Genesis 3:1-8; Ps 32 Blessed are those whose sins are forgiven; Mark 7:31-37
What kind of clothes does the devil wear?
We have all seen or heard the movie "The devil wears Prada."
But does the devil do as such?
As we turn our attention to the story of salvation and we gaze into the third chapter of Genesis we discover something interesting about the ancient nemesis of goodness.
The devil may or may not wear prada but the devil does wear camouflage.
The devil loves to be in disguise. The devil is enticing, charming, flashy sometimes, not so flashy others. The devil comes with honeyed tones that are music to our ears. The devil slithers into our life with that fork tongue of deception, unobtrusive, subtle, always trying to catch us unaware or throw us off guard.
It is always music to our ears with the devil, just enough to gets us to look at the bait that is dangled before us and just a few more singles like a fisherman's line, then we take the bait.
St Paul describes it as tickling to the ears.
The devil wears camouflage. St Peter put it best, "the devil is on prowl" stalking the prey.
The devil introduces doubt in to God's trustworthiness. That becomes the the crack in the amour that leads Adam and Eve down a slippery slope that has affected us all.
The devil wear camouflage.
This is why we beg the Lord to open our ears to his truth as he does of the man unable to hear in the gospel. JEsus comes to tune our ears to his voice that we might recognize the hint of doubt in the subtle lie and hold firm to the truth He has laid before us.
The Devil wear Camouflage but God is always a straight shooter.
Friday, February 13, 2015
Thursday, February 12, 2015
THE REAL OSCAR
As many of of us have heard the canonization for Oscar Romero as martyr for the faith has cleared the hurdles.
In light of this here is his last homily prior to being shot and mortally wounded during the celebration of the Mass:
"You have just heard in Christ’s gospel that one must not love oneself so much as to avoid getting involved in the risks of life that history demands of us, and that those who try to fend off the danger will lose their lives, while those who out of love for Christ give themselves to the service of others, will live, live like the grain of wheat that dies, but only apparently. If it did not die, it would remain alone. The harvest comes about only because it dies, allowing itself to be sacrificed in the earth and destroyed. Only by undoing itself does it produce the harvest....
This is the hope that inspires us as Christians. We know that every effort to better society, especially when justice and sin are so ingrained, is an effort that God blesses, that God wants, that God demands of us.... Of course, we must try to purify these ideals, Christianize them, clothe them with the hope of what lies beyond. That makes them stronger, because it gives us the assurance that all that we cultivate on earth, if we nourish it with Christian hope, will never be a failure. We will find it in a purer form in that kingdom where our merit will be found in the labor that we have done here on earth....
Dear brothers and sisters, let us all view these matters at this historic moment with that hope, that spirit of giving and of sacrifice. Let us all do what we can. We can all do something, at least have a sense of understanding and sympathy....
[I]t is worthwhile to labor, because all those longings for justice, peace, and well-being that we experience on earth become realized for us if we enlighten them with Christian hope. We know that no one can go on forever, but those who have put into their work a sense of very great faith, of love of God, of hope among human beings, find it all results in the splendors of a crown that is the sure reward of those who labor thus, cultivating truth, justice, love, and goodness on earth. Such labor does not remain here below but, purified by God’s Spirit, is harvested for our reward.
The holy Mass, now, this Eucharist, is just such an act of faith. To Christian faith at this moment the voice of diatribe appears changed for the body of the Lord, who offered himself for the redemption of the world, and in this chalice the wine is transformed into the blood that was the price of salvation. May this body immolated and this blood sacrificed for humans nourish us also, so that we may give our body and our blood to suffering and to pain --- like Christ, not for self, but to bring about justice and peace for our people.
Let us join together, then, intimately in faith and hope at this moment of prayer…."
[At that, a postscript reads thus: "A shot rang out in the chapel and Archbishop Romero fell mortally wounded. He died within minutes, on arriving at a nearby hospital emergency room."]
In light of this here is his last homily prior to being shot and mortally wounded during the celebration of the Mass:
"You have just heard in Christ’s gospel that one must not love oneself so much as to avoid getting involved in the risks of life that history demands of us, and that those who try to fend off the danger will lose their lives, while those who out of love for Christ give themselves to the service of others, will live, live like the grain of wheat that dies, but only apparently. If it did not die, it would remain alone. The harvest comes about only because it dies, allowing itself to be sacrificed in the earth and destroyed. Only by undoing itself does it produce the harvest....
This is the hope that inspires us as Christians. We know that every effort to better society, especially when justice and sin are so ingrained, is an effort that God blesses, that God wants, that God demands of us.... Of course, we must try to purify these ideals, Christianize them, clothe them with the hope of what lies beyond. That makes them stronger, because it gives us the assurance that all that we cultivate on earth, if we nourish it with Christian hope, will never be a failure. We will find it in a purer form in that kingdom where our merit will be found in the labor that we have done here on earth....
Dear brothers and sisters, let us all view these matters at this historic moment with that hope, that spirit of giving and of sacrifice. Let us all do what we can. We can all do something, at least have a sense of understanding and sympathy....
[I]t is worthwhile to labor, because all those longings for justice, peace, and well-being that we experience on earth become realized for us if we enlighten them with Christian hope. We know that no one can go on forever, but those who have put into their work a sense of very great faith, of love of God, of hope among human beings, find it all results in the splendors of a crown that is the sure reward of those who labor thus, cultivating truth, justice, love, and goodness on earth. Such labor does not remain here below but, purified by God’s Spirit, is harvested for our reward.
The holy Mass, now, this Eucharist, is just such an act of faith. To Christian faith at this moment the voice of diatribe appears changed for the body of the Lord, who offered himself for the redemption of the world, and in this chalice the wine is transformed into the blood that was the price of salvation. May this body immolated and this blood sacrificed for humans nourish us also, so that we may give our body and our blood to suffering and to pain --- like Christ, not for self, but to bring about justice and peace for our people.
Let us join together, then, intimately in faith and hope at this moment of prayer…."
[At that, a postscript reads thus: "A shot rang out in the chapel and Archbishop Romero fell mortally wounded. He died within minutes, on arriving at a nearby hospital emergency room."]
Tuesday, February 10, 2015
Kettles, jugs, cups, beds
Genesis 1:20-2:4; Ps 8 O Lord, our God, how wonderful your name in all the earth; Mark 7:1-13
We continue to reflect on the beauty of creation. The one thing that should stand out for us as we follow along in the beginning of the book of Genesis is this: God creates not our of necessity but deliberately with good intention. God creates because he wants to create. Creation is a willful undertaking rooted in love.
This of course means that we are not an accident nor does creation happen out of chance. Rather each of us is a thought of God. We are willed, we are are wanted, we are loved. This is the very foundation of our life and the life of all of creation.
Why would we want to erode this foundation by claiming hold to anything else.
Those who say we are accidental are denouncing the the very truth of our being.
Maybe this is why there is such a lack of purposefulness in life. We have lost our origin and thus we have lost our purpose.
Secondly, we hear the talk about the cleansing of hands and vessels and cups, jugs, kettles, and beds in the gospel. Jesus critiques the washing prescribed by the pharisees and scribes.
It is important to note that the ceremonial washing of hands before eating and the cleansing of vessels was meant to bring to the home the sense of what happened in the Temple. It was a way of introducing spirituality to the home and family. The pharisees were trying to highlight that just as God' presence is in the temple so it is in the home and the ritual was meant to deepen the families understanding of this profound truth.
Unfortunately the scribes and pharisees were so focused on the what they lost sight of the why. They were focused on the external rather than the internal. This is what Jesus critiques not the ritual process but the intention of it all.
How often in our own life do we need to refocus? How often do we look at the what and forget the why?
How do we create a deeper experience of God's presence in our homes and families?
We continue to reflect on the beauty of creation. The one thing that should stand out for us as we follow along in the beginning of the book of Genesis is this: God creates not our of necessity but deliberately with good intention. God creates because he wants to create. Creation is a willful undertaking rooted in love.
This of course means that we are not an accident nor does creation happen out of chance. Rather each of us is a thought of God. We are willed, we are are wanted, we are loved. This is the very foundation of our life and the life of all of creation.
Why would we want to erode this foundation by claiming hold to anything else.
Those who say we are accidental are denouncing the the very truth of our being.
Maybe this is why there is such a lack of purposefulness in life. We have lost our origin and thus we have lost our purpose.
Secondly, we hear the talk about the cleansing of hands and vessels and cups, jugs, kettles, and beds in the gospel. Jesus critiques the washing prescribed by the pharisees and scribes.
It is important to note that the ceremonial washing of hands before eating and the cleansing of vessels was meant to bring to the home the sense of what happened in the Temple. It was a way of introducing spirituality to the home and family. The pharisees were trying to highlight that just as God' presence is in the temple so it is in the home and the ritual was meant to deepen the families understanding of this profound truth.
Unfortunately the scribes and pharisees were so focused on the what they lost sight of the why. They were focused on the external rather than the internal. This is what Jesus critiques not the ritual process but the intention of it all.
How often in our own life do we need to refocus? How often do we look at the what and forget the why?
How do we create a deeper experience of God's presence in our homes and families?
Sunday, February 8, 2015
VIRTUAL MARRIAGE RETREAT
Here is a link to a virtual marriage retreat with the words and guidance of Pope Francis.
It is a seven day retreat you can do from you own home. Each day offers a new insight in to the gift of married love. Click on the link below and let the retreat begin.
Happy trails.
Virtual marriage retreat link
OR you can do a retreat with the USCCB document marriage, love, and live. as proposed by the bishops of the US. Just click on the link below to begin your journey into the gift of married love.
Virtual marriage retreat link
It is a seven day retreat you can do from you own home. Each day offers a new insight in to the gift of married love. Click on the link below and let the retreat begin.
Happy trails.
Virtual marriage retreat link
OR you can do a retreat with the USCCB document marriage, love, and live. as proposed by the bishops of the US. Just click on the link below to begin your journey into the gift of married love.
Virtual marriage retreat link
Friday, February 6, 2015
THE RIGHT THING
Hebrews 13:1-8; Ps 27 The Lord is my light and my salvation; Mark 6:14-29
What does it mean to do the right thing?
How many times have we been told that we must do the right thing? How many times is that we ought in life especially in regards to making decision, to do the right thing?
There are two components to doing the right thing.
One, we have to know what is right. We have to go to the source of goodness itself that we might allow our life to be shaped by that goodness. We must seek it out. We must ask questions. W must investigate. We must let God and his church have the authority God has asked to have.
Only then can we truly know what is right.
But knowing wha is right is only one part of the component to doing what is right.
The second aspect is loving what is right. This is the harder of the two. It is easy to know what is right. We can all have the right answers. But implicating them into our life is a whole another reality that involves the will.
And the will is about love.
IT is greater to love God than to know God. In love we become what we love.
Knowing what is right, loving what is right leads to doing what is right. It is always a matter of the will.
Each day we should pray to God for the grace and strength to love what is right.
John the baptist lost his head because he knew what was right and he loved what was right. His head rolled because of true love.
Knowing! loving! Doing!
We know but do we love?
What does it mean to do the right thing?
How many times have we been told that we must do the right thing? How many times is that we ought in life especially in regards to making decision, to do the right thing?
There are two components to doing the right thing.
One, we have to know what is right. We have to go to the source of goodness itself that we might allow our life to be shaped by that goodness. We must seek it out. We must ask questions. W must investigate. We must let God and his church have the authority God has asked to have.
Only then can we truly know what is right.
But knowing wha is right is only one part of the component to doing what is right.
The second aspect is loving what is right. This is the harder of the two. It is easy to know what is right. We can all have the right answers. But implicating them into our life is a whole another reality that involves the will.
And the will is about love.
IT is greater to love God than to know God. In love we become what we love.
Knowing what is right, loving what is right leads to doing what is right. It is always a matter of the will.
Each day we should pray to God for the grace and strength to love what is right.
John the baptist lost his head because he knew what was right and he loved what was right. His head rolled because of true love.
Knowing! loving! Doing!
We know but do we love?
Thursday, February 5, 2015
WHAT A DIFFERENCE
Hebrews 12:18-19,21-24; Ps 48 O GOd, we ponder your mercy within your temple; Mark 6:7-13
Here is the first reading for today's mass from the letter of Hebrews
"You have not approached that which could be touched and a blazing fire and gloomy darkness and storm and a trumpet blast and a voice speaking words that those who heard begged that no message be further addressed to them…No, you have approached mount Zion and the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and countless angels in festal gatherings, and the assembly of the firstborn enrolled in heaven, and God the judge of all, and the spirits of the just made perfect, and Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and the sprinkled blood that speaks more eloquently than that of Abel."
Wow!
Read it again slowly. See the distinction between what happened on Mt Sinai with the Israelites in the time of Moses and what happens with Jesus.
The first experience brought fear and trembling and the second invites joyful participation.
The first was trepidation and the second jubilation.
The Israelites begged to hear no more. We now with Christ can't get enough.
What a difference a day makes as is often said. Though the day I am referring to is several days: Good Friday and Easter Sunday. Indeed it changes everything. We are still in awe of God and yet this awe invites not terror but deep penetrating love and trust.
What a difference a day makes!
The day on Sinai would live forever in the memory of the israelites. Go to Exodus 19 and reread the encounter. Notice that it was on the third day God was going to come to them (Ex 19:15).
Yet, it is no match for the other third day that lives in the hearts and mind of people everywhere, believer or not. The tale of two third days.
One brought trembling the other jubilation. One brought distance and isolation and the other participation. One was a spectacle that caused the earth to quake the other the heart of all humanity to quake.
What a difference a day makes!
The blood of Jesus continues to cry out but not for vengeance but rather for mercy for justice and truth meet on the cross and God's mercy rains down as Jesus blood falls to the ground.
What a difference a day makes!
Here is the first reading for today's mass from the letter of Hebrews
"You have not approached that which could be touched and a blazing fire and gloomy darkness and storm and a trumpet blast and a voice speaking words that those who heard begged that no message be further addressed to them…No, you have approached mount Zion and the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and countless angels in festal gatherings, and the assembly of the firstborn enrolled in heaven, and God the judge of all, and the spirits of the just made perfect, and Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and the sprinkled blood that speaks more eloquently than that of Abel."
Wow!
Read it again slowly. See the distinction between what happened on Mt Sinai with the Israelites in the time of Moses and what happens with Jesus.
The first experience brought fear and trembling and the second invites joyful participation.
The first was trepidation and the second jubilation.
The Israelites begged to hear no more. We now with Christ can't get enough.
What a difference a day makes as is often said. Though the day I am referring to is several days: Good Friday and Easter Sunday. Indeed it changes everything. We are still in awe of God and yet this awe invites not terror but deep penetrating love and trust.
What a difference a day makes!
The day on Sinai would live forever in the memory of the israelites. Go to Exodus 19 and reread the encounter. Notice that it was on the third day God was going to come to them (Ex 19:15).
Yet, it is no match for the other third day that lives in the hearts and mind of people everywhere, believer or not. The tale of two third days.
One brought trembling the other jubilation. One brought distance and isolation and the other participation. One was a spectacle that caused the earth to quake the other the heart of all humanity to quake.
What a difference a day makes!
The blood of Jesus continues to cry out but not for vengeance but rather for mercy for justice and truth meet on the cross and God's mercy rains down as Jesus blood falls to the ground.
What a difference a day makes!
Wednesday, February 4, 2015
PITTY POTTY
Hebrews 12:4-7,11-15; Ps 103 The Lord's kindness is everlasting to those who fear him; Mark 6:1-6
The words of the letter of Hebrews states the following, "Endure your trials as "discipline", God treats you as his sons. For what son is there whom is father does not discipline? At the time, all discipline seems a cause not for good but for pain, yet later it brings the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who are trained by it."
This is the same author who wrote about Jesus that he "learned obedience by what he suffered."
Jesus experienced the true power and freedom of obedience by the trials he endured. Ultimately, obedience frees us from our self. So does discipline that God invites into our life.
When we have troubles and before we throw ourselves a pity party we should ask how will this lead me to the peaceful fruit of righteousness that is that place or point in my journey to spiritual adulthood that I finally want what God wants.
This is the fruit of righteousness: to want what God wants.
We must be willing to train ourselves through self imposed trials but also those trial that come by the providential had of God.
Divine discipline is rooted in divine love.
In other words the author of the letter of Hebrews as he states the following, "In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding blood...so strengthen your drooping hands and your weak knees. Make straight the path for your feet, that what is lame may not be dislocated but healed" is really saying , "suck it up" or "man up". You haven't done nothing yet. So while you sit on your pitty potty go ahead and reach bag and pull the trigger on the flusher and move forward because you haven't been forged yet into the image of the true Son, Jesus.
The words of the letter of Hebrews states the following, "Endure your trials as "discipline", God treats you as his sons. For what son is there whom is father does not discipline? At the time, all discipline seems a cause not for good but for pain, yet later it brings the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who are trained by it."
This is the same author who wrote about Jesus that he "learned obedience by what he suffered."
Jesus experienced the true power and freedom of obedience by the trials he endured. Ultimately, obedience frees us from our self. So does discipline that God invites into our life.
When we have troubles and before we throw ourselves a pity party we should ask how will this lead me to the peaceful fruit of righteousness that is that place or point in my journey to spiritual adulthood that I finally want what God wants.
This is the fruit of righteousness: to want what God wants.
We must be willing to train ourselves through self imposed trials but also those trial that come by the providential had of God.
Divine discipline is rooted in divine love.
In other words the author of the letter of Hebrews as he states the following, "In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding blood...so strengthen your drooping hands and your weak knees. Make straight the path for your feet, that what is lame may not be dislocated but healed" is really saying , "suck it up" or "man up". You haven't done nothing yet. So while you sit on your pitty potty go ahead and reach bag and pull the trigger on the flusher and move forward because you haven't been forged yet into the image of the true Son, Jesus.
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