Today we celebrate the feast of SIMON and JUDE, apostles of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Jesus, we are told, after praying called the disciples and maned the twelve as apostles.
They went from following Jesus to now being ones sent forth ahead of Jesus to announce the goodness of the Father's merciful love.
The word apostles means to be "Sent." It is often associated with sending a letter or a message. You could say the apostle would be considered the modern day mail carriers.
The letter the sent is God' message to the world.
But each of us share in a similar mission. We are also sent forth. We also have received a message from Jesus to broadcast to the world. Our life becomes that "letter of recommendation" that St Paul speaks of in his writings.
Do we consider ourselves a letter of recommendation for others for the world?
Also, Simon is called the zealot. Jude's nameThaddeus means the brave one. They had nicknames that indicated something of their character and perhaps something of want God used so that they could bring forth the message more clearly and profoundly.
Simon lived his passion for the chosen people. Jude was willingly to go boldly in the face of opposition. His brave heart empowered him through difficulties.
What would be the nickname others give u sin regard to living our our faith life an bringing forth the message of the goodness of the Father's merciful love?
Friday, October 28, 2016
Wednesday, October 19, 2016
STEWARD
Ephesians 3:2-12; Isaiah 12:2-3,4,5-6; Luke 12:39-48
To preach the inscrutable richness of Christ. This is what St Paul says his purpose and mission in life was.
How about us? Do we preach with our lives the inscrutable richness of Christ?
Everything else pales in comparison to this one reality that holds all of reality together.
Jesus invites us to be prudent stewards in today's gospel, "Who then is the faithful and prudent steward whom the master will put in charge of his servants to distribute food allowance at the proper time? Blessed his that servant the master finds doing so upon his arrival,"
We are all stewards of the inscrutable richness of Christ. For a moment we should remove the dross and the things that are of least important and direct our attention to that which matters most of all.
But first we must ask Jesus to reveal to us his richness in case we have forgotten or never truly experienced it. It is the encounter that makes the mission possible.
Paul encountered the inscrutable richness of Christ and does was able to give to others what he first experienced.
We too must ask the Lord to reveal his richness to us. Then we might become stewards of such beautiful grace to others.
To preach the inscrutable richness of Christ. This is what St Paul says his purpose and mission in life was.
How about us? Do we preach with our lives the inscrutable richness of Christ?
Everything else pales in comparison to this one reality that holds all of reality together.
Jesus invites us to be prudent stewards in today's gospel, "Who then is the faithful and prudent steward whom the master will put in charge of his servants to distribute food allowance at the proper time? Blessed his that servant the master finds doing so upon his arrival,"
We are all stewards of the inscrutable richness of Christ. For a moment we should remove the dross and the things that are of least important and direct our attention to that which matters most of all.
But first we must ask Jesus to reveal to us his richness in case we have forgotten or never truly experienced it. It is the encounter that makes the mission possible.
Paul encountered the inscrutable richness of Christ and does was able to give to others what he first experienced.
We too must ask the Lord to reveal his richness to us. Then we might become stewards of such beautiful grace to others.
Wednesday, September 28, 2016
PRAISE and FOLLOW
Job 9:1-12,14-16; Ps 88 let my prayer come before you, Lord; Luke 9:57-62
We continue to read from the book of Job. In today's segment, Job finds his voice, he finally speaks up. This is Job's second time to speak up after his friends tear into him.
The first time job complains. He just complains a lot. Go read chapter 6 and you will find comments such as, "for the arrows of the Almighty are in me, and my spirit drinks in their poison" and much more.
But now we find job with a different sentiment in his mouth. Here after his second friends commentary, Job stands differently; he begins not with complaint but rather with praise. Here is a man who has lost everything and with every reason to complain and shake his fist at the heavens he dug deep within and he formulates a litany of praise to God, "God is wise in heart and mighty in strength...he alone stretches out the heavens..."
It is praise rooted in the reality that before God no man is justified. No man can stand on his own merit before the Lord. In this reality check can praise truly begin to be authentic and healing as it becomes for job.
In the gospel today we hear the words of Jesus, "Follow me."
What is this but an invitation to learn, to watch, to keep close attention. It is a pathway of apprenticeship. Only in staying behind Jesus can we truly know him and love him. Only in staying behind Jesus can we actually begin to imitate him in our own lives. The best perspective is always from behind.
True leaders in faith are those who never take over the driver seat but refer the back seat and let Jesus drive.
What excuses do we use to keep from following? What excuses do we come up with to justify taking the lead?
Like with Job, praise resounds the greatest when we lean in from behind and stay close to the footsteps of the one who calls out "follow me."
We continue to read from the book of Job. In today's segment, Job finds his voice, he finally speaks up. This is Job's second time to speak up after his friends tear into him.
The first time job complains. He just complains a lot. Go read chapter 6 and you will find comments such as, "for the arrows of the Almighty are in me, and my spirit drinks in their poison" and much more.
But now we find job with a different sentiment in his mouth. Here after his second friends commentary, Job stands differently; he begins not with complaint but rather with praise. Here is a man who has lost everything and with every reason to complain and shake his fist at the heavens he dug deep within and he formulates a litany of praise to God, "God is wise in heart and mighty in strength...he alone stretches out the heavens..."
It is praise rooted in the reality that before God no man is justified. No man can stand on his own merit before the Lord. In this reality check can praise truly begin to be authentic and healing as it becomes for job.
In the gospel today we hear the words of Jesus, "Follow me."
What is this but an invitation to learn, to watch, to keep close attention. It is a pathway of apprenticeship. Only in staying behind Jesus can we truly know him and love him. Only in staying behind Jesus can we actually begin to imitate him in our own lives. The best perspective is always from behind.
True leaders in faith are those who never take over the driver seat but refer the back seat and let Jesus drive.
What excuses do we use to keep from following? What excuses do we come up with to justify taking the lead?
Like with Job, praise resounds the greatest when we lean in from behind and stay close to the footsteps of the one who calls out "follow me."
Wednesday, September 7, 2016
JESUS FREAK
1 corinthians 7:25-31; Ps 45 listen to me, daughter; see and blend your ear; Luke 6:20-26
Because all the early Christians assumed that the second coming of Jesus was imminent, all stable human institutions were under judgment and were approached with caution.
The expectation of the second coming colored the perspective of the early Christians. sometimes unfortunately this expectation is lost to us and we go about our business as usual. This business as usual approach can be destructive. Also, just living with the expectation of the second coming as if it were everything can also be destructive.
The proper attitude is to keep both in tension as we journey through life.
It is the expectation of the coming of Jesus that empowers the daily grind of living and loving to be elevated, to become supernatural experience of charity, hope, and of faith as we anticipate tomorrow as another day to work vigorously for the vineyard.
This is why the church holds in great regard the beauty of the sacrament of Marriage as a source of grace not only for the couples themselves but for the world. In the sacrament the couples become a witness to divine love. This is not as st Paul describes an affliction to run from but an affection or pressure that purifies and makes holy.
We turn to Jesus in the gospel. We encounter the beatitudes. Blessed are the poor, the hungry, weeping, those who are hated account of the son of man. Rejoice and leap for joy.
Recently i came across a christian song that was popular when i was in college. DC Talk was the all the rave as christian bands went and one of their songs was entitled, "Jesus Freak."
Here are a few of the lyrics,
"What will people think
Because all the early Christians assumed that the second coming of Jesus was imminent, all stable human institutions were under judgment and were approached with caution.
The expectation of the second coming colored the perspective of the early Christians. sometimes unfortunately this expectation is lost to us and we go about our business as usual. This business as usual approach can be destructive. Also, just living with the expectation of the second coming as if it were everything can also be destructive.
The proper attitude is to keep both in tension as we journey through life.
It is the expectation of the coming of Jesus that empowers the daily grind of living and loving to be elevated, to become supernatural experience of charity, hope, and of faith as we anticipate tomorrow as another day to work vigorously for the vineyard.
This is why the church holds in great regard the beauty of the sacrament of Marriage as a source of grace not only for the couples themselves but for the world. In the sacrament the couples become a witness to divine love. This is not as st Paul describes an affliction to run from but an affection or pressure that purifies and makes holy.
We turn to Jesus in the gospel. We encounter the beatitudes. Blessed are the poor, the hungry, weeping, those who are hated account of the son of man. Rejoice and leap for joy.
Recently i came across a christian song that was popular when i was in college. DC Talk was the all the rave as christian bands went and one of their songs was entitled, "Jesus Freak."
Here are a few of the lyrics,
"What will people think
When they hear that I'm a Jesus freak
What will people do when they find that it's true
I don't really care if they label me a Jesus freak
There ain't no disguising the truth
What will people do when they find that it's true
I don't really care if they label me a Jesus freak
There ain't no disguising the truth
Kamikaze, my death is gain
I've been marked by my maker
A peculiar display
The high and lofty, they see me as weak
'Cause I won't live and die for the power they seek
A peculiar display
The high and lofty, they see me as weak
'Cause I won't live and die for the power they seek
Does the Spirit make a difference
1 corinthians 6:1-11 Ps 149 The Lord takes delight in his people; Luke 6:12-19
I heard someone say the other day that if God were to remove his Spirit from us it would take 3 months before we ever noticed it.
It was a striking statement to make and a more striking reality check for myself.
I began to ask myself whether or not i would notice. Not only would i notice but do i notice now, the difference God's Spirit, the Holy Spirit, makes in my life.
What about the rest of us? Is there a difference living in the Spirit as opposed to living without the Spirit? Would we notice if God removed his Spirit from us?
St Paul is asking the very question to the early Christians in the community of Corinth.
He is reminded them that as believers who are baptized that the Spirit of God is empowering them in such a manner that they have a greater capacity to see and judge more clearly than the rest.
Hear again his words, "How can any one of you with a case against another dare to bring it to the unjust for judgment instead of to the Holy Ones?"
St Paul believes that those who have been giving the Spirit of God at baptism have a capacity that others do not. In other words, the Spirit does make a difference.
It is a good opportunity to see if we allow the Spirit of God to make a difference in our life. Are we aware that we are different because of the Spirit of God that animates our life? Do we let that Spirit guide us forth?
If you are not sure if you are living a spirit led life then look at Galatians chapter 5: fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, generosity, faithfulness, self-control.
Jesus chooses the twelve in today's gospel. After choosing them we are told that he stands on "a stretch of level ground" with them. Jesus incorporates the twelve as coworkers, human agents, partners in building and spreading the kingdom. He empowers them to do what he himself does.
Their is something different about us when we let the Spirit lead us forth.
I heard someone say the other day that if God were to remove his Spirit from us it would take 3 months before we ever noticed it.
It was a striking statement to make and a more striking reality check for myself.
I began to ask myself whether or not i would notice. Not only would i notice but do i notice now, the difference God's Spirit, the Holy Spirit, makes in my life.
What about the rest of us? Is there a difference living in the Spirit as opposed to living without the Spirit? Would we notice if God removed his Spirit from us?
St Paul is asking the very question to the early Christians in the community of Corinth.
He is reminded them that as believers who are baptized that the Spirit of God is empowering them in such a manner that they have a greater capacity to see and judge more clearly than the rest.
Hear again his words, "How can any one of you with a case against another dare to bring it to the unjust for judgment instead of to the Holy Ones?"
St Paul believes that those who have been giving the Spirit of God at baptism have a capacity that others do not. In other words, the Spirit does make a difference.
It is a good opportunity to see if we allow the Spirit of God to make a difference in our life. Are we aware that we are different because of the Spirit of God that animates our life? Do we let that Spirit guide us forth?
If you are not sure if you are living a spirit led life then look at Galatians chapter 5: fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, generosity, faithfulness, self-control.
Jesus chooses the twelve in today's gospel. After choosing them we are told that he stands on "a stretch of level ground" with them. Jesus incorporates the twelve as coworkers, human agents, partners in building and spreading the kingdom. He empowers them to do what he himself does.
Their is something different about us when we let the Spirit lead us forth.
Monday, August 29, 2016
BORROW YOUR LOVE
Jeremiah 1:17-19; Ps 71 I will sing your salvation Mark 6:17-29
Today in the life of the Church we celebrate the beheading of John the Baptist or the passion of John the Baptist. John is the precursor to Christ. He had one job and that was to point to Christ, "Behold the lamb of God."
In fact if anyone could ever claim a Messiah complex, it could have been John the Baptist, for every one thought he was the Messiah. Yet, rather than give in to the ego's drive for notoriety, he simply pointed to Christ and proclaimed "I must decrease, he must increase."
Thinking about John the Baptist and his martyrdom and I think about the words of St Therese, "For me to love You as You love me, I would have to borrow your own love." This was St Therese's expression to Jesus in regards to her desire to return to Him the love she herself experienced.
To Love you as you love me, I would have to borrow your own love.
The only way we could ever love God in the way he has loved us is with the very love with which He has first loved us.
Perhaps this is the experience of every martyr, everyone who has laid their life on the line.
What if the witness of martyrdom is in fact the borrowing of God's love so that God can be loved in the way he has loved us?
What if this is truly passionate love?
Today ask God to see how much he loves you. Today ask God to borrow his love so that you may love him with the love he has loved you.
Celebrate John the Baptist this way.
Today in the life of the Church we celebrate the beheading of John the Baptist or the passion of John the Baptist. John is the precursor to Christ. He had one job and that was to point to Christ, "Behold the lamb of God."
In fact if anyone could ever claim a Messiah complex, it could have been John the Baptist, for every one thought he was the Messiah. Yet, rather than give in to the ego's drive for notoriety, he simply pointed to Christ and proclaimed "I must decrease, he must increase."
Thinking about John the Baptist and his martyrdom and I think about the words of St Therese, "For me to love You as You love me, I would have to borrow your own love." This was St Therese's expression to Jesus in regards to her desire to return to Him the love she herself experienced.
To Love you as you love me, I would have to borrow your own love.
The only way we could ever love God in the way he has loved us is with the very love with which He has first loved us.
Perhaps this is the experience of every martyr, everyone who has laid their life on the line.
What if the witness of martyrdom is in fact the borrowing of God's love so that God can be loved in the way he has loved us?
What if this is truly passionate love?
Today ask God to see how much he loves you. Today ask God to borrow his love so that you may love him with the love he has loved you.
Celebrate John the Baptist this way.
Sunday, August 28, 2016
HUMILITY
Sirach 3:17-18, 20, 28-29; Ps 68 God, in your goodness, you have made a home for the poor; Hebrews 12:18-19,22-24; Luke 14:1,7-14
The readings for today invite us to ponder a new Humility. There are many fascinating definitions of humility. There are just as many fascinating stories of people encountering humility in their life.
Both Jesus int he gospel and the first reading zero in on humility in a very concrete way. Yet, i believe it is the second reading that really holds the underlying truth of humility for us to embrace. I hope i can explain a bit as this blog unfolds.
First a tale of two authors. Douglas Adams wrote a scify fiction called a Hitchhiker's Guide to the Universe back in the 1970's. I spent some time reading it. It is a fascinating jaunt through the universe. Any novel that includes a depressed Robot surely is worth the read.
But in the novel, the author describes the best torture device: Total Perspective Vortex. This torture device is created by a husband who is being nagged by his wife to have a better sense of proportion.
He creates this device by which once someone is inside they are given in a momentary glimpse the full vastness of the unimaginable seemingly infinite stretching of all creation and that there on a microscopic dot on a microscopic dot is a note that says 'you are here'. It is torture device that enables the person to come face to face with the ugly truth of just how small they really are.
Usually this device, at least in the book, would leave the person mad because of this reality check.
Growing up this has always been the sense of humility that i understood. Humility is about smallness. It is a reality check in which we recognize our true self, and we are aware of the many short comings and failings that go to make up our life in such a way that we truly realize we are not better than anyone else. Though out defects may be different none the less they remain.
when we can hold on to our smallness then we can embrace the power of humility in our life. This is good start.
But as Christians I think humility is the opposite. It isn't looking at our smallness but rather our bigness, what we are created to be, what will become of us, what is our destiny.
This is what ultimately humbles us.
C S Lewis as a good take on this bigness that has been given to us.
"There is no ordinary men. You have never talked to a mere mortals. Nations, cultures, arts, civilizations…these are mortals. To our life theirs is like the life of a gnat. But it is immortals that we joke with, work with, marry, snub, exploit, gossip about, betray, hurt, love….Next to God himself, our neighbor is the holiest object presented to our senses. If he is a christian neighbor then he is holy in a par excellence way for Christ, the glorifier and Glory himself, is truly hidden in him."
There is no ordinary men. You have never talked to mere mortals.
This is really the case of humility. We don't just stop at our smallness but look at our greatness, our destiny.
This is why the end of the gospel is so telling, "you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous." Life is big. It is bigger than the here and now.
St Paul is trying to get us to understand this in the second readings. He poses the question, 'who do we approach when we approach God?"
He distinguishes between the mosaic covenant and the Davidic Covenant in Christ. In the Mosaic covenant God revealed himself in a way that scared the people, "blazing fire and gloomy darkness and storm and trumpet blast and voice such that those who heard begged that no further message be given."
Sounds horrific enough. But what of the covenant with Jesus.
"You have approached Mt Zion and the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and countless angels in festal gathering, the assembly of the first born enrolled in heaven, and God the judge of all, and the spirits of the just made perfect, and Jesus, the mediator of the new covenant, and the sprinkled blood that speaks more eloquently than that of Abel."
Who do we approach when we approach God but not God alone but all those in God. Not only the festal gathering of angels but the sprits of the just made perfect. Thats our destiny. That is you and I.
It is glory. It is the bigness that awaits us, that we are created for. If you notice, St Paul puts us all on the same tier. God, Jesus, angels, men/women glorified. This is not a merit but a gift.
This is more humbling than the Total Perspective Vortex. It is isn't that we are a microscopic dot on a microscopic dot, insignificant. But rather our existence has purpose and we are meaningful, significant. we are meant for glory. In the resurrection in the righteous we shall become what we are created to be.
We are not ordinary. We are not mere mortals.
Next to God Himself, our neighbor is the holiest object presented to our senses.
This is what is humbling.
The power of humility isn't that we think of ourselves less or think lessor ourselves but we put ourselves in the proper perspective of what awaits us by God' s mercy that leads us to glory as a gift.
The readings for today invite us to ponder a new Humility. There are many fascinating definitions of humility. There are just as many fascinating stories of people encountering humility in their life.
Both Jesus int he gospel and the first reading zero in on humility in a very concrete way. Yet, i believe it is the second reading that really holds the underlying truth of humility for us to embrace. I hope i can explain a bit as this blog unfolds.
First a tale of two authors. Douglas Adams wrote a scify fiction called a Hitchhiker's Guide to the Universe back in the 1970's. I spent some time reading it. It is a fascinating jaunt through the universe. Any novel that includes a depressed Robot surely is worth the read.
But in the novel, the author describes the best torture device: Total Perspective Vortex. This torture device is created by a husband who is being nagged by his wife to have a better sense of proportion.
He creates this device by which once someone is inside they are given in a momentary glimpse the full vastness of the unimaginable seemingly infinite stretching of all creation and that there on a microscopic dot on a microscopic dot is a note that says 'you are here'. It is torture device that enables the person to come face to face with the ugly truth of just how small they really are.
Usually this device, at least in the book, would leave the person mad because of this reality check.
Growing up this has always been the sense of humility that i understood. Humility is about smallness. It is a reality check in which we recognize our true self, and we are aware of the many short comings and failings that go to make up our life in such a way that we truly realize we are not better than anyone else. Though out defects may be different none the less they remain.
when we can hold on to our smallness then we can embrace the power of humility in our life. This is good start.
But as Christians I think humility is the opposite. It isn't looking at our smallness but rather our bigness, what we are created to be, what will become of us, what is our destiny.
This is what ultimately humbles us.
C S Lewis as a good take on this bigness that has been given to us.
"There is no ordinary men. You have never talked to a mere mortals. Nations, cultures, arts, civilizations…these are mortals. To our life theirs is like the life of a gnat. But it is immortals that we joke with, work with, marry, snub, exploit, gossip about, betray, hurt, love….Next to God himself, our neighbor is the holiest object presented to our senses. If he is a christian neighbor then he is holy in a par excellence way for Christ, the glorifier and Glory himself, is truly hidden in him."
There is no ordinary men. You have never talked to mere mortals.
This is really the case of humility. We don't just stop at our smallness but look at our greatness, our destiny.
This is why the end of the gospel is so telling, "you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous." Life is big. It is bigger than the here and now.
St Paul is trying to get us to understand this in the second readings. He poses the question, 'who do we approach when we approach God?"
He distinguishes between the mosaic covenant and the Davidic Covenant in Christ. In the Mosaic covenant God revealed himself in a way that scared the people, "blazing fire and gloomy darkness and storm and trumpet blast and voice such that those who heard begged that no further message be given."
Sounds horrific enough. But what of the covenant with Jesus.
"You have approached Mt Zion and the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and countless angels in festal gathering, the assembly of the first born enrolled in heaven, and God the judge of all, and the spirits of the just made perfect, and Jesus, the mediator of the new covenant, and the sprinkled blood that speaks more eloquently than that of Abel."
Who do we approach when we approach God but not God alone but all those in God. Not only the festal gathering of angels but the sprits of the just made perfect. Thats our destiny. That is you and I.
It is glory. It is the bigness that awaits us, that we are created for. If you notice, St Paul puts us all on the same tier. God, Jesus, angels, men/women glorified. This is not a merit but a gift.
This is more humbling than the Total Perspective Vortex. It is isn't that we are a microscopic dot on a microscopic dot, insignificant. But rather our existence has purpose and we are meaningful, significant. we are meant for glory. In the resurrection in the righteous we shall become what we are created to be.
We are not ordinary. We are not mere mortals.
Next to God Himself, our neighbor is the holiest object presented to our senses.
This is what is humbling.
The power of humility isn't that we think of ourselves less or think lessor ourselves but we put ourselves in the proper perspective of what awaits us by God' s mercy that leads us to glory as a gift.
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