Reflection 1st Sunday Advent: Patience

 Isaiah 63:16b-17, 19b; 64:2-7; Psalm 80:2-3, 15-16, 18-19; 1 Corinthians 1:3-9; Mark 13:33-37

This is the first Sunday of Advent. The readings are about waiting with the emphasis: patience. That's a hard thing to have, patience.

Before we start, I’d like to give you my unofficial definition of what patience is: “deliberate humble kindness.” 

• The word, deliberate, because patience is something you have to work at having.  
• The word humble because with patience we must put ourselves in the shoes of others. 
• The word, kindness, because kindness is truly what having patience is all about.

Have you ever been stuck in a line at a store? The person in front of you watches the cashier like a hawk. They argue over every price. The cashier makes a little mistake. The manager is called and you can see the manager just over there and they're just chewing the fat, or talking on their phone. The manager is not in a hurry. .

Finally, the manager shows up, clears the mistake, and leaves. Then the customer decides they don’t want something and asks that it be taken off their total. The manager is called again and now the manager is helping someone else or paged from another part of the store. When it is time to pay, they pull out their debit card and don't remember their pin number. 

This can try your patience. It can get on your nerves and real easy you can lose your patience. You find it kind of hard to love that person and you get agitated with even the cashier. You don't love as a Christian should love. 

It's a shame but we are just poor humans. We are born in time and space and it tries our patience when some one is taking away from our limited time and space. The problem with our lack of patience is that it applies to everything even our faith.  . 

The parable states that the master has left  and we are to watch. In reality what are we left to watch? Watch for his coming. but, we are also left to watch our selves. We are to watch how we act and how we treat others and how we live our lives as Christians. We are to be patient.

The chosen people described in Isaiah. The got tired of waiting and started to wander away from God. Even though the prophet says the people know the true God who created them, they worship other gods, carved idols, and take on the customs of other peoples. You see what happened - they lost their watch. They lost their patience waiting for God.

Paul tells the Corinthians that only with faith in Christ can we stand firm. This is how we keep our watch. This is why we don’t wander. This is the source of our patience.

So here we are standing in the checkout line. We  finally get to the register, do we sulk, do we explode, or do we greet the person with a smile, hello, and I hope your have a good day. The question is do we wander from the love of Christ? Do we lose our watch that Jesus gave us to be true to him?

We are asked to have patience and patience is a "deliberate humble kindness." God gives us this in his lovingkindness; the lovingkindness made man in Jesus Christ. Given to us in Jesus birth, given to us in our immediate intimate relationship with Christ Jesus, and will be given to us when Christ comes again in glory. All that is asked of us is that we are to keep watch, do not wander, and have patience.  

Remain true to Jesus, who is the way we learn deliberate humble kindness. 

Jesus calls it love. 

Reflection - Christ the King Sunday

All in All - King of the Universe

Ezekiel 34:11-12, 15-17 Psalm 23:1-2, 2-3, 5-6 1 Corinthians 15:20-26, 28 Matthew 25:31-46

I originally wrote this by hand while at a Jesuit retreat so maybe I’ll sound smart. I also read some Thomas Merton, Trappist Monk, mystic and theologian whom I'll quote:

“Our true self has been concealed under the ‘disguise’ of a false self, the ego, whom we tend to worship in place of God.”

The readings tend to point to the problems of our ego.

• The sleek and the strong ...,
• The sheep from the goats...,
• Death comes through man.

Sadly, humanity tends to make God into an idol of our own ego. Yet, Paul tells us God is all in all.  

Several years ago, I travel to my company’s regional office. As I sat waiting for the meeting to start, I fingered my rosary. One of the ladies who worked in the office said, “What are those?  Isn’t that the way you Catholics pray to Mary?”

It’s a rosary. It is for prayers that contemplate the Christian faith and the life of Christ.

You start with the “Sign of the Cross, The Apostle’s Creed and then the Hail Mary…” I didn’t get to finish.

So, l you are worshiping Mary. I said “No, It is a meditation on the life of Christ; let me tell you the prayers.”

I explained the sign of the cross. She had no problem with that prayer.  But, when I began the creed and said, “… crucified, died, and was buried. He descended into hell.” 

“Jesus did not go to hell!  I can’t believe you said that.”

I tried to explain that “hell” was simply the place of the dead.  Until Jesus Christ was resurrected, there was no “heaven and hell” as we know it. Before Christ, no person went to heaven or eternal damnation. Everyone who died went to the place of the dead.

She couldn't hear me. She wouldn't hear me.   

A year later, I sat in Deacon Formation and our instructor asked us this question. “Is God in Hell?”

It was a question that one of his instructors in seminary had asked his class many years before. We didn’t know how to answer that question. The instructor said his class didn’t know the answer either. 

The instructor explained that the wise old priest and theology professor answered his own question. – “Of course He is - God’s everywhere! But, what's God doing in hell?”

Another hard question, but his answer, “God is there loving all the poor souls lost there.”

God the Father is all in all. Jesus Christ is the fullness of the universe and the all in all. Jesus Christ is the manifestation of the love that God has for all creation. 

Even though that good Christian lady who didn't want to hear that Jesus descended into hell, she was not trying to make God into an idol in her own image. Maybe she could not comprehend what it means that God is all in all, the universe and its fullness.

If we are to see God in the poor, the naked, the sick, the hungry, and the prisoner and love them would God not love them as well? Why then would God not love the poor souls in hell?  

God forgives us and loves us unconditionally, even those who are lost and even those who do not love him.

Now, we are back at the beginning. Rethinking Merton’s quote it seems we live our life in denial of our true self. We see our own ego, denying the reality that God created us. Humanity sees the self it creates. Our true reality of self is found in the image of God in which we are created.

God is all in all and in the saints in heaven. God is all in all; even in those lost souls that exist in the self they created. This self pushes God away. The self that separates self from God and being separated from God’s love is the definition of hell. Creation can become separated from God but God never stops loving it.

Christ the King, God who is all in all and in all of us. 

Friday Flash Fiction: Best Friends - A Parable

Prompt: Photo and use puppy

It began when he was just a puppy. He would do normal puppy things; chase his tail, scratch, or get a special treat from the man.

The man was so nice but kind of peculiar.

He listened to a box that howled in the strangest way. It hurt puppy's ears so he howled as well.  The man laughed, tried to play chase, or would give treats.

The puppy liked to make the man happy. It was like getting his belly rubbed.

 

Pretty soon, he had the man spoiled.  Every time he would sit and listen to the howling box, he expected puppy to howl. Puppy would get some kind of treat.

Then the day came when Puppy’s teeth hurt.  He chewed, it helped the pain.

***

"Drats," the legs of his phonograph had been chewed. 

In frustration, the man locked that dog out of the conservatory. It was always howling when he tried to listen to Caruso.

(Moral: Even the best of friends can sometimes have a disagreement)

Reflections from Healing Prayer Service November 2014

Luke 19:10 tells us that Jesus came to seek and to save. He does this by bringing healing in ways that are alike yet different.

Paul says to imitate him and those that came with him. Follow his example so that Christ can changie our lowly bodies to be like his glorified body. (PHIL 3:17-4:1) In the gospel, Jesus heals the lepers’ bodies which are ravaged by disease. They are the outcast of society, but, Jesus tells them to go back. They could do this if they were clean and without disease. Jesus made them new. (LK 17:11-19)

In both of these readings, we find healings that are alike yet different. In the gospel, the body is healed. Jesus gave the lepers new bodies. In Paul’s letter, we are promised spiritual healing. Christ makes for us a glorified body.

These are healings and the source of salvation, alike yet different. They both require the same things: faith and fidelity to Jesus; fortitude (don’t give up); don’t forget Christ; imitate those who have these traits; and praise Jesus.

Let’s focus on one, imitation. Have you ever thought imitation was an act of faith?

Cardinal Timothy Dolan in his book, “Priests for the Third Millennium” tells this story:  As a teenager he would go with his pastor on visits. This monsignor was respected and had a great responsibility; but he was always faithful in the smallest of things.

One day, they visited an elderly parishioner in a nursing home and found her lying on the floor in pool of her own urine. The priest never said a word; he took off his coat, grabbed a mop to cleaned up, helped her get dressed in clean clothes, kissed her on the head, and gave her a bottle of lotion as a Christmas present.

Cardinal Dolan says that was a true witness of humble love he tries to imitate that pastors example. Two men of faith alike yet different, one imitated Christ and influenced another to do the same.

We need to imitate true faith, fidelity, fortitude, and gratitude of those that Jesus healed. They lived lives with faith, fidelity, fortitude, and gratitude as an essential part of their daily lives; small acts important to the Lord. These are imitations of Christ, the saints, and all the holy; alike yet different in each of us. They are signs of our healing.

We’re here today for true healing which only comes for God. As believers, we witness our healing every day. We are healed when we surrender all that we are to Jesus and the will of God. Paul, the Leper, even Cardinal Dolan surrendered completely. It healed them and made them new. Imitate the faith, fidelity, and gratitude of those who have been healed. Turn to Christ and give him thanks.

It doesn’t matter if that healing is in body or in the spirit; alike yet different, both make us new. People of faith are healed and in true faith they know it. Praise God and claim the healings Christ has bestowed upon us, alike yet different in each of us according to the will of the Father.

For the Son has come to seek and to save what was lost. Thank Him for all He has done for us.

Christian Flash Fiction: Situations Can Change a Man

Prompt: Exodus 15:21 - Miriam sang to them, 'Sing to the LORD, for he is highly exalted. The horse and its rider he has hurled into the sea.'

Situations Can Change a Man

 “Dokie” Joe Carnahan sat uneasy. His horse was old. The gelding was giving out beneath him with every step. It was so worn and old, even its whinny was broken. It sounded like a wheezing old man. He needed a new horse

By trade, he considered himself a semi-outlaw. He had done things that would shame his maw. Thanks to all her praying and preaching when she was alive, he had never killed anyone or robbed a church.

He had studied it though. Situations can change a man; especially, when an opportune situation presents itself.   

He had heard rumors about priests. They ate off gold plates and collected riches to send to someone called Pope.

Nobody would soon miss this wandering preacher; then, they’d blame the desert.

“Preecher, war u headin?”

“God’s mission for me is los niño Jose, my son,” answered Fr. Maria Francis.

He didn’t know that place, “Fokes call me Dokie not Sun. Thet’s a fur walk, sum pretty dange-rus country. Ifins ya git a hoarse ya kin rides wit me.”

“The Lord has given me two feet. I believe that God would rather I walk than to burden one of His creatures.”

“Rid-ns alot quiker den walkin, an toos saf-r den wone, yoar call.”

Dokie changed his plan. He would catch the preacher in the desert, rob and abandon him. Sell them gold plates, buy a new horse and supplies. He needed food, bullets, and things to be in the semi-outlaw trade. If he had enough, maybe he would spend a night or two in a fancy hotel.

***

Fr. Maria Francis walked for three days. As his water ran out, he found a small creek. He knelt and prayed, thanking God for his providence.

Hiding was Dokie. He eased his horse towards the bank. He drew is pistol. He didn’t have bullets but he’d worry about that later.

He could hear the priest praying. It was something Dokie remembered his mother reciting. She called it Miriam’s Song. He knew this would hurt his maw.

Prayers continued. “The flood waters covered them over and they sank like a stone.”

Underneath the horse, the bank collapsed. The horse and rider fell into the stream. The horse faltered and screamed in its broken voice; it could not get up. Struggling, it pinned the rider. Water rushed into the semi-outlaws lungs.

***

Dokie saw a figure outlined by light. Like a man standing in the sun, just like church people described the walk to judgment.

“Is this dead?”

He saw his semi-outlaw life. There was his maw kneeling before the one in the light. Weeping and praying for her little Joe.

“Don’t let me be dead, Lord, I can change!”

Then, a familiar broken whinny busted his stare into the light. Kneeling above him, praising God was Fr. Maria Francis.

 “Blessed be God. May the Lord reign forever, Amen.” 

Smiling the priest looks down, “Niño, I thank God, He has blessed us to meet again.”

Sunday Reflection

Sorry Fr. Pat: 
A Reflection on Should Of, Would Of, & Could Of

Proverbs 31:10-13, 19-20, 30-31; Psalm 128:1-2, 3, 4-5; 1 Thessalonians 5:1-6; Matthew 25:14-30

Father Pat Madden told us in homiletics two phrases never to use when preaching: Should and Let Us. He liked to say you don’t “should on” the congregation or feed them “Let Us” (lettuce).

But I think I'm going to break those rules, sort of.  

Has anyone ever second guessed themselves? When something bad happens or doesn’t turn-out in our  favor - Our conscious questions our choice: Maybe I should of done this; If only I would of done; or Instead, I could of done that.

Why do we second guess? Maybe the answer’s in today’s Gospel. (Matthew 25:14-30)

The 3^rd servant says '... I was afraid ...'

This servant is unfortunate and that can make us uncomfortable; because, the servant can remind us of ourselves. No matter how much bravado we have most mistakes are made because we are afraid.

We see the servant in ourselves. If we look at the servant, maybe we can understand how we end up where we do.

“I knew you were a demanding person"

The first thing the servant shows us is fear and misunderstanding of obligation. The servant thought he had the master figured out; but, he was wrong. He judged his master on what the world thought. 

That is why so many of our problems exist. Following God is hard, following the world is easy. We misunderstand the obligation of being a Catholic and a Christian. Doing the right thing is hard so we follow the easy path. The world’s easy to understand. So we live our life by what the world tells us. The world  is made up of everybody else's opinion telling us the way we ought to be.

"Out of fear I went off and buried your talent"

The second thing the servant has is a fear that prevents him from accepting and using the talent he was given by the master. The servants is scared of using it. 'It yours - you have it back; in other words - I don't want it.

We do the same things. We don’t use what God gave us to honor God. We keep them hidden then give them back unused. It’s not the amount that God gives us; it’s closer to we don’t want it at all. 

I’m old; I can't do anything, the only thing I can do is come to Mass. I’m young and I can’t do anything. We can all pray. These are the small things we invest for God so they grow.

"You wicked, lazy servant!"

Thirdly, this may be the thing that we have most in common with the servant. The servant doesn’t trust what the master says. He didn’t obey and basically refused to be his servant.

Put that into our lives, we have a hard time being obedient to God. It encroaches on what we identify as our freedom, our choices, or our lifestyle. It cramps our style.

The things that we share with the servant is what direct us to all of those should of(s), would of(s), and could of(s). We live a life fighting against the will of God.

Many of the should of(s), would of(s), and could of(s) that we experience n our life is not because we listed to God’s voice. Like the servant, those choices come from our self. We make emotional decisions. These can often conflict with God and our moral conscience.

"Come and share your master's joy."

There is a great irony between life in the world and a life with God. It’s a hard paradox to accept. In God, to find true joy lies in accepting duty and obligation, to find true maturity lies in our complete surrender, and to find true freedom lies in obedience.

This is the paradox we find in Jesus. This, he taught and embodied. He was the freest human to ever walk this planet, yet he said that he did nothing on his own; everything he did was in obedience to his Father.

We need to stop obeying the false voices inside of us. Don’t mistake the confusion of the world with conscience.

So what did we learned from the servant:

• Don’t listen to the voice of the world; Joy is accepting duty and obligation;
• Even if it is only a small amount, completely surrender all you gifts to glorify God; and 
• Be obedient to the voice of God, this is where you find true freedom

By following the example of Christ, we come to know the Father’s will. In this, we’ll not have to second guess or question ourselves.

I’m sorry Father Pat but maybe there is some “shoulds” we need to share and there is some “Let us” we need to feed to others. Learning these help us get rid of the should of (s); the would of(s); and the could of(s).

But, those are for another reflection.

Flash Fiction Friday: More

Flash Friday Fiction: 

150 words +/- 10 words, Challenge to use a famous author w/inspiration of picture

 “More”

Two hands come together urgently making the sign, “More.”

“His name is E-R-B or Erb,” the director said. “He was Tarzan. He’s smart. Learned to sign by watching us teach others; that’s when he became E-R-B.”

In the background, repeatedly, finger tips come together, “More, more.”

“I get it, Extra Rare Brain, E-R-B!” the assistant giggled.

“Nope, an English major cleaning his cage called him E-R-B for Edgar Rice Burroughs. Said Burroughs wrote “Tarzan of the Apes” and was better than his peers. The name became Erb during the marijuana experiments.” 

Erb beats on the door. “More, more?”

The director continues, “Erb has addiction problems: drinking, smoking, drugs, sugar. He’s better at bad habits than we are. He’s smart and that made him important to our breeding program. Now, he needs that too.”

“Couldn’t that be done artificially?”

“More! More! More,” Erb’s hands scream!

The old man answers with remorse, “My old friend would still scream . . . .”

Christian Flash Literature: A Gift of Innocence

 Prompt: 2 Cor 9:15 “Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift”

It started with a simple announcement during intercessory prayers. ”Mr. Leon has passed away; let us pray for him and his family.”

Although I didn’t see her at the time, a little girl around seven years old sat next to her grandmother softly sobbing. Her grandmother pulled her close to comfort her.

The two approached Father and I after mass, but they wanted to talk to me.  

“Deacon, this is Iris. She gets upset at mass when they mention people that have died. Earlier this year, her twin baby brothers died at five months. You have children could you speak with her.”

I saw her tears and had no idea what to say. I just opened my mouth and the Holy Spirit took over.  I think, this is what I said.

“Iris, I’m sorry you’re sad about your brothers. It hurts when we no longer have those we love around us. But sometimes, babies and other people get so weak Jesus calls them to be with him.

Jesus loves babies and little children so much. Instead of letting your baby brothers hurt, he asked them to come to him, so he could make them well. I know that made everybody sad.

See Jesus on the cross with his arms outstretch, looks like someone ready to give a hug and hold you tight. Doesn’t you grandmother do that when she wants a hug? Don’t you like to get hugs from your mamma?

Jesus wants to love and hug all of us. Jesus’ hugs are so big and wonderful that if you take all the mommas, daddies, mammas and papaws hugs and put them together, Jesus’ hug would be better.

Jesus is hugging and loving your baby brothers with his whole heart. Another thing about Jesus’ love is when you love Jesus; you let your baby brothers know you love them. When you pray and ask Jesus to hold you and hug you, his hugs are so big and full of love that he is hugging you and your brothers at the same time.

Even though you can’t see Jesus or your brothers, they are in your heart. You know they are being taken care of by Jesus and will feel it in your heart, every time you feel love for them. .

Say your prayers and ask Jesus to hug you tight and protect you. Always love your brothers and you’ll always be close to them because Jesus is holding them and loving them at the same time he’s loving and hugging you.”

Iris smiled through teary eyes. Her grandmother smiled and thanked me. I cried; because, in this child' s smile, I saw Jesus, who died for us, loving and pulling all of us near.

This is a true story; even a small child can minister to us.

Homily Reflection: The River That Gladdens the City of God

Ezekiel 47:1-2, 8-9, 12 Psalm 46:2-3, 5-6, 8-9 1 Corinthians 3:9c-11, 16-17 John 2:13-22

Who knows who St. John Lateran is? St. John Lateran is not somebody its a place.  

Being the Cathedral of Rome and the seat of the bishop’s residence – it is the Pope's Cathedral. And, It is a survivor, pillaged by barbarians. It survived natural disasters and fires.  

This Church was a gift of the Emperor Constantine, who was the first Christian Emperor of Rome.  An Emperor who had a vision before a great battle to fight under the sign of Christ. He did and he won. To honor Christ, he defended the Church and built this first Church as a gift to the Lord.

This is the most ancient Church, St. John Lateran and is the ecumenical mother Church of the Christian faith. It was name for named for both St. John the Baptist and St. John the Evangelist

In that description of the history of the Church you can see some vivid images. Barbarians, battles, fires, and earthquakes are all part of the history of the Church. Today readings are also full of images. The one that I like is from the Psalms: "The waters of the river gladden the city of God."

The Diocese of Shreveport has many great rivers that flow through it: Mississippi, Ouachita, Red, Sabine, and many others. Here, the Ouachita, which starts in Arkansas, flows to Monroe. The impact of the river is like the words of Ezekiel; “the river gives life and purifies”

Sit back and draw a picture in our mind. In your minds eye compare the river and the church. If you go to the river, you would see people there every Sunday. People in a way doing the same thing they do in Church.

Let’s look at three things that the river and the Church have in common

The first is boaters. Some boats on the river are humble boats. Others are nice boats. Some people not wanting to be outdone have even nicer boats. And then, some people go all out and have yachts. 

When they go to the river, they like to ride up and down the river showing what nice boats they have and how good they look. But the funny thing about a boat, you can be at the river but don’t have to get wet

The second thing we have is fishermen. A lot of fishermen specialize and fish for what they want. They fish for only what they want; catfish, white perch, bass, or brim and throw what they don’t want back. I’ve even heard that some people in Northeast Louisiana go to the river to hunt ducks.

Even though we don’t look for it, the third thing we find is nastiness. The nastiness in the river is everything that it touches.  By bringing life and purifying it also picks up pollution. The river has the nastiness of the pollution from industry, our cities, and pollution what we put in it.

How many of you are asking, "Where's the Church? I don't see it."

We have people in their boats in Church. They come to Church to be seen. They like to show off their boats of faith. Some will have a humble faith. Some will have a little more fancier faith. Some peoples faith will be like yachts, grand and extravagant. Our faith is big like those boats on the river. It keeps us from having to get wet in all that Church stuff.

There are fishermen at Church. Those who come and pull out what they want. I’m a Catholic and I’m a Christian; but only by my rules, I going to take what I like. I don’t want the whole Church, just part of it. Just like the fisherman who wants only the fish he’s angling for (bass, white perch, brim, or catfish) everything else he throws back. The people look at the Church and throw the things they don’t like back. The Church teachings on marriage, birth control, confession, and even the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist are not what they want; throw them back.

Then like everything in the world, there is nastiness in the Church. We’ve polluted the Church. The Church is polluted by the failures and sin of humanity, of people like you and me. We bring our ugliness and faults to the Church and just like the trash we throw into the river, we pollute the Church.

The wonderful thing is that the river and the Church continue. They both give life and purify. No natter how bad we mess it up, the bad is washed away.  Because in the Gospel, Christ promised to rebuild what we destroy. Christ is our Savior.  

Here is another wonderful thing, Christ forgives us, unconditionally. It doesn't matter if we're boaters or fishermen or bring our pollution to the Church. We are forgiven and we're here. We're in the river that gladdens the city of God. We are the Church.

The Ouachita River gladdens our city and the Church is the river that gladdens the city of God. Our parish (OLF, SL, and CCM) is part of river that flows from the ecumenical mother Church - St. John Lateran. This is the river (the Church) that gives life and purifies our faith and our Christianity.

Before I end, I would like to tell this story. 

A new priest comes to the parish. He loves to go fishing; so a couple of men from the Church take him along on a fishing trip. 

The three men are out in the boat and one says,” I forgot my favorite bait. I need to go get it,” he quickly jumps out of the boat and walks across the top of he water. When he comes back the same way, the priest is astonished.

The second man says, “I should have told you to bring the sun screen, I’ll go get it.” He gets out of the boat and walks to the shore and back on top of the water.

The priest has heard these men’s confession and knows they are not saints.  If they can walk on water he can too. The priest says, “I forgot my rosary; I need to go to the car and get it.” 

The men say, “Sure Father we'll bring you to the shore.”

 “No that’s OK.” the priest says and steps out of the boat. Splash, he sinks to the bottom.

One of the fishermen looks at the other and says “Maybe, you think, we should have told him about them stumps we walk on.”

That priest jumped right in!

That's what we have to do. Even though it not the same as the early Church, we are still facing barbarians. The faces different types of fires and earthquakes. But, through all this, it also has us - boaters, fishermen, and pollution. In Christ, we are plenty.

I’m going by challenging each of you. Don’t stay in boat - jump in, be an active person of faith – Christ’s foundation is in each of us.  Be like Constantine, defend and build up the Church. Let the Church give you life and in that life be Christ’s Church in the world.

Amen.

Friday Flash Fiction: Wick-ed

Friday Flash Fiction
Prompt: Picture and use the word Treasure

“Marie, are you hot?

“Nope.” She never looked up from her magazine.

“I’m hot; this train’s a sweat box.”

“That’s a linen suit; you shouldn’t be hot, take off your jacket and tie.”

“Still hot.”

“Go get some fresh air, if you want,” she was still treasure hunting in her magazine. She loved those black linen slacks in the fashion spread.

***

Seeking even a slightest relief, Bruce stripped-off socks and untucked his undershirt. He felt like he was on fire. He hoped it wasn’t malaria from their month in the jungle.

Rolling-up the cuffs of his pants he saw the beginning of a rash and felt the fever in his ankles.

A porter paged, “Message for Mr. Bruce”

“Here.”

Bruce lit a cigarette as he open the message. It read, “Treasure’s curse translated – 'those who walk on sacred ground will burn as wicks in a lamp of agony.'”

Laughing made him feel better. The train started to move and Bruce briefly lost his balance. As he fought to keep from falling, the smallest ember was knocked, unnoticed, from his cigarette. It fell into the rolled-up cuff of his pants.

***

Dressed in black linen trousers, Marie felt feverish as she read the coroners report “… the linen slacks acted as a wick to pull the flame over victim’s entire body.”

They had given her the two things recovered near Bruce; his watch and a folded note. Looking at the watch she burst into tears. She’d have to read the message later.

Christian Flash Fiction: "it is 2014"

it is 2014

(wc 233)

it is 2014

this the good old united states

women are supposed to be liberated

not submissive or obedient - especially

to some archaic teaching - to Christian thinking.

that’s not what i see

kneeling in prayer

is beauty

is purity

is virtue

towers

a symmetrical row

3 young women

lined up togetherness

in solitary worship and prayer

kneeling on the concrete floor

or even more worn kneelers

their heads are bowed and hands

clasped together

above the seatbacks - like protecting gates

behind which lips dance

in silence

unison found in the practice

of daily prayer

each is a model of modestly - in their dress

they respect their creator - with

a veil in remembrance 

these young women follow

what

the holy spirit tells their hearts 

society

discourages these acts of devotion – yet -

these young women

(some parents little girls)

have found a light of truth

in the midst of darkness

today

3 in beauty

remember

a solitary young girl

bowed down in prayer – she

heard the message Gabriel 

heralded 

the call of God’s spirit

into her purity

the salvation of the world was born

it is 2014

this the good old united states. 

these liberated women

devoted to the One

they truly love

speaking to their hearts

reveals true beauty found in

eyes that sparkle with His fire

Inspiration:

Song of Solomon 7:4 (NLT)

Your neck is as beautiful as an ivory tower.

Your eyes are like the sparkling pools in Heshbon by the gate of Bath-rabbim.

Your nose is as fine as the tower of Lebanon overlooking Damascus.

Homily Reflection: Feast of All Saints/All Souls - All Those Blessed Rules!

Gospel MT 5:1-12A 

On All Saints Day the Gospel is on the beatitudes. On All Souls Day, one of the Gospel choices is the same reading. There is a reason why.

Christians know the Ten Commandments; but, it is the Beatitudes that make us Christian. These are what Jesus taught his disciples, the rules that made holy men and holy women, Saints. That’s why the Beatitudes are in the Gospel reading on All Saints Day.

But why should this Gospel be read on All Souls Day? Most of us probably think we can never live by all those blessed rules. They were written for another time and other people.

Let me think about people that I know. A lot are not poor in spirit; they are full of pride and ego. Most of the people I know are not really meek, quiet, or gentle. In fact, to get anywhere in the world today, you’d better not be. There are not many people who hunger and thirst for righteousness.  Well they do; if it is their righteousness.

How many people do you know who are truly merciful?  With all the bigotry, prejudice, and hate in our country and in the world, are people that way and do people really want peace? Does any of this lead itself to a clean heart?

Then there’s probably the most stepped on and disregarded blessed rule. It’s about standing up for Jesus Christ. Do we turn a blind eye to what is right if we become uncomfortable, or if it doesn't fit into our lifestyle? Are we going to let people abuse us and bully us and talk about us; or, are we just going to fit in?

Who needs all these blessed things?

Let me answer that question. I do! You do!  All these blessed things are the salt that makes us Christian.  

If you could live up to all these blessed things, then you would truly be blessed. You would be a Saint. No matter how we have ignored these blessed things, we can change. We can get there. Look at the lives of the saints, they were not all perfect. They may not have started their lives following all these blessed rules.

But then they found Christ and listened to the Holy Spirit. They open themselves to God and let God grasp their right hand. And they were forgiven.

And that is why we can read the same Gospel reading on All Souls Day. Because, when we think about it, we can live by these blessed rules. 

Because we can, someone may be praying for us. Maybe those prayers are from a dearly departed soul. 

  

These blessed rules are what makes us Christian. They can really be quite easy, even for us simple souls. The Holy Spirit is always knocking on our hearts so we can let Christ in, as God reaches for our right hand. And, we are forgiven.

In that, we can rejoice and be glad, for our reward will be great in heaven.