Maybe Jesus Will Say Peter - Reflection 21st Sunday OTA

Readings

(Inspired by Carmelite Lectio Divina)

My brothers and sisters, Christian life is striving to be Holy in with all our shortcomings, insecurities, disobedience, and personal faults. God is found in all things, even in painful, tragic, and sinful things. 

God is in each of us. Each of us is the face of Christ. Each is the Church.

Jesus asked the disciples “Who do the people say that I am?” The disciples answered some say John the Baptist, Elijah, or even Jeremiah.

Jesus asked the disciples, “Who do you say that I am?”

Christ will ask us the question every day. Our answer is Christ, the Son of the living God?  Our answer must be visible to all so strive to be holy.

Then, if we turned that question around and asked Jesus “Who am I Lord? Who do I remind you of Lord?” Maybe, He would say Peter!

Peter was like us, and ordinary person in the world. He had a family and went to work every day. He worked to take care of those around him, pay his bills, and make life easier for his family.

The people in his community knew him as Simon, son of Jonah.  But, then Simon, son of Jonah met Jesus.

Jesus would call him Cephas or rock and that would become Peter.

 In reality, ordinary everyday Simon Peter was everything but rock. But Jesus, inscrutable his judgments and unsearchable his ways, chose Peter to build his church.

Peter was a good person, but, he had his faults. Yes, he tried to be courageous, but would often collapse in fear and flee.

When Jesus walked on the sea, Peter asks: “Jesus, allow me also to walk on the sea”. Jesus says: “Come, Peter!” Peter left the boat and walked on the sea. He realized the  wind and waves so he panicked and lost trust. He began to sink crying out, “Lord, save me!” Jesus reached out and saved him.

At the Last Supper, Peter tells Jesus: “I will never deny you, Lord!” But a few hours later, after Jesus was arrested, a servant girl recognizes Peter. Peter denied him, swearing that he had nothing to do with Jesus.

When they came to arrest Jesus in the Garden of Olives, Peter takes out the sword but then runs away leaving Jesus alone.

Peter was far from being rock.

Peter was weak and human, so similar to us, yet he becomes rock by knowing Jesus.  From him and through him and for him are all things.

God is found in all things, even in the painful, tragic, and sinful things. Jesus could say: “You are Peter and on this rock I will build my Church”.

When Jesus gave us the Eucharist, He prayed for Peter: “I have prayed that your faith will not fail …, strengthen you brothers.”

After the Resurrection, Jesus asks: “Peter, do you love me?” Peter responds two times: “Lord, you know that I love you!”

Jesus repeats the question a third time, Peter answers: “Lord, you know all things! You know that I love you very much!” And Jesus entrusted to him the care of his sheep: “Peter, feed my lambs!”

Peter became rock with Jesus and the coming of the Holy Spirit. The strength and steadiness of rock grows in Peter revealed on the day of Pentecost.  

The apostles were behind locked doors for fear of the Jews. Yet, in the coming of the Holy Spirit, Peter finds rock and courage. He throws open the door and announces to the people the Good News of Jesus.

Peter is a rock among believers, a rock standing firm.  

He was arrested and imprisoned because of the Good News. Even from prison, he remained steadfast continuing to teach the way of Jesus. At his trial, he was forbidden to announce the Good News; but, Peter does not obey.

He said: “We have to obey God more than men!”

He was arrested again and tortured. He said: “Thank you. But we shall continue!” Peter’s life was ended because he announced the Good News.

Peter was weak, human, and like you and me. He was one Jesus loved and trusted. He was the rock on which Jesus built his Church. Rock refined by the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God!

“Who do you say that I am?” We are asked that question every day. Our answer must be visible to all, so strive to be Holy.

Even in our pain, tragedy, and the sinfulness of our faults and disobedience, if we love Jesus and open ourselves to the Holy Spirit, we can be rock like Peter.

In us and on us, He will continue to build His Church.

Yall be good, yall be holy and preach the gospel by the way you live and love. Amen.

Following Jesus Is Not Easy But It's Wonderful - Homily 20th Sunday OTA

Readings

“Do you take risks to follow Jesus?”  

Early this year, Pope Francis asked that question on faith,

Taking risks to follow Jesus is the place we grow in our faith. It keeps us from becoming stagnant.

But, the reality is that taking risks to follow Jesus is about facing our fear. And, we are our own distractors. I’ll stay where it’s safe:

• What if someone judges me?
• What if someone hurts my feelings?
• What if someone challenges what I say?
• What if I embarrass myself?

As a deacon, I face these every day. To stand against this self-doubt, I pray a lot and think about things like bungee jumping.

Most have seen a bungee jump. A person stands on the edge of a cliff tied to an elastic rope and jumps. Bungee jumpers take risks with the faith that the elastic rope will catch them before they hit the bottom.

That’s what faith is about, the risk of the unknown. Real faith takes risks to realize rewards. If they can trust that rope, I can trust God. The bungee jumpers’ rewards are thrills. A Christian’s reward is hope.

That’s the story in the gospel. Taking a risk, the Canaanite woman came to Jesus for a reward of hope.

She was alone. She was a Canaanite Gentile and a woman in a time when a Canaanite would not approach a Jew and a woman would not approach a man.

Like every person that comes to Jesus, she came for what was important to her.

That is the way it is with everyone. People come to God with a personal agenda. They think God is behind them, what they do, their beliefs, culture, and even more.

But, God doesn’t care about personal agenda. He has mercy on all.

God’s mercy and grace extends to the hearts of all who live. God’s house is a house of prayer for all peoples. Christ’s church is for all believers.

We should pray that personal walls between people fall. In faith, we should work to break down walls of hate, prejudice, and bigotry. These issues are still prevalent in the world today.  

That is why people who follow Jesus should be risk takers by faith and in faith.

By taking a risk to follow Jesus, the Canaanite woman knocked down walls. The disciples tried to run her off. She persisted. Her faith was Jesus would cure her child.

Probably, she was afraid, but, took a risk of faith. She came to Jesus with hope for a miracle. Someone was depending on her to stand up and take the risks to follow Jesus.

She stood up to hate, prejudice, and bigotry for love of her daughter and the hope of healing.

Jesus’ words are confusing because He insults her. “It is not right to take the bread of the children and give it to the dogs.”

Maybe it was a test, because even with that insult, He doesn’t send her away.

She doesn’t turn away. Like a bungee jumper, she went to the edge and jumped.

“Even the dogs eat the scraps that fall from the table.” She stood her ground before the one she recognized as the messiah, the Lord, the Son David and had just asked for a miracle.  

She was considered a person who didn’t matter. Everything was stacked against her as a Canaanite and a woman in a male Jewish world.  

Yet, Jesus loved her and her answer. “Woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wished.” And the woman's daughter was healed from that hour.

God doesn’t care about personal agendas. He cares for all. Christ’s love and compassion extends beyond personal boundaries. He has mercy on all.

Jesus came looking for lost sheep, for someone ready to risk all for faith, hope, and love. This woman was the one willing to take that risk.

Jesus was looking the sheep that recognized him as the messiah. The shepherd breaks down walls of culture, prejudice, bigotry, and hate that scattered his flock.

Following Jesus isn’t easy. It’s always a risk, but it’s wonderful! (Pope Francis)

We are adopted children of God, which is our greatness and call to faith.

Our faith is special; put it out there for the world to see. Someone is depending on you to standup and take the risk to follow Jesus when everyone is trying to send you away.

The world faces the same problems that Canaanite woman faced. We should take risks to follow Jesus or our faith will become stagnant. We don’t move or grow instead we judge.

The world is on the edge ready to jump. God is mercy and asks us to be conduits of mercy. Take the risks needed to follow Jesus and bring to others God’s mercy through faith, hope, and love. It keeps our world from hitting bottom.

Don’t live in your fears, take risk to follow Jesus. Trust God win everything. Be like the Canaanite woman and make a difference.

Yall be good, yall be holy and preach the gospel by the way you live and love. Amen.

Mary, Our Example - Reflection Feast of the Assumption

(Readings)

Your popularity does not make a difference. It’s really not impressive how many friends you have on Facebook. Because no matter how big and important they think they are, most of the people in the world are really just poor and unknown, even when they think they have money, fame, and position.

But even poor and unknown, we have greatness in us. That greatness is following our Lord Jesus Christ with all that we are.

Each is called differently,

In those differences we can find greatness. We carry Christ to the world in our own way. We are messengers and symbols of God’s covenant in Jesus Christ by who we are and how we are in this world.

In that we become quiet and soft spoken heroes that walk the path of Jesus’ example with those we meet. Our lives should be a l like the S on Superman’s chest.

How is that for an image?

Quiet and soft spoken super heroes found in the poor and unknown like a young girl so many years ago.

Today Pope Francis said, the Virgin Mary is a symbol of how God often works though the poor and unknown to carry out His plan for redemption.

She was the first to carry Jesus to the world. Mary gave all she was, “My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my Savior for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant.”

She was the new Ark of the Covenant. She was His mother and His disciple. Mary was the first to preach the good news when she proclaim at the wedding at Cana – Do what he says.

Mary said yes, became the Mother of God, and loved Jesus following him even to the cross. She was the example of discipleship. She walked the path of Jesus’ life.

There is very little else written about her; except, she was in the upper room when He appeared after His resurrection. The Holy Spirit would have always been with her, but, nothing more written on her life, her ministry, or her witness after the Acts of the Apostles.

The Catholic Church teaches in the Catechism that Mary was taken to heaven when her earthly life was finished. The Church does not declare whether Mary died and then was assumed into heaven or whether she was assumed before she died. It leaves open both possibilities.

And, since Mary is associated with all the mysteries of Jesus’ life, the Holy Spirit has led the Church to believe in Mary’s share in his glorification.

God's temple in heaven was opened, and the ark of his covenant could be seen in the temple.

All those who fear the infallibility of the Pope, relax, there are only two infallible teachings. Both are about Mary: her Immaculate Conception and her bodily Assumption into heaven. These are teachings that have been recognized and celebrated since the early days of the church

We celebrate the Assumption of Mary: the completion of God's work in her,

As Catholics, we are to believe in the real, physical elevation of her sinless soul and incorrupt body into Heaven.

In Mary’s life, we can find the promise of our human greatness. By the Power of the Holy Spirit, we can be like Mary, love Jesus, speak the Gospel, and follow Him to the cross.

If we do this, through our Baptism, the promise of the greatness of eternal life is ours to seek. They are borne in with gladness and joy that enter the palace of the king.

God is loyal and merciful. He carries out his plan of salvation with the little ones, the poor, the unknown, and with those who have faith in Him, who trust his Word, like Mary.

Yall be good, yall be holy and preach the gospel by the way you live and love, like Mary. Amen.

Still Walking on Water, Reflection 19 Sunday OTA

(Readings)

Moses and Jesus were out hiking and came to a lake. Instead of walking around the lake, Moses parts the water and walks across.

The lake closes before Jesus can cross. No problem, He’ll just walk on the water. He steps out and sinks. He cries out what happened? Moses answered, “It might be the holes in your feet.”

That joke is so wrong.

For most in the world, God is hidden and mysterious. People look for God in the powerful things of the world.

Elijah looked for God in the wind, earthquakes, and fire. But, God was not there.

We look for love and God in all the wrong places…,

Looking in the big or powerful things...,

Looking in miracles, cures, and life altering events…,

God is there, but….

God comes to most in the quiet. Many encounter God in an inner experience of God’s mercy. Even Jesus went to the quiet of the mountain top to pray.

God speaks to the quiet of our hearts in times of crisis. That quiet is the place of miracles.

Psalm’s speaks that the presence of God is where kindness and truth kiss; it’s the place of quite truth and gentleness in our hearts, the abode of your conscience.

For the apostle Paul, speaking the truth of Christ is when conscience joins with the Holy Spirit. It’s where Jesus walks on water and calls out to us to take his hand and walk with him. Nothing is more solid and truthful in the heart and soul than that. Nothing is more powerful.

The disciple learned this out in a boat being tossed about by the waves and wind. Powerful things, but God was not there. They had left Jesus behind.

It is the same way in our lives. God is not in the powerful and destructive things that come upon us. Illness, cancer, disease, suffering, crimes, violence, war, chaos and crisis are not God.

The reality of our lives is that chaos and crisis throw us about. Our truth is injury, fear, and worry from the difficulties in life like the wind, waves, and darkness faced by the disciples. We wonder if we will survive. We huddle in our self. We cower in our boat because we left Jesus behind.

God comes in the quietness of Jesus walking on the water. If we look for him, Jesus will come in middle of all that is causing our problems.

We trust Jesus just like Peter; but like Peter, we are of little faith. It is not that we don’t have faith God can take away our suffering. It’s not we don’t have faith the Christ is holding out his hand, reaching to us.

The problem is that the wind, earthquake, and fire of Elijah cause suffering. We look to see God in problems but God is not there. And the loudness of chaos and crisis overwhelm us. We sink.

God is in the quietness. When that quietness comes, we fail to leave the perceived safety and step out of our boat for the mercy of God. Our little faith fails to open us to all God wishes to pour into our hearts.

Christian believers, God pours all into our hearts by the holes in the hands, feet, and side of Jesus.

Holes in his feet and He still walks on water.

He walks on the water bringing peace, calm, and quiet during troubling times. Christ is the source of miracles against the chaos and crisis of life. He brings the quiet peace of the Lord.

The ultimate miracle comes from that quiet place.

The miracle is we become a new person in communion with God through Jesus Christ. Open our hearts and the Holy Spirit will pour out all God wishes in truth and healing.

The inner experience of God’s mercy will drive that miracle outward. Respond in a life giving way. Speak of Christ and proclaim His gospel. Go out and make a difference. Live the Gospel in a way that can change people.

Jesus walked on water and invites us to do the same.

Yall be good, yall be holy and preach the gospel by the way you live and love. Amen.

Listen Up! Homily Reflection Transfiguration Sunday.

(Readings)

Peter wrote as an eyewitness, remembering the experience of the transfiguration. I want to begin kind of in the same way, remembering that we are all to be the face of Christ in the world.

I remembered my high school football coach reading today’s gospel. 

Butch Stoker commanded attention. He would walk into a room; raise his hand and say, “Listen up, men!”

He never won a state championship in 32 years coaching at Alexandria Senior High; but, he accomplished more. He built young people of character. His character was our example.

I was an eyewitness.  One example he set was he never cussed. He did not allow his assistant coaches to cuss. And if you played for him, you did not cuss.

Listen up men, be good students! Listen up men; respect each other, be good friends! Listen up men, become good fathers, good husbands, and good citizens! Listen up men, do your best, live a good life!

Some found it hard and would leave. Yet, he was a man respected by the school, the community, and the thousands of lives he touched.

Listen up men!

We read, “A majestic voice came from the cloud and said, ‘This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.’ "

This was the eyewitnesses’ experience. They saw Elijah and Moses. They saw Jesus change before their eyes, transfigured; His face shone like the sun and his clothes became white as light.

But the words from heaven were: Listen to him. Listen, understand who Jesus is.

I wonder how many still listen to him. Some find it hard and they leave. Saying we don’t need religion; we don’t need the Catholic Church. These are things that step on their toes.

Peter points to the truth “We possess the prophetic message that is reliable. Pay attention to it like a lamp shining in the dark…..”

By that experience on the mountain, Peter, James, and John, disciples of Jesus, apostles of Christ, were given the truth and told listen to him. And by listening they learned that He is the One whose dominion is everlasting. His kingship shall never end.

Over 2000 years later, His kingdom still reigns.

But the one who was the leader of the rebellion against God in heaven continues to rebel against Christ and his Church on earth. The Devil’s message is do not listen to the word of God.

The devil tempts with an unhealthy notion of God and God’s church in the lie proclaiming that it is all a myth. It is a lie some who call themselves Christians may even believe. They argue God. They argue Jesus.

Peter writes “it is not a myth; we are eyewitnesses of his majesty. Jesus received honor and glory from God the Father in that unique declaration of the majestic glory.”

They listen to him. They didn’t argue God. They didn’t argue Jesus. They did share their witness.

The problem is we were not eyewitness. Many do not listen to Him.

People will listen to the King of Lies instead of the King of Kings. And the devil tells the world that God is a myth. God is meaningless. God is dead.

It’s what many want to hear.

It’s easy to believe the deceiver because all our human concepts of an infinite God are inadequate. All the teachings of the Church are insufficient to explain God’s grace and glory and radiance. People believe what is easy to believe.

Until we witness it in our lives like Peter, James, and John, we cannot even come close to understand the glory of Christ.

We can become eyewitnesses of Christ’s glory. Listen to him, listen to the words of Jesus in the gospel; listen to Jesus alive in the writings of the Apostles; listen to Christ in the traditions and sacraments of the Church; and listen for him in the world.

Seeing Christ alive in the world make it easy to believe and even easier to be a witness.

Even those with a heart far from God, if they listen to him and to his Church, will rise up and not be afraid to leave the lies of the world. They will proclaim “The Lord is king, the Most High over all the earth.”

For His Church, the path God is no one else but Jesus.

Those who believe will raise their eyes and see no one else but Jesus alone.  

The eyewitnesses told the world these things.  They told the truths of the Church as eyewitness of the glory of Jesus’ life, his transfiguration, his death on the cross, and to his resurrection and ascension.

Listen to him, understand who Jesus is.

May all peoples see His glory!

Listen up, men! Listen up, women! Listen up, everyone! May the world see His glory in you, be the face of Christ that brings out the best in others.

Yall be good, yall be holy and preach the gospel by the way you live and love. Amen.