History Teaches - 4th Sunday OT

Sometimes we need to look up.

http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/012818.cfm 

I love history. One reason is from 6th grade through college most of my teachers and professors taught with authority. 

They taught with an authority of strength, conviction, knowledge, passion, insight, ability, and right. It was an authority in teaching history that gave them power over the subject.

I remember all my history teachers. I remember most of their names. There is one, however, whose name or face I cannot remember. She was a graduate assistant my freshman year in college. 

The first day of class she took attendance; then, she opened the text book and started reading. There was no inflection or passion in her voice; no conviction in her words. She just read and offered nothing: no insight or personal knowledge to the lecture. 

Reading, she never looked up. Soon after the semester started, people began walking out as soon as the role was complete. And still, the instructor never look up. She taught without authority. 

The midterm test had blatant cheating. Most of the class was content to cruise through. 

But at the final, the instructor challenged the class. You disrespected me and didn’t take this class seriously. She gave out blue books and said fill this with what you’ve learned. 

I was prepared. I had many a teacher before who had taught with authority. Those who taught with authority had prepared me.

Today, the Gospel tells us Jesus came with a new teaching of authority. 

As we were preparing for mass, Father said, “Deacon read the Gospel with drama. Read to emphasize how the unclean spirit attacks Jesus.”

What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are - the Holy One of God?

With authority Jesus said, “Quiet! Come out of him.”

Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit with power. Jesus’ ability came from strength, conviction, knowledge, passion, insight, and right as the Holy One of God.

All who witnessed it were amazed. All those who witnessed  came to the synagogue for teaching that simply reading the book, a scribe who read scripture. It was the normal way of teaching that did not upset anyone not even the unclean spirits in their midst.

Churches are like that today. Their message misses the authority that comes from Christ. Christ gave the Church, his mystical body lead by the apostles, the authority to teach the good news. We have the authority to make the unclean spirits uncomfortable and call out - What have you to do with us?

To teach with authority is not saying everything is OK. Teaching with the authority Christ gave is not agreeing with immoral life style choices or making harmful vices acceptable. To teach with the authority that is the Word of God as Jesus asks us is not what the world wants to hear. To teach with that authority, we have to look up.

History teaches that it will not be without challenges. 

In the Acts of the Apostles, St. Paul taught and there were riots in the street. People wished to do him harm. It is also written that when the disciples shared the Gospel of Jesus Christ, it cut to the heart of all who heard. 

When we teach with authority, we challenge the unclean spirits alive in the world. They don't like it. The unclean spirits want the status quo. And, we become anxious about worldly things.

Brothers and sisters, we are all going to have to come for a final exam. All are going to be held accountable for our disregard of Christ’s teachings. We are going to be asked what did we learn? How did we live? 

At the final test of our judgement, hopefully, we will have had someone who taught us with authority. 

Sadly, there will be ones that will still challenge God. What if they were waiting for us to teach them with authority?

We have been given the authority to teach the Gospel. We are not to teach it as we wish to interpret it. We are not to be scribes of the worldly good. 

But instead, teach with the authority of the mystical body of Christ.  The authority found in the words of Christ that cause riots as Paul spoke. Speak in the authority of the gospel that cuts to the hearts of all who hear it.

Share the gospel with the authority and power of Christ in your life; give your testimony. Share it with passion, conviction, and knowledge found in the truth that is Jesus Christ.

Yall be good yall be holy and preach the gospel with authority of the way you live and love. Amen.

Our Will or God's Will - Reflection 3rd Sunday OTB

(Readings) You pray the way you believe so is it our will or God's will. 

I love the story of Jonah. He was just an easy going ordinary prophet going about his life. Then God asked him to do something extraordinary. It was more than Jonah wanted; so, he ran from God.

Jonah did Jonah’s will.  No matter how far he ran, he couldn’t escape God’s will; neither do we. We are just like Jonah except our story may not literally have a big fish that swallows us; but, we put so much effort in doing our will instead of God’s will, it swallows us whole.  

Wait!!! We all are trying to do God’s will. We pray our prayers. We go to mass. If we do everything to get to heaven, we must be doing God’s will.

Lex orandi est lex credenda -- “the way you pray is the way you believe.”

I’m guilty.

We pray, God may your will be done but especially in the good of our life. Bless us with things. Our prayers, God do our will so our life is easy and then send us to heaven.

If this is the makeup of our prayers, our efforts are in the wrong place.

The story of Jonah and the one from the Gospel tells us the right place to put the effort.  In the everyday ordinary world, God’s will may not be what we want. But by faith, maybe try to put what we want and what we are (our lives and works and prayers) in the place Jesus wants.

We can know what Jesus wants by knowing His life and His prayers. Jesus prays - Father thy will be done. Jesus entire life was about the Father’s will being done here on earth as it is in heaven.  

Living out the will of God the Father, Jesus told his disciples and Jesus tells us, "Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men."

Jesus’ example to all those who followed him and those who heard him teach was how to live God’s will here on earth with other people.

He healed the living, those suffering in their bodies not just their souls. He raised the dead to teach the importance of life here in the present.

God’s will is active giving love at work in world. His will comes alive through us. To know this love, follow Jesus. Learn to give and do the Father’s will by the example Jesus gave us.

God’s will is for us to become like Jesus Christ, to love others universally. By that love of Jesus, the world in its present form is passing away.  Our contribution is following Jesus to change the world as he taught.

We can never separate ourselves from the will of God.  We can act like it; but, the result is sin. The biggest sin against the Holy Spirit is the delusion that our will is greater than God’s. It is the sin of putting self before the will and love of God.

God is not going to send a big fish to stop us from living the sin of self-delusion. He has done something greater. God sent Jesus Christ to teach us how to live God’s will.

My brothers and sisters, the question to ask is whose will do we follow.  Follow our will and run from God. Follow our will and continue to sit on the shore and mend nets.

Consider this; time is growing short. The kingdom of heaven is at hand.

So instead, God’s will be done, proclaim his word. God’s will be done, follow Jesus.  God’s will be done; Jonah changed the world. God’s will be done; Jesus and his disciples changed the world. God’s will be done and we change the world.

The simplest way to realize God’s will is to return to God. Repent, like the people of Nineveh who believed God and did His will.

If we truly live God’s will though Christ Jesus, our prayers should not be about self. But, we should pray – Lord, teach us your ways. Teach us your paths. Guide us in your truth for you are our savior.

Your life and the way you live is true witnesses that you are following Jesus.

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

We All Need Someone to Get Us Started - Reflection 2nd Sunday OTB

Be That Someone (Readings)

We all need someone to get us started; like the person that helped us to obtain our first job or the one that encouraged that first date with a true love. It takes introduction to get us started.

Introducing others to Christ, it's what those who believe do.

John did. He saw Jesus walk by and told those around him “Behold the Lamb of God.”

Andrew did. He found Simon Peter and said, “We have found the messiah.”

Christians introduce Jesus Christ to others. Believers share the gospel. They bring the living word of God to the world.

It is more than just quoting the Bible. The Bible is an important part to our faith, but Christianity is more. It's bringing the "Word" of God that is not a written, mute word but an incarnate and living “Word” to the world today.

The “Word of God” asks, “what are you looking for?” And Christ speaks through the Holy Spirit to hearts, “come and follow me.”

Christians work in the middle between where people question and when Christ speaks to their heart.

It is the place of Christian witness that points to the Lamb of God. It is the time of opportunity to tell others about the messiah, the Christ, the savior of the world. Someone has to introduce Christ to others. Someone has to get it started.

Every day people are introduced to immoral things. Someone brings them to addiction, to abuse, to crime, and to other evils.  Many introduce immorality to our world. We are to avoid immorality to be temples of God; the place the word resides. “Those joined to the Lord become one spirit with him.”

Our faith is not to be lived only here today, inside the walls of this building. We are living temples of God; the place the word resides. 

Christians are to bring Christ Jesus to the broken, to the hurt, to the sick, to the ones in crisis, to those considering ending the life of an unborn child, to those considering ending their own life, and to those who question “what am I looking for?”

We are not to live a mute and written gospel, but to be the living and incarnate word of Christ; be someone that gets it started.

Yall be good, yall be holy, preach the gospel by the way you live and love.Here I am Lord, I come to do your will.

What Gift to Bring - Homily Reflection Epiphany

(Readings)

Father Job asked for the little drummer boy.

During the Epiphany, I think about what gifts I can bring. This thought reminds me of childhood song and TV show, “The Little Drummer Boy.”

It takes place at the time of Jesus’ birth. The little drummer boy had witnessed his parents death. The only joy in his life was a drum his father had given him and his traveling companions, a lamb, a donkey, and a camel that danced as he played.

The boy meets three kings traveling to find the infant Jesus. Soon after, the boy’s lamb is severely injured. Returning to the wise men, they tell him only the King of Kings can help, “Go and look upon the infant Jesus.”

Seeing the baby Jesus, the little drummer boy was moved to give the only gift his has, to play his drum for him.

Come they told me, parum papum pum- A new born King to see, parum papum pum.”

The baby Jesus smiled. In that smile, the drummer boy finds joy.

This story is not in the bible; but, it is the story of Epiphany. The finding of Jesus, realizing there is something more, and discovering Jesus our salvation.

The Gospel tells us the magi were foreigners to Israel. Yet, they realize the truth: Christ is for all - God’s salvation is for all. Lord all the nations shall adore you.

The Christ child smiled on many, the shepherds, the wise men, and if he was there, the little drummer boy. He smiles on us, even today. The world needs the gift found in the joy of that smile. What gift do you bring?

This past week, I met to discuss outreach programs with construction companies. These companies have adopted schools. One member questioned, “Do we Care About these schools or do we Care For these schools? He continued, “There is a big difference.”

If you cares about the outreach all you need to see is the company name on the billboard. If you care for the outreach you want to see it thrive.

What a great question to ask on Faith and Church, Do You Care About them or Do You Care For them?  I think there is a difference.

To care about something is to have an interest; but, if you care for something it is more about love. You want to see it thrive.

Herod cared about Jesus. He wanted to know who he was for his own reason. Mary and Joseph cared for Jesus. They loved him. They wanted to see him thrive. 

Herod’s priests and scribes cared about Jesus. They knew prophesy and where the messiah was to be born. The magi cared for Jesus bringing gifts so that he could thrive. They payed homage child then protected him by leaving another way.

God cares for & loves us. He protects us in adversity and defends those who put their trust in him. He is our refuge and our strength. He cares for & loves us to send his only begotten son.

Jesus went to the cross because He cares for & loves us. God cares for us.

As believers we want to care for & love the things Jesus told us to do, we care for & love the church and all she asks us to do, and we care for & love the things the Holy Spirit brings. We care for & love each other. 

About Faith and Church, Do You Care About them or Do You Care For & love them? What gifts do you have to share?

Maybe something as simple as the little drummer boy’s gift:

I played my drum for Him, parum papum pum  I played my best for Him, parum papum pum, parum papum pum, rum pum-pum-pum, Then He smiled at me, parum papum pum. Me and my drum.

My brothers and sisters what gift do you bring for the care & love of faith and for the care & love of church. What gift do you bring to care for & love each other?

Behold, We Are Children of God - Reflection for Wednesday Communion Service

 Readings

A TV game show emcee said, “Come up with the missing word at the end of the phrase and spell the word out to win our grand-prize. The phrase is, ‘Old MacDonald had a ------.’ Remember spell the missing word.”

Excited, the contestant answered, “Old MacDonald had a farm.” 

The emcee said again, “Spell the missing word to win the grand prize.”

That’s easy,” said the contestant. “Old MacDonald had a farm. E-I-E-I-O.” Oops

First John says, See what love the Father has bestowed on us that we may be called the children of God. Yet so we. The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Beloved, we are God’s children now; what we shall be has not yet been revealed. We do know that when it is revealed* we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.

The KJV says.... Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed on us that we should be called the sons of God; therefore....

Behold is such a dramatic word, so much stronger than see; Yet so we are is so much better than therefore.

Behold, yet so we are the children of God. The world does not know us because it does not know him. It is hard for us to accept that we are the children of God because we see ourselves as the world sees us.

Behold, yet so we are children of God. That is so easy to read, so easy to say, but not so easy to do.

Like in that game show. We know the answer. So close, but, we just can’t get there. Our light is not quite right, our righteousness does not quite shine with the right glory. We can’t quite get it right.

Behold, yet so we are children of God. We don’t have to spell the missing word.

Behold, we are children of God. It is our present reality and life to come. We are God’s children now; what we shall be has not yet been revealed.