Sunday Reflection - 3rd Sunday Lent - Alone Ain't Got No Chance

Alone Ain't Got No Chance  Ex 3:1-8a;13-15; Ps 103:1-2, 3-4, 6-7, 8,11; 1Cor 10:1-6:10-12; Lk 13:1-9

What does God appearing to Moses, Paul retelling the Exodus story, and the parable of the fig tree have in common? For each of us, it is probably something different. But this week I was skimming Earnest Hemingway's novella, “To Have and Have Not.” He wrote, “...alone ain’t got no chance.”  

I say AMEN. That’s it. No man, woman, or child has a chance alone. By alone, I mean without God. God called out to him from the bush, “Moses! Moses!” He answered “Here I am.”

We can live in a crowd and still be alone. We’re alone when we’re without God. A relationship with God is the desire written on our hearts by our creator. It’s the love we have; a crown of kindness and compassion we wear. God expresses that desire in all of creation.

It is in the name that identifies God. “I am who am” The “I am” is real. God is not a golden statue, or a rock, or the sea. God “I am” is “to be;” “to be” at the beginning, “to be” now and “to be” always. Eternal, God seeks “to be” with us always. Tell them “I am has sent me to you.”

Somehow, we’ve decided God has to be complicated. That’s the way our minds work. The reality of God is not complicated, “The Lord is kind and merciful,” unwarranted and unmerited love and charity. If you want to find God in this world, find His love.

In the gospel, Jesus talks on two disasters; the murder of innocent Galileans at the hands of Pilate and the death of 18 people when the tower of Siloam fell.

They weren’t killed because of sin by a vengeful God. They died because the circumstances of life where evil and calamities exists. People are subject to these bad things. Our only promised of better things is to “repent.”

Jesus continues by telling the parable of a fig tree. Guess what that fig tree represents. It’s us, me and you. If we are in this world alone, without the grace of God and (surprise to many) without the cultivation of Church and community, we are like that fig tree. We simply exist.

Pope Francis said, “Christians are not made in a laboratory, but in a community called the church.” Like the fig tree it is hard to exist alone without the nurturing of the Church and the love, care, and mercy of God.

Jesus said on this rock I will build my Church. God has always built on rocks of faith through the word of God. “I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, the God of Jacob” and the God of Moses. Paul tells what made those rocks so strong, “they all drank from a spiritual rock and that rock was Christ.”

We have a fig tree in our yard. The fruit has always been sparse and small. For 18 years it’s grown in the shade of two pine trees. It had been alone in the middle of those trees for all those years. My wife replanted that fig tree earlier this month.

In the novella, Hemingway’s protagonist, Harry Morgan, lay dying. “A man, one man… alone ain’t got no bloody (expletive) chance.” He shut his eyes. It had taken him a long time to get it out and it had taken him all of his life to learn it.

My brothers and sisters, alone we ain’t got no chance. But, God, “I am” is always with us. Our faith is the rock of Christ. There stands our Church and community. Our Lord is kind and merciful. He is a patient gardener, always with us; we just don’t need to take a life time to learn it.

“Y’all be good, y’all be holy. Preach the gospel by the way you live and love.” Amen

"Say Yes to the Bless (ing)"- - Healing Service Reflection

"Say Yes to the Bless (ing)"
Ps 67, Phil 2:13

Today is our community's healing mass. If Father cannot show up, it becomes a healing prayer service and I give the reflection.  

Today we ask for God’s healing, proclaiming the words of Psalms 67.

“May God turn his radiant face toward us and fill us with his blessings.”

From Philippians,

"For God is the one who, for his good will, works in you ....”

God’s good will to us gives us freedom. Through this freedom, we can praise him for the blessings and healing he gives to us. We can adore him for all the good things he does for us in his good will.

• In God's good will he offers us blessing
• In God’s good will he offers us healing.
• In God’s good will he offers us justice.
• In God’s good will he offers us fairness.

God wants to be adored by people who are free; but, God gave all of his creation freedom. Even the things that cause us troubles.  

"God’s ways are known upon all the earth."  

All  “that is” upon earth moves towards him in the freedom of its creation.

In our freedom, God blesses us even when we are sick, suffering, or in troubling crisis. God still gives us blessing, even if we don't recognize them. 

• In a sick child,  
• In that illness from which we suffer, 
• In times of crisis and trouble

These are hard things for humanity to understand, the mystery that is God. We have the freedom to say yes to , but the trouble is that our doubt is a “no” to those blessings.

But, if we

• Give these things to him, put them before God.
• Claim his blessings -- his grace -- his healing -- his presence in our life

Say yes by believing and God’s light will shine upon us.

“May God turn his radiant face toward us and fill us with his blessings.”

Then praise him, let everyone praise him.  

Philippians 4:13 - The Heart of David

Making Gods of Cake and Pie - 2nd Sunday of Lent

Making Gods of Cake and Pie

Gen 15:5-12, 17-18; Ps 27:1, 7-8, 8-9, 13-14; Phil 3:17-4:1; Lk 9:28b-36

Being a larger than average person, I ‘m drawn to Paul’s words “Their God is their stomach…”

I could be offended by that statement. Diets are my downfall. A piece of cake or pie speaks to me. I am weak and succumb to temptation. Surely that’s not what Paul was talking about. But it is, he writes “minds are occupied with earthly things.”

People argue about this. It’s not an argument of denial but of support. Atheist and those who have trouble believing argue, oppose, evaluate, and adjust the world’s opinions to what they think is real; the earthly things the mind is occupied with.  

The words of St Francis - “You only know as much as you do.”  But, we think what we know is more than it is.

Because the human mind can’t grasp the mystery of God, He has been rejected by many people. Like after the first man and woman were cast out of the garden, the world continues to reject the creator, our stomachs rule us. We succumb to weakness and temptation. The shameful truth, it isn’t as simple as cake and pie.  

We have made gods of “earthly things” that are “enemies of the cross of Christ.” We follow gods that bring us to the destruction of our own end. Gods created in the shameful glory of violence and domination of the less fortunate, poor, and weak. These gods are the carnal temptations of world, power, and ego.  

Even in this sin, God doesn’t hide from us. God is always. The readings show us God is right in front of us. God has chosen us and by His grace will change us.

God’s grace will change us.

He chose a man from Ur of the Chaldeans. God changed Abram and promised him more - a land to possess and decedents as numerous as the stars in the sky.

God was there when Jesus took Peter, John, and James and went up the mountain to pray. That part of Jesus that was the same as you and me, changed. “While he was praying his face changed in appearance and his clothing became dazzling white.” And, “Then from the cloud came a voice that said ‘this is my chosen Son; listen to him.’” In those words, God promised us more - the promise of the new and everlasting covenant.

Paul describes the change to comet, “He will change our lowly body to conform with his glorified body.” And that change promises us more. “Our citizenship is in heaven….we await a savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. “

God is right there in front of us in Christ Jesus who heals us body and soul. We find God not in our desires but in the grace and mercy of our everyday life. Moved by grace, we will turn towards God and away from sin.

God’s grace will change us.

 That change promises us more, someplace special, the Promised Land, the Kingdom of Heaven.

It takes a little bit on our part. These words are from the Psalm: “The LORD hears our prayer and he answers. He hears us when our hearts call out to him. Wait for the LORD with courage; be stouthearted, and wait for the LORD.”

I think that means, give up the cake and pie.  

That brings us back to the words of St Francis - “You only know as much as you do.” So, what is your cake and pie?

Y’all be good, y’all be holy and preach the gospel by the way you live and love. Amen

Sunday Reflection - 1st Sunday of Lent - I'm in Trouble

I’m in Trouble

Deuteronomy 26:4-10;  Psalm: 91:1-2, 10-11, 12-13, 14-15; Romans 10:8-13; Luke 4:1-13

It’s St. Valentine’s day and there’s a punk rock song by The Replacements “I’m in Trouble.”  Some of the lyrics are, “I gotta run, I better hide … Oh you won’t ever let me go, You’re in love and I’m in trouble” (Sorry Ma, I forgot to Take out the Trash, 1981) I know this song because 1981 was college, the athletic dorm, and a lot of temptation.

The song has nothing in common with the readings except some words.

The words from the Psalms, Be with me, Lord… I’m in trouble

I have cried that many times. Many people have. They’re words that have been cried since the beginning. The people of Israel cried them. They’re a prayer of affliction, a prayer asking for relief, and a prayer asking for release.

He heard our cry and saw our affliction, our toil, and our oppression.

Our Heavenly Father hears our cries. The Father sees the hungry. He sees the powerless. He sees the injustice in the world; but, so does the evil one, the devil. The difference is that the devil sends temptation and our Heavenly Father sent his son. Temptation brings ruin. The Son brings salvation.

Have you ever considered the fact that Jesus the chosen one of God had to face the same temptation we face? The one God sent to save humanity from itself had to resist the devil. He did it by the power of our Heavenly Father. I shall give to you all this power and glory.

The devil promises the world. They are promises that are only temporary, fleeting, and totally carnal. 

The Son brings us love, forgiveness, blessings, and eternal life. The Heavenly Father sent his son, Jesus Christ, so we could know these things.  He shall call upon me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in distress; I will deliver him and glorify him.

Cry out, “be with me Lord” and Jesus is with us. “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

The Lord can set us free from this temptation. In our suffering, we do not have to be desperate. 

We are not perfect. The devil knows we hunger for “the ego, “the power” and “the world.”  We fall to the temptations of the devil. We run from the love of God.

Our prayer, “be with me, Lord…I am in trouble” is one we send to the merciful God this Lenten season. God hears our prayer. He sent us his Son as our example. Accept the freedom the Lord Jesus Christ brings to us. Jesus gives those oppressed by demons and temptation freedom found in the Word of God.

Call upon him and confess… Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

Lord, “You won't ever let me go!” (Maybe that song means more than I thought.) 

Y’all be good; y’all be holy. Preach the Gospel by the way you live and love. Amen

Homily Reflection - Knock - Knock - 5th Sunday OT

Knock- Knock

Isaiah 6:1-2a, 3-8; Psalm 138:1-2, 2-3, 4-5, 7-8; 1 Corinthians 15:1-11 or 15:3-8, 11; Luke 5:1-11

This week while studying the scriptures the thing that kept coming to me was knock-knock jokes. Play along: Knock- knock!  Who’s there? God. God Who?

Exactly – God’s knocking. Here I am send me! But, what do I tell them about God?  

Paul had it right, “By the grace of God I am what I am…,” I am my experiences, sins, and worldliness which get wrapped up in my message about God. Then in imperfection, we don’t understand God’s grace and mercy. He can’t want me; I’m so bad I can’t be forgiven.

Isaiah hears the knock-knock, “Woe is me, I am doomed! I am unclean….” Knock-knock and Paul replied, “I am not worthy to be an apostle.” Jesus came to Peter, knock-knock, “depart from me Lord… I am a sinful man.” Even these great servants of God stumbled in their imperfections.

We doubt. We’re imperfect.  

God is the opposite. God is infinitely good and all his works are good. Instead of imperfection, God is perfection. We’re not the reference point from where God starts. God knows God. That’s God’s starting point. 

Jesus gets in the boat with us; because, God is mercy. He is joy. God is forgiveness. He is tenderness and compassion.

God’s love is gratuitous, unbelievable, irrefutable, and abundant. God’s love is infinite and eternal. God’s love is completeness. God loves more than forever. No matter how much we imagine God’s love; God loves us more.

This is the abundance of God’s mercy. Mercy given to Isaiah, “…your wickedness is removed, your sin purged.” The mercy of salvation to Paul, “I passed on what I received that Christ died for our sins.” And Peter and his friends had Jesus “Do not be afraid … they all left everything and followed him.” God is mercy.

When we know this, we change. In the abundance of His mercy God enters our heart and transforms our life. It’s the message of conversion. It’s the message of being born again.

His mercy is given freely. That’s what Isaiah is telling us. That’s what Paul tells us. And, that’s what the Gospel tells us about Jesus. That’s what we are to tell the world.

God’s knocking. All of us together raise our hands, “Here I am Lord, send me! & I will sing your praises!”

“Y’all be good, y’all be Holy, and always preach the Gospel by the way you live and love.” 

Amen.