Are You Scared - Homily Reflection 4th Sunday Lent

(Scripture Readings)

Let me tell you about my week.

Monday, my wife and I were eating lunch and received fortune cookies at the end of the meal. Mine read, “You cannot be happy in what you want to be. Be happy in what you are.”

Janet says, “That would make a good homily.”

I didn’t think a fortune cookie homily was a good idea.

Tuesday, I read an article about a young woman entering a cloistered convent. At 21, she was leaving her family, friends, and the world to live as a bride of Christ in penance and prayer.

Her sister said, I don’t see a nun, I see my little sister with wild curly hair and loves pretty clothes.

This young woman was asked a question, “Are you scared?”

I think everyone has thought about that in their life, being scared. We like control; we want to be who we want to be and when we're not in control we can get scared.

Wednesday, I read the scriptures for this Sunday.

David was just a boy out tending the sheep and goats when God call him to be King of Israel. God had rejected all of David’s brothers who were taller, smarter, strong warriors, and charismatic leaders.

David’s father and brothers didn’t see a king. They saw a ruddy faced little boy who tended the flocks. God chose David. God sent Samuel to anoint a boy as the next king of Israel.

I wonder if someone asked David that day, “Are you scared?” David had no control of God’s plan for him.

There was a blind man Jesus healed. The disciples saw nothing special in him. In fact they asked, “Why was this man born blind?” “Did this man sin or was it his parents?” They looked at the blind man and saw sin.

The blind man sat alongside of the road listening for Jesus’ answer. I wonder what the blind man would have said if someone asked, “Are you scared?”

He had no control of the sins of his parents or his past or what he would be. The blind man had no control of what Jesus would do in his life.

Thursday someone told me of their life and failures. I wondered how many look themselves and see nothing special? There is no way the Lord would call me.

Not true; each of us is born for the same reason “…so the works of God might be made visible through us.” It’s out of our control - God’s plan for us. Are you scared?

The Psalm says, “The Lord is my Shepherd. There is nothing I shall want.” It continues, “Though I walk through the dark valley I shall not fear, for God is at my side.”

It’s true. The Lord is our shepherd. Before anyone became who they are like the nun or King David or a blind man healed by Jesus, the Lord was their shepherd. With the Lord there is nothing we lack or nothing to fear. There is no reason to be scared. God is the one in control.

We know the words of the Psalm. We have good intentions. We want to live for Jesus. We want to do good things in the world. We want to be someone who will make the works of God visible to the world.

Yet, in all this, we still see ourselves as what we are sinners who have failed the Lord. Deep inside we cry that there is nothing special this sinner to give to God.  

That’s not what God sees, “Not as man sees does God see, because man sees the appearance but the Lord looks into the hearts.” “You were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord.”

We are scared because we have no control.

Friday was the Way of the Cross, confession, and Fr. Job giving me the blessing of giving the homily.

In that it was made clear: No one really knows until they are called how they will make the works of God visible in the world. That’s up to God. We wait until the moment that God lifts us up, lifts up our works and prayers and makes it His works.

David was boy tending his flock. By the end of his life, he was a strong and powerful king of a great country.

The blind man was a beggar on the street. By the end of the Gospel, he was thrown out of the synagogue for defending Jesus.

The 21 year old nun is someone’s curly haired little sister who loves pretty clothes. She admitted to sometimes getting cold feet about God’s call.

Are you scared? There’s no need to be. In the light of Christ, goodness and kindness will follow us all the days of our life.

Today, I remember that fortune cookie, “You cannot be happy in what you want to be. Be happy in what you are.”

We are by grace what God calls us to be. That’s what Lent is about, realizing what God calls us to be – someone who will make the works of God visible to the world.

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

S.E.L.F. - Homily Reflection 3rd Sunday of Lent

(Readings) 

(Thank you for the inspiration Mr. Derreck Kayongo)

Monday’s bible study was Daniel, Jeanne, Janet, and I. Daniel and I were busy interpreting the symbolism of this Sunday’s readings. We dove into the meaning of living water. We carried a conversation about the woman's bucket. Yes, we were deep in the word.

Then, I looked over at Jeanne. She had that look on her face, lips pursed and forehead wrinkled; wringing her hands as she looked at the Gospel. Then she says "I just don't see it. It's a story about a woman who meets Jesus. He tells her sins and she believes. It’s simple; that's what I see."

She was right. It was simple. Jesus met and spoke to the Samaritan woman. She looked at herself, her life, and she believed in Jesus. All we can do is give to the LORD our entire self. 

That's a great message for Lent. Look at self. The woman did. Look at our life in reference to self, S-E-L-F (Serve, Educate, Lead, Faith)

First, S is for serve. Jesus called the woman to serve. Give me a drink of water.

Jesus calls each of us to serve; feed the hungry, visit the sick and imprisoned, and clothe the naked. What you did for the least, you did for me. Every day in the voices of the poor Jesus calls, “Give me a drink of water.”

The E is educate. Jesus educated the woman. He told who she was and told her sins. Jesus told her of the living water that He would give. Then, He told her more.

For many sin is the “yuck" factor.  It what makes following Jesus so hard: realizing sins, trials, and low points in our lives. We don't want to face our shortcomings. Yet, facing that part of our lives educates us. It teaches us that we need to turn to Jesus, listen to his gospel and learn the truths of our faith. Educating others in Christ is ministry and mission.

What about the L? The L is for lead. After answering the call to serve and learning the truth about Jesus, the Samaritan woman left her bucket at the well and went to lead others to Jesus, the savior of the world.

That is how Christians are called to lead. Lead others to Christ. Every good leader knows others find Christ by service, mission, and ministry.

It’s the "yuck" factor that makes us leaders. Leading others through the sin, trials, and low points where we've already been. We lead people to Christ through our experiences, knowing Jesus, and sharing the gospel, the good news of Christ.

Not least is F for faith. The Samaritan woman believed in Jesus. She would lead others to Jesus by faith.

Everyone needs faith. Faith is what makes us whole. Faith brings us to the living water that Jesus promised. We believe in faith that Jesus is Savior of the World. "It is by faith we are justified."

I don’t want anyone scratching their heads about the living water and the bucket. The bucket represents the empty lives we bring to Jesus. Jesus speaks to us and fills us with the Living Water (the Holy Spirit); the gift He promises. As the spirit fills us, we want to be something more in our SELF.

God knows us and wants us. The Holy Spirit fills us. We leave behind the old empty bucket that we once were to tell others about Jesus. The bucket and living water, Jesus puts it all in motion, when we hear is voice.

Because, God loved us so much that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. On this third Sunday of Lent, a season to look at self, Love enough to give your entire self to God.

Jesus spoke. The woman looked at her SELF. She believed. It's a simple message.

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

A Mystic Path - 2nd Sunday Lent

 Genesis 12:1-4a;   Psalm: 33:4-5, 18-19, 20, 22;  2 Timothy 1:8b-10;  Matthew 17:1-9

Listen to him.

A person once told me they were a mystic and the first thing that came to my mind was - mystic no; kind of freaky, yes. I wondered, can an everyday person be a mystic?

My idea of a mystic came from movies and fantasy novels. It was an ancient thing or a Hollywood interpretation of Christianity as an ancient thing. Mystics spent their time in prayer or a monastery or a convent or a cave. They had visions, stigmata, or experience holy ecstasy. Mystics aren't normal everyday people.

I pictured mystics walking in a mist with hoods and long robes, otherworldly. I never imagined a highly-intelligent woman in business clothes. I've learned since, that a true mystic is someone with insight into the mysteries of God.

One of those mysteries is the presence of God in our lives. The Bible is full of mystics, normal ordinary people that experienced the presence of God in their life.

Abram's insight came when God told him, "Go forth from the land of your kinsfolk and from your father's house to a land that I will show you."

Leave what makes you who you are, your family, your kinsfolk, your inheritance, and go. Leave what protects you. Leave your father's house. Leave what makes you who you are and gives you comfort. Walk the path I give you. Live in the world depending on the LORD your God and by the LORD God's instructions. Experience the LORD in the world, follow Him to a promised land.

Peter, James, and John had followed Jesus from the beginning. They followed even though Jesus promised hardship and ridicule. They followed not understanding the words He preached or the message He spoke. He took them to a high mountain.

They knew He was messiah, the anointed one, the son of David. They knew he was something more than an ordinary man. They knew these things; but, did they know Jesus?

Jesus was transfigured before them. His face shown like the sun and his clothes became white as light. And a voice spoke this is my beloved Son with whom I am well pleased, listen to him.

The transfiguration allowed them to see the son of the living God. They got a deeper understanding into the mystery of God, the mystery of Jesus.

Abram, Peter, James, and John came to understand the mystery of God through the ordinary and not so ordinary experience of God in life. Each grew in their faith.

That is the way our faith grows through the ordinary and not so ordinary experience of God in life. Our existence, our everyday life living with the mystery of God begins in the concrete reality of breathing, of our body being, of our thoughts, emotions and feelings. The secret to these mysteries, listening to Jesus.

Jesus taught us to find God in this world, in our neighbor, and in the ordinary of life. He taught us in parables of the ordinary. Jesus taught us how to see, what to emphasize, and what to ignore.

People protest, we do not live in the same world Jesus did. Humanity and society are changing; yet, we are still created in God's image. We forget that and forget God's presence in our lives.

That brings us back to mystics. Abram became a mystic by walking the path the Lord set before him. Peter, James, and John followed Jesus to have their eyes opened by the transfiguration. All truly aware of God's presence in their life.

Most of us are aware of God and are trying to understand the mysteries of God by believing Jesus Christ is our Lord and savior, the only Sion of God. We grow in understanding the mystery of Jesus believing in the true presence of Christ in the Holy Eucharist. We move to familiar with the Holy Trinity by recognizing the presence of the Holy Spirit, the Paraclete in our life and in our world.

These are realize by contemplation and prayer. Look at your life, God has put us on the path we walk. Look back on God's presence in your life. Believe your prayers are heard. Believe your prayers are powerful. Pray all the time, pray in Jesus name. Study the word of God.

In the hard times we find our strength in God. God calls us, not because of what we do but because it is God's will. Listen to him. Be aware of his presence. Follow where he leads.

Maybe there are a lot of mystics that are everyday people. People freaky for Jesus.

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

Walk with a Purpose - Reflection 1st Sunday of Lent

Readings
I heard a young man (11 yo) speak these words about his father. "One of the things my father has taught me is to walk in life with a purpose."

That's a great phrase. Great words to take to heart this Lenten season. 

"One of the things my father has taught me is to walk in life with a purpose."

It is the walk that defines us, gives us our identity and energy. It is the walk that forms us in the image and likeness of the god we worship. It is our faith; what we truly believe and live.

How many can say our walk in life with a purpose is the one given to us by our Heavenly Father?

Truthfully, probably only one person has, that's Jesus.

Even in the face of temptation Jesus never forgot his purpose. But people say, Jesus' purpose was to resist the devil and to walk with the Heavenly Father.

That is our purpose as well. It is why we were created.

The LORD God formed man out of clay and blew into his nostrils the breath of life.  In that breath we were given our purpose....

Temptation came to the man and woman in the form of a serpent. Both ate from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil; and the eyes of both of them were opened.

We know good from evil. We know right yet still sin. We know justice and still allow injustice. We recognize dignity and live with shaming of other persons.

The reason for these things is that we are tempted. The devil tempted Jesus with possessions, pride, and honor. Those  are same things that tempt us. The devil comes to each of us, maybe not in the same form that a he came to Jesus. 

The devil, as they say is in the details, because we all want to be something special, extraordinary, not just some collection of dust or clay, not just an accidental, anonymous person.

Deep down, whether we admit it or not, we each nurse the secret of being special. That is when the devil can step into our lives.

We are tempted: I have to have this car, this house, these clothes, all my friends do.

We begin to believe: I have be in this circle of people, in these organizations, and at this Church. My children have to be the great athletes, the great students, and the perfect children.

Our world is built on: What do people think of me? People have to see me this way. Other people's opinion of me. I have to be the leader.

These are temptations that can promote sin, injustice, and disrespect for the dignity of others. They often bring to those tempted more heartaches than happiness.

No matter how much we work to make ourselves special and extraordinary, there will still be anonymity and ordinariness. No matter how many possessions, how much pride and honor we have sin brings emptiness.

The temptations of possessions, pride and honor become the things you worship; come between you and God. One or all of them become the walk of purpose in your life.

Someone asked, "Deacon, if God knows all our needs, all we do, and forgives us, why do we have to pray?"

Prayer keeps us focused on our walk with God. Have you ever heard the saying "out of sight, out of mind?" Without prayer we lose sight of God and he is no longer part of our thoughts and heart. We get lost and the devil steps in with temptation and sin.

Jesus came so that we would not forget and lose sight of God. God became man to walk on this earth with a specific purpose. Jesus' walk of purpose in life was to bring to us forgiveness, acquittal for our sins, and redemption, and abundance of grace, and justification; so, that through the obedience of one many will be made righteous.

Jesus brings focus to our walk in this life, which is union with God; a purpose we tend to throw away to temptation and sin. Yet in Christ Jesus, we find it again. Take a purposeful walk in life with the one who formed us from clay and gave to each of us the breath of life.

"One of the things my father has taught me is to walk in life with a purpose." It is a walk with a truly good and holy purpose.

Do you walk in life with a purpose?

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