Let us Pray.
Almighty God, father of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, revealed to us so powerfully in your Son, Jesus Christ, we thank you for showering your blessings upon this our beloved nation. Bless all here present, and all across this great land, who work hard for the day when a greater portion of your justice, and a more ample measure of your care for the poor and suffering, may prevail in these United States. Help us to see that a society’s greatness is found above all in the respect it shows for the weakest and neediest among us.
We beseech you, almighty God to shed your grace on this noble experiment in ordered liberty, which began with the confident assertion of inalienable rights bestowed upon us by you: life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
Thus do we praise you for the gift of life. Grant us the courage to defend it, life, without which no other rights are secure. We ask your benediction on those waiting to be born, that they may be welcomed and protected. Strengthen our sick and our elders waiting to see your holy face at life’s end, that they may be accompanied by true compassion and cherished with the dignity due those who are infirm and fragile.
We praise and thank you for the gift of liberty. May this land of the free never lack those brave enough to defend our basic freedoms. Renew in all our people a profound respect for religious liberty: the first, most cherished freedom bequeathed upon us at our Founding. May our liberty be in harmony with truth; freedom ordered in goodness and justice. Help us live our freedom in faith, hope, and love. Make us ever-grateful for those who, for over two centuries, have given their lives in freedom’s defense; we commend their noble souls to your eternal care, as even now we beg the protection of your mighty arm upon our men and women in uniform.
We praise and thank you for granting us the life and the liberty by which we can pursue happiness. Show us anew that happiness is found only in respecting the laws of nature and of nature’s God. Empower us with your grace so that we might resist the temptation to replace the moral law with idols of our own making, or to remake those institutions you have given us for the nurturing of life and community. May we welcome those who yearn to breathe free and to pursue happiness in this land of freedom, adding their gifts to those whose families have lived here for centuries.
We praise and thank you for the American genius of government of the people, by the people and for the people. Oh God of wisdom, justice, and might, we ask your guidance for those who govern us: President Barack Obama, Vice President Joseph Biden, Congress, the Supreme Court, and all those, including Governor Mitt Romney and Congressman Paul Ryan, who seek to serve the common good by seeking public office. Make them all worthy to serve you by serving our country. Help them remember that the only just government is the government that serves its citizens rather than itself. With your grace, may all Americans choose wisely as we consider the future course of public policy.
And finally Lord, we beseech your benediction on all of us who depart from here this evening, and on all those, in every land, who yearn to conduct their lives in freedom and justice. We beg you to remember, as we pledge to remember, those who are not free; those who suffer for freedom’s cause; those who are poor, out of work, needy, sick, or alone; those who are persecuted for their religious convictions, those still ravaged by war.
And most of all, God Almighty, we thank you for the great gift of our beloved country.
For we are indeed “one nation under God,” and “in God we trust.”
So dear God, bless America. You who live and reign forever and ever.
Amen!
Sunday, September 9, 2012
Friday, September 7, 2012
stewards
1 corinthians 4:1-5; Ps 37 The salvation of the just comes from the Lord; Luke 5:33-39
A few words form St. Paul
"Thus should one regard us: as servants of CHrist and stewards of the mysteries of God. NOw it is of course required of stewards that they be found trustworthy....therefore do not make any judgment before the appointed time, until the Lord comes, for he will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will manifest the motives of our hearts, and then everyone will receive praise from God."
Stewards of the mysteries of God....
Think about that for a moment.
A steward is one who: manages the property of another; administers anything as agent of another; watches over the domestic concerns of another; responsible for the comfort and safety of passengers on a plane or ship or train etc.
All of these can be used to describe our roles as disciples.
We are all on a journey, a pilgrimage. We are all traveling from this life to the life to come. We are all on a ride.
God has seen fit to make sure this ride has necessary stewards to ensure safety and comfort of passengers.
We have been equipped, like a stewardess on a plane. We are there not just for the ride but to be present and helpful for others.
We are agents of God.
We are agents of the mysteries of God. What mysteries?
The mystery of God refers to God himself. We make God present with our life choices.
It was once said that a every christian will be a mystic or nothing at all.
A mystic is one who enters into communion with Go union of human soul with divine on earth, and allows that communion radiate through their lives for the sake of others.
Most mystics of the church are associated with the suffering of Christ. Often times we seem them with the stigmata. The suffering of Christ is a revelation of GOd's love for humanity.
A steward of God is a mystic, the one who brings the mystery of God with them. We must bring that love to bear on all we do and say.
We live in mystery and thus we are mystics and stewards.
A just a bit on the last phrase of Paul's words "then everyone will receive praise from God."
We often say, how could God send anyone to hell. What kind of loving God is that. SO we find ourselves in our current society dismissing hell all together. This is a problem.
HEll is a real possibility. As St. Paul mentions, in the end the true motivations of the heart will be revealed. In other words, we are not fooling anyone, only fooling ourselves.
Our inner attitude is always exposed to the light of Christ.
But even in the end, final judgment, when it is all said and done and the smoke clears and the dust settles, our condemnation or salvation, will be "praise for God." God's justice and God's mercy will be united in that instant of judgment and thus "praise" shall rise.
Just something tot think about as we kick against the notion of hell. Hell is real because God's justice not our justice reigns.
A few words form St. Paul
"Thus should one regard us: as servants of CHrist and stewards of the mysteries of God. NOw it is of course required of stewards that they be found trustworthy....therefore do not make any judgment before the appointed time, until the Lord comes, for he will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will manifest the motives of our hearts, and then everyone will receive praise from God."
Stewards of the mysteries of God....
Think about that for a moment.
A steward is one who: manages the property of another; administers anything as agent of another; watches over the domestic concerns of another; responsible for the comfort and safety of passengers on a plane or ship or train etc.
All of these can be used to describe our roles as disciples.
We are all on a journey, a pilgrimage. We are all traveling from this life to the life to come. We are all on a ride.
God has seen fit to make sure this ride has necessary stewards to ensure safety and comfort of passengers.
We have been equipped, like a stewardess on a plane. We are there not just for the ride but to be present and helpful for others.
We are agents of God.
We are agents of the mysteries of God. What mysteries?
The mystery of God refers to God himself. We make God present with our life choices.
It was once said that a every christian will be a mystic or nothing at all.
A mystic is one who enters into communion with Go union of human soul with divine on earth, and allows that communion radiate through their lives for the sake of others.
Most mystics of the church are associated with the suffering of Christ. Often times we seem them with the stigmata. The suffering of Christ is a revelation of GOd's love for humanity.
A steward of God is a mystic, the one who brings the mystery of God with them. We must bring that love to bear on all we do and say.
We live in mystery and thus we are mystics and stewards.
A just a bit on the last phrase of Paul's words "then everyone will receive praise from God."
We often say, how could God send anyone to hell. What kind of loving God is that. SO we find ourselves in our current society dismissing hell all together. This is a problem.
HEll is a real possibility. As St. Paul mentions, in the end the true motivations of the heart will be revealed. In other words, we are not fooling anyone, only fooling ourselves.
Our inner attitude is always exposed to the light of Christ.
But even in the end, final judgment, when it is all said and done and the smoke clears and the dust settles, our condemnation or salvation, will be "praise for God." God's justice and God's mercy will be united in that instant of judgment and thus "praise" shall rise.
Just something tot think about as we kick against the notion of hell. Hell is real because God's justice not our justice reigns.
a different take on "homosexual" experience
Here is an article written by the below, I thought it to look at the "same sex attraction" and "gay" identity in a unique and christian perspective...
by David Prosen
by David Prosen
Are people born "gay" or do they choose to be gay?
The answer to both questions is no—although in many passionate debates generated by this topic, we are quick to dismiss objectivity. In reality, these questions provide a smoke screen to a much bigger problem that is pervasive in our society, in religious circles, politics, and clinical settings. The problem I speak of is the idea that homosexuality is an identity.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church states that every individual must "acknowledge and accept his sexual identity" (no. 2333). This refers to the "physical, moral, and spiritual difference and complementarity" of both genders which are "oriented toward the goods of marriage and the flourishing of family life" (Ibid.). At the most basic level, our identity is rooted in the fact that we are created in the image and likeness of God—"Male and female He created them" (Gen. 1:27).
I used to believe I was a "gay" person. I had been attracted to the same gender for as long as I could remember. Because this attraction was present from early on in my life, without my conscious choice, I concluded that I must have been born this way. After all, that’s a logical conclusion . . . right?
The attraction I had to the same gender when I was a little boy was normal and similar to what many boys experience. Boys look for heroes, role models who they respect and want to emulate. For me, the attraction to men started out with normal admiration but then began to take some dysfunctional turns. As a child, I was often made fun of and told by my peers that I wasn’t like them. This made me question what the difference between us was. At this point, shades of covetousness characterized my admiration. I secretly wondered, "If I looked like so-and-so, would I be accepted?"
In puberty, this attraction or admiration became eroticized. The derogative homosexual label was given to me by my peers, and I yielded to their accusations because I truly did have a sexualized same-sex attraction. Eventually, I embraced this label and called myself "gay."
Although I didn’t freely choose same-sex attractions, I did willfully choose to act upon them. My decision to sin brought me intense pain, loneliness, and—worst of all—separation from God. The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith explained this reality in a statement that observed, "As in every moral disorder, homosexual activity prevents one’s own fulfillment and happiness by acting contrary to the creative wisdom of God. The Church, in rejecting erroneous opinions regarding homosexuality, does not limit personal freedom and dignity realistically and authentically understood."[1]
Eventually, in my brokenness, I responded to the Lord’s loving call to forgiveness and healing. He has brought me through the valley of shame and out of the darkness of my past and shined His light of truth upon the many lies I believed about myself—especially the one that claimed that I was a "gay" person.
Defining Terms
By defining myself as a "gay" male, I had taken on a false identity. Any label such as "lesbian," "bisexual," or even "homosexual" insinuates a type of person equivalent to male or female. This is simply not true. One is not a same-sex attraction, but instead experiences this attraction.
In his book, Growth into Manhood, Alan Medinger shows that homosexual tendencies and behaviors have been around for thousands of years, but the idea of a homosexual identity only began to evolve about 150 years ago with the emergence of the term "homosexual."[2]
In a later study, Medinger further demonstrates his findings, revealing a number of untruths that tend to surface when one accepts homosexuality as an identity:
- I must have been born this way.
- If I was born that way, God made me this way.
- If God made me this way, how can there be anything wrong with it?
- It’s in my nature and I must be true to my nature.
- If it’s my nature, I can’t change.
- If I try to change I would be trying to go against my nature and that would be harmful. +Accepting myself as gay feels so good—I feel like a thousand pound load has been lifted off of my back—so it must be okay.
- If people can’t accept my being gay, then something is wrong with them.
- If people can’t accept my being gay, then they don’t accept me because that’s who I am.[3]
When I read these, I was floored. I believed each and every statement deep down to my core. When I was engaged in this lifestyle, it made perfect sense to go along with what felt natural. However, it was logical only because it appeared to be truth. In reality, lies had to be built upon lies for them to add up to something with the semblance of truth.
I believed I was gay. But I was also certain that I didn’t choose this for myself, and so I believed that God must have made me this way. However, Scripture verses like the following made no sense in light of my feelings: "If a man lies with a male as with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination; they shall be put to death, their blood is upon them" (Lev. 20:13).
How could a God of love create me this way and then condemn me to hell? I began to do what many other Christians struggling with same-sex attraction do and searched for "pro-gay" theologies for explanations. I desperately wanted to be in a loving relationship with the same gender, but at the same time, I had a gnawing feeling in my heart that this was wrong.
Time for Truth
Looking back, I believe that my search for truth and struggle against accepting this lifestyle was ultimately the way in which the Holy Spirit convicted me. Still, this gnawing feeling—that same-sex attraction was not God’s plan for my life—was not easy for me to reconcile with because I believed that my sexuality alone was my identity.
Ignorance of this distinction is dangerous. My false beliefs regarding my identity deterred me from accepting the conviction in my heart from the Holy Spirit. St. Paul acknowledged this very same process, explaining:
Because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshipped and served the creature rather than the Creator . . . God gave them up to dishonorable passions. Their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in their own persons the due penalty for their error (Rom. 1:25-27).
Only after I accepted the truth that acting on homosexual attractions was a sin did I begin to ask for the strength and the grace to carry that cross—and the Lord abundantly poured these upon me. Several years later, He showed me that homosexuality was a false identity that I had embraced. And at this point, my integral healing began as I searched out who I really was. My reflections led me to the discovery that I never truly believed I was a man, and yet I didn’t think I was a woman. In that searching process, I realized that I did not fully identify with either gender.
Through the sacraments—especially the Eucharist—as well as counseling, spiritual healing retreats, and much prayer, Christ revealed to me that I am a man. I have many masculine traits that I was never aware I possessed—such as courage and strength. I can never adequately express the tremendous joy I felt when I began to internally recognize and accept the fact that I am a man, I am masculine, and I do belong in the world of men. At the same time this recognition occurred to me, my attraction to men continued to decrease drastically and my attraction to women increased.
Identity and the Church
At the beginning of this article, I mentioned the discussion over whether persons are born homosexual or if they choose to be. Neither is true because same-sex attraction is an experience—not a type of person. Accepting homosexuality as an identity, which has largely been affirmed in our culture, brings so much confusion. In order for a Christian to justify homosexual behavior, he or she needs to alter and contort Sacred Scripture.
Many individuals from within are trying to force the Catholic Church to change her stance toward homosexuality because it seems like discrimination against those who are just "being themselves." But it is not discrimination when we identify and seek to correct falsely held beliefs.
The problem has not just effected those dissenting in our Church. There are very good Catholics and even good priests who wrongly assert that people cannot change their sexual orientation. These people may have the best of intentions, but for whatever reason they have bought into the lie that homosexuality is a type of person.
The Church’s response to those suffering with same-sex attraction offers us this perspective:
The number of men and women who have deep-seated homosexual tendencies is not negligible. This inclination, which is objectively disordered, constitutes for most of them a trial. They must be accepted with respect, compassion, and sensitivity. Every sign of unjust discrimination in their regard should be avoided. These persons are called to fulfill God’s will in their lives and, if they are Christians, to unite to the sacrifice of the Lord’s Cross the difficulties they may encounter from their condition (CCC, no. 2358).
There is hope for those who have same-sex attraction, and we must not abandon efforts to help others understand the truth. This is not to say that God will "change" His creation, the person, because He did not make them this way or intend for them to experience this attraction. Rather, God can change the person’s way of thinking by revealing the lie that the individual has accepted and assimilated into their sense of self.
Once the lie is exposed, wounds that led to this lie such as abuse, rejection, or lack of affirmation in one’s gender identity can be addressed, healing can begin, and the person’s true identity can emerge. When this healing process begins, the attraction to the opposite sex for many has increased.
Courage, the Catholic support group for those with same-sex attraction, as well as many Christians, refrain from using words such as "gay," "lesbian," "bisexual," "transgender," or even "homosexual." Words can have powerful effects. Because these words are labels which insinuate that homosexuality is an identity, they reinforce untruths and continue to escalate the problems in our society and our Church. As Catholic Christians, I encourage each of us to be careful with our speech and eliminate the use of labels and instead use the words "same-sex attraction" which more accurately describe the experience that these men and women go through.
Heart Knowledge
Earlier, I spoke of the importance of recognizing that I am a man and feeling it internally within my heart. Fr. Larry Richards’ challenging book Be a Man! helped me obtain even deeper healing. Intellectually, I knew that God was my Heavenly Father, but I didn’t really know and believe it with my whole being. And then I read the following passage in Fr. Larry’s book:
When we were baptized, the sky opened up just like it did upon Jesus, and spiritually, God the Father, the Creator of the universe, looked at you and me and said, ‘You are my beloved Son.’ You stopped being a creation and you became a son of the Father by the power of the Holy Spirit.[4]
Talk about the power of words! In Jesus, we are sons and daughters of the Creator of the universe. He truly loves us more than we could ever imagine. This is our true identity; this is who each of us truly is.
Isaiah 43:4 states, "You are precious in my eyes, and honored, and I love you. . . ." Fr. Larry brought this verse home to me in a very personal way by explaining:
We must enter into a relationship with God knowing that truth. We must know that our relationship begins where Jesus began, with the knowledge that we are loved by the Father. The God of the universe looks at you and says: ‘I love you!’[5]
This touched me deeply. Before this inner healing took place, I had known with certainty that God loved everyone. But when it came to Him loving me personally, I only knew this intellectually— not in my heart. Fr. Larry helped me to connect this truth from my head to my heart.
I am grateful to God for showing me my true identity in Him. Now, I embrace my masculinity and know that I am a man of God. In Jesus, I know I am a beloved son of God who is uniquely and wondrously created, and whose name is David.
[1] Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, "Some Considerations Concerning the Response to Legislative Proposals on the Non-Discrimination of Homosexual Persons," July 22, 1992, no. 3.[2] Alan Medinger, Growth into Manhood (Colorado Springs, CO: Waterbrook Press, 2000).
[3] Medinger, "Calling Oneself ‘gay’ or ‘lesbian’ Clouds one’s Self-Perception" from Same-Sex Attraction: A Parent’s Guide. Eds. John F. Harvey, OSFS, and Gerard V. Bradley (South Bend, IN: St. Augustine’s Press, 2003) p. 173.
[4] Fr. Larry Richards, Be a Man! (San Francisco, Ignatius Press, 2009), p. 43.
[5] Ibid., p. 37.
[3] Medinger, "Calling Oneself ‘gay’ or ‘lesbian’ Clouds one’s Self-Perception" from Same-Sex Attraction: A Parent’s Guide. Eds. John F. Harvey, OSFS, and Gerard V. Bradley (South Bend, IN: St. Augustine’s Press, 2003) p. 173.
[4] Fr. Larry Richards, Be a Man! (San Francisco, Ignatius Press, 2009), p. 43.
[5] Ibid., p. 37.
yesterday's interruption
Luke 5:1-11
Today I would like to reflect a bit on yesterday's gospel reading.
The scene:
The crowds were pressing in and around Jesus. Things were getting quickly out of hand. The crowd was growing frantic, they all wanted to be close to Jesus. JEsus gets in a a boat and embarks away from the shore line, away from the crowd in order create space so that he could teach.
The boat belonged to Simon, the fisherman.
After he finished his teaching he asked the SImon to "put out into the deep and lower the nets for a catch."
Simon was reluctant. "Master we have worked hard all night and have caught nothing but at your command I will lower the nets."
The catch was enormous, so much so the net was tearing and the other boat nearby had to come to their aid.
They were all seized and astonished. Jesus responds, "do not be afraid, from now on you will be catching men." They left everything and followed him.
The story of our lives:
How often have we been interrupted in our lives? How often have our plans changed or been changed beyond our control? How often have the unexpected left us a bit astonished and seized ourselves by the unfolding our our lives?
Recently I have inherited a nephew, a 19 year old nephew. He has been sleeping in my study. I have had to adjust to this new situation and living arrangement.
A few weeks back My sister informed me that my nephew her son was going to be on a one way flight to Austin and she wanted to know if I could keep him for a while.
I am nephew sitting, I suppose.
He is a good kid, though a teenager. Teenagers are a different breed of people. I think the soul leaves the body when we are teenagers. IT has been a trying time, though a graceful time as well.
But our lives, his and mine, have been interrupted from the general course we were headed.
I had to take a step back. This time has certainly caused my prayer life to increase. God an dI have many conversations. I was pretty sure i was cut out to be a priest; not so sure if I am cut out to be a parent of a teenager.
But the interruption has occurred. Not unlike with SImon in the gospel. His life was coasting along. We can surmise that he was content with his trade on the open sea, fishing. I suspect his father was a fisherman, and his father's father was a fisherman and so on. He was on the path he knew was destined for him: tending and mending nets and seeking out the big haul.
Yet his life changes in a flash. God's interrupts his plan. The word of God enters his life and invites him to put out into the deep, to do what seemed impossible, "Lord we worked hard all night and have caught nothing."
Going against his instinct as a fisherman he listened. Why did he listen? Something moved him to respond in an affirmative manner. In that brief moment of letting God in, letting Jesus take command of his life he went from a fishermen to a fisher of men.
What a beautiful interruption. He could have rejected it and fought it but he simply surrendered and let God lead.
God does that.
He wants to interrupt our lives often. There will be moments we will rejoice and gladly receive the interruption and there will be moments we will want to fight it but we have a choice.
We can put out into the deep and ready our nets and allow God to show us his power or we can cower and fade into bitterness and regret.
I am with Simon, "Depart from me Lord for I am sinful man." And in the debts of my being the words of Christ echo forth, "Do not be afraid;"
Refreshing it is to let go and let Christ lead.
Today I would like to reflect a bit on yesterday's gospel reading.
The scene:
The crowds were pressing in and around Jesus. Things were getting quickly out of hand. The crowd was growing frantic, they all wanted to be close to Jesus. JEsus gets in a a boat and embarks away from the shore line, away from the crowd in order create space so that he could teach.
The boat belonged to Simon, the fisherman.
After he finished his teaching he asked the SImon to "put out into the deep and lower the nets for a catch."
Simon was reluctant. "Master we have worked hard all night and have caught nothing but at your command I will lower the nets."
The catch was enormous, so much so the net was tearing and the other boat nearby had to come to their aid.
They were all seized and astonished. Jesus responds, "do not be afraid, from now on you will be catching men." They left everything and followed him.
The story of our lives:
How often have we been interrupted in our lives? How often have our plans changed or been changed beyond our control? How often have the unexpected left us a bit astonished and seized ourselves by the unfolding our our lives?
Recently I have inherited a nephew, a 19 year old nephew. He has been sleeping in my study. I have had to adjust to this new situation and living arrangement.
A few weeks back My sister informed me that my nephew her son was going to be on a one way flight to Austin and she wanted to know if I could keep him for a while.
I am nephew sitting, I suppose.
He is a good kid, though a teenager. Teenagers are a different breed of people. I think the soul leaves the body when we are teenagers. IT has been a trying time, though a graceful time as well.
But our lives, his and mine, have been interrupted from the general course we were headed.
I had to take a step back. This time has certainly caused my prayer life to increase. God an dI have many conversations. I was pretty sure i was cut out to be a priest; not so sure if I am cut out to be a parent of a teenager.
But the interruption has occurred. Not unlike with SImon in the gospel. His life was coasting along. We can surmise that he was content with his trade on the open sea, fishing. I suspect his father was a fisherman, and his father's father was a fisherman and so on. He was on the path he knew was destined for him: tending and mending nets and seeking out the big haul.
Yet his life changes in a flash. God's interrupts his plan. The word of God enters his life and invites him to put out into the deep, to do what seemed impossible, "Lord we worked hard all night and have caught nothing."
Going against his instinct as a fisherman he listened. Why did he listen? Something moved him to respond in an affirmative manner. In that brief moment of letting God in, letting Jesus take command of his life he went from a fishermen to a fisher of men.
What a beautiful interruption. He could have rejected it and fought it but he simply surrendered and let God lead.
God does that.
He wants to interrupt our lives often. There will be moments we will rejoice and gladly receive the interruption and there will be moments we will want to fight it but we have a choice.
We can put out into the deep and ready our nets and allow God to show us his power or we can cower and fade into bitterness and regret.
I am with Simon, "Depart from me Lord for I am sinful man." And in the debts of my being the words of Christ echo forth, "Do not be afraid;"
Refreshing it is to let go and let Christ lead.
Wednesday, September 5, 2012
Blessed Teresa of Calcutta
Today is the feast day of Mother Teresa.
I was visiting with the 6th grade class this morning as I teach them religion and they were not familiar with Mother Teresa, which shows my age and their youth.
It also reminded me that in our society seldom does goodness and heroic virtue get elevated and exalted. How often we can speak of the cruelty of man and the terrible deeds done by men and women and yet we lose sight of those who have done goodness consistently throughout their life.
Recently I received a relic of Blessed Teresa. I introduced the class to relics and the intercession of the saints.
So here today in honor of BLessed Teresa I have listed the ABC's of holiness according to Mother Teresa:
Always have the courage to say sorry
Be kind, be compassionate
Control your judgments
Don't let yourself get discouraged
Every minute is precious-don't waste your time
Find out what is nice in each other
Give until it hurts
Have deep respect for each other
If you really want to love God, love one another
Just do small things with great love
Keep your heart clean
Learn to pray, love to pray, and pray often
Make time for each other in your family
Never tell lies
Only believe you are precious to God
Put love in whatever you do
Quite a lot of people have forgotten what love is...so begin to give the joy loving
Refrain from prejudice
Smile at each other
Take the trouble to listen
Use your talents for the glory of God
Very often, we look but we don't see. Let us look and See
When humiliation comes, accept it and offer it.
eXcuse rather than accuse
You must learn to forgive
Zeal is a second name for love. Do not lose that zeal/
I was visiting with the 6th grade class this morning as I teach them religion and they were not familiar with Mother Teresa, which shows my age and their youth.
It also reminded me that in our society seldom does goodness and heroic virtue get elevated and exalted. How often we can speak of the cruelty of man and the terrible deeds done by men and women and yet we lose sight of those who have done goodness consistently throughout their life.
Recently I received a relic of Blessed Teresa. I introduced the class to relics and the intercession of the saints.
So here today in honor of BLessed Teresa I have listed the ABC's of holiness according to Mother Teresa:
Always have the courage to say sorry
Be kind, be compassionate
Control your judgments
Don't let yourself get discouraged
Every minute is precious-don't waste your time
Find out what is nice in each other
Give until it hurts
Have deep respect for each other
If you really want to love God, love one another
Just do small things with great love
Keep your heart clean
Learn to pray, love to pray, and pray often
Make time for each other in your family
Never tell lies
Only believe you are precious to God
Put love in whatever you do
Quite a lot of people have forgotten what love is...so begin to give the joy loving
Refrain from prejudice
Smile at each other
Take the trouble to listen
Use your talents for the glory of God
Very often, we look but we don't see. Let us look and See
When humiliation comes, accept it and offer it.
eXcuse rather than accuse
You must learn to forgive
Zeal is a second name for love. Do not lose that zeal/
Tuesday, September 4, 2012
mind of Christ
1 corinthians 2:10-16; Ps 145 The Lord is just in all his ways; Luke 4:31-37
"No one knows what pertains to God except the Spirit of God. We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may understand the things freely given us by God."
How often in our life do we forget this!
How often do we find ourselves thinking about things with the spirit of the world rather than the spirit of God? How often does the spirit of the world began to dictate our lifestyle and the choices w make?
When we guard grudges, when we refuse to forgive, when we no longer extend our hand in charity to the lonely and despairing, when we say those words that are frightfully ugly, when we give in to the irritation of the neighbor, when we excuse the wrong of another with stopping to offer a gentle correction, when find ourselves watching a TV sow that gets us laughing about a sexual sin in one form or another and the list goes on and on and on.
How quickly we begin to think like the world living in the world!
But wait! St Paul tells us, as he was telling the corinthians almost 2000 years ago, that we do not have to rely on our own mind, on our own thinking.
No! not at all!
We have the mind of Christ. Wow! What a statement! What a gift!
Not only is the spirit of God given to us but the mind of Christ also is laid bare for us so that as we move through the world we can follow the light more clearly.
What is the mind of Christ?
St Paul tells us in his letter to the Philippians, "put on the the mind of Christ, who though was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God something to be grasped. Rather he emptied himself taking the form of a slave, coming in human likeness, and found in human appearance, he humbled himself becoming obedient to death, even death on a cross..."
Humility seems to be the counter weight of balance that tips us into the Spirit of God most readily.
Humility becomes the ground form which we live.
Only then does God exalt. We do not have to exalt ourselves, for the weight of glory shall lift us upward if only we humble ourselves as Christ humbled himself.
Put on the mind of Christ daily, hourly, minute by minute
"No one knows what pertains to God except the Spirit of God. We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may understand the things freely given us by God."
How often in our life do we forget this!
How often do we find ourselves thinking about things with the spirit of the world rather than the spirit of God? How often does the spirit of the world began to dictate our lifestyle and the choices w make?
When we guard grudges, when we refuse to forgive, when we no longer extend our hand in charity to the lonely and despairing, when we say those words that are frightfully ugly, when we give in to the irritation of the neighbor, when we excuse the wrong of another with stopping to offer a gentle correction, when find ourselves watching a TV sow that gets us laughing about a sexual sin in one form or another and the list goes on and on and on.
How quickly we begin to think like the world living in the world!
But wait! St Paul tells us, as he was telling the corinthians almost 2000 years ago, that we do not have to rely on our own mind, on our own thinking.
No! not at all!
We have the mind of Christ. Wow! What a statement! What a gift!
Not only is the spirit of God given to us but the mind of Christ also is laid bare for us so that as we move through the world we can follow the light more clearly.
What is the mind of Christ?
St Paul tells us in his letter to the Philippians, "put on the the mind of Christ, who though was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God something to be grasped. Rather he emptied himself taking the form of a slave, coming in human likeness, and found in human appearance, he humbled himself becoming obedient to death, even death on a cross..."
Humility seems to be the counter weight of balance that tips us into the Spirit of God most readily.
Humility becomes the ground form which we live.
Only then does God exalt. We do not have to exalt ourselves, for the weight of glory shall lift us upward if only we humble ourselves as Christ humbled himself.
Put on the mind of Christ daily, hourly, minute by minute
Sunday, September 2, 2012
under my roof
Deuteronomy 4:1-8; Ps 15 The one who does justice will live in the presence of the Lord; James 1:17-27; Mark 7:1-23
"As long as you live under my roof, then you will live by my rules."
These were the words I heard quite often growing up, especially from my father.
My father had one rule, "As Long as you live under my roof, then you will live by my rules."
Dad wasn't joking. He made sure we understood what was required to keep peace and concord in the family.
I used to think this was just my dad trying to control us and not let us have any fun. But the older I get the more I realize dad was doing us a favor.
He was firm certainly. But even in his rules there was freedom. We knew the boundaries of happiness and fulfillment.
The boundaries were pretty clear.
It wasn't until recently did I truly begin to appreciate my Father and his rule of rules, "As long as you live under my roof, you will live by my rules."
For the first few months as a pastor, I was living in the rectory alone. It was the first time I had a rectory to myself and i was enjoying it.
But about a month into my stay, i was given a couple of other churches to administer and thus an associate.
Quickly i discovered the importance of laying down ground rules in order to keep the peace and concord in the place.
One thing that gets my nerves frayed is leaving dishes in the sink over night when they could have easily been washed and put away.
I found myself speaking the words of my father, "as long as you live under this roof, you will live my rules." Now we are still working out the kinks in the rectory but nonetheless rules of engagement are essential to peace. It eliminates the guess work. This way every one knows where every one stands.
Freedom can be found where rules are laid down.
In today's first reading Moses invites the people to remember whose house they are living under, "these are the statutes and decrees which i am teaching you to observe so that you may live, enter in, and take possession of the Land which the Lord is giving you."
In other words God is telling moses to tell the people, "As long as you live under my roof, then you will live by my rules."
The giver of the land is the one who knows how to keep the peace.
Commandments are not restrictive they are liberating. They eliminate the guessing game. Freedom is found where commands are laid down.
God communicates very clearly.
Things begin to go awry the moment additions and subtractions happen to the word given by God. The Israelites were taking things away form the law.
The Pharisees and scribes in the gospel were adding things. In either case they were choosing to make their own rules rather than trust the one's God had given. They were acting as if they were the owners, benefactors rather than the beneficiaries.
JEsus just wants to set the record straight. It was time to return to the basics of love and life. Jesus invites them to integrate reality where the external and the internal are moving in the same direction.
JEsus as the word of God has the authority to clarify. HE also gives that authority to his church.
"You are peter and upon this rock i will build my church. What you loose on earth will be loosed on heaven, what you bind on earth will be bound in heaven."
"As long as you live under my roof, then you will live by my rules."
These were the words I heard quite often growing up, especially from my father.
My father had one rule, "As Long as you live under my roof, then you will live by my rules."
Dad wasn't joking. He made sure we understood what was required to keep peace and concord in the family.
I used to think this was just my dad trying to control us and not let us have any fun. But the older I get the more I realize dad was doing us a favor.
He was firm certainly. But even in his rules there was freedom. We knew the boundaries of happiness and fulfillment.
The boundaries were pretty clear.
It wasn't until recently did I truly begin to appreciate my Father and his rule of rules, "As long as you live under my roof, you will live by my rules."
For the first few months as a pastor, I was living in the rectory alone. It was the first time I had a rectory to myself and i was enjoying it.
But about a month into my stay, i was given a couple of other churches to administer and thus an associate.
Quickly i discovered the importance of laying down ground rules in order to keep the peace and concord in the place.
One thing that gets my nerves frayed is leaving dishes in the sink over night when they could have easily been washed and put away.
I found myself speaking the words of my father, "as long as you live under this roof, you will live my rules." Now we are still working out the kinks in the rectory but nonetheless rules of engagement are essential to peace. It eliminates the guess work. This way every one knows where every one stands.
Freedom can be found where rules are laid down.
In today's first reading Moses invites the people to remember whose house they are living under, "these are the statutes and decrees which i am teaching you to observe so that you may live, enter in, and take possession of the Land which the Lord is giving you."
In other words God is telling moses to tell the people, "As long as you live under my roof, then you will live by my rules."
The giver of the land is the one who knows how to keep the peace.
Commandments are not restrictive they are liberating. They eliminate the guessing game. Freedom is found where commands are laid down.
God communicates very clearly.
Things begin to go awry the moment additions and subtractions happen to the word given by God. The Israelites were taking things away form the law.
The Pharisees and scribes in the gospel were adding things. In either case they were choosing to make their own rules rather than trust the one's God had given. They were acting as if they were the owners, benefactors rather than the beneficiaries.
JEsus just wants to set the record straight. It was time to return to the basics of love and life. Jesus invites them to integrate reality where the external and the internal are moving in the same direction.
JEsus as the word of God has the authority to clarify. HE also gives that authority to his church.
"You are peter and upon this rock i will build my church. What you loose on earth will be loosed on heaven, what you bind on earth will be bound in heaven."
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)