Safety First - Reflection 8th Sunday OTA

The psalmist writes safety can only be found in God: God my safety and glory; God my rock, my refuge, my stronghold; Only in God is my soul at rest; God is my salvation.

A safety professional in everyday life, I believe safety first. As a Deacon, a servant of God, I believe prayer and love is the best safety program.

Here in Louisiana, Sen. Bill Cassidy’s town hall meeting achieved national attention with angry protests and mayhem.

National media did not cover the prayer of invocation by Louisiana State Chaplain Michael Sprague. The prayer was booed.

The Times- Picayune Newspaper quoted the senator’s thanks to the Chaplin "Thanks for doing that, Mike," Cassidy said. "Wow, they booed the name of Jesus." (They booed Jesus)

For those who hear this, do not condemn the protest. Do not condemn the discussion. Do not condemn the opposition to Sen. Cassidy and his views. Instead, recognize the vitriol targeted on a prayer. I am not sure of the words, but I hope it was a prayer for peace, understanding, and guidance in decision making.

Here is the concern. Those who condemned the prayer condemned my faith, my beliefs, my safety, my rock, my refuge, and salvation. It was condemned by people who said they were asking for their beliefs to be heard and considered. 

Their concerns are safety, refuge, and salvation. The difference is that they were not seeking any of these things from God, but their faith is in human authority, the government.

After the prayer, the protesters shouted for separation of Church and State.

If anyone even comes close to understanding the mystery of God, then they should know one thing. God is not about politics. God is not about rallying people around political platforms. People are more than that to God who looks on each and every one of us equally with the love of parent upon a child.

Blessed are the peoples whose leaders call upon God for peace, understanding and guidance in decision making.  This is the heart of a servant. These are leaders that are stewards of the people.

These are the ones working below deck on the ship; rowing diligently and deliberately to keep things moving forward, on track, and for the good of all. 

This is the definition of a servant. God’s stewards truly seek the kingdom of God and his righteousness to be trustworthy.

If his prayer was earnest, then Sen. Cassidy truly is a servant and steward of God for the people. And for all of those who boo Jesus, all those who oppose God, the Lord will manifest the motives of hearts and bring truth to light.

The people cry, “The Lord has forsaken me, my LORD has forgotten me.”  

Remember this; No one can serve two masters. You will either hate one and love the other or be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.

What is it that we worship more than God – Politics, Ourselves, Money, Pleasure-seeking? People place their safety, their refuge, and their salvation in politicians or a political party, in themselves, in money and having more, or in how much pleasure can derive from this life.

The psalmist speaks for many; True safety can only be found in God, my safety and glory; God my rock, my refuge, my stronghold; Only in God is my soul at rest; God is my salvation.

Safety first; prayer and love is the best safety program.

May all who pray God, believe and live their prayers. May hearts that condemn and judge, be open to God’s peace, understanding, and guidance.  May all who cry out that the LORD has forsaken us, forgotten us, remember these words:  Even should you forget, I will never forget.

The Times Picayune said, “the loudest folks … were having none of it.”

The world has so many sources of mammon; people forget about God.  Do not fear, the God who saved the psalmist, the God who saves me will surely save others. Prayer and love is the best safety program.

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

Healing Prayer Service Reflection - Old Chairs

http://www.ibreviary.org/en/tools/ibreviary-web.html

Christmas, Easter, St. Patrick’s Day, and Mardi Gras – for a lot of people a reason to party. Many don’t know the true reasons to observe these days.

Today is the Feast of the Chair of St. Peter. Even many Catholics don’t know what this feast is about. In Latin, it’s the feast of Cathedra Petri.

Yes, there is a Chair of St. Peter and it is located at the back of St. Peter's Basilica. At one time, the chair was shown yearly to the faithful. A newly-elected pope would be enthroned on the Cathedra Petri. There is no doubt this is a true relic.

It's an old chair, the feast has been a celebration giving thanks to God for the mission He entrusted to the Apostle Peter since the 4th century. You are Peter and on this rock I will build my Church. A Church made of every true believer. 

The Risen Christ asked Peter – Do you love me? Do we answer like Peter “Lord, you know that I love you.” Then, we are called to that Chair. We are tasked to “Feed my sheep.”

It’s a mission entrusted to each of us. “Praise be to God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, he who in his great mercy gave us new birth; a birth unto hope …”Each and every Christian baptized in the Name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit is given the mission of the Cathedra Petri. 

The Pope, who officially sits in the chair of Peter, is the head of the church; Even though so many deny it, Jesus  said “You are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my Church.  In the Church, We are all fellow laborers in Christ; each is the rock on which the Church is built, go out tell how glorious God is and make known his wonder to all people.

On the Feast of the Chair of St. Peter, take Peter’s mission to heart, a mission and ministry of prayer. Pray for the sick and those who suffer. Profess the good news, that by the power of the Holy Spirit in name of Christ Jesus,  we will be healed.

Take this feast to heart. Amen.

Oil Change Required - Homily Reflection 7th Sunday OTA

(Readings)

“Holy - Holy - Holy, LORD God Almighty. Early in the morning our song shall rise to thee.” 

That is one of my favorite songs. It’s from Rev 4:8. 

“Holy – Holy – Holy” -- “Only thou art holy.” (….. Tires screeching to a halt ……)

That’s the fault in the song. God wants us all to be Holy. The LORD said to the Israelites “Be Holy, for I the LORD your God am Holy.” By this command, each and every one of us is called to be Holy.

Writing this, I was at Rocket Lube getting my truck’s oil changed. I have always followed the maintenance rules for my truck. Years ago, when automobiles were simpler, oil changes were 3 months or 3000 miles. Things change, technology improves; recommended oil changes became every 5000 miles. Now, my newest truck is more complicated. A computer monitors operation and oil condition. When the oil needs to be changed, a message appears on my instrument panel: oil change required.

I’m not comparing our LORD to an oil change; I’m comparing people. -- Sometimes, we need to be given instructions on changing; directions on how to be Holy.

For the Israelites, to be Holy was to be the people of God so the LORD would be with the community. They had simple rules; Holiness was what was good for the community.

The Israelites interpreted Holiness was doing right by their community. Their community was the neighbor who looks like them, spoke like them, and dressed like them. To be holy was to be good and respectful to your nation, your people, and your family.

But, things change, people change, and for the Israelites this meant that the temple became Holy.  It became the place where the Holiness of God resided. To be holy, members of the community went to temple, offered sacrifice, and followed the law. For many, the trip to temple was a once a year thing.

Those two examples were  limited understandings of God and holiness. And, God sent His Word so we would understand what is Holy. Jesus told us there's more to being Holy.

Jesus came to bring Holiness to the people; a holiness for everyone. God's love came as man in Jesus so the world would know how to be Holy. His example was more than the people of God would have imagined. Jesus showed us Holy is when God’s love acts in us. Love, by Jesus’ example, acts wisely and gently to bring us to holiness.

Jesus tells us that being Holy is not a private act.

We cannot be Holy in private and be something else to the world. When someone strikes you offer the other cheek as well. If someone takes your tunic, offer them your cloak. If they ask for a mile, give them two. These are no secretive acts but acts of boldness; but examples of the strength of Holiness. Being Holy is not a private act.

St. Paul explains it well. Each and every one of us is a temple of God. Each of our bodies is where the Holy of Holies resides. But people tend to want to ruin that holiness by trying to be smarter than God; trying to destroy God’s temple with foolish human wisdom; taking credit for God, his works, or his Holiness.

Jesus told us that to be Holy we have to do better. The rain falls on the good and bad. The sun shines on the just and unjust. All people love those who love them. Even those who don’t know God are good to their family. To be Holy, we have to give all. Love your enemies. Pray for those who persecute you. Show the other cheek. Give them all your clothes. And, go the extra mile.

To do the things Jesus tells us is not weakness. It’s being strong and not falling victim to our natural state. It’s super-natural and holy.

Jesus tells us, be perfect (Holy) as your Heavenly Father is perfect (Holy). The same instruction was given to the Israelites.  The word of God, Christ Jesus, wants us to be Holy.

At the Rocket Lube, I’m thinking about the oil changed required message and comparing myself to that truck. Vehicles are complicated just like people. So complicated are vehicles that messages or little voice from the vehicle will give instructions. Humanity is more complicated than automobiles and many are looking for instructions. The world will look to things or ideals or someone to give them directions. Do they look to Jesus?

Everyone needs direction; Jesus shows us how to change.  

We cannot be Christians in private. It’s turning the other cheek that sets us apart. The extra mile distinguishes us. Our prayers bring us closer to God. God's love in us acts wisely and kindly to open us to holiness.  

Be open to that love; because, God wants us all to be - Holy, Holy, Holy.

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

A Blind Man’s Confession (Reflection communion service - Wednesday, Feb 15, 2017

A Blind Man’s Confession

Readings

The story of the blind man at Bethsaida causes confusion. Why did Jesus healing of the blind man take two tries? Maybe, the story has deeper meaning.

All language about God is symbolic and figurative. All language is metaphorical. Words are never the thing itself. We can only use words to point at what we want to describe. And, when it comes to the divine, our words don’t even come close to the mystery of God. Love and death are things we may never know in completeness.

The word moon only points us toward the moon. Only a handful of people can say they touched the moon. Words can only point us to God. Words are how we begin to see God.  Words keep us humble by searching our limited world to best describe our experience with Jesus.

I think that is the story of the blind man at Bethsaida. It is a blind man’s confession. It is the words of the Blind man and the words of the Gospel writer attempting to describe an experience of Jesus.

What does the Gospel mean and how do these words point to God?

Maybe faith in Jesus shows us the fullness of our human potential. The more we know Jesus, the more intimate we come with Him; the more we realize our potential. We reject our outlook on the world. We come closer to Jesus becoming fully human.

Maybe it means even though we find Jesus our eyes may not be open fully at first. Maybe, we need to get closer more intimate with the Lord. We are to come to Jesus again and again so we can see clearer.

Maybe opening our eyes we awaken our faith. Jesus awakens our faith to fully see God’s love. It is a love that transforms how we believe and who we are in the world.

All we have is words, like a blind man, trying to see God.

So what does the gospel speak to you?

The Whole Truth - Reflection 6th Sunday OTA

The Whole Truth (Inspired by Fr. Richard Rohr)

Readings

God loves you. God loves the true you, the one He created, the eternal soul that is your identity in God. God's love is true for every person. But most choose to believe something else.

Let me tell you a story. (Inspired: Old Turtle and the Broken Truth by Douglas Wood)

A long time ago, a great truth fell from heaven.  As it fell, it broke in two. One piece was found by man who look at it said it was a great truth. Man brought it to the people who built a tower for this truth so all the world could see that they had truth. Others also wanted the truth. Those who had the truth did not share and jealously began. The ones with the truth said of others - They do not deserve this truth. And people began to fight over the truth.

One youth looked at the truth and realized it was broken, a part was missing. Leaving the village, the youth set out to find what was missing of this truth. Searching for years, the youth grew much older before the missing part of the truth was found. Now, as an elder, the former youth returned to the village to find people were still fighting over the truth.

The elder asked that the truth to be taken down from the tower. The people saw the truth and it was brilliant. The truth was golden. On that piece of the truth was written, "You are loved;"

All the people shouted that the truth belonged only to them. The elder raised a hand and the crowd grew quite. Pointing to the jagged edge, the elder showed that the truth was broken. It was not the whole truth.

The elder showed the found piece. It was brilliant. It was golden. It completed the first truth. Putting the two together, the elder showed all the whole truth. All realized their wrong. All saw the whole truth. The whole truth is, "You are loved and so are they."

This is our world, this story of a fragmented and broken world. It is not the world that God made. God created the world to be whole.

To make the world whole once more, God sent truth to the world.

Instead of embracing the truth, humanity has broken the truth. People have taken one part of the truth and claimed it. We are loved and no one else is loved. The truth belongs to us. The others, they are not loved.

Instead of moving to a union with God, the whole truth, complete love; we read and interpret to our own broken individualistic truth. The only truth we want to hear, but it may not be the whole truth.

It was the whole truth that Jesus preached. The truth of Christ that "You are loved; and so are they!" 

Accepting the whole truth we can't play games of a judging, labeling, and punishing others. The gospel of Jesus is the whole truth - ""You have heard it said "You shall not kill..., You shall not commit adultery..., Do not take a false oath...."" Jesus brings the whole truth in his words, "But I say to you ...." and he brings us the truth of love.

"Love is of God; everyone who loves is begotten by God and knows God." (1 Jn 4)

Only a few get this. Most choose something else. Jesus said follow him, get close and know his love, but we worship him from far off. Instead of moving to a union with God, the whole truth, we read the Bible and interpret its truth in selfish ways. Ways that help us know only the broken truth, only the part of the message we want to hear.

The whole truth is the wisdom of God. Wisdom that is the mysterious truth God established before the each and every one of us. A wisdom people have forgotten. St. Paul writes if this wisdom was known they would not have crucified the Lord of glory."

It is the wisdom of knowing the whole truth that God reveals to us through the Holy Spirit. The whole truth that is for each and every one of you - all those who are not here, strangers, those we call our enemy, those who are saints, and those who are sinners - God loves the true you, the one he created, the eternal soul, your identity in God.

You are loved and so are they.

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

A Salty World - Reflection 5th Sunday OT A

A Salty World

Readings

Salt nuisances flavors, used the right amount it brings flavor.. But if it is used unwisely, it can cause problems. We live in a salty world; better yet, a complexed world. Its complexity is influenced by the many lives, governments, and diverse goals in the world. Then the world throws in the battle of good and evil just to spice things up.

In all these, God's word and message has never changed. But, we use the salt of His words unwisely sometimes to add complexity to our human existence.  

The word of God is the light of truth. We tend to hide His truth in different opinions, ideas, and beliefs. We tend to disagree. Our disagreements turn to turmoil, riots, and violence instead of settling them with the wisdom that comes from God. Instead of God, we look to people. People who claim they are a people of peace. A peace salted by the complexly of their ideas of peace. The world has always been a complexed place.

Mirroring the words of Isaiah and Jesus, Pope Francis said “It's hypocrisy to call yourself a Christian and chase away a refugee or someone seeking help, someone who is hungry or thirsty, toss out someone who is in need of help.”

But Pope Francis was quoted in the Spanish newspaper El Pais, “every country has the right to control its borders, especially where the risk of terrorism exists.” Even the Pope must speak in a complex world.

This world has always been a complexed world. The Old Testament of the Bible was written in a complexed world. Jesus lived in a complexed world. And, Paul wrote in a complexed world. All are salt intended to bring out our best but we tend to make them complex.

God's message is not complex. Isaiah gave this message to a people who had been at war, held captive, and could not trust. God's message: Share your bread with the hungry, shelter the oppressed and the homeless; clothe the naked when you see them, and do not turn your back on your own.

These are important things. In these important things, Jesus calls us to be the salt of the earth, the seasoning that gives taste to life. But, salt goes stale and loses it taste. We become stale when the gospel becomes secondary in our life.

Jesus tells us we are called to be the salt and the light. We are not called to be stale flavorless salt. We are not a light to be kept hidden. Over the years and in times of fear and uncertainty, even those of us who call ourselves Christians, followers of Christ have become like stale tasteless salt. The light of Christ is hidden under the basket that is the complexity of life.

It is hard to be a Christian. We are to preach the gospel by who we are, what we do and say, and by the example we give to the world. But, our message is too many times hidden by our weakness, fear, and trembling. The sad part is that we are not in fear and trembling of God, but a fear and trembling from our humanness.  We fear our message. We fear we will be called weak because we stand up for love, called soft because we care for the weak, or considered the enemy because we care for the refugee.

We can change this complex world by looking at the simple.Think of the teachings of solidarity and subsidiarity. Solidarity, simply, is loving our neighbor (a global concept in a shrinking world.) Subsidiarity is doing it at the simplest level first.

In solidary and subsidiarity, the Lord will be glorified.  And, the light of the Lord will shine in this world.

Put your faith not in human wisdom but on the power of God then our message will be salt and light to the world.

Be the salt and light; preach the gospel by the way you live and love. Amen.