Romans 9:1-5; Ps 147 Praise the LORD, Jerusalem; Luke 14:1-6
Today's gospel Jesus poses this question, "Is it lawful to cure on the sabbath?" Then he posed a another question just in case we couldn't comprehend the first. He dumbs it down for us, "Who among you, if your son or ox falls into a cistern, would you not immediately pull him out on the sabbath day?"
Name a day in which goodness is not acceptable? Goodness is always in season. In fact, it is more so on the sabbath, the day in which we reconnect to the goodness of God.
We are never with an excuse not to be good toward others or ourselves. Goodness itself has its origin in the reality of being suitable. One is good in so far he is suitable. His actions or words are suitable for someone who is made in the image and likeness of God.
Our actions and our words suit us because of who we are. All actions and words should flow out of this reality.
Today we have our school children coming to mass dressed up as saints. Saints are unlike celebrities. Celebrities are those who have been noticed for their talent or ability. They have mean basketball skills or football skills. They have ability to draw us in by their acting talents or musical or artistic ability. Normally, celebrities are high profile personalities who have hewn a skill set.
Saints are recognized not primarily by their skill set or natural talent. They are not primarily recognized by what they do but really who they are. Who they are is the foundation for all of their action. There is a supernatural element alive and at work in and through their love and life.
We hear Jesus say in the gospel, "be perfect as you heavenly Father is perfect."
Just what we need to hear. There is only one perfect thing in life and He is Jesus. We are not perfect. We are a work in progress. But we make strides simply uniting ourselves to the one who is perfect. We can be friends with Jesus. This is the beginning and end of perfection. God shares himself with us in this renewed friendship offered through Jesus in the Holy Spirit. Here in lies Saintliness.
Friday, October 30, 2015
Thursday, October 29, 2015
INVINCIBLE
Romans 8:31-39; Ps 109 Save me, O Lord, in your mercy; Luke 13:31-35
Imagine a love that is invincible. Imagine a love that knows no obstacles. Imagine a love that can never be barred or blocked or hindered.
St Paul mentions three possible blockades to Love: Will Litigation (Who will bring a charge against us for it is God who acquits us), course of life (anguish, distress, persecution, peril, famine, nakedness, sword), superhuman forces (death, angels, principalities, future things, powers, any other).
None of these can stand in the way of God's love for us in Christ. Invincible love comes our way through Jesus.
There is one thing that can stand in the way it is our own willingness to open our heart to God's invitation. Back in Romans ch 2:5-10, 6:16, 8:13,11:21-22 just to point out a few passages in the same letter.
God's love is invincible, in penetrates the harshest environments yet it will not betray our freedom to respond to its invitation.
Lastly, in today's gospel we hear these words from Jesus, "But I tell you, you will not see me until the time comes when you say, Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord."
We say that very phrase right before the consecration at Mass. In anticipation of Jesus who comes to be with us on the altar through the power of the Holy Spirit as the bread and wine are transformed by the very word of JEsus himself. Every time we gather at the altar, the time has come for Him to come to us.
Imagine a love that is invincible. Imagine a love that knows no obstacles. Imagine a love that can never be barred or blocked or hindered.
St Paul mentions three possible blockades to Love: Will Litigation (Who will bring a charge against us for it is God who acquits us), course of life (anguish, distress, persecution, peril, famine, nakedness, sword), superhuman forces (death, angels, principalities, future things, powers, any other).
None of these can stand in the way of God's love for us in Christ. Invincible love comes our way through Jesus.
There is one thing that can stand in the way it is our own willingness to open our heart to God's invitation. Back in Romans ch 2:5-10, 6:16, 8:13,11:21-22 just to point out a few passages in the same letter.
God's love is invincible, in penetrates the harshest environments yet it will not betray our freedom to respond to its invitation.
Lastly, in today's gospel we hear these words from Jesus, "But I tell you, you will not see me until the time comes when you say, Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord."
We say that very phrase right before the consecration at Mass. In anticipation of Jesus who comes to be with us on the altar through the power of the Holy Spirit as the bread and wine are transformed by the very word of JEsus himself. Every time we gather at the altar, the time has come for Him to come to us.
Wednesday, October 28, 2015
SALVIFIC ACTION
Ephesians 2:19-22; PS 19 Their message goes out through all the earth; Luke 6:12-16
Here are the words of Pope Francis at the close of his homily on the synod of the Family: "A believer is someone who has experienced God's Salvific action in his life."
Have we experienced God's salvific action in our life? Are we aware of God's action in and through our life on a daily basis?
The Apostles, as we celebrate the feast of Simon and Jude, preached God's salvific action because they first experienced that action within their own lives. They were able to give what they themselves first received.
What about us?
Jude is often seen holding a carpenter square as a symbol of his untiring labor to build up th household of God. He was an architect. As St Paul reminds us in the first reading, "you are fellow citizens with the holy ones and members of the household of God, built upon the foundation of the Apostles an prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the capstone...in him you also are being built together into a dwelling place of God in the Spirit."
St Paul helps us identify what that salvific action looks like. It primarily brings us together. We are being built together into the dwelling place of God.
How do we strive toward unity in our life with those around us?
In Christ we can get the better of our differences and difficulties rather than they get the better of us.
Here are the words of Pope Francis at the close of his homily on the synod of the Family: "A believer is someone who has experienced God's Salvific action in his life."
Have we experienced God's salvific action in our life? Are we aware of God's action in and through our life on a daily basis?
The Apostles, as we celebrate the feast of Simon and Jude, preached God's salvific action because they first experienced that action within their own lives. They were able to give what they themselves first received.
What about us?
Jude is often seen holding a carpenter square as a symbol of his untiring labor to build up th household of God. He was an architect. As St Paul reminds us in the first reading, "you are fellow citizens with the holy ones and members of the household of God, built upon the foundation of the Apostles an prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the capstone...in him you also are being built together into a dwelling place of God in the Spirit."
St Paul helps us identify what that salvific action looks like. It primarily brings us together. We are being built together into the dwelling place of God.
How do we strive toward unity in our life with those around us?
In Christ we can get the better of our differences and difficulties rather than they get the better of us.
Saturday, October 24, 2015
BEGGAR
Mark 10:46-52
We meet Bartimaeus today. He is the blind beggar who sits on the side of road from Jericho to Jerusalem.
We live in a world where folks want to be spiritual but do not want to be religious. We want to be connected to their higher power but not connected to a community of believers. We want to feel the presence of God but we want it on our terms in isolation from others. We all want to get to heaven but we do not want anyone to tell us how to get there. We want truth as long as it does not interfere with our good opinion.
we live in a dysfunctional world.
What is the answer to such dysfunction.
I think the Beggars today has the answer for us. We are introduced to Beggar Spirituality.
First of all, the beggar begs. Self -assertion is out. He realizes there is nothing he can do to solve his problems on his own. He can not go alone. Self-sufficiency has failed him. He is helpless, miserably helpless.
This seems to be the only starting place with God. Not only is it the starting place it is the place we must restart at over and over again. This is why at the mass we begin every celebration as a community of believers with the words of the beggar pressed upon our lips: Lord, Have Mercy; Christ, Have Mercy; Lord, Have Mercy. This is the only way we can come to experience joy, peace and God's healing presence in our life.
We never get past this point. We are always dependent on God. The introduction of the mass invites us to recognize what is it that we need most of all. Of all of ur wants in life, what is our truest need.
Lord, Have Mercy is where we begin and end in our relationship with God.
Secondly. Notice it isn't Jesus that brings the blind beggar to himself but rather he commission his disciples to do it. He tells them, "Call Him." And they call him. The community of believers are the ones who bring the blind beggar into an intimate embrace with Jesus. The community of believers is God's way of reaching into the lives of others and making himself known to them. We are his hands and feet. This is import because this is what will happen to the beggar; he becomes part of that community of believers.
At the end we are told he receives his sight and he follows Jesus on the way. The beggar becomes a confident disciple. He is empowered by the encounter and wants others to come to experience the same thing. He follows him externally, which means his life now looks different from the outside.
Does our life like different from the outside?
Also he follows interiorly. He now abides with Jesus and he is at Jesus's disposal. This is true litmus test of discipleship: to be with Jesus and to be at his disposal.
Here, in this spiritual space, the most important part of human existence is reveal: to be with him and to be at his disposal.
We can learn a lot from the beggar.
We meet Bartimaeus today. He is the blind beggar who sits on the side of road from Jericho to Jerusalem.
We live in a world where folks want to be spiritual but do not want to be religious. We want to be connected to their higher power but not connected to a community of believers. We want to feel the presence of God but we want it on our terms in isolation from others. We all want to get to heaven but we do not want anyone to tell us how to get there. We want truth as long as it does not interfere with our good opinion.
we live in a dysfunctional world.
What is the answer to such dysfunction.
I think the Beggars today has the answer for us. We are introduced to Beggar Spirituality.
First of all, the beggar begs. Self -assertion is out. He realizes there is nothing he can do to solve his problems on his own. He can not go alone. Self-sufficiency has failed him. He is helpless, miserably helpless.
This seems to be the only starting place with God. Not only is it the starting place it is the place we must restart at over and over again. This is why at the mass we begin every celebration as a community of believers with the words of the beggar pressed upon our lips: Lord, Have Mercy; Christ, Have Mercy; Lord, Have Mercy. This is the only way we can come to experience joy, peace and God's healing presence in our life.
We never get past this point. We are always dependent on God. The introduction of the mass invites us to recognize what is it that we need most of all. Of all of ur wants in life, what is our truest need.
Lord, Have Mercy is where we begin and end in our relationship with God.
Secondly. Notice it isn't Jesus that brings the blind beggar to himself but rather he commission his disciples to do it. He tells them, "Call Him." And they call him. The community of believers are the ones who bring the blind beggar into an intimate embrace with Jesus. The community of believers is God's way of reaching into the lives of others and making himself known to them. We are his hands and feet. This is import because this is what will happen to the beggar; he becomes part of that community of believers.
At the end we are told he receives his sight and he follows Jesus on the way. The beggar becomes a confident disciple. He is empowered by the encounter and wants others to come to experience the same thing. He follows him externally, which means his life now looks different from the outside.
Does our life like different from the outside?
Also he follows interiorly. He now abides with Jesus and he is at Jesus's disposal. This is true litmus test of discipleship: to be with Jesus and to be at his disposal.
Here, in this spiritual space, the most important part of human existence is reveal: to be with him and to be at his disposal.
We can learn a lot from the beggar.
Wednesday, October 21, 2015
WEAPONS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS
Romans 6:12-18; Ps 124 Our help is in the name of the Lord; Luke 12:39-48
St Paul has quite the exhortation of for us today.
"And do not present the parts of your bodies to sin as weapons for wickedness, but present yourself to God as raised from the dead to life and the parts of your bodies to God as weapons for righteousness…"
Here is certainly counter culture advise.
Look around. How many body parts are being presented as weapons of wickedness as opposed to weapons of righteousness?
What does this mean?
I think it goes back to the gospel for this past Sunday. Here are a few words of Pope Francis to help us reconnect to the gospel of Sunday and St Paul's words for us today.
"In the biblical tradition, the Son of Man is the one who receives from God “dominion, glory and kingship” (Dan7:14). Jesus fills this image with new meaning. He shows us that he enjoys dominion because he is a servant, glory because he is capable of abasement, kingship because he is fully prepared to lay down his life. By his passion and death, he takes the lowest place, attains the heights of grandeur in service, and bestows this upon his Church."
Dominion through service, glory through abasement, kingship by laying down his life.
Again, Jesus has a way of turning the world upside down. What we see has the goal he flips it on its edge.
Service, abasement, laying down one's life are the ways our body parts become weapons of righteousness.
We use our body for the the good of the other. We display our body so that others may be lifted upward to godliness.
Our body is an instrument, a temple. Through our body we reveal to the world the love of god and his goodness.
Modesty is important. Clothing doesn't so much disguise as reveals what is at the heart of our love and attention. Bride's wear veils not to disguise but rather to reveal beauty. So too our dress is revealing to the world where the true meaning of beauty is to be discovered
Weapons of righteousness.
Think about that to day. Our body is a weapon for righteousness. Through our body the world comes to know God's goodness and love.
St Paul has quite the exhortation of for us today.
"And do not present the parts of your bodies to sin as weapons for wickedness, but present yourself to God as raised from the dead to life and the parts of your bodies to God as weapons for righteousness…"
Here is certainly counter culture advise.
Look around. How many body parts are being presented as weapons of wickedness as opposed to weapons of righteousness?
What does this mean?
I think it goes back to the gospel for this past Sunday. Here are a few words of Pope Francis to help us reconnect to the gospel of Sunday and St Paul's words for us today.
"In the biblical tradition, the Son of Man is the one who receives from God “dominion, glory and kingship” (Dan7:14). Jesus fills this image with new meaning. He shows us that he enjoys dominion because he is a servant, glory because he is capable of abasement, kingship because he is fully prepared to lay down his life. By his passion and death, he takes the lowest place, attains the heights of grandeur in service, and bestows this upon his Church."
Dominion through service, glory through abasement, kingship by laying down his life.
Again, Jesus has a way of turning the world upside down. What we see has the goal he flips it on its edge.
Service, abasement, laying down one's life are the ways our body parts become weapons of righteousness.
We use our body for the the good of the other. We display our body so that others may be lifted upward to godliness.
Our body is an instrument, a temple. Through our body we reveal to the world the love of god and his goodness.
Modesty is important. Clothing doesn't so much disguise as reveals what is at the heart of our love and attention. Bride's wear veils not to disguise but rather to reveal beauty. So too our dress is revealing to the world where the true meaning of beauty is to be discovered
Weapons of righteousness.
Think about that to day. Our body is a weapon for righteousness. Through our body the world comes to know God's goodness and love.
Tuesday, October 20, 2015
BE THE ONE
Rom 5:12,17-19,20-21; Ps 40 Here I am Lord, I come to do your will; Luke 12:35-38
According to the first letter this morning, the letter to the Romans, St Paul, points out the power of one.
"If by that one person's transgression the many died, how much more did the grace of God and the gracious gift of the one man Jesus Christ overflow the many..."
He is comparing the action of Adam to the actions of Jesus. They both effected many. One brought destruction and hurt and pain and the other healing and mercy and love.
The power of one. One can make a tremendous difference in the life of many.
I see that in my line of work all the time. I see people and I see how they effect the lives of those around them. I see the power of one in play each and every day.
All it takes is one, we say. It is true. One person doing good can effect generations.
Mother Teresa in one of her letters in particular to her sisters quotes Isaiah in the suffering servant passage of ch 53, "I looked for one that would comfort me and I found no one..."
Under neath this quote from Isaiah she wrote to herself and to her sisters, "Be the one..."
Be the one. Be The one Jesus is looking for to bring comfort.
Be the one today to be the difference. Be the one that does it differently for the good of the other. Be the one that reaches down and lifts up.
It is simple spiritual mathematics. The addition of one always makes more. The subtraction always makes less.
Jesus made more by the gift of his life. Adam made less.
Which do we follow? Be the one!
According to the first letter this morning, the letter to the Romans, St Paul, points out the power of one.
"If by that one person's transgression the many died, how much more did the grace of God and the gracious gift of the one man Jesus Christ overflow the many..."
He is comparing the action of Adam to the actions of Jesus. They both effected many. One brought destruction and hurt and pain and the other healing and mercy and love.
The power of one. One can make a tremendous difference in the life of many.
I see that in my line of work all the time. I see people and I see how they effect the lives of those around them. I see the power of one in play each and every day.
All it takes is one, we say. It is true. One person doing good can effect generations.
Mother Teresa in one of her letters in particular to her sisters quotes Isaiah in the suffering servant passage of ch 53, "I looked for one that would comfort me and I found no one..."
Under neath this quote from Isaiah she wrote to herself and to her sisters, "Be the one..."
Be the one. Be The one Jesus is looking for to bring comfort.
Be the one today to be the difference. Be the one that does it differently for the good of the other. Be the one that reaches down and lifts up.
It is simple spiritual mathematics. The addition of one always makes more. The subtraction always makes less.
Jesus made more by the gift of his life. Adam made less.
Which do we follow? Be the one!
Monday, October 19, 2015
DAILY BECOME HEROIC
Isaiah 53:10-11; Ps 33 Lord, let your mercy be on us, as we place our trust in you; Hebrews 4:14-16; Mark 10:35-45
Here are a few words from John Paul II, a homily he gave for the canonization mass: "Heroism must become daily and daily must become heroic."
Think about those words.
Basically, John Paull II was inviting us to realize that heroic actions is not heroic simply because of the action but more importantly the motivation behind the action the why behind the what is what makes an action heroic.
Any action that is done with great love and faithfulness is heroic, it is laying down our life for another.
Simply put, laying down our life is primarily not about shedding blood but about giving of our time. Every time we invest our time for the good of another with great love and faithfulness we allow heroism to become daily and daily to become heroic.
We cannot reduce heroism to the big sacrifices such as risking one's life. These are good deeds certainly but usually they are one time events. Truly heroic actions must be duplicated in our daily affairs. Again, daily must become heroic and heroism must become daily.
This is why Jesus reminds the Apostles and all of us that the greatest amongst us is the servant of all.
The highest honor bestowed upon us; the highest accolade to be achieved as a disciple is simply to be recognized as a servant, someone who gives unsparingly and untiringly for the good of the other, for the good of all.
Again we hear Jesus say the Son of Man has come to serve and not be served.
Every action that is done with greta love and faithfulness belongs to the servant.
Perhaps we think we have done our share of service. Maybe we think we have already fulfilled our duty in volunteering. Maybe we think we have done enough already. But the truth be told there is only one who has done enough. He is on the cross. If we want to know what enough looks like then we must look at the crucifixion. Until we do that, we have not done enough.
There is always more to do.
In fact St Paul reminds us that Jesus didn't stop with he cross.
Listen to his words, "So let us confidently approach the throne of grace to receive mercy and to find grace for our time of need."
Jesus is still giving to us. We approach him in confidence and he continues to bestow his grace and strength to us. Even the cross is not enough for Him. He continually gives and serves us in our need.
This should become our new paradigm. The ultimate paradigm shift has occurred on calvary. Jesus isn't done and neither should we be.
The greatest among you must be servant of all and then heroism becomes daily and daily becomes heroic.
Here are a few words from John Paul II, a homily he gave for the canonization mass: "Heroism must become daily and daily must become heroic."
Think about those words.
Basically, John Paull II was inviting us to realize that heroic actions is not heroic simply because of the action but more importantly the motivation behind the action the why behind the what is what makes an action heroic.
Any action that is done with great love and faithfulness is heroic, it is laying down our life for another.
Simply put, laying down our life is primarily not about shedding blood but about giving of our time. Every time we invest our time for the good of another with great love and faithfulness we allow heroism to become daily and daily to become heroic.
We cannot reduce heroism to the big sacrifices such as risking one's life. These are good deeds certainly but usually they are one time events. Truly heroic actions must be duplicated in our daily affairs. Again, daily must become heroic and heroism must become daily.
This is why Jesus reminds the Apostles and all of us that the greatest amongst us is the servant of all.
The highest honor bestowed upon us; the highest accolade to be achieved as a disciple is simply to be recognized as a servant, someone who gives unsparingly and untiringly for the good of the other, for the good of all.
Again we hear Jesus say the Son of Man has come to serve and not be served.
Every action that is done with greta love and faithfulness belongs to the servant.
Perhaps we think we have done our share of service. Maybe we think we have already fulfilled our duty in volunteering. Maybe we think we have done enough already. But the truth be told there is only one who has done enough. He is on the cross. If we want to know what enough looks like then we must look at the crucifixion. Until we do that, we have not done enough.
There is always more to do.
In fact St Paul reminds us that Jesus didn't stop with he cross.
Listen to his words, "So let us confidently approach the throne of grace to receive mercy and to find grace for our time of need."
Jesus is still giving to us. We approach him in confidence and he continues to bestow his grace and strength to us. Even the cross is not enough for Him. He continually gives and serves us in our need.
This should become our new paradigm. The ultimate paradigm shift has occurred on calvary. Jesus isn't done and neither should we be.
The greatest among you must be servant of all and then heroism becomes daily and daily becomes heroic.
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