A rich young man came to Jesus and asked what he had to do to become a disciple of Jesus. The young man had followed all the commandments since his youth. He had kept the law and had become very rich and successful in worldly things.
Hans Christian Anderson told a story most of us has heard as a child and the story reminds me of this young man. It is the story of the Emperor's New Clothes.
The Emperor was very vain. He loved himself and loved his possessions especially his clothes. One day a thief came and told the Emperor that he could weave the finest and most elegant cloth in the world. Only the finest people with the most refined taste could appreciate the fabric. The clothes made from this cloth was the most beautiful in the world. The most sophisticated and elegant of people were the only ones who could really appreciate the clothes he made.
The thief came and on the royal looms wove the cloth and made the clothes. Then he fitted the Emperor; but, the Emperor did not see any clothes. If you know the story, you know the Emperor did not want to be thought foolish or unsophisticated or unrefined and said the clothes were beautiful. His court not wanting the be thought that they were not elegant, sophisticated or wise said the same, except the Emperor was still naked.The Emperor held a parade to show off his new clothes. Everyone saw him naked but did not want to be thought lacking elegance, sophistication, or wisdom praised the beautiful clothes. One small child saw the Emperor was naked and said "He is wearing nothing." It opened everyone to the truth that the Emperor was naked.
Looking at the story of the young man, the same things can be seen. At a young age this man is a leader in the community. He has wealth, he has influence, and he has wisdom. The young man follows the law to the letter. The young man may also be a little vain.Jesus comes to the community. A rabbi that is teaching something new. Jesus is performing miracles and people are saying that he is the messiah. This is a great opportunity for the young man. The story does not say that he comes boasting of wealth or power or influence or wisdom. It says that he has kept the law.
The young man approaches Jesus. He is wearing his best piousness. I am a follower of the law. I have kept them all. I would like to know your teachings and add them to my collection.
"Jesus loved him." Jesus told him to give all his possession to the poor.
His face fell and he went away sad. To the young man, all he had done in his life by following the law was like he was wearing nothing at all. All his wisdom, influence, and wealth meant nothing and had not value. All the fine robes he had made for himself by following the law were like he was wearing nothing at all.
To follow Jesus the young man would have to dress himself like Jesus. It would have to take off the fine robes he had made for himself. He would have to make himself naked to what he knew and come to Jesus.
The young man was like the Emperor in the story. He wanted the finest, he wanted to be known as the most elegant and wise. The young man saw in Jesus the finest of clothes. But, in truth he wanted to put on a fine robe so all could see how great he was, but, Jesus told him to give that all away. The rich young man was like the Emperor too vain to see that in truth to what was really important he was actually naked.
So many people today want to believe in things that are not there. The robes that they have made are far finer than the robes that Jesus asks us to wear. People deny the robes of religion because they drape themselves in the spiritual. It is the modern attitude of an emperor. It is the attitude of the young man who would not give up himself to know the truth. Yes, you can be spiritual without a religious faith, but for many in this spiritual robe they are just naked, too vain to see the truth.
Thursday, May 30, 2013
Tuesday, May 28, 2013
Share Your Gifts - Memorial Day Remembrance
My great-aunt Lizzie was my grandmother's sister and was married to my grand-father's brother. They had four children; but, it was said that my great-uncle was a mean and violent man. To protect Lizzie and her children the men of the community came together and advised the husband that it was best for him to leave the family and the community.
This small community built around a Catholic Church and cemetery in the hills of west central Louisiana was a people of Native American and French descent. It was a community with a very devout Catholic faith that was closed and tight knit. Most of the people who lived in the community were related. Family helped the family. Being poor and rural, everyone had a garden and chickens, maybe pigs, and a milk cow. Those who fished and hunted helped as well. But still in the 1940s, it was hard for a single woman with four children. Many of the young men had left for WWII. Rationing of most staples such as sugar, flour and coffee was in place. The community was between three military bases and the hills and forest in the area were used for military training.
One rainy night before Christmas, after everyone had gone to bed, there was a knock on the door of Aunt Lizzie's house. Standing at the door were three young soldiers in soaking wet uniforms. They were polite and said that in the dark and the rain they had become lost. They asked if they could sleep in the corn crib or on the porch to get out of the rain. My great aunt said the porch would be fine.
The rain continued and she thought of the young men on the porch, some other mother's sons and asked them to come in and warm themselves by the fire. One of the young men, asked if she had maybe a small biscuit to eat. The only thing in the house was a chicken that was for the holidays. Aunt Lizzie pulled it down and using her rationed flour and rationed coffee prepared a meal for the young soldiers. The next day the weather cleared, they were given directions and set off for the base.
The Bible tells us that those of "earth speak of earthly things," and "the one God sent does not ration his gift of the Spirit." The earthly gifts of the Spirit that each of us can share is love and compassion. We are not to ration these gifts but to give and share them freely.
Members of my family died in the military. They shared their gifts by protecting those at home. Remember in your prayers those who who shared the gifts of their life protecting us in their military service.
This small community built around a Catholic Church and cemetery in the hills of west central Louisiana was a people of Native American and French descent. It was a community with a very devout Catholic faith that was closed and tight knit. Most of the people who lived in the community were related. Family helped the family. Being poor and rural, everyone had a garden and chickens, maybe pigs, and a milk cow. Those who fished and hunted helped as well. But still in the 1940s, it was hard for a single woman with four children. Many of the young men had left for WWII. Rationing of most staples such as sugar, flour and coffee was in place. The community was between three military bases and the hills and forest in the area were used for military training.
One rainy night before Christmas, after everyone had gone to bed, there was a knock on the door of Aunt Lizzie's house. Standing at the door were three young soldiers in soaking wet uniforms. They were polite and said that in the dark and the rain they had become lost. They asked if they could sleep in the corn crib or on the porch to get out of the rain. My great aunt said the porch would be fine.
The rain continued and she thought of the young men on the porch, some other mother's sons and asked them to come in and warm themselves by the fire. One of the young men, asked if she had maybe a small biscuit to eat. The only thing in the house was a chicken that was for the holidays. Aunt Lizzie pulled it down and using her rationed flour and rationed coffee prepared a meal for the young soldiers. The next day the weather cleared, they were given directions and set off for the base.
The Bible tells us that those of "earth speak of earthly things," and "the one God sent does not ration his gift of the Spirit." The earthly gifts of the Spirit that each of us can share is love and compassion. We are not to ration these gifts but to give and share them freely.
Members of my family died in the military. They shared their gifts by protecting those at home. Remember in your prayers those who who shared the gifts of their life protecting us in their military service.
Monday, May 13, 2013
An Introduction
My name is Bill. I am on a journey to become a deacon in the Roman Catholic Church. It is a continual discernment and test that allows me to grow. I ask everyone who reads this to forgive my typing and writing ability. I am trying to grow in these skills as well.
As I go down this path to the diaconate there are so many discoveries I make and people I meet. One of my cohort group's mentor/instructor told us that as we mature in our knowledge we will question everything we knew before we entered the program. Our faith will be tested but true faith will grow stronger.
We all continue to grow in our relation to the divine. I hope that anyone who finds this blog and reads my meager attempts will be able to grow in their relationship with God. Words mean so much and they shape who we are and what society becomes. Hans-George Gademer states that "The meaning of the word cannot be detached from the event of proclamation." I hope all my words are inspired by the Holy Spirit to proclaim the divine relationship of God's love found in the gospel of Jesus Christ.
As I go down this path to the diaconate there are so many discoveries I make and people I meet. One of my cohort group's mentor/instructor told us that as we mature in our knowledge we will question everything we knew before we entered the program. Our faith will be tested but true faith will grow stronger.
We all continue to grow in our relation to the divine. I hope that anyone who finds this blog and reads my meager attempts will be able to grow in their relationship with God. Words mean so much and they shape who we are and what society becomes. Hans-George Gademer states that "The meaning of the word cannot be detached from the event of proclamation." I hope all my words are inspired by the Holy Spirit to proclaim the divine relationship of God's love found in the gospel of Jesus Christ.
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