Lovingkindness

Psalms 36:7 

How excellent is your loving-kindness, O God! Therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of your wings.

Loving-kindness sounds great doesn't it? Even if we didn’t have it in this verse or the following prayer and all we had was the word loving-kindness, we would know that it was something awesome.

Loving kindness refers to an ultimate type of love. It is kindness motivate by love; no strings attached.  

I am no scholar in belief systems of the world religions or in any other faith. I do know that many of them have the concept of loving-kindness; kindness that is shown out of love. It is found in the different teaching perspectives of Christianity, Judaism, Baha'i, and Buddhist faiths.

In Baha’i and Buddhism, it is something to strive for in perfection. In Buddhism, it is mediated upon so that individual improves the trait in oneself. 

In Judaism, loving-kindness is God’s merciful love.

  

But in Christianity, loving-kindness is God’s love manifest in humanity through Jesus Christ. It is given freely to all people who seek it.

Christians are so lucky, we recognized that loving-kindness is something that exists and is available to everyone. God gives it freely in grace; Jesus Christ brings it to the world.

Prayer: (from morning prayers)
Lord Jesus, We put our trust in your faithfulness and proclaim the wonderful truths of salvation. May your loving-kindness embrace us now and for ever, Amen.

Christian Flash Fiction: Seconds (A Modern Day Parable)

Prompt: Psalm 46:5 God is within her, she will not fall; God will help her at break of day. Length 0-200 Words

Grand Champion: William Goss – Seconds

Seconds

By WEGoss2

She cried hard about the guitar. The only thing that made it special was it was a gift from her parents. Now, it lay smashed in the corner.

Her parents couldn't afford the guitars at the music store. When they asked for something less expensive, the salesman smirked. Dad looked for a used one, but even second-hand was too expensive. Finally, her mom found one in a mail order catalog that sold off-brand items and factory seconds. The guitar was a factory second but it had a beautiful sound.

The police said it was a random crime. Smashing the guitar had probably been a second thought when they found nothing to steal.

It was broken simply for meanness. 

With that guitar, she offered songs of praise. God had given her a gift and that cheap mistakenly made second was how she shared it.

Showing up at the mission, the pastor heard her story. She asked about a guitar. There was none.

“We would love you to sing without a guitar.“

“My voice is second rate; the guitar hides my flaws.”

“No one will notice.” 

She walked on stage. God’s gift came out. The guitar was the second.

“Who Do You Say That I Am” - A Sunday Reflection

21^st Sunday Ordinary Time, Year A  (IS 22:19-23;  PS 138:1-2, 2-3, 6, 8; ROM 11:33-36; MT 16:13-20)

 

I became a Deacon two months ago, now people are using the title “Deacon.” It is something that I am trying to feel comfortable with. 

People I have known forever. “How are you doing, Deacon Bill?”

People I just met, “I enjoyed your homily, Deacon Bill.”

People who have ministered to me when I was sick or my fellow Knights of Columbus, “We are so proud of you, Deacon Bill.”

Just two months ago, I was plain Bill. 

It has been a change so dramatic that my daughter came up to me after Mass and said, “Am I supposed to call you Deacon Bill?” 

I said “No, to you I will always be your daddy.  So Deacon Daddy will do!”

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Jesus asked his disciples, “Who do people say that I am?” 

This is a question that people ask today.

Jesus wanted to know who people thought he was as he was preaching, performing miracles, and disturbing the Jewish Priests and teachers. He was looking for feedback from his disciples who were out and hearing the people talk. Maybe he wanted to see was his gospel heard.

Jesus got answers. People thought he was the return of prophets that had come before him. He was the worker of great miracles.  People were in awe, but nobody could answer the question correctly.

But then he asked those nearest him, “Who do you say that I am?”

Simon answered him.  “You are the Christ, the son of the living God.”  I bet there was dead silence after that answer. 

I don’t think Jesus jumped up immediately.  It was something that Peter realized, but nobody else had seen.  Jesus wanted every body to think about it.

Jesus let it sink in!!

Then Jesus replied.  Blessed are you Simon, son of Jonah, you didn't learn this from a man, but learned this from my heavenly Father. 

If we were to take a secret ballot and asked people to write down, “Who do you say Jesus is?” We would get different answers; especially if we were asking people on the street not just Christians. Kind of like Jesus was asking his disciples. Just like then, today we would get so many different answers, even among Christians. 

If we had that ballot today, what do you think would happen?

·   First, different people would have to stand up and give their opinion. There would be some mud-slinging and people talking bad about Jesus. They would take the good things that he did and turn it around: "Let me tell you some things about Jesus."

·   Second, after everyone had stated their opinion, we would take the ballot. Someone would not like the results. They would challenge the results. It would be fought all the way to the highest court.

·   Third, someone wouldn't like the decision. They would continue to talk ugly about who people thought Jesus was, get on the news all they could; maybe, have a young popular trendsetter say that what you believe is wrong. If that didn't work, they would start their own system of followers who said this is who Jesus is.

So how do we answer the question on who is Jesus Christ? Look at the division in Christ’s Church today; so many Protestants and many types of Catholics, so many divisions and divides. We all know how to say who Jesus is; but, it is how we say it that pulls us apart.

It was to Simon Peter that got the answer right. Jesus gave him the keys to the kingdom. These keys are so important. Isaiah said of the one that God gives the keys to the kingdom - will have authority and shall be the father of the people and the land.  

How do we answer the question? Simon answered in faith and answered it so well that Jesus gave him a new name, Peter, Rock. That’s the way we need to answer the question, with our faith and so well that Jesus Christ will change our name.

Through the Church, we know how to answer the question. Maybe as Catholics, we forget to share our answer. Jesus told the disciples to tell no one that he was the Christ. Two thousand years later, some of us are still following this request.  

As Paul says, “For from him and through him and for him are all things.” This is how we answer the question, “Who do we say Jesus is?” We answer it so that everything we do is from him and through him and for him.  And the most important thing to remember is that Jesus is love. This is the the song, “They will know we are Christians by our Love.”  

When the question is answered in the right way, then our name will be changed. We will not longer be Bill, or Deacon Bill, or Deacon Daddy.  We will be Christians.

Who do you say that I am?  We can answer that by who we are and how we live and how we love.  Then, they will know we are Christians by our love which is from him and through him and for him. 

Remember, it has been 2000 years. People are still asking the question. We need to share that Jesus is the Christ. The world needs that message. The world needs His love.

Flash! Friday: Before (A Modern Parable w/A Pirate and a Dragon)

150 word story (10-word leeway) based on the photo prompt and prompt arrogance.

Before

by WEGoss2

(Vibria is one term for a female dragon; a drake is a male dragon)

I am the pirate, riding a vibria of the Jolly Roger breed. She was a dragon majestic in her double wings, showing crossbones that darkened the sky and shadowed the ground. Seeing the lowly running in our silent passing, I grew in self-told confidence swooping from above to riches.

I first noticed a change in the static of her skin and the temper of her flame. Then, in the distance was her champion. He was magnificent, a dark irradiant Jolly Roger drake. I would master him. In my arrogance, I knew he would be mine. 

I set a trap of legends using vibria as bait. 

Now I sit abandoned in solitude, a pirate without the vastness of the sky. I am marooned by my greed. Seeking the dragon’s freedom for myself, I was defeated by my arrogance and the beasts’ love.

“I have been to the sky’s horizon. A lower horizon will be easily plundered, I am the pirate,” pondering the significance of reality and my newly grown beard.  

Why Don't We See the Face of Jesus

Proverbs 3: 5-6: Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways be mindful of him, and he will make straight your paths.

This has been a week of violent protest in Ferguson, Missouri. These protest are just a symptom of all that is going on in a world full of hatred, bigotry, and prejudice. Sometimes these bring the inevitable result, violence. The problem is that in situations like Ferguson, all the hate and bigotry is flowing in both directions and then added to by those outside in heaping doses.

We need to be mindful of God; to remember and follow Jesus’ example. If we truly love as Jesus loved and truly forgive as God tells us to then no Christian person should be a bigot or racist. It is sad to say that some people who identify themselves as Christians also have no trouble identifying themselves through their actions and words as bigots and racists.

To be heard in the world, people cry out for justice and recognition of their dignity. This cry is given in the common voice of this world. A voice full of violence and hateful actions. This is the voice that the world wants to hear. It is the voice that is best amplified by the media. Those whose dignity has been stolen (Black, Asian, Middle Eastern, White, Homosexual, Heterosexual, Poor, Disabled, Ill, Female, Male) will put out a voice to the world in a manner that it can be heard. People have trouble hearing the voice of love, the voice of peace, and the voice of justice.

This can be a problem. As Christians, God tells us what is right and Jesus tells us how to treat each other. We learn of justice through our faith. It is sad that as Christians, we fail to tell others what is right and just. We fail to hear God speaking to our hearts. We fail to understand the words of Jesus Christ. We are not to judge others, but should speak to the the world on justice.

If we truly saw the face of Jesus one another then there would not be riots but understanding. There would not be violence but discussions on issues. There would not be bigotry, racism, and prejudice in either direction but the reality of seeing Jesus in others, no matter what our differences are.

Hatred, bigotry, and prejudice are acts of violence. They are violent acts against God; inconsistent with the belief that God created human kind in His image. God is not white, black, yellow, red, green, purple, or any mixture. Jesus was born a man; yet, now one knows exactly what he looked like. But,in these, we try to make him a mirrored image of ourselves. Jesus Christ's Gospel of love has spread to the entire world. In this world, too many have sinned against His name by narrowing this love to their personal agenda.

People call themselves Christian because they want to be like Christ. If they are anything but accepting and loving of another person, then they need to examine themselves as Christians. Our identification with Christ today exist in a world that is full of us, so we loose our way in being a Christian. We need to ask are we showing the world the face of Christ in us or are we reflecting the ugliness of the world. Eventually, everyone will stand in love before Christ. Maybe we will not find him because we are looking for ourselves. 

Prayer:  God our Father, Heal the broken, re-unite those separated, and enrich us through your eternal wisdom. In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Aunt Man's Dresser - Christian Flash Fiction Contest -

Length: 500-750 Words Prompt: Ecclesiastes 3:11 He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in their hearts, yet so that man can’t find out the work that God has done from the beginning even to the end.

Aunt Man’s Dresser

By WEGoss2

Uncle Chaise and Aunt Man owned the store where people bought their coffee, flour and sugar after the big war. People paid by signing their tab. Most folks tried to square up with Uncle Chaise when the saw mill paid, at the end of summer when the cotton came in, or in the winter when the trapping was good. Most people could never pay off what they owed completely. Uncle Chaise, though, never forgot to tell them how much they owed him.

Aunt Man was a big woman. Uncle Chaise had brought her back to the hills when he was sent home from the Army. She spoke with a funny accent and said she was from Yonkers.

When we were little, all the kids thought that maybe Aunt Man was a man. She was bigger than everyone else, especially Uncle Chaise. She could unload the delivery truck from the wholesaler and handle a 50 or 100 pound sack of commodities just as good as the teamster. 

Aunt Man loved children and adopted all us kids as nieces and nephews; but, she never had any of her own. Many days Aunt Man would be loading or unloading pickups or wagons dressed in overalls that stopped just above her ankles, a work shirt, and barefooted. She had the strength of a man but great big bosoms.  When these two were combined together they would engulfed even the most restive youngsters, two or three at a time, in giant hugs that smelled of sweet sachet and sour sweat. Then she’d reach down into the big pockets of her overalls and give out penny candy. You always felt so good after the candy and that big old sweet and sour hug.

When she was at home she was always dressed like the finest and most beautiful of ladies. Every weekend, she would be at mass early for confession. Uncle Chaise was never there. Afterwards, the smell of her cooking would fill the hills to be enjoyed by the priest and a lucky neighbor or two.

Her house had the nicest furniture and was always clean just like the grand hotel in town. She did all this for Uncle Chaise. He was sometimes a really mean man. But outside, they always appeared happy. They always had so much compared to everyone else. The only difference was that in the back of Aunt Man’s eyes was a look of sadness. Unlike the sharecroppers, loggers, and the trappers who worked so hard and lived ragged lives for the little they had; but, always had a smile deep inside. 

All the old ladies said, “If Man only had some children. She wouldn't feel so alone.”

Then one day, after 17 years of marriage, Uncle Chaise ran off with a white trash woman from the community down on the lake. Uncle Chaise and the woman never came back. 

Men folks said “Chaise always like the bottle and had the wondering eye. That big woman must have finally just got tired of it and ran him off.”

Women folks said something different. Gossip was usually about how that big stand-up dresser where Aunt Man kept her Sunday clothes and sachets went to missing. She always kept that dresser polished with bee’s wax. After Uncle Chaise and that woman went missing, she had to hang everything on a nail for the longest time until her sister sent her a new dresser from Yonkers. One time she said Uncle Chaise got mad and smashed it with an ax.

Aunt Man continued to run the store. Seems it was her money that bought the store in the beginning. She tore up a lot of families’ tabs the year Uncle Chaise went missing. Her hugs were still full of strength, bosoms, and sachets, just not as sweaty. She now wore an apron with pockets full of penny candy. She changed the sign with the name of the store.  It’s now called by her Christian name: Emmanuelle Grace’s Store.

Rumor has it that someone saw Uncle Chaise and the woman drunk in a honky-tonk on the Bossier Strip.  No one knows for sure. Aunt Man doesn’t seem too worried and she’s lost that sadness in her eyes.

Aunt Man still comes to mass early every week for confession even to this day. The Church has new sacramentals. Gossip says that dresser was big enough to hold two bodies. Only God, the priest, and Aunt Man know the truth.

-----------------------------------------------------------

P.S.

As an adult, I found Uncle Chaise's grave in the cemetery. I still can't help but wonder, "Is he buried in a pine box or a cedar dresser?"

A Dog's Life - Homily Reflection - August 16/17, 2014

 A Dog’s Life (Is 56:1,6-7;Rom 11:13-15;29-32; Mt 15:21-28)

My Brothers and Sisters, I am speaking to you Gentiles.

How about that? I can call all of you brothers and sisters; even though we are Gentiles, who don’t look alike.  Our skin is different. Our hair is different. Our eyes are different. We speak differently. I am Native American, German, Welch, French, Irish, Spanish, and those are the ones I am aware. Some of us may be more pure in our ethnic composition than others. 

This is what we see in the Gospel. This Gospel is written for a Jewish audience and it is full of their prejudice. The Canaanite woman comes to Jesus and he calls her a dog. Harsh isn't it. The disciples didn't want her around. She was a Gentile. To the Jewish people those not of pure Jewish blood were dogs, impure and not worthy to be considered, period, no further discussion.

Jesus says in reply, "It is not right to take the food of the children and throw it to the dogs."

This one phrase is the whole purpose of the readings today. God's love is for everyone. In Isaiah, the prophet praises the foreigners who are faithful to God.  Paul preaches to the Gentiles hoping that their faith will make the Jews jealous and thus save some of them.  

I don’t know if any of us are from pure Jewish roots. We are all probably gentiles. We are like this Canaanite woman. If we had been calling out to Jesus, the disciples would have told Jesus to send us away. If any one of us had been there instead of her, we would have been the one called a dog, not worthy of what is offered on the master’s table. 

Ready to take the scraps that fell from the table, the Canaanite woman never gave up. She argues for Jesus’ mercy. Her faith stands out. Jesus sees her great faith. Her daughter is healed.

Its harsh to be called a dog or is it? Let’s look at the life of a dog. One thing about a dog is they are persistent. You could say that dogs never give up. That’s probably how dogs became our companions.

Dogs followed early people.  They survived off scavenging the scraps from the hunts and what people left behind. Pretty soon, the first dog got brave enough to come close and beg for scraps. It probably didn’t get the scraps at first; yet, it kept coming back. The dog never gave up and was probably chased off more than once. Eventually, the human gave in. and dogs and humans have been inseparable ever since.    

According to one source I read, the Greek word for dog in this passage is not a mangy old stray street dog, but a loved puppy or pet. If a dog is loved, it has a pretty good life. They still beg for scraps but we feed them nutritious food. When they are dirty, we give them a bath, and they sleep in comfort knowing they are loved and protected. 

I think Jesus knew this woman’s faith even before she spoke. He was not denying her, but showing her faith to all those with him. The disciples wanted to send her away maybe because they were full of bigotry and prejudice for anyone who was not Jewish. Then Jesus acted like them; Jesus responded like them, and I think he laid a giant guilt trip on them. The food is for my Children the lost sheep, why should I give it to you. The answer: because she has faith.

God doesn't see us as dogs. We are his children, the ones who the food is for. The bible says that those led by the spirit of God are children of God; and, that we are God’s adopted children through Jesus Christ. Look around us. We who are so different but can still be called brothers and sisters. He has always loved us, Gentile or Jew.

I’d like to end with a ta-dah moment. Think about this – Would being the dog in God’s family be that bad?  If we were this dog, we would be loved. We would be bathed and made clean in the waters of baptism. We would eat scraps that fall from his table; the food of eternal life, the Eucharist. And, we would sleep in comfort safe in Jesus’ love.  

If we were dogs we would always be loyal, obedient, and loving to God.  

Living a dog’s life in God’s house would really not be so bad; but, we are his children and that’s even better.

A MARINE’S STORY - HOMILY REFLECTION – 19TH SUNDAY – ORDINARY TIME

Brothers and Sisters, I am so happy to be able to bring the homily reflection today. God brought me a story & I knew I was to share it with you.   

It is the story of a young man who joined the Marines right out of high school.  Our hero’s name is Hal. Hal knows Jesus and went into the military to go to school afterward to become a minster.  

Hal was sent to Afghanistan.  He is a decorated soldier; He has been in fire fights and has seen the face of the person trying to kill him.  

When you ask him about his experience in Afghanistan, this is what he shares:   

Hal was assigned with three other Marines to stand on top of a building & observe – looking for things different than normal, people who were out of place or unusual events and taking notes and sounding the alarm if necessary. This duty was for 24 hours straight; then, the marines would be relieved to eat and rest.

Hal said the three other young men were having a hard time. One young man’s father had died. It was very dishearting for him being away from his mother and siblings. The second young man was having trouble with the expereinces of battle.  He was depressed and guilty.  The third young man received a “Dear John Letter.”  His wife said she didn’t love him and had found someone else. She asked for a divorce. 

The only way that Hal knew to help his friends was praying with them. So they prayed together at the end of each duty. They prayed for strength, guidance, and for peace in the fear and chaos they were living.

The duty they were assigned was miserable.  They stood in full uniform in 110 degree heat or hotter; they could not take off any protective equipment, or jackets, helmets, or gloves. They could not sit down. His duty officer would even punish them for lifting the goggles to wipe the sweat from their eyes.

At the end of the duty shift, the Marines knees would be swollen and stiff; it was painful to climb down the stairs from the roof. They would be hungry, dehydrated, tired and drained.  After eating, the friends would come together to pray. 

One evening after they had gone to bed, because of his pain, Hal couldn’t sleep; he lay there in despair, praying cried out to God. “Why am I here? Why am I suffering? What purpose is all of this? What did I do to deserve this?”

Does anyone remember that Today’s Psalm says – God proclaims PEACE?  A voice, clear like someone standing next to him said “Look at your fiends, you are here for them.”  God answered Hal.

Hal sat up and looked around. “Did Anybody else hear someone speak?” Nobody did.

In the Gospel, Jesus puts his apostles in a boat at night and sends them off. In the boat with waves, wind, and dark the apostles faced fear. They struggled in the storm without Jesus; so afraid that they cried out.

Many of us live in fear and troubles realized by uncertainty:  Our jobs, family responsibilities, bills, illness, and deaths. Some of us have faced the fear and chaos of war and violence. 

Human life is a drama of fear and trouble. We go through it in the little boats of our lives; either alone or with those close to us. And sometimes because of the world or our own stubborness and pride, we do this without Jesus.

Elijah saw the strong wind, earthquake, and fire – noise and chaos; but, God stilled them when he came in the whisper. We live in a world where all the noise of the world, does not let us hear God speaking to us.

The disciple’s were so afraid they thought they saw a ghost.  The storm was throwing the boat around and in the middle of the storm; Jesus came walking on the waters.  Jesus didn’t quiet the sea; he didn’t quiet them when Peter tried to come to him. Jesus came to them in their fear.  At frst the disciples saw a ghost, the disciples saw only their fear, and they didn’t see Jesus.

This is the same in our lives.  Too many times all we see are our Ghosts.  No faith, only our fears and torubles - the strong wind, waves, earthquakes and fire. We lose sight of God. We don’t hear him. We don’t see him in our lives.  We only see ghosts and the storm.

But, faith is not found in ghosts; Faith is found in Jesus words; It is I; or more correctly translated: I am.

Jesus is real, Christ is alive, and Jesus Christ is our salvation, our redeemer, and our strength. In Jesus we are able to face the fears and chaos of life. He comes reaches out for us and pulls us to his saving love.

Ask Hal! Ask Me!  This is our faith that we are to witness. Jump out of the boat like Peter and go to Jesus.

Even the strongest can stumble; our fears can get the best of us, our troubles pull us down. But Jesus doesn’t leave us; He comes in the storm, catches us, pulls us back up and then gets in the boat with us to calm our fears and the chaos.

The young Marines were all in the boat; being tossed about in the fear & chaos and that surronded them.  Hal knew that Jesus was walking on the water towards them. Hal jumped out of the boat and ran to Jesus.  he did this in the prayers with his friends.  He fell in his doubts, fears, & troubles. Hal stumbled in the despair of his situation. Jesus reached out his hand and pulled him back, calmed his fears, and got in the boat.

This story was about a young marine.  But if we change the situation and circumstances; it could be any of our lives. 

Our relationship with God in Jesus Christ is our faith. It is in faith we pray and God speaks to us; It is in our faith that we ask Jesus to come to us.

Answering our prayers, God speaks to us in the quiet of our hearts.  Or maybe, like Peter or Hal or even some of us, Jesus comes with a strong hand, grabs us & pulls us back up. 

One thing to take away from the Gospel is that our storms may be long and hard & Our storms don’t always end right away.  But, there is always one greater than us with us when we fear and doubt. It is the one who is here when we are in trouble brings peace.

Jesus Christ is here. Christ is waiting on you to believe in Him. He is waiting to change your life to bring us peace.  Leave the boat and come to him.

Flash Friday Solemnity (A Sort of Parable)

 

150 words =/- 10 and include a thunder storm.

Solemnity

The monks’ journeys never leave the silent walls. Their travel is mapped in small, dancing flames bouncing in a steady partnered rhythm; ever constant to their final destination. The pairs split into separate rows in practiced harmony and the hours rise from aged memories. In darkness, the light of the candles reflects their many years.   

Over time, the flames blink out and the voices become silent. No new candles light the night. Only a lonely cracking voice remains to sing praise.

“I rejoiced when I heard them say, ‘Let us go to God’s house.’”

A flash of lighting signals the coming change. Between the light and darkness, the last flicker of a candle is seen. The climax of the prayer precedes the applause of thunder.   

God is revealed to all in lightning flashes of revelation. And humanity sits in a cave afraid of the thunder’s praise. A baptismal rain falls in the darkness on an empty monastery.

Homily Reflection: Come, Taste of a Miracle

Homily Reflection 18th Sunday- A (Is 55:1-3;  Rm 8:35,37-39; Mt 14:13-21)

In today’s readings we see the power of the Lord;  A power that can take so little and produces great miracles. Jesus takes almost nothing and achieves greatness.  

The question I want to ask today comes from the first reading:  Why spend your money for what fails to satisfy? Instead, come and taste a miracle.

We waste our selves on things of this world. People will put all they have into things that fail to satisfy.  Time wasted watching TV or on the internet or something else.  People give their money and their gifts to the things of this worldly life.  But, maybe the answer is that we are looking for something else like the those in today’s readings. 

Do you ever wonder about the fish and bread? What did it taste like?   I don’t know. The bread was probably not freshly baked.  The fish was probably dried or smoked.  Someone had probably carrying the bread and the fish around all day stuffed inside their robes.  There was not much of it and it was probably not very good.

But Jesus took it, looked to heaven and said the blessing. I like the words of St. Ephrem who describes the multiplication of the loaves like this:

His hands were as earth beneath the bread and his voice was as thunder above it. The movement of his lips acted as dew, the breath of his mouth as sunlight.

My friends, this is a great description of the Lord’s miracle working.

What do you think the fish and bread tasted like then?  What was the taste of a miracle. Well, the scriptures don’t tell us. There were no foodies to blog about it, no restaurant critics; but, it was probably the best meal in the world.  Remember this – Jesus turned water into wine at the wedding feast at Cana, and the steward said “the best was saved for last.”

Some say, there was no real miracle, the food was already there.  People were caught up in the moment and sharing the food that they already had.  That is still a miracle, but not necessarily true.  These people came to Jesus. Everyone was poor; everyone there was bringing all that they had to him.  They were bringing their sick looking for a cure, they were bringing their sins and looking for forgiveness, and they were bringing their hunger and looking to be fed.

At the end of the day, the Disciples wanted to send the people away to fend for themselves.  The Apostles were not stupid, they looked at what they had and then did the simple math. There was no way the little food they had could feed the many.  They could divide, add, and subtract and saw that it was not possible.  But Jesus knew how to multiply.  Jesus took the little bit of food they gave him, the little bit of faith they had, and gave them more food than they needed.  Jesus multiplied the smallest amount so there would be enough.  Jesus satisfied the crowds.

So let us go back to the question - Why spend you money for what fails to satisfy?

Isaiah tells us the promises of God.  He will feed us and we will live. Three times, God says come, if you need, you will have life and shall eat well.  Come, taste a miracle.

Jesus fed the multitude. It was a miracle then and people who seek him are still living in that miracle and being fed today.  The lord takes the little we bring and achieves great things.  Paul says that Christ’s love will feed us in anguish, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril. If we offer what we have, the Lord will achieve great things.

The apostles had seen so much, still only had a little faith.  They did not think the crowd could be fed with the little they had.  Maybe, when he asked for what they had,  they remembered Jesus’ mother at the wedding feast - “Do as he tells you.”  Maybe they remember him turning simple water into great wine. So they gave him all they had.

If you give Jesus all that you have, no matter how little and he can achieve great things.  You will be satisfied. 

His power was not the measure of his miracle, but the people’s hunger. - St. Ephrem

The world still hungers today, but they look in other places. They look to things that do not satisfy.  So many people are looking for joy, looking for hope, looking for answers, looking for reassurance but they look in the wrong place.  They look in the world to satisfy their hunger for God.  Every one has it they just don’t recognize it.

We are the lucky ones, we know where to look to satisfy this hunger, and if we don’t, Jesus tells us:  'Bring them here to me,'  Come taste the miracle of the Eucharist.

Open your hearts, give all that you have, no matter how little it is.  When you do this, Jesus will feed you, satisfy you, and multiply that little you give and achieve so much.  Amen.

(Some of the ideas and stories are influenced by other sources)

Friday Fiction: Manumission

Manumission

by WEGoss2

Background:  Manumission is the act of a slave owner freeing their slaves. This is a retelling of the story based on family stories of my great, great, great grandmother. She was the daughter of a woman from the Talimali band of Apalachee and a French Creole trapper named Pleasant in Louisiana. After the Civil War, Louisiana laws classified the Talimali band of Apalachee people as “colored."  The judge was actually my wife's great, great, grandfather.

Leeze’s father had too many mouths to feed. For twenty dollars, he sold his daughter to Alford. Alford was a successful farmer on the Cane River.  A farmer looking for someone to serve his wife, so that she could be the lady of culture she wanted to be. 

That gangly Talimali servant girl became a beautiful young woman. Now that twenty dollar girl owned Alford’s heart.

Still a young teenager, Leeze had their first child. Alford’s children by his wife were closer to Leeze age and closer match to be a lover, but, she chose him. Alford chose Leeze over his pretentious socialite wife. 

“Just don’t embarrass me,” his wife had said, “keep it in the quarters. I’ll move to Natchitoches,”

In the quarters, he found friends.  Friends that would one day have papers saying, “Freed by the will of their master.”

First were Pierre and Gustina then Ham and Pearl. Speaking with the judge, Alford found papers that would be freedom for him as well. Divorce papers signed and given to the sheriff.

*****

Leeze and Alford’s oldest child played on the floor in the corner. His name was Pleasant, after her father.  Young Pleasant was just under two. His dark complexion witnessed the Creole and Indian blood. Their youngest, named Alford after his father was a little over a month old and with Gustina, the wet nurse.

Leeze’s last memory of Alford was her head on his shoulder. She would hear his last heart beat as a bullet ripped through her and then into him. Behind a kicked in door stood a younger version of Alford with a pistol in his hand. Alford was killed with one shot.

“Just don’t embarrass me,” his wife had said, “keep it in the quarters.” In Alford’s wife eyes, a justified patricide prevents the scandal of divorce.

Bleeding, Leeze ran to save her life and the life of her child. She swam the river carrying the oldest child and ran through the swamp in the darkness of night. The infant was left in the arms of Gustina.  In a year, when it was safe, Pierre would bring young Alford through the woods to the Talimali community. 

Alford who owned only a few slaves, freed them all before the Civil War. They actually were friends. Leeze was never really a slave. Alford was a slave to his life and the culture of the time. Alford’s love freed Leeze, but, did she love him?  

She never loved again.

We Are All Called to Preach, Are you Ready?

Homily Reflection

Friday, August 1 2014 

(Jer 26:1-5; Ps 69:5,8-10,13; Mt 13:54-58)

 We Are All Called to Preach, Are you Ready?

Friends, Brothers and Sister in Christ,

The readings today are about preaching God’s word. We are asked to do this every day and it’s hard. Are you ready?

The Psalms say, “The ones who will hate me will outnumber the hairs on my head.”  

The Lord tells Jeremiah, “Stand in the house of the Lord and speak to the people…, what I command you,…, and omit nothing.”

The people in the synagogue talk about Jesus, “Where did this man get all this?”  

You’re not saying that about me, yet.  So let us begin with a story. 

Two old friends meet for coffee.  

One sits down and says, “We’ve been friends for 60 years; our friendship is tried and true!”

The second friend looks back and says. “What?”

“I said, we've been friends a long time, our friendship is tried and true!”

The other friend still can’t hear and says, “You’re going to have to speak up.”

Just short of a scream, the first friend says ”Our friendship is tried and true!”

The second friend is taken aback a little and says “Well fine, I’m tired of you too!!!”

This is what we face. Either people don’t understand, don’t hear, or don’t want to hear and understand the word of God. This is the situations in our readings today.

People fight the word of God.  The people of Judah wanted to put Jeremiah to death. The crowd saying “Grab him, Grab him!! Who does he think he is!!” “Put him to death!!”

But, Jeremiah didn't stop and gave God’s message. The people did not want to hear that they were doing wrong.  They didn't want anyone to tell them they were disobeying God.

Kill the messenger! That will get rid of the message.

People fight the word of God, even when it comes from God himself. Jesus was preaching in his home town. You would think that the people there would realize that there was something special about him. The people that knew him, rejected him.

They didn't hear what he had to say. They didn't want to hear. They didn't understand.

“What makes him think he’s so smart?  He’s nobody, just the carpenter’s son!!”

We are all called to speak God's message (to be a living witness) in words, life, and actions; the enemy fights us. Are you ready?

• Do I have time to visit them
• Maybe I don’t feel like I want to smile or say hello,
• I am having a hard time myself why should I help someone else,
• Why should I say that God loves them, they’re mean and ornery, the don’t love anybody

These are the same arguments in different words that Jeremiah and Jesus faced. Are you ready? 

But God’s love is great. God is our constant help. Look back on your life and see God at work.

Think about the times God asked you to be his witness, even in the smallest way. All the times you overcame the enemy to live and speak God’s love to the world.  If you can see that, you're ready. 

Live it again and again.