Drift - Reflection 26 Sunday OT-A

(Readings)

I sometimes listen to Ryan Michler’s “Order of Man” podcast. Recently, he spoke about "drift". He used the metaphor of a car that drifts off track on the road comparing it to people getting off track in life.

Michler defined drift as the tendency of people to take their hands off the steering wheel of life, being controlled and at the mercy of all that life offers.

I use that metaphor for a life of faith in Christ and the issues we face. Drift is when we take our eyes of Christ and come under the controlled and mercy of all the worldly life offers.

Have you every driven down the road and suddenly find yourself driving on the rumble strips? That’s the result of drift. Those bumps and grooves on the road are designed to keep you in the correct lane and prevent you from running off the road or into the wrong lane.

That’s pretty much the problem of the world and the problem in people’s faith.

On the road, rumble strips are there to minimize your drift. Christ and his church are the rumble strips of Christian faith.

The problem with drift is that if it is not corrected, you end up someplace you don’t want to be. Drift can cause catastrophe in a person’s life. You drift into sin, into bad relationships, into bad habits, into addictions, into affairs, and more. That drift pulls us farther and farther away from Christ Jesus.

The things that cause drift from God are:

·         Being distracted by the world.  

·         Being discouraged in faith by friends and even family.

·         Being inattentive to focus on what is important.

Drift can take you places you are not interested in going. Thinking about drift, God, and self maybe we can say that by loving yourself you drift from love of God and by loving God your drift from love of self.

Now, most men know drift on the road does not happen if your wife or your mother is with you. You may take that as a joke; but, it is truth. They hold you accountable. The rumble strips hold you accountable and accountability stops the drift.

Maybe this is the secret behind Jesus’ parable today.

The father asks his two sons to go and work in the vineyard.  One says he will not; but, he changes his mind and goes to the vineyard. The second said “Yes sir, but did not go.”

They both suffered from drift.  In both cases, the sons got off the path they should have been traveling. The first son, realize he was drifting and corrected himself. Maybe, his father held him accountable.

The second son started on the right path, but soon was going to a place he was probably not interested in going.

Someday, each and every one us is going to be held accountable.

Jesus tells us the tax collectors and prostitutes who will be entering the kingdom of heaven before those who think they are on the straight and narrow path.

Sinners know they are a drift and not on the right path. They have run over the rumble strips so they look for the right direction.

Jesus refers to this as way of righteousness that John preached. 

The self-righteous don’t know that path. Those are ones who will drift to the wrong place. They have taken their hands off the steering wheel of their faith and let the world control them.  They will think the road is safe and clear; but, they are about to be wrecked.

The way to correct the drift is not out of selfishness or out of vainglory. It is by humbly regarding others as more important and looking out for the interest of others.

God sent His word to hold us accountable. Jesus Christ established his Church to hold us accountable.

But, Christians have taken their hands off the steering wheel. They have drifted off the path. The world says, "The LORD's way is not fair!"

Because of drift you focus too much on you. That’s not what being a Christian is about. Instead, have in you the attitude of Christ Jesus.

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

He said “All” - Reflection 25th Sunday A

Readings

He said “All.”

Jesus said that the greatest and first commandment was (Mt 22:37) You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind

Think about that as we look at the parable of the workers. Those who worked all day received the same wages as those who worked for just one hour, so they complained.

If we apply this to our faith, then we can look at the parable this way: The vineyard owner is God. The laborers are people doing God’s work in this life. The wage given is eternal life in union of love with God in heaven

But the problem with those vineyard workers then and even many who do the Lord's work today is what can be called consumer mentality. Consumer mentality asks the question – what’s in it for me?

• I work more than anyone else, I should merit more grace.
•  I have been a believer all my life, God should favor me.
• I’m more pious, more devout, more prayerful, more this more that; so, I should get more, more, more…

Here is the question I’d like to ask those with this mentality - What more do you want?

You are the adopted sons and daughter of God. You are promised eternal life. You have been saved for eternity. You will know the kingdom of heaven.

For what more could we be asking? 

It’s a place we all go; I found myself there recently.

September was our first on-line retreat; A Mother’s Tears: A Retreat on Our Lady of Sorrows. Saturday morning was to be the first closing conference breakfast. I reminded everyone of the retreat every week. I placed announcements on the Webpage and Facebook. I sent invitations to email contacts. I was prepared even if no one completed the online part.

Arriving early, I made breakfast of pancakes, sausage, coffee, and fruit, expecting a full house.  The only one to show up was my wife.

I was bummed. Looking at the empty hall, my consumer mentality kicked in,” What’s in all this for me?”

I decided just to eat too much breakfast and leave. But, my beautiful fountain of wisdom, Janet, says, “I came for the conference; teach me what you were going to teach others.”

So, I sat down to review the closing conference with my wife. One thing emphasized during the retreat that I had highlighted in my notes was this – He said “All.”

Up until that time, it really hadn’t made an impact on me.

Yet, I was feeling sorry for myself because no one showed up. It was Janet and I praying and talking about the Sorrow of Our Lady, when those three words hit home.  He said “All.”

Jesus said this was the greatest and first commandment. (Mt 22:37) You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind

At that time I realized, I was failing badly.

Isaiah’s prophesy says - Seek the LORD... Let the scoundrel forsake his way, and the wicked his thoughts; turn to the LORD for mercy; to our God, who is generous in forgiving.

In the parable Jesus reminds us the same; the Lord is generous. His generosity is "All" that we are made in the likeness and image of God.

If I truly believe I am made in the likeness and image, I should be the same. Everything that is not striving for this ideal is sin. It does not matter if I am preaching to one or to hundreds.  It does not matter if I came to labor early or late. I am to give all.

If I am created in His image and likeness, I am to be generous and forgiving. Because we are to love Him with all that we are. It’s about, “He said ‘All’”.

I must give all to be in union with God. It’s making all, everything a prayerful act.

All I do must have purity of intention. Everything should be without ulterior motive, not done what’s in it for me.

All my work must be done with fervor. It’s about doing everything for God with passion, dedication, and offering up everything and all you do to God.

In that, we can come close to being the person Paul writes about:  Christ will be magnified in us whether by life or death. For me, Life is Christ; living means to have fruitful labor.

Serving God is not about what’s in it for me.

Paul concludes: Conduct yourselves in a way worthy of the gospel of Christ.

In that Gospel, He said “All.”

I will remind you the same.

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

Evangelist Gym - Reflection 24th Sunday OT A

(Readings)

Early this morning, I met my son-in-law, Bryant, at the gym for a workout before Mass. Another young man came into the gym and the two began to talk.

The friend of Bryant’s evangelized his young men’s group at the local mega Baptist Church. Between sets at the bench press, he invited Bryant to come to the young men's group meeting, stay for Sunday school, and the worship service.

Bryant said that we were going to Church as a family; then, he introduced me. I introduced myself as the Deacon of St. Lawrence Catholic Church.

My new friend said “I was raised Catholic, went to Catholic Elementary School, and High School; but, my wife is Baptist so I’m Baptist now.”

He continued to speak about his faith, the young men’s group, and his friends. I enjoyed seeing a young man so on fire.

I had to leave to get ready for mass, so I excused myself; but, not before I asked one last question. “Do you miss the Blessed Sacrament, the Holy Eucharist?”

He said, “We have the Lord’s supper almost every month.” I looked him in the eye. He lowered his head, “I know, it’s not the same.”

That was the best evangelization my son-in-law could have heard.

As I left, I told him, “You’ve invited Bryant to Church; I’m inviting you to come back to Mass. You’re still Catholic.”

In the readings, Paul writes, “For if we live, we live for the Lord, and if we die, we die for the Lord; so then, whether we live or die, we are the Lord's.”

That’s great message for those non-practicing and fallen away Catholics. People think they can’t come back to the Church. Maybe it’s because they feel alone in their journey of faith.

Maybe it’s because they believe you are saved only by a personal relationship with Christ. It’s between you and God only. But Paul’s message is clear. None of us lives for oneself, and no one dies for oneself.

Some have left the Church because they feel that the Church has hurt them. It may have. A scandal, teaching, or moral issue has hurt them.

Some left the Church because they think they’ve done wrong. They can’t go back. The Church won’t take them back. God doesn’t want them back.

We are equals among equals. The Church is made of sinners. We are sinners. In sin we hurt each other. In sin we hurt the Church. In sin we hurt God.

The solution, if you’ve hurt someone, you have to say I’m sorry and ask for forgiveness. Peter asked Jesus, “Lord, how often should I forgive someone? Seven times?”

Jesus says forgive not seven times but seventy-seven times. Jesus wants us to forgive more than anyone can ever ask for forgiveness.

My young evangelist friend said the thing he loved about the Catholic Church was starting each week with a clean slate, forgiven. He was speaking of the grace and blessing in the sacrament of reconciliation, asking for forgiveness.

The Lord forgives you. God doesn’t count the times He forgives our sins. Christ died for our sins and in that act He forgave us forever; just like we are to forgive.

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

Is It Me or Is It Us? Reflection 23rd Sunday OTA

READINGS

Ezekiel talks about being a watchman. Its hard today because the world tells us to mind our own business. We are not to dissuade the wicked from their ways. We are not to say anything to offend, even if by accident or ignorance. 

That would be real easy if being a Christian was only about God and me. Being a Christian is about us; we are to love God by loving others. God tells us to be watchman. Jesus tells us to be responsible for one another. Paul reminds us “loving your neighbor” is helping each other stay on the path of following Jesus.

Love does no evil. It does not judge even in being a watchman. But it’s not a job everybody wants. If we don’t approach it right, with love, and a sense of unity and community, it can be lonely job.

My daughter is the HR Manager for a security company. She hires watchmen. The problem is not many people are suited for the job. A watchman must have the right morals. A watchman must be good and honest. A watchman must be a good person. Even when they meet all these, a watchman can still become bored or fall asleep or just fail to show up.

God calls us to be watchman for our Christian family and the whole human community. It is a task that cannot wait until others take it up. We must all share the responsibility according to our gifts, abilities, and circumstances.

But sadly, even God’s watchmen become bored, fall asleep, or just don’t show up. When this happens, Ezekiel has warned us that the watchman will be responsible for the circumstances. The world has skewed what is right. Look at the issues in the public debate today. Many are the things of which we need to be vigilant.

Even in this debate, we are to “love your neighbor as yourself.”

Striving to do what is good is keeping the commandment. It’s hard because people don’t always know what is good. People do not know how to love self so they cannot possibly know how to love others. Since we do not know how to behave we are in doubt of what should be done. And, the watchmen argue amongst themselves.

There is no perfect relationship. Disagreements happen. We are not all saints.

That’s o.k. Jesus came for us sinners to know by his example – to love the person who has wronged us and always respect the other’s dignity. This is Jesus example of love that brings people together. 

Heed the example of God; do not harden your hearts against your brother and sister when they do something wrong. The worst thing to do about a wrong is brood about it; except, that’s what the world does.

Is it God and me or do I love God by loving others?

God does not want us to be only concerned about ourselves and only their spiritual life. God wants people who are a part of the body of Christ and in full community.

In community we are called to help one another grow. Community is family and a place that natures faith. Community can be as few as two or three persons gathered together in the name of Jesus.

Prayer is secret of unity in Christ: unity of community, unity of church, unity of marriage, unity of family. The saying “those who pray together stay together” is true.

The problem with the watchman from the security company may be that they lack the unity of community. At the locations where the watchmen are alone they don’t stay. But, on the jobs, where there is community, watching and working with a sense of responsibility for community, watchmen stay.

It’s not just about God and me. Being a Christian is not just a purely private and personal affair even though some people think and behave that way. Our relationship with Jesus Christ is shouted out by the way we live and how we relate to other people. It is living and loving in Christ; yet, still belonging to the community of faith and the community of this world.

Love God by loving others. May our prayers be unselfish! May our prayers be unifying!  May prayers be for the whole human community!

Do I love God by loving others; because, my brothers and sisters that is the secret of truly expressing our love of God.

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

Duped - Reflection 22nd Sunday OTA

Readings

I love to look at life through the scripture readings. This week was a great example of how life and the scripture readings sync. This post is very Catholic and very apologetic. 

It’s 1978; a group of friends stand on the football field at the beginning of their senior year. We are young, powerful, and full of life. If you are young, you think you will be young forever; but, if you are older, you have learned that is not the case.

Thirty-nine years later, several of us came together for a memorial service for our coach and mentor.  I looked at my friends and the words of Jeremiah came to mind.

You duped us, O Lord. 

We have grown older, some fatter, and some bald.

The younger versions of us thought we could live life in our terms, young, powerful, and full of life.

Jeremiah wanted to be a prophet in his own terms. He was duped not by God but by his own plan. God touched Jeremiah’s mouth to prophesy God’s plan not his.

That’s our problem today. We think God should do what we want. We want to make our plan God’s plan. If we think we can do this we are dupes and fools.  

Look around, advertisement, media, society tells up what the perfect human being  is and it is probably not any of us. It’s not grey hair, potbellies, and broken bodies. But that is where God’s plan for every one of us will eventually lead if we are blessed with a long life.

Scripture tells us “Do not confirm yourselves to this age but be transformed by the renewal of your mind to discern the will of God, which is good and pleasing and perfect.”

And too many will say, my will is my god’s will.

In a recent article a minister said his denomination recites the Apostles’ Creed. He will tell those who ask that it is not necessary believe the Apostles’ Creed, especially the part about the Virgin Mary.

Even those who identify themselves as ministers of God speak with the tone of Jeremiah, I will not mention him; I will speak in his name no more.  

At dinner the night of the memorial, I was speaking to someone about coming into full communion with the Catholic Church by preparing to receive the Blessed Sacrament.

He asked, “Do I need to do that?” "Are you telling me that will keep me out of heaven?"

I cannot say what will keep a person out of heaven.  

These are Jesus words, “Unless you eat my flesh and drink my blood, you have no life in you. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood shall have eternal life and I shall raise them on the last day; for my flesh is true food and my blood is true drink. Those who eat my flesh and drink by blood abide in me and I in them.” (Jn 6:53-56)

At one time, every Christian believed these words. But over the years, because of this teaching many turned back and no longer followed him. (Jn 66)

People say, God forbid, no such thing shall ever happen.

But Jesus rebukes those who try to change God’s plan. “Get behind me Satan! You are an obstacle to me. You are thinking not as God does but as humans do. Whoever wishes to come after me must deny self, take up his cross, and follow me.”

Even Jesus did not change God’s plan. For Christ Jesus who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, but emptied himself taking the form of a servant, born in human form, he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death on the cross. (Phil 2: 6-8)

That is why I say, I was duped Lord, not by God but by my own selfishness and human weakness. We make ourselves fools because we think we gain the whole world. And everyone else tends to listen and believe the dupes and become dupes themselves.

If I make a god in my image, then my thoughts are that god’s thoughts; my desires are that god’s desires.

In this foolish state we think we can stay young (without sin) but life catches up with us.

One day, we will look back and realize we have been duped. It will be too late for many because Jesus warned that the Son of Man will come and repay all according to his conduct.

Listen to what Jesus says not what the world wants Him to say.

May the eyes of our hearts be enlightened to know the surpassing greatness of his power for us who believe, according to his will. (Eph 1:19)

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