Mt 25:1-13
The parable of the ten virgins: 5 were wise and 5 were foolish.
As we read the parable, I wonder how many of the so called foolish virgins actually considered themselves foolish and how many of the wise virgins actually considered themselves wise.
My best guess is that the wise virgins were just being practical. They thought ahead to realize that perhaps there might be a delay so why not bring extra oil. After all being practical means we step aside from theory and focus in on reality and the actual doing of something. Being practical simply means put in to practice and after all isn't that what Jesus invites us to do throughout the gospel: practice, be practical, keep it real.
Or if they were like me, perhaps they were so afraid of the dark, they didn't want to be without light so extra oil they packed just in case.
The so called foolish well maybe they suspected the bridegroom to come a little earlier or maybe even ahead of schedule and figured they had it covered. Those darn presumptions seem to get in the way all the time.
But even before we get to the whys and whats of the virgins we need to stop and look at the bridegroom for a moment.
What gives with bridegroom? What is his MO?
It seems the bridegroom has a particular habit of coming suddenly, arriving in unexpected moments.
Now this is important for us. Understanding this can certainly help with the distinguishing factors of "wise" or "foolish".
The wise had known that the bridegroom liked the surprise, the unexpected entrance where as the foolish they were just plain stupid. They didn't seem to focus on the bridegroom at all, just on themselves. Maybe that's the difference.
Are we looking inward or outward; do we zero in on our presumptions or on the reality at hand?
Are we practical or just stupid?
In the end the foolish were just wedding crashers well as the wise were guest of the bridegroom.
Just a thought!
Friday, August 30, 2013
Thursday, August 29, 2013
PASSION OF JOHN THE BAPTIST
Jeremiah 1:17-19; PS 71 I will sing your salvation; Mark 6:17-29
"Gird your loins; stand up and tell them all that I command you. Be not crushed on their account, as though I would leave you crushed before them. For it is I this day who made you a fortified city, a pillar of Iron, a wall of brass, against a whole land."
These are the words of God to Jeremiah, perhaps to motivate him, to encourage him, to instill him a burst against the rising fear and sense of doom as he stares down his mission.
There are times when we are asked to do things that seem overwhelming. We feel anything but like a pillar of iron or wall of brass. In fact, we feel weak and fragile as we embrace the reality before us, especially when it comes to speaking the truth in love.
So what do we do when it seems the odds are against us and the words don't seem to want to formulate in mouth and our spine feels like rubbery jelly. How do we manage to speak the truth in love when everything in us wants to just tolerate the evil for the sake of false peace?
This is the dilemma we face often in our life.
The answer is clearly shown to us by Jon the Baptist. Sometimes you just have to let your head roll. The truth has to be expressed for only then does love ring true as they say.
We must be willing to put our head on the platter because if we compromise truth often enough we begin to lose part of our soul. We forsake our own life when we turn aside from what is truth and good.
Where truth is denied love is mocked. John the Baptist understood this very well.
So his head was separated from his body but truth can never be separated from love otherwise wants a head and body for if not to stand at defense of that which makes the world go round: truth and love.
Sometimes we have to stand fast and let our head roll.
This is true passion that transforms the world.
"Gird your loins; stand up and tell them all that I command you. Be not crushed on their account, as though I would leave you crushed before them. For it is I this day who made you a fortified city, a pillar of Iron, a wall of brass, against a whole land."
These are the words of God to Jeremiah, perhaps to motivate him, to encourage him, to instill him a burst against the rising fear and sense of doom as he stares down his mission.
There are times when we are asked to do things that seem overwhelming. We feel anything but like a pillar of iron or wall of brass. In fact, we feel weak and fragile as we embrace the reality before us, especially when it comes to speaking the truth in love.
So what do we do when it seems the odds are against us and the words don't seem to want to formulate in mouth and our spine feels like rubbery jelly. How do we manage to speak the truth in love when everything in us wants to just tolerate the evil for the sake of false peace?
This is the dilemma we face often in our life.
The answer is clearly shown to us by Jon the Baptist. Sometimes you just have to let your head roll. The truth has to be expressed for only then does love ring true as they say.
We must be willing to put our head on the platter because if we compromise truth often enough we begin to lose part of our soul. We forsake our own life when we turn aside from what is truth and good.
Where truth is denied love is mocked. John the Baptist understood this very well.
So his head was separated from his body but truth can never be separated from love otherwise wants a head and body for if not to stand at defense of that which makes the world go round: truth and love.
Sometimes we have to stand fast and let our head roll.
This is true passion that transforms the world.
Wednesday, August 28, 2013
WHY CAN'T I
1 Thessalonians 2:9-13; Ps 139 you searched me and you know me; Mt 23:27-32
"If this or that person can do it, why can't I?"
These are the words St. Augustine thought he heard at the time of his conversion, and they were among the last encouragement he needed for risking the leap into faith and into God's love.
Why Can't I?
As Pope Benedict points out, Augustine became a Christian not by birth but my conversion.
Even in baptism we are reminded we receive the capacity for faith but not actual faith. Actual faith comes by way of conversion, an experience that points us toward a life of holiness.
St. Augustine had a deep thrust and a constant restlessness that kept him from settling for less, settling for mediocrity or superficiality.
He sought truth. He sought it in a prestigious career, in possession of things, in the voices that promised instant gratification. He made mistakes, encountered setbacks, and understood sadness.
But he never quit. Eventually he came to the realization that as he searched for truth, it was Truth that had searched for him.
Augustine was not afraid of the truth and perhaps that is why he is so important for us today.
There is a lot of fear in regards to truth in our society and culture.
There are many who refuse to acknowledge truth but wish to twist it to be what they need at any given moment.
Not Augustine.
Then it happened. Not that it made his life easy. No but conversion gave his life a new kind of direction, a direction toward something more, a direction that pointed toward a life beyond oneself.
Pope BEnedict points out the following, "For Christian holiness does not consist in being superhuman and inhaling an extraordinary talent or greatness that others do not have. Christian holiness is simply the obedience that puts us at God's disposal wherever he calls us."
This is where actual faith is realized.
St. Augustine pray for us that we never settle for less, for superficiality or mediocrity but allow the restlessness to drive us toward truth head long.
"If this or that person can do it, why can't I?"
These are the words St. Augustine thought he heard at the time of his conversion, and they were among the last encouragement he needed for risking the leap into faith and into God's love.
Why Can't I?
As Pope Benedict points out, Augustine became a Christian not by birth but my conversion.
Even in baptism we are reminded we receive the capacity for faith but not actual faith. Actual faith comes by way of conversion, an experience that points us toward a life of holiness.
St. Augustine had a deep thrust and a constant restlessness that kept him from settling for less, settling for mediocrity or superficiality.
He sought truth. He sought it in a prestigious career, in possession of things, in the voices that promised instant gratification. He made mistakes, encountered setbacks, and understood sadness.
But he never quit. Eventually he came to the realization that as he searched for truth, it was Truth that had searched for him.
Augustine was not afraid of the truth and perhaps that is why he is so important for us today.
There is a lot of fear in regards to truth in our society and culture.
There are many who refuse to acknowledge truth but wish to twist it to be what they need at any given moment.
Not Augustine.
Then it happened. Not that it made his life easy. No but conversion gave his life a new kind of direction, a direction toward something more, a direction that pointed toward a life beyond oneself.
Pope BEnedict points out the following, "For Christian holiness does not consist in being superhuman and inhaling an extraordinary talent or greatness that others do not have. Christian holiness is simply the obedience that puts us at God's disposal wherever he calls us."
This is where actual faith is realized.
St. Augustine pray for us that we never settle for less, for superficiality or mediocrity but allow the restlessness to drive us toward truth head long.
Tuesday, August 27, 2013
TEARS,PRAYERS, PERSISTENCE
1 Thessalonians 2:1-8; PS 139 You have searched me and you know me, Lord; Mt 23:23-26
Today we celebrate the feast of St. Monica, the mother of St. Augustine. Monica was the mother of three children. It could be said that Augustine was her problem child.
He refused to accept the faith. He began to traverse down a dark and windy path of hedonism, pleasure seeking destruction.
Mom was worried, as most mothers would be.
So what did she do?
She prayers, she cried, and she stalked him.
Well perhaps not literally stalked him, but none the less she was persistent it locating him, tracking him down, showing up to events and places he would be and eventually by the grace of God brought him back to the church.
She didn't nag but she didn't do nothing either. She was intimately involved in reminding her son where he came from and what was at stake.
She was tireless in her effort to win her son back to the faith.
Prayer, tears, and persistence.
St. Monica is definitely a force to be dealt with as are most mothers, if you haven't noticed.
We turn our attention to St. Paul and his words this morning, "that is how we speak, not as trying to please men, but rather God who judges our hearts..."
And again we look at the psalm for this day, "you have searched me and you know me." (Ps 139)
Today spends some time in that reality of God searching and knowing each of us. It is comforting to know that we don't have to pretend before God nor do we have to pretend before others. Our true self is known inside and out by the watchful gaze of God.
This thought should bring us security and trust and drive away shame.
Shame is an a result of trying to hide something form another. There is no hiding from God who searched and probes and nows us through and through.
Take some time today to embrace that reality and let the peace of God be your foundation.
Today we celebrate the feast of St. Monica, the mother of St. Augustine. Monica was the mother of three children. It could be said that Augustine was her problem child.
He refused to accept the faith. He began to traverse down a dark and windy path of hedonism, pleasure seeking destruction.
Mom was worried, as most mothers would be.
So what did she do?
She prayers, she cried, and she stalked him.
Well perhaps not literally stalked him, but none the less she was persistent it locating him, tracking him down, showing up to events and places he would be and eventually by the grace of God brought him back to the church.
She didn't nag but she didn't do nothing either. She was intimately involved in reminding her son where he came from and what was at stake.
She was tireless in her effort to win her son back to the faith.
Prayer, tears, and persistence.
St. Monica is definitely a force to be dealt with as are most mothers, if you haven't noticed.
We turn our attention to St. Paul and his words this morning, "that is how we speak, not as trying to please men, but rather God who judges our hearts..."
And again we look at the psalm for this day, "you have searched me and you know me." (Ps 139)
Today spends some time in that reality of God searching and knowing each of us. It is comforting to know that we don't have to pretend before God nor do we have to pretend before others. Our true self is known inside and out by the watchful gaze of God.
This thought should bring us security and trust and drive away shame.
Shame is an a result of trying to hide something form another. There is no hiding from God who searched and probes and nows us through and through.
Take some time today to embrace that reality and let the peace of God be your foundation.
Saturday, August 24, 2013
A POEM FOR THOUGHT
THE GUEST HOUSE
This being human is a guest house.
Every morning a new arrival.
Every morning a new arrival.
A joy, a depression, a meanness,
some momentary awareness comes
as an unexpected visitor.
some momentary awareness comes
as an unexpected visitor.
Welcome and entertain them all!
Even if they are a crowd of sorrows,
who violently sweep your house
empty of its furniture,
still, treat each guest honorably.
Even if they are a crowd of sorrows,
who violently sweep your house
empty of its furniture,
still, treat each guest honorably.
He may be clearing you out
for some new delight.
for some new delight.
The dark thought, the shame, the malice.
meet them at the door laughing and invite them in.
meet them at the door laughing and invite them in.
Be grateful for whatever comes.
because each has been sent
as a guide from beyond.
because each has been sent
as a guide from beyond.
-- Jelaluddin Rumi,
translation by Coleman Barks
translation by Coleman Barks
Friday, August 23, 2013
IN BETHLEHEM IT BEGINS
Ruth 1:!,3-6,14-16,22; Ps 146 Praise the Lord, my soul; Matt 22:34-40
"Do not ask me to abandon or forsake you! For wherever you go, I will go, wherever you lodge I will lodge, your people shall be my people, and your God my God."
Thus Naomi and her daughter in law arrived in Bethlehem.
Now this may seem like an insignificant moment in history, but then again doesn't every moment start off as insignificant.
Which brings me to Thomas Merton and the following observation he makes,
"Every moment and every event of every man's life on earth plants something in his soul. For just as wind carries thousands of winged seeds, so each moment brings with it germs of spiritual vitality that come to rest imperceptibly in the minds and wills of men. Most of these unnumbered seeds parish and are lost, because men are not prepared to receive them, for such seeds as these cannot spring up anywhere except in the good soil of freedom, spontaneity, and love."
There are no insignificant moments. Though every moment starts small it leaves a big footprint on the soul.
Ruth's willingness to journey with her mother in law back to Bethlehem, a foreign country to her, was quite a small moment that began a tidal wave of influence.
Her meager refusal to abandon her mother in law in her time of need, this moment of loyalty and devotion to her dead husband's mother begins the foundation that paves way for the coming of King David, the shepherd boy.
Ruth will eventually meet another and will marry and bear a child who shall become the grandfather of David. Thus begins the reign of the king though hidden and out of sight yet to be discovered through the time and pages of history.
Ruth simply yes to her mother in law began the great unfolding of God's plan for through her great grandson David, God shall reveal his pledge and promise to raise a king whose throne shall never go empty and whose kingdom shall know no end.
In Bethlehem it begins the unfolding of God's plan.
It also begins where we are daily. Each moment is filled with grandeur of God. Each moment beckons at us t take notice. There is no thing as insignificant when God's plan is at sway.
"Do not ask me to abandon or forsake you! For wherever you go, I will go, wherever you lodge I will lodge, your people shall be my people, and your God my God."
Thus Naomi and her daughter in law arrived in Bethlehem.
Now this may seem like an insignificant moment in history, but then again doesn't every moment start off as insignificant.
Which brings me to Thomas Merton and the following observation he makes,
"Every moment and every event of every man's life on earth plants something in his soul. For just as wind carries thousands of winged seeds, so each moment brings with it germs of spiritual vitality that come to rest imperceptibly in the minds and wills of men. Most of these unnumbered seeds parish and are lost, because men are not prepared to receive them, for such seeds as these cannot spring up anywhere except in the good soil of freedom, spontaneity, and love."
There are no insignificant moments. Though every moment starts small it leaves a big footprint on the soul.
Ruth's willingness to journey with her mother in law back to Bethlehem, a foreign country to her, was quite a small moment that began a tidal wave of influence.
Her meager refusal to abandon her mother in law in her time of need, this moment of loyalty and devotion to her dead husband's mother begins the foundation that paves way for the coming of King David, the shepherd boy.
Ruth will eventually meet another and will marry and bear a child who shall become the grandfather of David. Thus begins the reign of the king though hidden and out of sight yet to be discovered through the time and pages of history.
Ruth simply yes to her mother in law began the great unfolding of God's plan for through her great grandson David, God shall reveal his pledge and promise to raise a king whose throne shall never go empty and whose kingdom shall know no end.
In Bethlehem it begins the unfolding of God's plan.
It also begins where we are daily. Each moment is filled with grandeur of God. Each moment beckons at us t take notice. There is no thing as insignificant when God's plan is at sway.
Wednesday, August 21, 2013
Better than or better for
Judges 9:6-15; Ps 21 Lord, in your strength the king is glad; Mt 20:1-16
We listen today to the parable Jesus gives us the workers in the vineyard. The workers are picked up throughout the day and at the end of the work day the last ones hired get paid first and they get paid the same amount as those who worked all day.
The workers who started early in the day began to complain about the unfair treatment.
How dare they get paid the same amount though they did more work?
For them it seemed unfair according to their standards of just compensation.
But perhaps that is the problem not just with them but with us.
We all go around judging things based on our own hidden agenda or hidden standard or just and unjust without stopping to ponder what is just in regards to God's goodness.
We get to busy defending our standard rather than standing a defense for goodness that comes forth from God's standard.
We often get caught up in comparing ourselves to others and exaggerating how we are better than they are or just better than rather than shifting our focus where we are better for them.
This is the line of standard Jesus introduces us to in today's gospel.
Are we busy making ourselves better than the next guy or better for the next guy?
Only when we set aside those childish attitudes of comparing our selves to others or wanting to be better than other can we begin to shift our focus and our energy to that which is more constructive: being better for the other person that better so that we can aid them and help them and guide them forth.
Thus we can truly rejoice when goodness enters the lives of others and stop calculating how we have been cheated and start calculating how we can be helpful.
In the end we don't get what we deserve at least we hope we don't. rather we get simply because God gives and our life is always a seeking after to return the favor and return the generous offer laid at our feet.
This is how we live out the words of St. Paul, to restore all things to Christ that is to renovate the world and seek its original beauty.
We listen today to the parable Jesus gives us the workers in the vineyard. The workers are picked up throughout the day and at the end of the work day the last ones hired get paid first and they get paid the same amount as those who worked all day.
The workers who started early in the day began to complain about the unfair treatment.
How dare they get paid the same amount though they did more work?
For them it seemed unfair according to their standards of just compensation.
But perhaps that is the problem not just with them but with us.
We all go around judging things based on our own hidden agenda or hidden standard or just and unjust without stopping to ponder what is just in regards to God's goodness.
We get to busy defending our standard rather than standing a defense for goodness that comes forth from God's standard.
We often get caught up in comparing ourselves to others and exaggerating how we are better than they are or just better than rather than shifting our focus where we are better for them.
This is the line of standard Jesus introduces us to in today's gospel.
Are we busy making ourselves better than the next guy or better for the next guy?
Only when we set aside those childish attitudes of comparing our selves to others or wanting to be better than other can we begin to shift our focus and our energy to that which is more constructive: being better for the other person that better so that we can aid them and help them and guide them forth.
Thus we can truly rejoice when goodness enters the lives of others and stop calculating how we have been cheated and start calculating how we can be helpful.
In the end we don't get what we deserve at least we hope we don't. rather we get simply because God gives and our life is always a seeking after to return the favor and return the generous offer laid at our feet.
This is how we live out the words of St. Paul, to restore all things to Christ that is to renovate the world and seek its original beauty.
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