James 5:1-6; Ps 49 Blessed are the poor in Spirit; the kingdom of heaven is theirs; Mark 9:41-50
"Everyone will be salted with fire. Salt is good, but if salt becomes insipid, with what will you restore its flavor? Keep salt in yourselves and you will have peace with one another." JEsus in today's gospel.
Salt.
Here are a few words from Pope Benedict as Cardinal Ratzinger
"Salt interpreted as a symbol of wisdom, sapientia, always in association with sapere, with tasting: one must discover a taste for truth. He who is wise is the one who taste things as they really are. Salt was also used as sacrificial offering in Old Testament: only by salt were such offerings made pleasing to the taste of the Godhead.
A man must be salted if he is to be pleasing to God and if he is to acquire a taste for God. The salt of the passion is necessary for him if he is to walk the way of truth: communion of the cross heads to a taste for the truth."
PErhaps this is the salting by fire Jesus is speaking about in the gospel, the willingness to under take the passion, dying to self, which is in align with the rest of the gospel about plucking out eyes and cutting off limbs that lead to sin.
The passion of the believer is the dying to oneself, one's desires, one's affinity for sin.
Thus it is no longer we who live but christ who lives within us. We have been crucified with Christ.
St. Paul refers to salt as grace. Sin repels grace from our hearts thus avoiding sin and continually reaching out to God and invoking his covenant of salt (2 Chron 13:5) with us, then we become bearers of grace and thus bring his peace to the world.
To be salted with fire is to embrace the call of the passion in our life, dying to self, and allowing the fire of the SPirit to penetrate our lives and thus God's grace becomes abundant and overflowing.
Here let Matt Mahr help you with his song Overflow
Thursday, February 27, 2014
Wednesday, February 26, 2014
SELF DEFEATING
James 4:13-17; Ps 49 Blessed are the poor in spirit; the kingdom of heaven is theirs; Mark 9:38-40
"Where ever the need of the light and life of the Risen Christ is greatest, the church will want to be there…Frequently we act as arbiters of grace rather than its facilitators. But the church is not a tollhouse, it is the house of the Father, where there is a place for everyone, with all their problems…"
"One of the more serious temptations which stifles boldness and Zeal is a defeatism which turns us into querulous and disillusioned pessimists, "sourpusses". Nobody can go off to battle unless he is fully convinced of victory beforehand. If we start with out confidence we have already lost half the battle and we bury our talents. While painfully aware of our own frailties, we have to march on without giving in, keeping in mind what the Lord said to St. Paul" My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Pope Francis Evangelium Guadium
Defeatism!
We often speak of self-defeating behaviors.
How often have w meet people who set themselves up for failure? They procrastinate, choose things that will disappoint, they reject attempts of help or opportunities of success.
Behavior change is complex. Yet St. James tells us plainly, "so for one who knows the right thing to do and does not do it, it is a sin."
Sin is a self-defeating behavior. It sets us up for failure , time and time again.
We know this! Yet why do not take a more proactive role in removing ourselves from those situations?
Because of the fall, all of us experience the effects of that original sin and enlarge part they show themselves as self-defeating behaviors.
Part of our task is to not accept these behaviors as fixed parts of our personality. We can not say God made me that way and be done with it. This is the first task of taking hold of the day as St. James says, "If the Lord wills it, we shall live to do this or that." Our plans are subject to that which is greater than us. Thus, we are empowered to embrace each day as a gift and opportunity.
It is in recognizing the poverty of our spirit that we encounter the blessing power of God as the psalmist reminds us, "Blessed are the poor on spirit; the kingdom of heaven is theirs!"
We are conquerors for Christ lives in us. Our self-defeating ways can actually be a source of grace that enables us to be in touch with God's creative and transformative power.
JEsus reminds us, "whoever is not against us is for us." We too shall not be against ourselves but open always to God's redeeming grace.
"Where ever the need of the light and life of the Risen Christ is greatest, the church will want to be there…Frequently we act as arbiters of grace rather than its facilitators. But the church is not a tollhouse, it is the house of the Father, where there is a place for everyone, with all their problems…"
"One of the more serious temptations which stifles boldness and Zeal is a defeatism which turns us into querulous and disillusioned pessimists, "sourpusses". Nobody can go off to battle unless he is fully convinced of victory beforehand. If we start with out confidence we have already lost half the battle and we bury our talents. While painfully aware of our own frailties, we have to march on without giving in, keeping in mind what the Lord said to St. Paul" My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Pope Francis Evangelium Guadium
Defeatism!
We often speak of self-defeating behaviors.
How often have w meet people who set themselves up for failure? They procrastinate, choose things that will disappoint, they reject attempts of help or opportunities of success.
Behavior change is complex. Yet St. James tells us plainly, "so for one who knows the right thing to do and does not do it, it is a sin."
Sin is a self-defeating behavior. It sets us up for failure , time and time again.
We know this! Yet why do not take a more proactive role in removing ourselves from those situations?
Because of the fall, all of us experience the effects of that original sin and enlarge part they show themselves as self-defeating behaviors.
Part of our task is to not accept these behaviors as fixed parts of our personality. We can not say God made me that way and be done with it. This is the first task of taking hold of the day as St. James says, "If the Lord wills it, we shall live to do this or that." Our plans are subject to that which is greater than us. Thus, we are empowered to embrace each day as a gift and opportunity.
It is in recognizing the poverty of our spirit that we encounter the blessing power of God as the psalmist reminds us, "Blessed are the poor on spirit; the kingdom of heaven is theirs!"
We are conquerors for Christ lives in us. Our self-defeating ways can actually be a source of grace that enables us to be in touch with God's creative and transformative power.
JEsus reminds us, "whoever is not against us is for us." We too shall not be against ourselves but open always to God's redeeming grace.
Tuesday, February 25, 2014
UNHAPPINESS
James 4:1-10; PS 55 Throw your cares on the Lord, and he will support you; Mark 9:30-37
"Where do the wars and where do the conflicts among you come from? "
Now this is the question St. James poses in today's first reading. It is an important question, not because we seem to be in a time where conflict and civil disturbance is high. Every time we turn around a new conflict is rising and violence seems to be spreading.
It is an important question because it ultimately deals with something that is near and dear to us all: unhappiness.
St. JAmes is asking us to diagnose the cause of unhappiness in our life and the lives of those around us.
Unhappiness….why does it exist.
Knowing the why can help us with a program of true happiness.
St James diagnosis the situation as follows: "you covet but do not possess. you kill and envy but you cannot obtain; you fight and wage war. you do not obtain because you do not ask. you ask but do not receive because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions."
There is the diagnosis. Study it for a while.
When we seek to please our passions unhappiness follows. We love what we want rather than loving what God desires to give.
Unhappiness stems from the inability to be content with God's plan of sheer goodness that we might share his blessed life.
Think about the first commandment: I am the Lord your God. God is saying, "I am yours and you are mine, we belong together."
Can we be content with what God desires for us? Can we let God's desire for us purify the other desires we experience along the way?
St. James says we ask wrongly and this is why we don to receive.
We seek ourselves in love rather than putting God first. We ask with ourselves in mind rather than seeking to do his will in the first place.
Rather than focus on external actions why not spend a few moments reflecting on our internal desires. Then we ask God to realign them to his plan of sheer goodness for us.
"so submit yourselves to God. Resist the Devil (the one who stirs up our selfish desires)…Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you…"
"Where do the wars and where do the conflicts among you come from? "
Now this is the question St. James poses in today's first reading. It is an important question, not because we seem to be in a time where conflict and civil disturbance is high. Every time we turn around a new conflict is rising and violence seems to be spreading.
It is an important question because it ultimately deals with something that is near and dear to us all: unhappiness.
St. JAmes is asking us to diagnose the cause of unhappiness in our life and the lives of those around us.
Unhappiness….why does it exist.
Knowing the why can help us with a program of true happiness.
St James diagnosis the situation as follows: "you covet but do not possess. you kill and envy but you cannot obtain; you fight and wage war. you do not obtain because you do not ask. you ask but do not receive because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions."
There is the diagnosis. Study it for a while.
When we seek to please our passions unhappiness follows. We love what we want rather than loving what God desires to give.
Unhappiness stems from the inability to be content with God's plan of sheer goodness that we might share his blessed life.
Think about the first commandment: I am the Lord your God. God is saying, "I am yours and you are mine, we belong together."
Can we be content with what God desires for us? Can we let God's desire for us purify the other desires we experience along the way?
St. James says we ask wrongly and this is why we don to receive.
We seek ourselves in love rather than putting God first. We ask with ourselves in mind rather than seeking to do his will in the first place.
Rather than focus on external actions why not spend a few moments reflecting on our internal desires. Then we ask God to realign them to his plan of sheer goodness for us.
"so submit yourselves to God. Resist the Devil (the one who stirs up our selfish desires)…Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you…"
Thursday, February 20, 2014
PARTIALITY
James 2:1-9; Ps THe Lord hears the cry of the poor; Mk 8:27-33
We continue to follow in the footstep of JAmes as he gives guidance and direction to the universal church. St. James in his letter turns his attention to partiality.
He ask the question, "who are we partial towards?" Who do we have a tendency to choose to be next to or to invite over or want to share our life with? Why do we choose those people? More importantly why do we choose to exclude others?
Many times we choose people with ourselves in mind, that is we think about what we can get out of it?
When was the last time we chose someone for themselves and what we could give to them not for our sake but for theirs?
We live in an age of much partiality, a partiality that could be seen as prejudice? We pre judge many before we ever get to know them.
We judge by appearance, by dress, by lifestyle, by color, by accent, by position. When was the last time we set those aside and just got to know the person next to us for the mere fact that we share a common lot, fallen and in need of salvation.
Hear the words of St. James, "Did not God choose the poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the Kingdom that he promised to those who love him?
Does not Jesus identify himself with the poor, "what you have done to the least of my brothers you have done unto me…"
St. Margaret of Cortona pray for us as we seek to serve the poor and rich alike, surrendering our partiality and allowing God's grace to lead us forth.
We continue to follow in the footstep of JAmes as he gives guidance and direction to the universal church. St. James in his letter turns his attention to partiality.
He ask the question, "who are we partial towards?" Who do we have a tendency to choose to be next to or to invite over or want to share our life with? Why do we choose those people? More importantly why do we choose to exclude others?
Many times we choose people with ourselves in mind, that is we think about what we can get out of it?
When was the last time we chose someone for themselves and what we could give to them not for our sake but for theirs?
We live in an age of much partiality, a partiality that could be seen as prejudice? We pre judge many before we ever get to know them.
We judge by appearance, by dress, by lifestyle, by color, by accent, by position. When was the last time we set those aside and just got to know the person next to us for the mere fact that we share a common lot, fallen and in need of salvation.
Hear the words of St. James, "Did not God choose the poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the Kingdom that he promised to those who love him?
Does not Jesus identify himself with the poor, "what you have done to the least of my brothers you have done unto me…"
St. Margaret of Cortona pray for us as we seek to serve the poor and rich alike, surrendering our partiality and allowing God's grace to lead us forth.
Wednesday, February 19, 2014
MISSION
James 1:19-27; Ps 15 Who shall live on your holy mountain; Mark 8:22-26
Here again are a few words from Pope Francis from his Apostolic exhortation on evangelization.
Pope Francis states that every christian should be "permanently in a state of mission. Evangelization of today's world is not about self-preservation…Our missionary style should concentrate on the essentials, that which is most beautiful and most necessary, where it is simplified while being more forceful and convincing."
Are we on a permanent state of mission? Or are we on a permanent state of self-preservation? Do we want to keep things as they are because that's the way it has always been or do we want to evangelize, adapting our presentation of the gospel so that the most essential is brought forth in a more forceful and convincing manner.
I encounter this self-preservation mindset all too often in the church, especially on the level of the parish. Pope Francis is basically saying that when we lose sight of the mission, when Jesus is no longer the focus then we ourselves become the focus and center. This is detrimental to the life of faith and the proclamation of the good news.
James is saying that as well in today's first reading.
Listen attentively to his words.
"Be doers of the word not hearers only, deluding yourselves…But the one who peers into the perfect law of freedom and perseveres, and is not a hearer who forgets but a doer who acts; such a one shall be blessed in what he does."
Amen!
James goes on to say "if anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, his religion is vain. Religion that is pure and undefiled before God and the Father is this: to care for the orphans and widows in their affliction and to keep oneself unstained by the world."
One who is "permanently on mission" is aware of what is most essential. He is a doer. He does not forget. The mission itself purifies his thoughts, his words, his actions.
Does the mission Jesus give us effect and permeate the whole aspect of our life or is it just a Sunday thing?
But before you get overwhelmed by the task remember the gospel. Jesus has to lay hands on the blind man twice before he can see clearly. Jesus is patience. He will accommodate the limitations we all bear and he will continually work with us to transform our hearts and our minds.
It is said of the blind man that "he could see everything distinctly."
There is so much hope in this passage for us all. We must continually go to Jesus and expose our limitations and allow his grace to transform us and make us whole so that like the blind man, we won't go back to the village that is we won't go back to the way things always were but we will be filled with a renewed sense of mission & purpose and then we can finally lose our self permanently for the sake of the gospel.
Here again are a few words from Pope Francis from his Apostolic exhortation on evangelization.
Pope Francis states that every christian should be "permanently in a state of mission. Evangelization of today's world is not about self-preservation…Our missionary style should concentrate on the essentials, that which is most beautiful and most necessary, where it is simplified while being more forceful and convincing."
Are we on a permanent state of mission? Or are we on a permanent state of self-preservation? Do we want to keep things as they are because that's the way it has always been or do we want to evangelize, adapting our presentation of the gospel so that the most essential is brought forth in a more forceful and convincing manner.
I encounter this self-preservation mindset all too often in the church, especially on the level of the parish. Pope Francis is basically saying that when we lose sight of the mission, when Jesus is no longer the focus then we ourselves become the focus and center. This is detrimental to the life of faith and the proclamation of the good news.
James is saying that as well in today's first reading.
Listen attentively to his words.
"Be doers of the word not hearers only, deluding yourselves…But the one who peers into the perfect law of freedom and perseveres, and is not a hearer who forgets but a doer who acts; such a one shall be blessed in what he does."
Amen!
James goes on to say "if anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, his religion is vain. Religion that is pure and undefiled before God and the Father is this: to care for the orphans and widows in their affliction and to keep oneself unstained by the world."
One who is "permanently on mission" is aware of what is most essential. He is a doer. He does not forget. The mission itself purifies his thoughts, his words, his actions.
Does the mission Jesus give us effect and permeate the whole aspect of our life or is it just a Sunday thing?
But before you get overwhelmed by the task remember the gospel. Jesus has to lay hands on the blind man twice before he can see clearly. Jesus is patience. He will accommodate the limitations we all bear and he will continually work with us to transform our hearts and our minds.
It is said of the blind man that "he could see everything distinctly."
There is so much hope in this passage for us all. We must continually go to Jesus and expose our limitations and allow his grace to transform us and make us whole so that like the blind man, we won't go back to the village that is we won't go back to the way things always were but we will be filled with a renewed sense of mission & purpose and then we can finally lose our self permanently for the sake of the gospel.
Tuesday, February 18, 2014
TEMPTATION
James 1:!2-18; Ps 94 Blessed the man you instruct, O Lord; Mark 8:14-21
"Do you still not understand?"
In today's gospel Jesus ask a lot of questions. The second half of the gospel is a list of questions Jesus is posing to his disciples. IT seems Jesus it a little frustrated with their lack of comprehension and the slow uptake.
I wonder if Jesus is ever frustrated with our lack of comprehension and our slow uptake?
James in the first reading continues to play with the reality of being tested as opposed to tempted. It seems to me these two realities are really two sides of the same coin depending on how we choose to perceive it.
God does not tempt us but he does test us. Sometimes testing can be look upon as tempting depending on one's attitude. In the gospel JEsus is critiquing the attitude of the disciples.
Temptations are like CAT SCANS for the soul, They reveal to us the ailments in our desires. They point out where we need more fortification. They point out where we need strength exercises to build those spiritual muscles.
They are necessarily problematic unless we refuse to heed their warning and grow in strength in God's grace.
See where yo are tempted on a regular basis? How do you handle it? Do you use it as opportunity to grow in strength and fortify the weaken area or not?
"Do you still not understand?"
In today's gospel Jesus ask a lot of questions. The second half of the gospel is a list of questions Jesus is posing to his disciples. IT seems Jesus it a little frustrated with their lack of comprehension and the slow uptake.
I wonder if Jesus is ever frustrated with our lack of comprehension and our slow uptake?
James in the first reading continues to play with the reality of being tested as opposed to tempted. It seems to me these two realities are really two sides of the same coin depending on how we choose to perceive it.
God does not tempt us but he does test us. Sometimes testing can be look upon as tempting depending on one's attitude. In the gospel JEsus is critiquing the attitude of the disciples.
Temptations are like CAT SCANS for the soul, They reveal to us the ailments in our desires. They point out where we need more fortification. They point out where we need strength exercises to build those spiritual muscles.
They are necessarily problematic unless we refuse to heed their warning and grow in strength in God's grace.
See where yo are tempted on a regular basis? How do you handle it? Do you use it as opportunity to grow in strength and fortify the weaken area or not?
Monday, February 17, 2014
TESTING
James 1:1-11; Ps 119 Be kind to me, Lord, and I shall live; Mk 8:11-13
We are reading from the Letter of James. It is considered to be one of the "catholic" or universal letters since it is not written to any particular or single community but rather to a broad audience. Here is what James says today.
"Consider it all joy, my brothers and sisters, when you encounter various trials, for you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance…"
I do not know many people who like test or being tested. Many students cringe when a test is on the horizon. They would rather it be other wise.
I do not know many adults who like trials in life. They took like the students also cringe and would rather it be another way.
Testings in life are for us who are undergoing them a revelation of our deepest values and truest selves.
Under fire, as they say, impurities are removed and so are mask and false selves and everything else we put on to avoid who we really are. Fire refines.
Where does the joy come from in such an occasion? It can only come from one place and that is the passion of Christ himself, the Paschal Mystery. In our testing we are invited to pass through the passion, death, and resurrection of the Christ.
On the Cross Jesus had joy.
James continues, "Let perseverance be perfect, so that you may be perfect and complete lacking in nothing. But if any of you lack wisdom, he should ask God who gives to all generously and ungrudgingly, he will be given it."
What will God bestow in order to help us grow in wisdom? Perhaps trials and testing. To grow in wisdom, one must suffer the loss of ignorance. Seldom have I discovered a more sure fire way of attaining wisdom then suffering the loss of ignorance.
Wisdom doesn't come easily. God will certainly give us the opportunities to grow in that area daily.
Will it hurt? Yes. Will it be rewarding? Yes.
We are reading from the Letter of James. It is considered to be one of the "catholic" or universal letters since it is not written to any particular or single community but rather to a broad audience. Here is what James says today.
"Consider it all joy, my brothers and sisters, when you encounter various trials, for you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance…"
I do not know many people who like test or being tested. Many students cringe when a test is on the horizon. They would rather it be other wise.
I do not know many adults who like trials in life. They took like the students also cringe and would rather it be another way.
Testings in life are for us who are undergoing them a revelation of our deepest values and truest selves.
Under fire, as they say, impurities are removed and so are mask and false selves and everything else we put on to avoid who we really are. Fire refines.
Where does the joy come from in such an occasion? It can only come from one place and that is the passion of Christ himself, the Paschal Mystery. In our testing we are invited to pass through the passion, death, and resurrection of the Christ.
On the Cross Jesus had joy.
James continues, "Let perseverance be perfect, so that you may be perfect and complete lacking in nothing. But if any of you lack wisdom, he should ask God who gives to all generously and ungrudgingly, he will be given it."
What will God bestow in order to help us grow in wisdom? Perhaps trials and testing. To grow in wisdom, one must suffer the loss of ignorance. Seldom have I discovered a more sure fire way of attaining wisdom then suffering the loss of ignorance.
Wisdom doesn't come easily. God will certainly give us the opportunities to grow in that area daily.
Will it hurt? Yes. Will it be rewarding? Yes.
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