another day to work vigorously for the vineyard.
This is why the church holds in great regard the beauty of the sacrament of Marriage as a source of grace not only for the couples themselves but for the world. In the sacrament the couples become a witness to divine love. This is not as st Paul describes an affliction to run from but an affection or pressure that purifies and makes holy.
We turn to Jesus in the gospel. We encounter the beatitudes. Blessed are the poor, the hungry, weeping, those who are hated account of the son of man. Rejoice and leap for joy.
Recently i came across a christian song that was popular when i was in college. DC Talk was the all the rave as christian bands went and one of their songs was entitled, "Jesus Freak."
Here are a few of the lyrics,
"What will people think
When they hear that I'm a Jesus freak
What will people do when they find that it's true
I don't really care if they label me a Jesus freak
There ain't no disguising the truth
What will people do when they find that it's true
I don't really care if they label me a Jesus freak
There ain't no disguising the truth
Kamikaze, my death is gain
I've been marked by my maker
A peculiar display
The high and lofty, they see me as weak
'Cause I won't live and die for the power they seek
A peculiar display
The high and lofty, they see me as weak
'Cause I won't live and die for the power they seek
Does the Spirit make a difference
1 corinthians 6:1-11 Ps 149 The Lord takes delight in his people; Luke 6:12-19
I heard someone say the other day that if God were to remove his Spirit from us it would take 3 months before we ever noticed it.
It was a striking statement to make and a more striking reality check for myself.
I began to ask myself whether or not i would notice. Not only would i notice but do i notice now, the difference God's Spirit, the Holy Spirit, makes in my life.
What about the rest of us? Is there a difference living in the Spirit as opposed to living without the Spirit? Would we notice if God removed his Spirit from us?
St Paul is asking the very question to the early Christians in the community of Corinth.
He is reminded them that as believers who are baptized that the Spirit of God is empowering them in such a manner that they have a greater capacity to see and judge more clearly than the rest.
Hear again his words, "How can any one of you with a case against another dare to bring it to the unjust for judgment instead of to the Holy Ones?"
St Paul believes that those who have been giving the Spirit of God at baptism have a capacity that others do not. In other words, the Spirit does make a difference.
It is a good opportunity to see if we allow the Spirit of God to make a difference in our life. Are we aware that we are different because of the Spirit of God that animates our life? Do we let that Spirit guide us forth?
If you are not sure if you are living a spirit led life then look at Galatians chapter 5: fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, generosity, faithfulness, self-control.
Jesus chooses the twelve in today's gospel. After choosing them we are told that he stands on "a stretch of level ground" with them. Jesus incorporates the twelve as coworkers, human agents, partners in building and spreading the kingdom. He empowers them to do what he himself does.
Their is something different about us when we let the Spirit lead us forth.
I heard someone say the other day that if God were to remove his Spirit from us it would take 3 months before we ever noticed it.
It was a striking statement to make and a more striking reality check for myself.
I began to ask myself whether or not i would notice. Not only would i notice but do i notice now, the difference God's Spirit, the Holy Spirit, makes in my life.
What about the rest of us? Is there a difference living in the Spirit as opposed to living without the Spirit? Would we notice if God removed his Spirit from us?
St Paul is asking the very question to the early Christians in the community of Corinth.
He is reminded them that as believers who are baptized that the Spirit of God is empowering them in such a manner that they have a greater capacity to see and judge more clearly than the rest.
Hear again his words, "How can any one of you with a case against another dare to bring it to the unjust for judgment instead of to the Holy Ones?"
St Paul believes that those who have been giving the Spirit of God at baptism have a capacity that others do not. In other words, the Spirit does make a difference.
It is a good opportunity to see if we allow the Spirit of God to make a difference in our life. Are we aware that we are different because of the Spirit of God that animates our life? Do we let that Spirit guide us forth?
If you are not sure if you are living a spirit led life then look at Galatians chapter 5: fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, generosity, faithfulness, self-control.
Jesus chooses the twelve in today's gospel. After choosing them we are told that he stands on "a stretch of level ground" with them. Jesus incorporates the twelve as coworkers, human agents, partners in building and spreading the kingdom. He empowers them to do what he himself does.
Their is something different about us when we let the Spirit lead us forth.
Monday, August 29, 2016
BORROW YOUR LOVE
Jeremiah 1:17-19; Ps 71 I will sing your salvation Mark 6:17-29
Today in the life of the Church we celebrate the beheading of John the Baptist or the passion of John the Baptist. John is the precursor to Christ. He had one job and that was to point to Christ, "Behold the lamb of God."
In fact if anyone could ever claim a Messiah complex, it could have been John the Baptist, for every one thought he was the Messiah. Yet, rather than give in to the ego's drive for notoriety, he simply pointed to Christ and proclaimed "I must decrease, he must increase."
Thinking about John the Baptist and his martyrdom and I think about the words of St Therese, "For me to love You as You love me, I would have to borrow your own love." This was St Therese's expression to Jesus in regards to her desire to return to Him the love she herself experienced.
To Love you as you love me, I would have to borrow your own love.
The only way we could ever love God in the way he has loved us is with the very love with which He has first loved us.
Perhaps this is the experience of every martyr, everyone who has laid their life on the line.
What if the witness of martyrdom is in fact the borrowing of God's love so that God can be loved in the way he has loved us?
What if this is truly passionate love?
Today ask God to see how much he loves you. Today ask God to borrow his love so that you may love him with the love he has loved you.
Celebrate John the Baptist this way.
Today in the life of the Church we celebrate the beheading of John the Baptist or the passion of John the Baptist. John is the precursor to Christ. He had one job and that was to point to Christ, "Behold the lamb of God."
In fact if anyone could ever claim a Messiah complex, it could have been John the Baptist, for every one thought he was the Messiah. Yet, rather than give in to the ego's drive for notoriety, he simply pointed to Christ and proclaimed "I must decrease, he must increase."
Thinking about John the Baptist and his martyrdom and I think about the words of St Therese, "For me to love You as You love me, I would have to borrow your own love." This was St Therese's expression to Jesus in regards to her desire to return to Him the love she herself experienced.
To Love you as you love me, I would have to borrow your own love.
The only way we could ever love God in the way he has loved us is with the very love with which He has first loved us.
Perhaps this is the experience of every martyr, everyone who has laid their life on the line.
What if the witness of martyrdom is in fact the borrowing of God's love so that God can be loved in the way he has loved us?
What if this is truly passionate love?
Today ask God to see how much he loves you. Today ask God to borrow his love so that you may love him with the love he has loved you.
Celebrate John the Baptist this way.
Sunday, August 28, 2016
HUMILITY
Sirach 3:17-18, 20, 28-29; Ps 68 God, in your goodness, you have made a home for the poor; Hebrews 12:18-19,22-24; Luke 14:1,7-14
The readings for today invite us to ponder a new Humility. There are many fascinating definitions of humility. There are just as many fascinating stories of people encountering humility in their life.
Both Jesus int he gospel and the first reading zero in on humility in a very concrete way. Yet, i believe it is the second reading that really holds the underlying truth of humility for us to embrace. I hope i can explain a bit as this blog unfolds.
First a tale of two authors. Douglas Adams wrote a scify fiction called a Hitchhiker's Guide to the Universe back in the 1970's. I spent some time reading it. It is a fascinating jaunt through the universe. Any novel that includes a depressed Robot surely is worth the read.
But in the novel, the author describes the best torture device: Total Perspective Vortex. This torture device is created by a husband who is being nagged by his wife to have a better sense of proportion.
He creates this device by which once someone is inside they are given in a momentary glimpse the full vastness of the unimaginable seemingly infinite stretching of all creation and that there on a microscopic dot on a microscopic dot is a note that says 'you are here'. It is torture device that enables the person to come face to face with the ugly truth of just how small they really are.
Usually this device, at least in the book, would leave the person mad because of this reality check.
Growing up this has always been the sense of humility that i understood. Humility is about smallness. It is a reality check in which we recognize our true self, and we are aware of the many short comings and failings that go to make up our life in such a way that we truly realize we are not better than anyone else. Though out defects may be different none the less they remain.
when we can hold on to our smallness then we can embrace the power of humility in our life. This is good start.
But as Christians I think humility is the opposite. It isn't looking at our smallness but rather our bigness, what we are created to be, what will become of us, what is our destiny.
This is what ultimately humbles us.
C S Lewis as a good take on this bigness that has been given to us.
"There is no ordinary men. You have never talked to a mere mortals. Nations, cultures, arts, civilizations…these are mortals. To our life theirs is like the life of a gnat. But it is immortals that we joke with, work with, marry, snub, exploit, gossip about, betray, hurt, love….Next to God himself, our neighbor is the holiest object presented to our senses. If he is a christian neighbor then he is holy in a par excellence way for Christ, the glorifier and Glory himself, is truly hidden in him."
There is no ordinary men. You have never talked to mere mortals.
This is really the case of humility. We don't just stop at our smallness but look at our greatness, our destiny.
This is why the end of the gospel is so telling, "you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous." Life is big. It is bigger than the here and now.
St Paul is trying to get us to understand this in the second readings. He poses the question, 'who do we approach when we approach God?"
He distinguishes between the mosaic covenant and the Davidic Covenant in Christ. In the Mosaic covenant God revealed himself in a way that scared the people, "blazing fire and gloomy darkness and storm and trumpet blast and voice such that those who heard begged that no further message be given."
Sounds horrific enough. But what of the covenant with Jesus.
"You have approached Mt Zion and the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and countless angels in festal gathering, the assembly of the first born enrolled in heaven, and God the judge of all, and the spirits of the just made perfect, and Jesus, the mediator of the new covenant, and the sprinkled blood that speaks more eloquently than that of Abel."
Who do we approach when we approach God but not God alone but all those in God. Not only the festal gathering of angels but the sprits of the just made perfect. Thats our destiny. That is you and I.
It is glory. It is the bigness that awaits us, that we are created for. If you notice, St Paul puts us all on the same tier. God, Jesus, angels, men/women glorified. This is not a merit but a gift.
This is more humbling than the Total Perspective Vortex. It is isn't that we are a microscopic dot on a microscopic dot, insignificant. But rather our existence has purpose and we are meaningful, significant. we are meant for glory. In the resurrection in the righteous we shall become what we are created to be.
We are not ordinary. We are not mere mortals.
Next to God Himself, our neighbor is the holiest object presented to our senses.
This is what is humbling.
The power of humility isn't that we think of ourselves less or think lessor ourselves but we put ourselves in the proper perspective of what awaits us by God' s mercy that leads us to glory as a gift.
The readings for today invite us to ponder a new Humility. There are many fascinating definitions of humility. There are just as many fascinating stories of people encountering humility in their life.
Both Jesus int he gospel and the first reading zero in on humility in a very concrete way. Yet, i believe it is the second reading that really holds the underlying truth of humility for us to embrace. I hope i can explain a bit as this blog unfolds.
First a tale of two authors. Douglas Adams wrote a scify fiction called a Hitchhiker's Guide to the Universe back in the 1970's. I spent some time reading it. It is a fascinating jaunt through the universe. Any novel that includes a depressed Robot surely is worth the read.
But in the novel, the author describes the best torture device: Total Perspective Vortex. This torture device is created by a husband who is being nagged by his wife to have a better sense of proportion.
He creates this device by which once someone is inside they are given in a momentary glimpse the full vastness of the unimaginable seemingly infinite stretching of all creation and that there on a microscopic dot on a microscopic dot is a note that says 'you are here'. It is torture device that enables the person to come face to face with the ugly truth of just how small they really are.
Usually this device, at least in the book, would leave the person mad because of this reality check.
Growing up this has always been the sense of humility that i understood. Humility is about smallness. It is a reality check in which we recognize our true self, and we are aware of the many short comings and failings that go to make up our life in such a way that we truly realize we are not better than anyone else. Though out defects may be different none the less they remain.
when we can hold on to our smallness then we can embrace the power of humility in our life. This is good start.
But as Christians I think humility is the opposite. It isn't looking at our smallness but rather our bigness, what we are created to be, what will become of us, what is our destiny.
This is what ultimately humbles us.
C S Lewis as a good take on this bigness that has been given to us.
"There is no ordinary men. You have never talked to a mere mortals. Nations, cultures, arts, civilizations…these are mortals. To our life theirs is like the life of a gnat. But it is immortals that we joke with, work with, marry, snub, exploit, gossip about, betray, hurt, love….Next to God himself, our neighbor is the holiest object presented to our senses. If he is a christian neighbor then he is holy in a par excellence way for Christ, the glorifier and Glory himself, is truly hidden in him."
There is no ordinary men. You have never talked to mere mortals.
This is really the case of humility. We don't just stop at our smallness but look at our greatness, our destiny.
This is why the end of the gospel is so telling, "you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous." Life is big. It is bigger than the here and now.
St Paul is trying to get us to understand this in the second readings. He poses the question, 'who do we approach when we approach God?"
He distinguishes between the mosaic covenant and the Davidic Covenant in Christ. In the Mosaic covenant God revealed himself in a way that scared the people, "blazing fire and gloomy darkness and storm and trumpet blast and voice such that those who heard begged that no further message be given."
Sounds horrific enough. But what of the covenant with Jesus.
"You have approached Mt Zion and the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and countless angels in festal gathering, the assembly of the first born enrolled in heaven, and God the judge of all, and the spirits of the just made perfect, and Jesus, the mediator of the new covenant, and the sprinkled blood that speaks more eloquently than that of Abel."
Who do we approach when we approach God but not God alone but all those in God. Not only the festal gathering of angels but the sprits of the just made perfect. Thats our destiny. That is you and I.
It is glory. It is the bigness that awaits us, that we are created for. If you notice, St Paul puts us all on the same tier. God, Jesus, angels, men/women glorified. This is not a merit but a gift.
This is more humbling than the Total Perspective Vortex. It is isn't that we are a microscopic dot on a microscopic dot, insignificant. But rather our existence has purpose and we are meaningful, significant. we are meant for glory. In the resurrection in the righteous we shall become what we are created to be.
We are not ordinary. We are not mere mortals.
Next to God Himself, our neighbor is the holiest object presented to our senses.
This is what is humbling.
The power of humility isn't that we think of ourselves less or think lessor ourselves but we put ourselves in the proper perspective of what awaits us by God' s mercy that leads us to glory as a gift.
HUMILITY
Sirach 3:17-18, 20, 28-29; Ps 68 God, in your goodness, you have made a home for the poor; Hebrews 12:18-19,22-24; Luke 14:1,7-14
The readings for today invite us to ponder a new Humility. There are many fascinating definitions of humility. There are just as many fascinating stories of people encountering humility in their life.
Both Jesus int he gospel and the first reading zero in on humility in a very concrete way. Yet, i believe it is the second reading that really holds the underlying truth of humility for us to embrace. I hope i can explain a bit as this blog unfolds.
First a tale of two authors. Douglas Adams wrote a scify fiction called a Hitchhiker's Guide to the Universe back in the 1970's. I spent some time reading it. It is a fascinating jaunt through the universe. Any novel that includes a depressed Robot surely is worth the read.
But in the novel, the author describes the best torture device: Total Perspective Vortex. This torture device is created by a husband who is being nagged by his wife to have a better sense of proportion.
He creates this device by which once someone is inside they are given in a momentary glimpse the full vastness of the unimaginable seemingly infinite stretching of all creation and that there on a microscopic dot on a microscopic dot is a note that says 'you are here'. It is torture device that enables the person to come face to face with the ugly truth of just how small they really are.
Usually this device, at least in the book, would leave the person mad because of this reality check.
Growing up this has always been the sense of humility that i understood. Humility is about smallness. It is a reality check in which we recognize our true self, and we are aware of the many short comings and failings that go to make up our life in such a way that we truly realize we are not better than anyone else. Though out defects may be different none the less they remain.
when we can hold on to our smallness then we can embrace the power of humility in our life. This is good start.
But as Christians I think humility is the opposite. It isn't looking at our smallness but rather our bigness, what we are created to be, what will become of us, what is our destiny.
This is what ultimately humbles us.
C S Lewis as a good take on this bigness that has been given to us.
"There is no ordinary men. You have never talked to a mere mortals. Nations, cultures, arts, civilizations…these are mortals. To our life theirs is like the life of a gnat. But it is immortals that we joke with, work with, marry, snub, exploit, gossip about, betray, hurt, love….Next to God himself, our neighbor is the holiest object presented to our senses. If he is a christian neighbor then he is holy in a par excellence way for Christ, the glorifier and Glory himself, is truly hidden in him."
There is no ordinary men. You have never talked to mere mortals.
This is really the case of humility. We don't just stop at our smallness but look at our greatness, our destiny.
This is why the end of the gospel is so telling, "you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous." Life is big. It is bigger than the here and now.
St Paul is trying to get us to understand this in the second readings. He poses the question, 'who do we approach when we approach God?"
He distinguishes between the mosaic covenant and the Davidic Covenant in Christ. In the Mosaic covenant God revealed himself in a way that scared the people, "blazing fire and gloomy
The readings for today invite us to ponder a new Humility. There are many fascinating definitions of humility. There are just as many fascinating stories of people encountering humility in their life.
Both Jesus int he gospel and the first reading zero in on humility in a very concrete way. Yet, i believe it is the second reading that really holds the underlying truth of humility for us to embrace. I hope i can explain a bit as this blog unfolds.
First a tale of two authors. Douglas Adams wrote a scify fiction called a Hitchhiker's Guide to the Universe back in the 1970's. I spent some time reading it. It is a fascinating jaunt through the universe. Any novel that includes a depressed Robot surely is worth the read.
But in the novel, the author describes the best torture device: Total Perspective Vortex. This torture device is created by a husband who is being nagged by his wife to have a better sense of proportion.
He creates this device by which once someone is inside they are given in a momentary glimpse the full vastness of the unimaginable seemingly infinite stretching of all creation and that there on a microscopic dot on a microscopic dot is a note that says 'you are here'. It is torture device that enables the person to come face to face with the ugly truth of just how small they really are.
Usually this device, at least in the book, would leave the person mad because of this reality check.
Growing up this has always been the sense of humility that i understood. Humility is about smallness. It is a reality check in which we recognize our true self, and we are aware of the many short comings and failings that go to make up our life in such a way that we truly realize we are not better than anyone else. Though out defects may be different none the less they remain.
when we can hold on to our smallness then we can embrace the power of humility in our life. This is good start.
But as Christians I think humility is the opposite. It isn't looking at our smallness but rather our bigness, what we are created to be, what will become of us, what is our destiny.
This is what ultimately humbles us.
C S Lewis as a good take on this bigness that has been given to us.
"There is no ordinary men. You have never talked to a mere mortals. Nations, cultures, arts, civilizations…these are mortals. To our life theirs is like the life of a gnat. But it is immortals that we joke with, work with, marry, snub, exploit, gossip about, betray, hurt, love….Next to God himself, our neighbor is the holiest object presented to our senses. If he is a christian neighbor then he is holy in a par excellence way for Christ, the glorifier and Glory himself, is truly hidden in him."
There is no ordinary men. You have never talked to mere mortals.
This is really the case of humility. We don't just stop at our smallness but look at our greatness, our destiny.
This is why the end of the gospel is so telling, "you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous." Life is big. It is bigger than the here and now.
St Paul is trying to get us to understand this in the second readings. He poses the question, 'who do we approach when we approach God?"
He distinguishes between the mosaic covenant and the Davidic Covenant in Christ. In the Mosaic covenant God revealed himself in a way that scared the people, "blazing fire and gloomy
Thursday, August 18, 2016
COME AS YOU ARE DO AS YOU WISH
Matthew 22:1-14
Today in the gospel Jesus gives us a parable, "The kingdom of heaven may be likened to a king who gave a wedding feast for his son.."
Guest were invited and refused to come.
This did not go well for the guest. The human heart is very skilled at coming up with reasons to now follow God's will. We all can come up with fifty ways to say no in order to guard our comfort and our lifestyle. What is really at stake is finding that one reason to say "yes" and allow God's will to free us from ourselves.
In place of the original guest, others from the streets were invited to come and partake of the festivities, to rejoice with the king whose son was getting married.
They all came. The banquet hall was packed. The king was pleased.
But there was one who had arrived without a wedding garment. "My friend, says the king, how is it that you came in here without a wedding garment? But he guest was reduced to silence. Then the king said to his attendants, 'bind his hands and feet, and cast him into the darkness outside, where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth. Many are invited few are chosen."
It is true that we are all invited to come as we are when the invitation is laid at our feet. Yes! True! Very true! But, we are not invited to do as we wish.
Come as you are, absolutely, but not do as we want.
This was the probable with the guest without the wedding garment. He thought he could came as he was and do what he wanted. He was not humble enough to allow the king to show him how to be a guest in his house for the wedding. He refused to listen and to be guided.
Sounds eerily familiar. How many people this day what to be spiritual but they do to what God to give them direction. They come as they are but they also want to do as they please rather they live in a manner that please Him, who invites.
Pax et Bonum
Today in the gospel Jesus gives us a parable, "The kingdom of heaven may be likened to a king who gave a wedding feast for his son.."
Guest were invited and refused to come.
This did not go well for the guest. The human heart is very skilled at coming up with reasons to now follow God's will. We all can come up with fifty ways to say no in order to guard our comfort and our lifestyle. What is really at stake is finding that one reason to say "yes" and allow God's will to free us from ourselves.
In place of the original guest, others from the streets were invited to come and partake of the festivities, to rejoice with the king whose son was getting married.
They all came. The banquet hall was packed. The king was pleased.
But there was one who had arrived without a wedding garment. "My friend, says the king, how is it that you came in here without a wedding garment? But he guest was reduced to silence. Then the king said to his attendants, 'bind his hands and feet, and cast him into the darkness outside, where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth. Many are invited few are chosen."
It is true that we are all invited to come as we are when the invitation is laid at our feet. Yes! True! Very true! But, we are not invited to do as we wish.
Come as you are, absolutely, but not do as we want.
This was the probable with the guest without the wedding garment. He thought he could came as he was and do what he wanted. He was not humble enough to allow the king to show him how to be a guest in his house for the wedding. He refused to listen and to be guided.
Sounds eerily familiar. How many people this day what to be spiritual but they do to what God to give them direction. They come as they are but they also want to do as they please rather they live in a manner that please Him, who invites.
Pax et Bonum
Sunday, August 14, 2016
Pay back what you owe
Matthew 18:21--19:1
I want to look at this past tuesdays readings. I have been a bit under the weather as they say. So i have been delayed.
It is a beautiful gospel for us to meditate on in light of the Jubilee Year of Mercy.
Peter asks the question, "Lord, if my brother sins against me, how often must I forgive him?"
Like Peter, we too what to know when we can say enough is enough. We too want to draw the line in the sand and say no more, off with you I am out of mercy and forgiveness.
But Jesus tells us that seventy-seven times, or in other words, we never have the right to refuse forgiveness to any one.
We might be shocked at such a sentiment or truth. But when have we ever know God to close the fountain of mercy to us or any one for that matter. The fountain is never closed. God never says enough. God never say no.
Jesus simply wants us to live in our life toward others as God is toward us which is most perfectly exemplified in the Cross of Christ: Mercy is never closed off but rather it is crucified for the sake of the other.
Then we encounter the story Jesus tells to help us put a picture to what he is saying. In the story there is a king looking to collect his debts. A servant owes more than he can pay and begs to be forgiven. The king obliges and forgives the debt that is owed.
The same servant finds a fellow servant who owes a much smaller amount and retaliates and demands payment rather than mirror the mercy he has received he becomes stingy an bull headed and mean, "pay back what you owe" he demands.
It doesn't turn out well for that servant. Then Jesus tells us unless we forgive our brother from our heart our Father will not forgive us.
First all we must know that compared to our offense to God everything others may owe us is always much smaller. Too often we make the offense of our brother bigger than our own offense against God. This is a terrible thing. Do not make things big that are really really small.
Why bother with much smaller amounts? Forgiveness should thus be easy and readily available when we compare what we do to God and what others do to others.
Secondly, the servant begs the King to forgive his debt. This is where the analogy fails with our relationship with God. We do not have to beg God for Mercy. His mercy is always readily accessible and available. We just have to receive it. In fact, each day, through out the day we should pause and look up and just say "Lord, I receive for mercy." We should gulp it up whole and entire. Only then can we be givers of the same mercy to others. If we think God is stingy with mercy then we will be stingy and this is in correct.
Lastly, the servant tells the other servant, "Pay back what you owe."
What do we owe but mercy. Mercy is our debt to God the Father in Jesus Christ through the SPirit. It is our final debt. The only way to pay back this debt of Mercy we have received from the Blessed Trinity is too simply give it back, give it away. So We should gladly pay back what owe and look for opportunities to do so.
Pax et Bonum
I want to look at this past tuesdays readings. I have been a bit under the weather as they say. So i have been delayed.
It is a beautiful gospel for us to meditate on in light of the Jubilee Year of Mercy.
Peter asks the question, "Lord, if my brother sins against me, how often must I forgive him?"
Like Peter, we too what to know when we can say enough is enough. We too want to draw the line in the sand and say no more, off with you I am out of mercy and forgiveness.
But Jesus tells us that seventy-seven times, or in other words, we never have the right to refuse forgiveness to any one.
We might be shocked at such a sentiment or truth. But when have we ever know God to close the fountain of mercy to us or any one for that matter. The fountain is never closed. God never says enough. God never say no.
Jesus simply wants us to live in our life toward others as God is toward us which is most perfectly exemplified in the Cross of Christ: Mercy is never closed off but rather it is crucified for the sake of the other.
Then we encounter the story Jesus tells to help us put a picture to what he is saying. In the story there is a king looking to collect his debts. A servant owes more than he can pay and begs to be forgiven. The king obliges and forgives the debt that is owed.
The same servant finds a fellow servant who owes a much smaller amount and retaliates and demands payment rather than mirror the mercy he has received he becomes stingy an bull headed and mean, "pay back what you owe" he demands.
It doesn't turn out well for that servant. Then Jesus tells us unless we forgive our brother from our heart our Father will not forgive us.
First all we must know that compared to our offense to God everything others may owe us is always much smaller. Too often we make the offense of our brother bigger than our own offense against God. This is a terrible thing. Do not make things big that are really really small.
Why bother with much smaller amounts? Forgiveness should thus be easy and readily available when we compare what we do to God and what others do to others.
Secondly, the servant begs the King to forgive his debt. This is where the analogy fails with our relationship with God. We do not have to beg God for Mercy. His mercy is always readily accessible and available. We just have to receive it. In fact, each day, through out the day we should pause and look up and just say "Lord, I receive for mercy." We should gulp it up whole and entire. Only then can we be givers of the same mercy to others. If we think God is stingy with mercy then we will be stingy and this is in correct.
Lastly, the servant tells the other servant, "Pay back what you owe."
What do we owe but mercy. Mercy is our debt to God the Father in Jesus Christ through the SPirit. It is our final debt. The only way to pay back this debt of Mercy we have received from the Blessed Trinity is too simply give it back, give it away. So We should gladly pay back what owe and look for opportunities to do so.
Pax et Bonum
Saturday, July 23, 2016
Give us this day our daily love
I sit here at my desk preparing for another wedding celebration here at the parish.
Again, here are few pointers about life together as husband and wife, for what its worth.
The reading for today is chosen from the book of Tobit and Tobiah and Sarah find themselves praying on their honeymoon and these are the words they use:
"Lord you know I take this wife of mine not because of Lust but for a noble purpose, Call down your mercy on me and on her and allow us olive together to a happy old age."
They began their wedding night together with prayer and acknowledgment of Marriage as a noble vocation not just an ordinary event but that which has cosmic effects on the world.
It reminds of there word of Pope Francis as he addressed the crowd of couples engaged to be married. He said often times people are fearful of forever. They just aren't sure how the former can be achieved in a world that is so disposable and wasteful with commitments to each other.
Forever is not a question of duration as much as it is a question quality. If you let the Lord in to your marriage and life together then know that just as he multiplies the loaves and fish he can multiply your love and give anew fresh he day.
He recommended that couples pray daily a simple prayer: give us this day our daily love.
Here again the Lord is given the opportunity to work daily in the life of marriage his miraculous gift of transformation and allowing love to be fresh and fruitful each and every day.
This way love can truly conquer every difficulty for the Lord is present in it and working through it: Give us this day our daily love!
Give it a try!
Then when it doubt focus on the three A's of marriage: attention, affection, appreciation.
Attention to detail, affection from the heart for the heart, and appreciation that takes nothing for granted.
Again, here are few pointers about life together as husband and wife, for what its worth.
The reading for today is chosen from the book of Tobit and Tobiah and Sarah find themselves praying on their honeymoon and these are the words they use:
"Lord you know I take this wife of mine not because of Lust but for a noble purpose, Call down your mercy on me and on her and allow us olive together to a happy old age."
They began their wedding night together with prayer and acknowledgment of Marriage as a noble vocation not just an ordinary event but that which has cosmic effects on the world.
It reminds of there word of Pope Francis as he addressed the crowd of couples engaged to be married. He said often times people are fearful of forever. They just aren't sure how the former can be achieved in a world that is so disposable and wasteful with commitments to each other.
Forever is not a question of duration as much as it is a question quality. If you let the Lord in to your marriage and life together then know that just as he multiplies the loaves and fish he can multiply your love and give anew fresh he day.
He recommended that couples pray daily a simple prayer: give us this day our daily love.
Here again the Lord is given the opportunity to work daily in the life of marriage his miraculous gift of transformation and allowing love to be fresh and fruitful each and every day.
This way love can truly conquer every difficulty for the Lord is present in it and working through it: Give us this day our daily love!
Give it a try!
Then when it doubt focus on the three A's of marriage: attention, affection, appreciation.
Attention to detail, affection from the heart for the heart, and appreciation that takes nothing for granted.
Sunday, July 17, 2016
One thing
Genesis 18:1-10; Ps 15 He who does justice will live in the presence of the Lord; Colossians 1:24-28; Luke 10:38-42
What have you done for God lately? What have you done for God today?
What do you do for God in your daily life?
I ask these questions because at some point our life of faith engenders this kind of response to life as St Paul tells whether we live or die we do it for the Lord.
Think about the thoughts and words and actions that go into this day; of those which will be offered for the Lord.
Often times we are busy gaging our actions for the Lord, or at least we we think, though much is for ourselves and not for the Lord.
But at the heart of today's readings is not so much what we are doing for the Lord but what the Lord has done for us.
What has God down for us, for you and me today?
Martha is concerned for what she can do for Jesus but her anxiety arises because she has forgotten what Jesus can do for her, the very same thing Mary realizes as she sits at Jesus' feet.
We can run around on our two feet like martha or we can sit at His two feet and listen for this is the one thing necessary.
Our anchor isn't what we can do for the Lord but what he can do for us.
We must listen first to him before we can do anything. Listening to him speak is essential to transforming our society and our culture.
Being mindful of his presence and action in our life is essential to not getting overwhelmed by the anxiety of living, the worries and work and the load that often is associated with life and love.
Mary reveals this to us perfectly or rather Jesus reveals this to us in Mary's posture before him.
Each day, throughout the day ask the Lord to show what he has done. Be mindful of his presence. Surrender the work load of life in to his merciful embrace. Console his heart by trusting his loving gaze that accompanies us daily in our journey and walk such manner that e never forsake the better part but allow it to transform each day a new.
What have you done for God lately? What have you done for God today?
What do you do for God in your daily life?
I ask these questions because at some point our life of faith engenders this kind of response to life as St Paul tells whether we live or die we do it for the Lord.
Think about the thoughts and words and actions that go into this day; of those which will be offered for the Lord.
Often times we are busy gaging our actions for the Lord, or at least we we think, though much is for ourselves and not for the Lord.
But at the heart of today's readings is not so much what we are doing for the Lord but what the Lord has done for us.
What has God down for us, for you and me today?
Martha is concerned for what she can do for Jesus but her anxiety arises because she has forgotten what Jesus can do for her, the very same thing Mary realizes as she sits at Jesus' feet.
We can run around on our two feet like martha or we can sit at His two feet and listen for this is the one thing necessary.
Our anchor isn't what we can do for the Lord but what he can do for us.
We must listen first to him before we can do anything. Listening to him speak is essential to transforming our society and our culture.
Being mindful of his presence and action in our life is essential to not getting overwhelmed by the anxiety of living, the worries and work and the load that often is associated with life and love.
Mary reveals this to us perfectly or rather Jesus reveals this to us in Mary's posture before him.
Each day, throughout the day ask the Lord to show what he has done. Be mindful of his presence. Surrender the work load of life in to his merciful embrace. Console his heart by trusting his loving gaze that accompanies us daily in our journey and walk such manner that e never forsake the better part but allow it to transform each day a new.
Friday, July 8, 2016
MISSION OF MESSINESS
Hosea 14:2-10; Ps 51 My mouth will declare your praise; Matt 10:16-23
"Behold, I am sending you like sheep in the midst of wolves; so be shrewd as serpents and simple as doves. But beware of men..."
Again the apostles are sent on mission or is it they are mission. Listen to the words of Pope Paul VI:
"the church doesn't have a mission; it is a mission" according to now St. Pope Paul VI. What is that mission but simply this to cause the merciful face of Jesus to gaze upon everyone in the world.
When Pope Francis was elected our pope during an interview about the election he was asked, "who is Jorge Mario Bergoglio and after a pause he said, "a sinner whom the Lord has looked upon." At the heart of this catholic thing we call church and life of grace is an encounter between us sinners and the God of amazing grace.
This is the task plain and simple.
As Hosea reminds us in today's first reading,
"Thus say the Lord, I will heal their defection; I will love them freely...I will be like the dew for Israel: he shall blossom like a lilly, he shall strike root like the cedar of Lebanon, and put forth its shoots. His splendor like the olive tree and fragrance like the cedar...They shall blossom like the vine and his fame shall be like the wine of Lebanon."
I will heal their defection and I will love them freely!
Pope Francis on his visit to South America told the young people the following,
"Make a mess, but then also help to tidy it up. A mess which gives us a free heart, a mess which gives us solidarity, a mess which gives us hope."
Go make a mess!
"Behold, I am sending you like sheep in the midst of wolves; so be shrewd as serpents and simple as doves. But beware of men..."
Again the apostles are sent on mission or is it they are mission. Listen to the words of Pope Paul VI:
"the church doesn't have a mission; it is a mission" according to now St. Pope Paul VI. What is that mission but simply this to cause the merciful face of Jesus to gaze upon everyone in the world.
When Pope Francis was elected our pope during an interview about the election he was asked, "who is Jorge Mario Bergoglio and after a pause he said, "a sinner whom the Lord has looked upon." At the heart of this catholic thing we call church and life of grace is an encounter between us sinners and the God of amazing grace.
This is the task plain and simple.
As Hosea reminds us in today's first reading,
"Thus say the Lord, I will heal their defection; I will love them freely...I will be like the dew for Israel: he shall blossom like a lilly, he shall strike root like the cedar of Lebanon, and put forth its shoots. His splendor like the olive tree and fragrance like the cedar...They shall blossom like the vine and his fame shall be like the wine of Lebanon."
I will heal their defection and I will love them freely!
Pope Francis on his visit to South America told the young people the following,
"Make a mess, but then also help to tidy it up. A mess which gives us a free heart, a mess which gives us solidarity, a mess which gives us hope."
Go make a mess!
Saturday, July 2, 2016
TWO BY TWO
Luke 10:1-12,17-20
In today's gospel we read these words, "At that time the Lord appointed seventy-two others whose he sent ahead of him in pairs to every town and place he intended to visit."
First question in regards to this reading is: who are the 72? What do they consist of as they go out? Who makes up these pairs that Jesus sends ahead of him?
If we think it is only men who are priest or religious professed men and women in habits then we would be sadly mistaken.
We have to get that notion out of our heads. Missionary activity is not reserved only for those who wear the collar or the religious habits i.e. the friars, monks, sisters, nuns. No way is this what Jesus meant.
The pairs that are sent out is representative of the whole; it consist of men, women, young adults, maybe even children. I would assume it consists of husbands and wives, grandparents and cousins. It may be neighbors working in tandem.
It is everyone and all of us.
What doe this missionary activity look like? Do they need special training and theological studies?
Poep Francis in his homily for St Junipero Serra last September spoke these words,
"Mission is always the fruit of a life which knows what it is to be found and healed, encountered and forgiven. Mission is born of a constant experience of God’s merciful anointing."
This is what it means to be a missionary; we simply introduce others to the experience we ourselves have first had.
We share the encounter and experience of being found and healed, encountered and forgiven. We give away what we ourselves have first received.
All missionary work commences here at this point.
We ask ourselves, "Have we encountered the risen Lord? Have we be found and healed and forgiven? These are the tools of the trade when it comes to missionary activity in our life.
If w have not encountered the risen Lord or the love of the Father then we must ask him to show us. He who has commissioned us will certainly give us was we need as we go forth.
Lastly, notice Jesus sends the pairs out the cities he intended to visit. How does Jesus visit these towns? He visits them through the disciples themselves. As they share their encounter with Christ the others begin to experience the presence of Jesus himself.
In particularly, I think of husbands and wives, that ready made dynamic duo, pairs sent forth to share the joy of Christ.
This is why the church calls the family a domestic church.
Rooted in their vows as husbands and wives is this notion and reality of being a missionary. In fact the opening prayer at wedding ceremonies is inviting the bride and groom to becomes living witness of God' love.
Go forth. Carry the joy of Jesus in being found, healed, encountered, forgiven.
Go forth two by two and by our presence may Jesus be experienced in the lives of others.
In today's gospel we read these words, "At that time the Lord appointed seventy-two others whose he sent ahead of him in pairs to every town and place he intended to visit."
First question in regards to this reading is: who are the 72? What do they consist of as they go out? Who makes up these pairs that Jesus sends ahead of him?
If we think it is only men who are priest or religious professed men and women in habits then we would be sadly mistaken.
We have to get that notion out of our heads. Missionary activity is not reserved only for those who wear the collar or the religious habits i.e. the friars, monks, sisters, nuns. No way is this what Jesus meant.
The pairs that are sent out is representative of the whole; it consist of men, women, young adults, maybe even children. I would assume it consists of husbands and wives, grandparents and cousins. It may be neighbors working in tandem.
It is everyone and all of us.
What doe this missionary activity look like? Do they need special training and theological studies?
Poep Francis in his homily for St Junipero Serra last September spoke these words,
"Mission is always the fruit of a life which knows what it is to be found and healed, encountered and forgiven. Mission is born of a constant experience of God’s merciful anointing."
This is what it means to be a missionary; we simply introduce others to the experience we ourselves have first had.
We share the encounter and experience of being found and healed, encountered and forgiven. We give away what we ourselves have first received.
All missionary work commences here at this point.
We ask ourselves, "Have we encountered the risen Lord? Have we be found and healed and forgiven? These are the tools of the trade when it comes to missionary activity in our life.
If w have not encountered the risen Lord or the love of the Father then we must ask him to show us. He who has commissioned us will certainly give us was we need as we go forth.
Lastly, notice Jesus sends the pairs out the cities he intended to visit. How does Jesus visit these towns? He visits them through the disciples themselves. As they share their encounter with Christ the others begin to experience the presence of Jesus himself.
In particularly, I think of husbands and wives, that ready made dynamic duo, pairs sent forth to share the joy of Christ.
This is why the church calls the family a domestic church.
Rooted in their vows as husbands and wives is this notion and reality of being a missionary. In fact the opening prayer at wedding ceremonies is inviting the bride and groom to becomes living witness of God' love.
Go forth. Carry the joy of Jesus in being found, healed, encountered, forgiven.
Go forth two by two and by our presence may Jesus be experienced in the lives of others.
Friday, July 1, 2016
SIEMPRE ADELANTE
Amos 8:4-6,9-12; Ps 119 One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God; Matthew 9:9-13
Here is an excerpt from Pope Francis Homily for the Canonization of Junipero Serra this past september. Today is his feast day.
Father Serra had a motto which inspired his life and work, a saying he lived his life by: siempre adelante! Keep moving forward! For him, this was the way to continue experiencing the joy of the Gospel, to keep his heart from growing numb, from being anesthetized. He kept moving forward, because the Lord was waiting. He kept going, because his brothers and sisters were waiting. He kept going forward to the end of his life. Today, like him, may we be able to say: Forward! Let’s keep moving forward!
When Jesus invites Matthew to follow him in today's gospel, it is is an invitation to keep moving forward. It is an invitation to the great adventure of sharing the joy of the gospel. It is an invitation to blaze new trails of life and love.
It is an invitation to cast off mediocrity and to be concerned with things that matter most of all.
"Follow Me."
This is not just for the ordained or religious professed but this is for all of us. Each of us find our joy in heeding that invitation of JEsus, "Follow Me!"
It means we unite our hearts in love to Christ, hunting our hearts to the love of Christ. This is what it means to follow and move forward.
Let us all keep moving forward in the joy of Christ: Siempre Adelante!
Here is an excerpt from Pope Francis Homily for the Canonization of Junipero Serra this past september. Today is his feast day.
Father Serra had a motto which inspired his life and work, a saying he lived his life by: siempre adelante! Keep moving forward! For him, this was the way to continue experiencing the joy of the Gospel, to keep his heart from growing numb, from being anesthetized. He kept moving forward, because the Lord was waiting. He kept going, because his brothers and sisters were waiting. He kept going forward to the end of his life. Today, like him, may we be able to say: Forward! Let’s keep moving forward!
When Jesus invites Matthew to follow him in today's gospel, it is is an invitation to keep moving forward. It is an invitation to the great adventure of sharing the joy of the gospel. It is an invitation to blaze new trails of life and love.
It is an invitation to cast off mediocrity and to be concerned with things that matter most of all.
"Follow Me."
This is not just for the ordained or religious professed but this is for all of us. Each of us find our joy in heeding that invitation of JEsus, "Follow Me!"
It means we unite our hearts in love to Christ, hunting our hearts to the love of Christ. This is what it means to follow and move forward.
Let us all keep moving forward in the joy of Christ: Siempre Adelante!
ON JUNIPERO SERRA FEAST, WORDS FROM FRANCIS
Rejoice in the Lord always! I say it again, rejoice! These are striking words, words which impact our lives. Paul tells us to rejoice; he practically orders us to rejoice. This command resonates with the desire we all have for a fulfilling life, a meaningful life, a joyful life. It is as if Paul could hear what each one of us is thinking in his or her heart and to voice what we are feeling, what we are experiencing. Something deep within us invites us to rejoice and tells us not to settle for placebos which always keep us comfortable.
At the same time, though, we all know the struggles of everyday life. So much seems to stand in the way of this invitation to rejoice. Our daily routine can often lead us to a kind of glum apathy which gradually becomes a habit, with a fatal consequence: our hearts grow numb.
We don’t want apathy to guide our lives… or do we? We don’t want the force of habit to rule our life… or do we? So we ought to ask ourselves: What can we do to keep our heart from growing numb, becoming anesthetized? How do we make the joy of the Gospel increase and take deeper root in our lives?
Jesus gives the answer. He said to his disciples then and he says it to us now: Go forth! Proclaim! The joy of the Gospel is something to be experienced, something to be known and lived only through giving it away, through giving ourselves away.
The spirit of the world tells us to be like everyone else, to settle for what comes easy. Faced with this human way of thinking, “we must regain the conviction that we need one another, that we have a shared responsibility for others and for the world” (Laudato Si’, 229). It is the responsibility to proclaim the message of Jesus. For the source of our joy is “an endless desire to show mercy, the fruit of our own experience of the power of the Father’s infinite mercy” (Evangelii Gaudium, 24). Go out to all, proclaim by anointing and anoint by proclaiming. This is what the Lord tells us today. He tells us:
A Christian finds joy in mission: Go out to people of every nation!
A Christian experiences joy in following a command: Go forth and proclaim the good news!
A Christian finds ever new joy in answering a call: Go forth and anoint!
Jesus sends his disciples out to all nations. To every people. We too were part of all those people of two thousand years ago. Jesus did not provide a short list of who is, or is not, worthy of receiving his message and his presence. Instead, he always embraced life as he saw it. In faces of pain, hunger, sickness and sin. In faces of wounds, of thirst, of weariness, doubt and pity. Far from expecting a pretty life, smartly-dressed and neatly groomed, he embraced life as he found it. It made no difference whether it was dirty, unkempt, broken. Jesus said: Go out and tell the good news to everyone. Go out and in my name embrace life as it is, and not as you think it should be. Go out to the highways and byways, go out to tell the good news fearlessly, without prejudice, without superiority, without condescension, to all those who have lost the joy of living. Go out to proclaim the merciful embrace of the Father. Go out to those who are burdened by pain and failure, who feel that their lives are empty, and proclaim the folly of a loving Father who wants to anoint them with the oil of hope, the oil of salvation. Go out to proclaim the good news that error, deceitful illusions and falsehoods do not have the last word in a person’s life. Go out with the ointment which soothes wounds and heals hearts.
Mission is never the fruit of a perfectly planned program or a well-organized manual. Mission is always the fruit of a life which knows what it is to be found and healed, encountered and forgiven. Mission is born of a constant experience of God’s merciful anointing.
The Church, the holy People of God, treads the dust-laden paths of history, so often traversed by conflict, injustice and violence, in order to encounter her children, our brothers and sisters. The holy and faithful People of God are not afraid of losing their way; they are afraid of becoming self-enclosed, frozen into élites, clinging to their own security. They know that self-enclosure, in all the many forms it takes, is the cause of so much apathy.
So let us go out, let us go forth to offer everyone the life of Jesus Christ (Evangelii Gaudium, 49). The People of God can embrace everyone because we are the disciples of the One who knelt before his own to wash their feet (ibid., 24).
We are here today, we can be here today, because many people wanted to respond to that call. They believed that “life grows by being given away, and it weakens in isolation and comfort” (Aparecida Document, 360). We are heirs to the bold missionary spirit of so many men and women who preferred not to be “shut up within structures which give us a false sense of security… within habits which make us feel safe, while at our door people are starving” (Evangelii Gaudium, 49). We are indebted to a tradition, a chain of witnesses who have made it possible for the good news of the Gospel to be, in every generation, both “good” and “news”.
Today we remember one of those witnesses who testified to the joy of the Gospel in these lands, Father JunÃpero Serra. He was the embodiment of “a Church which goes forth”, a Church which sets out to bring everywhere the reconciling tenderness of God. JunÃpero Serra left his native land and its way of life. He was excited about blazing trails, going forth to meet many people, learning and valuing their particular customs and ways of life. He learned how to bring to birth and nurture God’s life in the faces of everyone he met; he made them his brothers and sisters. JunÃpero sought to defend the dignity of the native community, to protect it from those who had mistreated and abused it. Mistreatment and wrongs which today still trouble us, especially because of the hurt which they cause in the lives of many people.
Father Serra had a motto which inspired his life and work, not just a saying, but above all a reality which shaped the way he lived: siempre adelante! Keep moving forward! For him, this was the way to continue experiencing the joy of the Gospel, to keep his heart from growing numb, from being anesthetized. He kept moving forward, because the Lord was waiting. He kept going, because his brothers and sisters were waiting. He kept going forward to the end of his life. Today, like him, may we be able to say: Forward! Let’s keep moving forward!
Thursday, June 30, 2016
DESIRE
Open you heart to Jesus as it is not as you wish it to be. We ask Jesus to align our hearts to his.
Dear Jesus, I give you my heart. If my desire is not in harmony with your desire then by your wisdom and love change it. Dear Jesus, I can not change my desire on my own, for I am too week. Dear Jesus, you can do it. I entrust you to do it, to change my desire. I thank you in advance for doing it.
Dear Jesus, I give you my heart. If my desire is not in harmony with your desire then by your wisdom and love change it. Dear Jesus, I can not change my desire on my own, for I am too week. Dear Jesus, you can do it. I entrust you to do it, to change my desire. I thank you in advance for doing it.
UNTIE BY LOVE
Acts 3:1-10; PS 19 Their message goes out through all the earth; Galatians 1:11-20; John 21:15-19
Untie by love that which is bound by your fear.
These are the words of St Augustine in today's office of readings in regards to his commentary on the solemnity of Peter and Paul. It is a commentary he writes in regards to Jesus asking Peter if he loves him three times in the gospel of John.
Jesus question of love is an invitation for Peter to untie by love the which was bound by his fear.
Think about fear and love for a moment.
How do they interact in our lives on a regular basis? So often, we are both blinded by love, we say, and blinded by fear. This is not so. Love does not blind but fear does.
Love binds us to true freedom. Fear blinds us to the truth that is before us.
Peter and Paul learned to untie by love what was bound by their fear.
Paul had great fear for the christians, so much so he persecuted prior to his own conversion. But upon encountering Christ on the road, his eyes were opened, literally scales were removed, and he began to see things differently as love often does for us. Paul put up walls because of his fear of Christians. He refused to understand them. He refused to get to know them. His prejudicial fear forced him to seek to kill what he was afraid of in life.
Peter was bound by fear, fear of being associated with Christ and afraid for his life, so much so he denies Christ three times on that Holy Thursday night. He was afraid others might know who he really was so he built walls of deception and lies, "i don't know the man." Fear paralyzed him and created walls.
Yet both were to encounter true love that was to set the free and unbind their fear. Peter on the shore of the sea of Galilee i the threefold invitation, "Peter, Do you love me." Peter did not meet condemnation but gentle invitation to come and see love.
Paul on the road to damascus. The bright light of love set Paul free from his fear and anger.
Both at the end of their life illustrate this love that unbound their fear. Paul was willing to lose his head as a Christian, no longer afraid of them but shedding his love as one. Peter no longer afraid of the cost of discipleship but now willing to give all as one to be crucified upside down.
Untie by love what fear bounds. It is not our love that unbinds fear but his love.
Where do we need this love to set us free, to unbind the fear that has paralyzed us in life and caused walls to be erected. His love comes to unbind the fear.
Untie by love what fear bounds.
Untie by love that which is bound by your fear.
These are the words of St Augustine in today's office of readings in regards to his commentary on the solemnity of Peter and Paul. It is a commentary he writes in regards to Jesus asking Peter if he loves him three times in the gospel of John.
Jesus question of love is an invitation for Peter to untie by love the which was bound by his fear.
Think about fear and love for a moment.
How do they interact in our lives on a regular basis? So often, we are both blinded by love, we say, and blinded by fear. This is not so. Love does not blind but fear does.
Love binds us to true freedom. Fear blinds us to the truth that is before us.
Peter and Paul learned to untie by love what was bound by their fear.
Paul had great fear for the christians, so much so he persecuted prior to his own conversion. But upon encountering Christ on the road, his eyes were opened, literally scales were removed, and he began to see things differently as love often does for us. Paul put up walls because of his fear of Christians. He refused to understand them. He refused to get to know them. His prejudicial fear forced him to seek to kill what he was afraid of in life.
Peter was bound by fear, fear of being associated with Christ and afraid for his life, so much so he denies Christ three times on that Holy Thursday night. He was afraid others might know who he really was so he built walls of deception and lies, "i don't know the man." Fear paralyzed him and created walls.
Yet both were to encounter true love that was to set the free and unbind their fear. Peter on the shore of the sea of Galilee i the threefold invitation, "Peter, Do you love me." Peter did not meet condemnation but gentle invitation to come and see love.
Paul on the road to damascus. The bright light of love set Paul free from his fear and anger.
Both at the end of their life illustrate this love that unbound their fear. Paul was willing to lose his head as a Christian, no longer afraid of them but shedding his love as one. Peter no longer afraid of the cost of discipleship but now willing to give all as one to be crucified upside down.
Untie by love what fear bounds. It is not our love that unbinds fear but his love.
Where do we need this love to set us free, to unbind the fear that has paralyzed us in life and caused walls to be erected. His love comes to unbind the fear.
Untie by love what fear bounds.
Monday, June 27, 2016
But first
Amos 2:6-10;13-16; Ps 50 Remember this, you who never think of God; Matthew 8:18-22
"And the stouthearted of warriors shall flee naked on that day, say the LORD."
What an interesting image. Think about Stouthearted warriors for a moment. What comes to mind? Burly and bearded men with axes and blades, scarred and ready for more. These are men with our fear. These are folks who have been battle worn and tested.
They have seen the fight. They have blood in their eyes. They invoke nightmares in others. Stouthearted warriors are those one doesn't mess around with. I think of the song, "Don't mess around with Jim."
You just don't mess with these guys unless you have a death wish.
Yet before the might of the LORD these might warriors, these men of terror, tuck their tail and flee naked. Certainly, makes us rethink about the might of God.
And then in the Gospel we have Mark's version of the gospel from this past weekend.
The response of the disciple to Jesus is quite telling, "Lord, let me go first and..."
Again, what reasons do we come up with in not following the Lord. What is our "but first" in life that causes us to delaying following Jesus and his church more faithfully and totally.
What other priority do we place before the Lord in his call for us?
"And the stouthearted of warriors shall flee naked on that day, say the LORD."
What an interesting image. Think about Stouthearted warriors for a moment. What comes to mind? Burly and bearded men with axes and blades, scarred and ready for more. These are men with our fear. These are folks who have been battle worn and tested.
They have seen the fight. They have blood in their eyes. They invoke nightmares in others. Stouthearted warriors are those one doesn't mess around with. I think of the song, "Don't mess around with Jim."
You just don't mess with these guys unless you have a death wish.
Yet before the might of the LORD these might warriors, these men of terror, tuck their tail and flee naked. Certainly, makes us rethink about the might of God.
And then in the Gospel we have Mark's version of the gospel from this past weekend.
The response of the disciple to Jesus is quite telling, "Lord, let me go first and..."
Again, what reasons do we come up with in not following the Lord. What is our "but first" in life that causes us to delaying following Jesus and his church more faithfully and totally.
What other priority do we place before the Lord in his call for us?
Saturday, June 25, 2016
TRAVEL CARD AND MORE
1 kings 19:16,19-21; Psalm 16 You are my inheritance, O Lord; Galatians 5:1,13-18; Luke 9:51-62
Several things for the readings for today.
One I would like to revisit a thought from earlier this week in regards to the book of Kings. The books kings, though entitled such, makes us think the focus is on the kings and the kingdom but in reality the focus is in on the prophets God calls to direct and guide the kingdom and the kings. In particular, Elijah and Elisha are the headliners for the book of Kings.
So why would they need the prophets anyway? Well the people, as well as, the kings themselves, had a tendency to sink to the level of their surroundings. Rather than being set apart and embracing their call to holiness as we are told in the OT, "be holy for I the Lord you God am holy," they both, the people of the kingdom and the kings, would allow themselves to to be swept away with the culture of the times or "the rites of the nations" and they needed purifying and redirecting constantly.
It is a reminder to us as well. How quickly can we be subdued by the cultural surroundings, the secular motives that invade our homes and work places in a variety of ways: TV sitcoms, Movies, articles, music and the like and just to name a few?
We need to be on our toes. The devil wants nothing more than to have us sink to the level of our surroundings and to just blend in rather than stand out and be set apart. As Christians we cannot live like everyone else. There is something different about us. Holiness means to be different, set apart, to stand out.
This is why in the gospel, Jesus gives us that radical call to discipleship, that is to follow him immediately and entirely, fully and completely. Everything we do should be regulated and elevated by our following of Jesus. Even in regards to our family; our family ties must be put in the right order and proper place. Jesus doesn't tell us to cut our ties with our family but rather let our relationship with him give them their proper direction and situate them in their proper order of importance.
"No one who puts their hand to plow and looks what is left behind is fit for the kingdom."
We often are asked by society to look at our physical fitness or our emotional fitness for life and jobs and relationships. What is our spiritual fitness and what does it look like? If we could measure our spiritual fitness, what measure would we use? Jesus gives us the tools in today's gospel for checking our spiritual fitness!
Where are we attached to other things in our life that hinder our connection to Jesus himself.
What keeps us from immediate and total commitment?
These attachments are our sinking into our surroundings and blending in rather than being set apart and standing out. Sometimes we have to remove things from our life in order o give ourselves fully to him.
Lastly, we see in today's gospel Jesus has set his face to Jerusalem. Thus, begins the travel narrative of Jesus. Which brings me to the prison and the ministry we do out there regularly.
The Inmates, the men in white as we call them, have to declare their religious affiliation before attending services, whichever services they attend. This affiliation is called their travel card.
When they change religious affiliation they have to put in a request to change their travel card. Our faith is in some sense a travel card. It is both about where we are headed but also in more impactful way how we travel there in this life.
Jesus's command for immediate and total commitment to Him is about our travel card and how we travel through life. How we travel is meant to impact the people around us. This is how we make disciples, by being a disciple in all we do as we travel this road of pilgrim. Since Pope France has been elected he has zoomed in on the reality of life being a pilgrimage, we all have a travel card and we all travel.
How do we travel? What level of commitment do we have in life to Jesus? How do others experience and are impacted by that commitment we carry with us as we travel? Check your spiritual fitness today? What needs to be removed from us so that we might be more attached to Jesus and his church he has founded? How do we travel along the path of pilgrimage and make disciples as we go?
Pax et Bonum
Several things for the readings for today.
One I would like to revisit a thought from earlier this week in regards to the book of Kings. The books kings, though entitled such, makes us think the focus is on the kings and the kingdom but in reality the focus is in on the prophets God calls to direct and guide the kingdom and the kings. In particular, Elijah and Elisha are the headliners for the book of Kings.
So why would they need the prophets anyway? Well the people, as well as, the kings themselves, had a tendency to sink to the level of their surroundings. Rather than being set apart and embracing their call to holiness as we are told in the OT, "be holy for I the Lord you God am holy," they both, the people of the kingdom and the kings, would allow themselves to to be swept away with the culture of the times or "the rites of the nations" and they needed purifying and redirecting constantly.
It is a reminder to us as well. How quickly can we be subdued by the cultural surroundings, the secular motives that invade our homes and work places in a variety of ways: TV sitcoms, Movies, articles, music and the like and just to name a few?
We need to be on our toes. The devil wants nothing more than to have us sink to the level of our surroundings and to just blend in rather than stand out and be set apart. As Christians we cannot live like everyone else. There is something different about us. Holiness means to be different, set apart, to stand out.
This is why in the gospel, Jesus gives us that radical call to discipleship, that is to follow him immediately and entirely, fully and completely. Everything we do should be regulated and elevated by our following of Jesus. Even in regards to our family; our family ties must be put in the right order and proper place. Jesus doesn't tell us to cut our ties with our family but rather let our relationship with him give them their proper direction and situate them in their proper order of importance.
"No one who puts their hand to plow and looks what is left behind is fit for the kingdom."
We often are asked by society to look at our physical fitness or our emotional fitness for life and jobs and relationships. What is our spiritual fitness and what does it look like? If we could measure our spiritual fitness, what measure would we use? Jesus gives us the tools in today's gospel for checking our spiritual fitness!
Where are we attached to other things in our life that hinder our connection to Jesus himself.
What keeps us from immediate and total commitment?
These attachments are our sinking into our surroundings and blending in rather than being set apart and standing out. Sometimes we have to remove things from our life in order o give ourselves fully to him.
Lastly, we see in today's gospel Jesus has set his face to Jerusalem. Thus, begins the travel narrative of Jesus. Which brings me to the prison and the ministry we do out there regularly.
The Inmates, the men in white as we call them, have to declare their religious affiliation before attending services, whichever services they attend. This affiliation is called their travel card.
When they change religious affiliation they have to put in a request to change their travel card. Our faith is in some sense a travel card. It is both about where we are headed but also in more impactful way how we travel there in this life.
Jesus's command for immediate and total commitment to Him is about our travel card and how we travel through life. How we travel is meant to impact the people around us. This is how we make disciples, by being a disciple in all we do as we travel this road of pilgrim. Since Pope France has been elected he has zoomed in on the reality of life being a pilgrimage, we all have a travel card and we all travel.
How do we travel? What level of commitment do we have in life to Jesus? How do others experience and are impacted by that commitment we carry with us as we travel? Check your spiritual fitness today? What needs to be removed from us so that we might be more attached to Jesus and his church he has founded? How do we travel along the path of pilgrimage and make disciples as we go?
Pax et Bonum
Wednesday, June 22, 2016
ACCIDENTAL OR PROVIDENTIAL
2 kings 22:8-13; 23:1-3; Psalm 119 Teach me the way of your decrees, O Lord; Matthew 7:15-20
In the first reading for today we have a so called accidental discovery of a forgotten scroll detailing the statues of God for the people of Israel. The scroll accidentally discovered while renovations of the temple were underway seemed to be a real and necessary turning point for the people of Israel.
Interesting.
How often have so called "accidental" events or discoveries in our life have led us to turning point for the better? How often we find ourselves in relationships or situations where we can't really map out how we arrived but are overwhelmed with gratitude that we are where we are?
It makes us wonder whether or not there are accidents in life? Or does the providence of God always give us the opportunity to respond to the moment in such a way that it leads us to a deeper understanding of who we are in relationship to God and one another as the finding of the scroll did for the nation of Israel.
The king could have discarded the find. The king could have buried it under more debris. Yet, he chose a different path and allowed the moment to be light for the path that led not only him but all the nation back to right relationship with God.
In the gospel Jesus speaks about good fruit. What is the proof go goodness? How do we value it and classify it in our lives and the lives of others?
We are told a good tree cannot bear bad fruit. Often times we look at ourselves and we, like St Paul, discover that we do not the good we want but do the evil we do not want. We find this wrestling match inside of us. Yet, as much as we try to surrender our life to God we find ourselves struggling with some of the fruit we bear as not fitting for the kingdom or for the faith we profess.
Yet, Even this can bear good fruit in the life of the world. Even our sinfulness can be a source of grace as St Paul proclaims where sin abound grace abound even more and again, all things work for Good for those who love God. The good fruit isn't always about us and what we are doing though we seek to continually love God and neighbor.
No! sometimes the good fruit ifsabout what God can do even with the worst we offer. This is the good news. We shouldn't stop trying to respond generously to God's grace but at the same time we must always know God alone will have the last say and produce the greatest harvest. It is no accident but providence.
In the first reading for today we have a so called accidental discovery of a forgotten scroll detailing the statues of God for the people of Israel. The scroll accidentally discovered while renovations of the temple were underway seemed to be a real and necessary turning point for the people of Israel.
Interesting.
How often have so called "accidental" events or discoveries in our life have led us to turning point for the better? How often we find ourselves in relationships or situations where we can't really map out how we arrived but are overwhelmed with gratitude that we are where we are?
It makes us wonder whether or not there are accidents in life? Or does the providence of God always give us the opportunity to respond to the moment in such a way that it leads us to a deeper understanding of who we are in relationship to God and one another as the finding of the scroll did for the nation of Israel.
The king could have discarded the find. The king could have buried it under more debris. Yet, he chose a different path and allowed the moment to be light for the path that led not only him but all the nation back to right relationship with God.
In the gospel Jesus speaks about good fruit. What is the proof go goodness? How do we value it and classify it in our lives and the lives of others?
We are told a good tree cannot bear bad fruit. Often times we look at ourselves and we, like St Paul, discover that we do not the good we want but do the evil we do not want. We find this wrestling match inside of us. Yet, as much as we try to surrender our life to God we find ourselves struggling with some of the fruit we bear as not fitting for the kingdom or for the faith we profess.
Yet, Even this can bear good fruit in the life of the world. Even our sinfulness can be a source of grace as St Paul proclaims where sin abound grace abound even more and again, all things work for Good for those who love God. The good fruit isn't always about us and what we are doing though we seek to continually love God and neighbor.
No! sometimes the good fruit ifsabout what God can do even with the worst we offer. This is the good news. We shouldn't stop trying to respond generously to God's grace but at the same time we must always know God alone will have the last say and produce the greatest harvest. It is no accident but providence.
Narrow Gate
2 kings 19; Matthew 7:6,12-14
We encounter a strange reality in the first reading. The King of Assyria has just sent a messenger to the king of Israel, Hezekiah, basically telling him that doom is on the horizon. The King of Assyria tells the king of Israel that he is coming and there is nothing that can be done to avoid the inevitable that is destruction and bondage.
The king of Israel, rather than form him self a strategy team and gather the troops for defense or reach out to others to make alliance, rather than gathering his elite soldiers in his war room he goes to the temple.
He goes to the war room of prayer. He prostrates himself before the Lord and prays. His prayer is beautiful. What is so amazing about it is that he makes his prayer about God, his request about God, not about himself, "Therefore, O LORD, our God, save us from the power of this man, that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that you alone, O LORD, are God."
He makes his prayer about God. God is at the center of his prayer not himself or even his nation.
How often when we pray we make our prayer about ourselves rather than about God? How often we pray with our selves at the center rather than God being at the center?
It is worth investigating.
The next time we pray, see if we can make the prayer about God and not about us, about how God will reveal himself through the prayer rather than just getting what we want.
Jesus tells us in the gospel about the narrow gate. What is the narrow gate other than the mercy of God. It is not about our successes or achievement or any merit of our own. All we have in the end is God's mercy offered and received. The is how we know we are on the narrow path, our focus is on the mercy of God and how it leads us forth.
We encounter a strange reality in the first reading. The King of Assyria has just sent a messenger to the king of Israel, Hezekiah, basically telling him that doom is on the horizon. The King of Assyria tells the king of Israel that he is coming and there is nothing that can be done to avoid the inevitable that is destruction and bondage.
The king of Israel, rather than form him self a strategy team and gather the troops for defense or reach out to others to make alliance, rather than gathering his elite soldiers in his war room he goes to the temple.
He goes to the war room of prayer. He prostrates himself before the Lord and prays. His prayer is beautiful. What is so amazing about it is that he makes his prayer about God, his request about God, not about himself, "Therefore, O LORD, our God, save us from the power of this man, that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that you alone, O LORD, are God."
He makes his prayer about God. God is at the center of his prayer not himself or even his nation.
How often when we pray we make our prayer about ourselves rather than about God? How often we pray with our selves at the center rather than God being at the center?
It is worth investigating.
The next time we pray, see if we can make the prayer about God and not about us, about how God will reveal himself through the prayer rather than just getting what we want.
Jesus tells us in the gospel about the narrow gate. What is the narrow gate other than the mercy of God. It is not about our successes or achievement or any merit of our own. All we have in the end is God's mercy offered and received. The is how we know we are on the narrow path, our focus is on the mercy of God and how it leads us forth.
BLEND IN
2 Kings 17 Matthew 7:1-5
We read in the first reading for this past monday that the people of Israel were being removed from their land and their homes. They were being exiled. The king of Assyria deported the people of Israel from Samaria to Assyria.
Imagine such a tragedy if you can.
The question is why did this happened?
We are told this "came about because the children of Israel sinned against the LORD…by following the rites of the nations…"
What does this mean?
It means the children of Israel sunk to the level of their surroundings. They were busy blending in when God had asked them to be set apart, to stand out, to be different. But rather, they chose the route of least resistance and allowed themselves to sink to the level of their surroundings and blend in than being true leaven for society.
what about us in our life today?
How often are we tempted to sink to the level of our surroundings and just bled in?
This is what the devil wants. The devil wants us to blend in, to become children of complacence, to follow the path of least resistance.
Think about where in our life we have blend in and become one with our surroundings?
Where is God inviting us to stand out and be set apart? Holiness means to be different, set apart, stand out. This is our call and mission.
One of the areas we blend in most is areas of sexuality and sexual expression. We have thrown chastity out the window all in the false name of liberty.
We have sunk to the level of our surroundings.
Take a look today and see.
We read in the first reading for this past monday that the people of Israel were being removed from their land and their homes. They were being exiled. The king of Assyria deported the people of Israel from Samaria to Assyria.
Imagine such a tragedy if you can.
The question is why did this happened?
We are told this "came about because the children of Israel sinned against the LORD…by following the rites of the nations…"
What does this mean?
It means the children of Israel sunk to the level of their surroundings. They were busy blending in when God had asked them to be set apart, to stand out, to be different. But rather, they chose the route of least resistance and allowed themselves to sink to the level of their surroundings and blend in than being true leaven for society.
what about us in our life today?
How often are we tempted to sink to the level of our surroundings and just bled in?
This is what the devil wants. The devil wants us to blend in, to become children of complacence, to follow the path of least resistance.
Think about where in our life we have blend in and become one with our surroundings?
Where is God inviting us to stand out and be set apart? Holiness means to be different, set apart, stand out. This is our call and mission.
One of the areas we blend in most is areas of sexuality and sexual expression. We have thrown chastity out the window all in the false name of liberty.
We have sunk to the level of our surroundings.
Take a look today and see.
Thursday, June 16, 2016
FALL ASLEEP IN FRIENDSHIP
Sirach 48:1-14; PS 97 Rejoice in the Lord, you just; Matt 6:7-15
Here is a few words taken from the memorial in honor of Elijah as given to us from the book of Sirach, "Blessed is he who shall have seen you and who falls asleep in your friendship."
What a eulogy for Elijah the prophet of God the most high.
It just gives us a moment to reflect on friendship in our own lives. How are we friends? What does our friendship look like? Who in our life could say the same about us as is said about Elijah, "blessed is he who falls asleep in your friendship."
In the gospel we reflect on the prayer Jesus gives the disciples and to us, the "our Father."
The "Our Father" reminds us that the most effective prayer is both communal and other centered not about calling attention to ourselves hence it is "Our" father and "our" bread that is acknowledged.
The "Our Father" is often been called the perfect prayer because it contains all the elements that should mark our prayer: relationship, community, reverential awe, respect for the unfolding of God's kingdom in history, obedience, dependence, contrition, and the recognition of the presence of evil and its tug in our life, as well the power of God to lead us forth in confidence.
Let us live the "Our Father" and not just pray it today.
Here is a few words taken from the memorial in honor of Elijah as given to us from the book of Sirach, "Blessed is he who shall have seen you and who falls asleep in your friendship."
What a eulogy for Elijah the prophet of God the most high.
It just gives us a moment to reflect on friendship in our own lives. How are we friends? What does our friendship look like? Who in our life could say the same about us as is said about Elijah, "blessed is he who falls asleep in your friendship."
In the gospel we reflect on the prayer Jesus gives the disciples and to us, the "our Father."
The "Our Father" reminds us that the most effective prayer is both communal and other centered not about calling attention to ourselves hence it is "Our" father and "our" bread that is acknowledged.
The "Our Father" is often been called the perfect prayer because it contains all the elements that should mark our prayer: relationship, community, reverential awe, respect for the unfolding of God's kingdom in history, obedience, dependence, contrition, and the recognition of the presence of evil and its tug in our life, as well the power of God to lead us forth in confidence.
Let us live the "Our Father" and not just pray it today.
Tuesday, June 14, 2016
TO LOVE THE UNLOVABLE
1 kings 21:17-29; Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned; Matthew 5:43-48
Two things of note.
First, Ahab after coming to full realization of the wickedness and evil brought forth from him, replies with humility. His pride has been stripped away and he sits in sackcloth and ashes.
The royal attire which made him stand apart from all the rest is replaced by the sackcloth which unites him to all people of the earth, especially the people that he serves, the cloth of the common man.
Humility is ultimately that virtue or experience that helps us realize we are like everyone else in need of God's mercy.
God's response to Elijah is quite telling, "have you seen that Ahab has humbled himself before me?"
Think about experiences of humility in our own lives for a moment. When have we humbled ourselves before the Lord? When have we recognized that one thing that unites us all as a human family: the need for God's mercy!
Jesus tell us in today's gospel we should "love our enemies, pray for those who persecute you that you may be children of your heavenly Father."
Not many of us have enemies. Not many of us will every experience such realities in life. However, we do encounter people who we consider unlovable. Perhaps this is where Jesus is wanting us to direct our attention. He invites us to love the unlovable, those who we have personally judge unworthy or undeserving of our love for whatever reason, these are the ones who deserve our love in the eyes of God.
For in reality, we know that deserve has nothing to do with it. The question is, "Do we love those who God loves, those for whom his sun shines and rains fall, both on the just and unjust alike.
To be children of our heavenly Father simply means to allow our life to look like his especially in our treatment of others and all.
Be perfect! St Paul tells us that God has perfected those who he is sanctifying.
Perfection is a process by which we become who we are created to be. It is a daily experience of giving and receiving. It is the great adventure of life.
We joyfully push onward with this goal in mind.
Two things of note.
First, Ahab after coming to full realization of the wickedness and evil brought forth from him, replies with humility. His pride has been stripped away and he sits in sackcloth and ashes.
The royal attire which made him stand apart from all the rest is replaced by the sackcloth which unites him to all people of the earth, especially the people that he serves, the cloth of the common man.
Humility is ultimately that virtue or experience that helps us realize we are like everyone else in need of God's mercy.
God's response to Elijah is quite telling, "have you seen that Ahab has humbled himself before me?"
Think about experiences of humility in our own lives for a moment. When have we humbled ourselves before the Lord? When have we recognized that one thing that unites us all as a human family: the need for God's mercy!
Jesus tell us in today's gospel we should "love our enemies, pray for those who persecute you that you may be children of your heavenly Father."
Not many of us have enemies. Not many of us will every experience such realities in life. However, we do encounter people who we consider unlovable. Perhaps this is where Jesus is wanting us to direct our attention. He invites us to love the unlovable, those who we have personally judge unworthy or undeserving of our love for whatever reason, these are the ones who deserve our love in the eyes of God.
For in reality, we know that deserve has nothing to do with it. The question is, "Do we love those who God loves, those for whom his sun shines and rains fall, both on the just and unjust alike.
To be children of our heavenly Father simply means to allow our life to look like his especially in our treatment of others and all.
Be perfect! St Paul tells us that God has perfected those who he is sanctifying.
Perfection is a process by which we become who we are created to be. It is a daily experience of giving and receiving. It is the great adventure of life.
We joyfully push onward with this goal in mind.
Thursday, May 26, 2016
Grow into salvation
1 Pt 2:2-5,9-12; Ps 100 Come with joy into the presence of the Lord; Mark 10:46-52
"that you may grow into salvation…"
Think about these words from the first letter of Peter. Salvation is not a once saved always saved event as is often expressed by our separated brethren. At least, Peter doesn't think so as he invites us to "grow into salvation."
Rather it seems like it is an organic experience in which we come to receive fully more and more the grace God offers so that we might be transformed and reach our full potential. Salvation is more than just being saved. It is about inward transformation. It is about growth into more, becoming who we are created to be.
Each day affords an opportunity; each moment invites us to receive more and more and be stretched.
This why Jesus speaks of pruning in the gospel of John. Every branch must be pruned so that new growth and more fruit can be realized in our life. We grow into salvation. God patiently awaits this growth and this process to not only take effect in our lives but to effect the lives of those around us.
We encounter the blind man on the road to Jericho in today's gospel, Bartimaeus.
Jesus ask him a question and it is the very question he ask us, "What do you want me to do for you?"
What is our response to this question. What do we want Jesus to do for us? The answer to this question is rooted deeply into who we are and who God is calling us to be.
Here is the blind man on the side of the road. Here he sits in the ditch. Perhaps trying to hitchhike his way to place of wholeness and wellness and harmony.
This is the hitch hiker's guide to spirituality. We have to be willing to step out of the ditch, to leave the side of the road, to get off the shoulder and stand in to road it self, for we know that Jesus is the road for he has told us he is the way, the truth, and the life.
As long as we are on the side of the road, in the ditch we will be blind. But the moment we step in to the road, we step into Christ and sight shall be given and vision restored.
We are told that "immediately he received his sight and followed him on the way."
No longer sitting in the ditch or standing on the shoulder but now he walks in the road, the way, in Christ.
"that you may grow into salvation…"
Think about these words from the first letter of Peter. Salvation is not a once saved always saved event as is often expressed by our separated brethren. At least, Peter doesn't think so as he invites us to "grow into salvation."
Rather it seems like it is an organic experience in which we come to receive fully more and more the grace God offers so that we might be transformed and reach our full potential. Salvation is more than just being saved. It is about inward transformation. It is about growth into more, becoming who we are created to be.
Each day affords an opportunity; each moment invites us to receive more and more and be stretched.
This why Jesus speaks of pruning in the gospel of John. Every branch must be pruned so that new growth and more fruit can be realized in our life. We grow into salvation. God patiently awaits this growth and this process to not only take effect in our lives but to effect the lives of those around us.
We encounter the blind man on the road to Jericho in today's gospel, Bartimaeus.
Jesus ask him a question and it is the very question he ask us, "What do you want me to do for you?"
What is our response to this question. What do we want Jesus to do for us? The answer to this question is rooted deeply into who we are and who God is calling us to be.
Here is the blind man on the side of the road. Here he sits in the ditch. Perhaps trying to hitchhike his way to place of wholeness and wellness and harmony.
This is the hitch hiker's guide to spirituality. We have to be willing to step out of the ditch, to leave the side of the road, to get off the shoulder and stand in to road it self, for we know that Jesus is the road for he has told us he is the way, the truth, and the life.
As long as we are on the side of the road, in the ditch we will be blind. But the moment we step in to the road, we step into Christ and sight shall be given and vision restored.
We are told that "immediately he received his sight and followed him on the way."
No longer sitting in the ditch or standing on the shoulder but now he walks in the road, the way, in Christ.
Thursday, May 19, 2016
STORED UP TREASURE
James 5:1-6; Ps 49 Blessed are the poor in Spirit; the kingdom of heaven is theirs; Mark 9:41-50
"You have stored up treasure for the last days…"
We find these words in the middle of the first reading from James.
He is speaking about the tragedy of putting our focus on material wealth and material possessions. In the midst of this he mentions, "storing up treasure for the last days.."
How often do we worry about living our earthly life to its full with all material comfort rather than focus on the truth of our existence and the destiny that awaits us as people of faith.
Should not our treasure we store up be for eternal life?
Should we not look beyond the last days of our earthly life and see how well we have prepared ourselves for that reality?
What will come of the earthly treasure we amass when our body lies in dust and our souls meet our maker?
Then we hear the words of Jesus, "anyone who gives you a cup of water to drink because you belong to christ, amen, I say to you, you will surely not lose his reward."
Here is our treasure. Here is the motivation. Who belongs to christ so that we might extend our hand in generosity? What if it is everyone we meet along the way that fifers us an opportunity to store of treasure where it matters most?
"You have stored up treasure for the last days…"
We find these words in the middle of the first reading from James.
He is speaking about the tragedy of putting our focus on material wealth and material possessions. In the midst of this he mentions, "storing up treasure for the last days.."
How often do we worry about living our earthly life to its full with all material comfort rather than focus on the truth of our existence and the destiny that awaits us as people of faith.
Should not our treasure we store up be for eternal life?
Should we not look beyond the last days of our earthly life and see how well we have prepared ourselves for that reality?
What will come of the earthly treasure we amass when our body lies in dust and our souls meet our maker?
Then we hear the words of Jesus, "anyone who gives you a cup of water to drink because you belong to christ, amen, I say to you, you will surely not lose his reward."
Here is our treasure. Here is the motivation. Who belongs to christ so that we might extend our hand in generosity? What if it is everyone we meet along the way that fifers us an opportunity to store of treasure where it matters most?
Enemy of the Good
James 4:13-17
What is the enemy of good? What is the opposition, the force that resists the good that we can do, the good that we can be, the good that God wants to work through us daily in our life?
Where do find this nemesis hiding in shadows of our daily life of love, of give and take?
I think James in today's first reading certainly has pin pointed one of the enemies of Good.
Listent o what he has to say, "You have no idea what your life will be like tomorrow. You are a puff of smoke that appears briefly and then disappears."
The enemy to good is presumption. That is we often presume that we will have another opportunity, another tomorrow, another moment to the the good we are invited to do in this moment, this day, right now.
But we know this is not true.
In an instant, in a blink, in a flash, life has we know it can change. How we live today can be altered forever. We have all seen this life. We know how fragile these moments we have are. Yet, we still delay. We still presume on time to come when all we truly have is the time we live in this moment.
James reminds us that we have today to love the good in our life. We are invited to cast off presumption; cast aside that false notion of tomorrow and embrace the moment we are in today.
Today we celebrate the feast of St John 1, pope and martyr. His epitaph on his tomb in Rome simply reads, "victim of Christ." It could read he refused to put off tomorrow the good he was invited to live today. This is how Christ lived. This is how his disciples live. This is how we are invited to live.
Christ is our life. He is our only good. Living in him, Him living in us, daily provides the moment for goodness to reign supreme in our life.
What is the enemy of good? What is the opposition, the force that resists the good that we can do, the good that we can be, the good that God wants to work through us daily in our life?
Where do find this nemesis hiding in shadows of our daily life of love, of give and take?
I think James in today's first reading certainly has pin pointed one of the enemies of Good.
Listent o what he has to say, "You have no idea what your life will be like tomorrow. You are a puff of smoke that appears briefly and then disappears."
The enemy to good is presumption. That is we often presume that we will have another opportunity, another tomorrow, another moment to the the good we are invited to do in this moment, this day, right now.
But we know this is not true.
In an instant, in a blink, in a flash, life has we know it can change. How we live today can be altered forever. We have all seen this life. We know how fragile these moments we have are. Yet, we still delay. We still presume on time to come when all we truly have is the time we live in this moment.
James reminds us that we have today to love the good in our life. We are invited to cast off presumption; cast aside that false notion of tomorrow and embrace the moment we are in today.
Today we celebrate the feast of St John 1, pope and martyr. His epitaph on his tomb in Rome simply reads, "victim of Christ." It could read he refused to put off tomorrow the good he was invited to live today. This is how Christ lived. This is how his disciples live. This is how we are invited to live.
Christ is our life. He is our only good. Living in him, Him living in us, daily provides the moment for goodness to reign supreme in our life.
Wednesday, May 4, 2016
Welcoming the Holy Spirit
Here are a few words from Pope Benedict in regards to the Holy Spirit
"The Holy Spirit continues today to act with power in the Church, and the fruits of the Spirit are abundant in the measure in which we are ready to open up to this power that makes all things new.
For this reason it is important that each one of us know the Spirit, and establish a relationship with Him, and allow ourselves to be guided by Him…
Yes, the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of love of the Father and of the Son, is the source of life that makes us holy, "because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit which has been given to us."
Nevertheless, it is not enough to know the Spirit; we must welcome Him as the guide of our souls, as the "Teacher of the interior life" who introduces us to the Mystery of the Trinity, because he alone can open us up to faith and allow us to live it each day to the full.
The Spirit impels us forward toward others, enkindles in us the fire of love, makes us missionaries of God's charity.
It is precisely the presence of the Spirit within us that confirms, constitutes, and builds our person on the very Person of Jesus crucified and risen."
"The Holy Spirit continues today to act with power in the Church, and the fruits of the Spirit are abundant in the measure in which we are ready to open up to this power that makes all things new.
For this reason it is important that each one of us know the Spirit, and establish a relationship with Him, and allow ourselves to be guided by Him…
Yes, the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of love of the Father and of the Son, is the source of life that makes us holy, "because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit which has been given to us."
Nevertheless, it is not enough to know the Spirit; we must welcome Him as the guide of our souls, as the "Teacher of the interior life" who introduces us to the Mystery of the Trinity, because he alone can open us up to faith and allow us to live it each day to the full.
The Spirit impels us forward toward others, enkindles in us the fire of love, makes us missionaries of God's charity.
It is precisely the presence of the Spirit within us that confirms, constitutes, and builds our person on the very Person of Jesus crucified and risen."
Friday, April 29, 2016
THE DOCTOR IS IN
Here are few excerpts from St Catherine of Siena
* Jesus to Catherine of Siena: "I give spiritual consolation in prayer, now in one way, now in another. But it is not my intention that the soul should receive this consolation foolishly, paying more attention to the gift than to me." (when we receive the gift we should look more intently at the giver)
-
You are asking for something that would be harmful to your salvation if you had it--so by not getting what you've asked, you really are getting what you want."
* Jesus to Catherine of Siena: "I give spiritual consolation in prayer, now in one way, now in another. But it is not my intention that the soul should receive this consolation foolishly, paying more attention to the gift than to me." (when we receive the gift we should look more intently at the giver)
- Love does not stay idle." Letter T82
- "Reflect that God requires nothing else of us except that we show our neighbors the love we have for God." Letter T89
- "Do not be satisfied with little things, because God wants great things!" Letter T127
- "Out of darkness is born the light." Letter T211
- "To the servant of God, every place is the right place, and every time is the right time." Letter T328
- "God is more ready to pardon that we have been to sin." Letter T343
- "Consider God's charity. Where else have we ever seen someone who has been offended voluntarily paying out his life for those who have offended him?" Letter T345
- "Hope comes from love, because people always trust in those they love." Letter T352
- "You must believe in truth that whatever God gives or permits is for your salvation." Letter T354
- "There is nothing we can desire or want that we do not find in God." Letter T360
- "If you are what you should be, you will set all of Italy ablaze!" Letter T368
- "Holy Spirit, come into my heart, and in your power draw it to you." Prayer 6
- "It is only through shadows that one comes to know the light." Prayer 24
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