Homily reflection: 4th Sunday Lent - Light and Darkness

Light and Darkness - Get Rid of the Darkness

Chronicles 36:14-16, 19-23; Psalm 137:1-2, 3, 4-5, 6; Ephesians 2:4-10; John 3:14-21

At our weekly Bible Study, each of us chose a parable from Mark chapter 4 to discuss.

Jeanne chose the parable of the sower and explained it beautifully. She suggested that we are the ground. We are hard, rocky, thorny, or fertile soil during different times of our lives. We can become better soil or stay as we are. She offered that prayer changes us and our lives. Changing the type of soil we are and who we are; this is the power of prayer. Then Jeanne apologized for not being a good teacher.

Daniel led the discussion on the parable of the lamp that is put under the bushel basket. In his teaching on the parable, Daniel said that the light is in us and that we hide that light. The light reflects in us and we are to let it shine.  

We can find Christ’s light in our life, if we get rid of the darkness.

These were great things to think about when considering Jesus’ words to Nicodemus. “The light came into the world, but people preferred darkness.”  Jesus is telling Nicodemus that despite the light of God’s presence in the world, people forget God.

In human imperfection, people tend to prefer the darkness. We live in our selves and seek darkness to cover imperfection. In the darkness we ignore the light of Christ and His miracles in our life. Miracles that are everywhere but so many can’t see them because of the darkness. Jesus explained it simply, “. . . people prefer darkness.” 

In darkness people live forgetting about God. Look at our first readings; this is how the people were living in exile; living in darkness. They stopped listening to God. Yet, God’s grace was with them and came through an unexpected source - King Cyrus. King Cyrus told them go home and worship God.

Today people live exiled from God. People go through the motions of faith. People rarely pray because they don’t think it will do any good. They take care of their needs rather than depending on God to take care of them. If they get sick they may pray but they go to the doctor. If they need money, they might pray, but they’ll look for a second job. If good things happen they give credit to people not God.  

People don't see that good things happen by the grace of God. The see it as a result of their own actions. So people put more faith in the stock market than anything Jesus said about money. And so many people in this country will call themselves Christian but they put more allegiance to the United States than in loyalty to Christ.

Yet even with all this, Paul tells us we are blessed, “In the ages to come He might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.”  Jesus Christ, who is the light of the world, is God’s presence and God’s grace.

And God works in extraordinary ways. God came to the exiles in the command of the Persian King. In the same extraordinary way, He does things in our lives. His grace is the source of miracles. It is through grace that the physician can heal us; it is through grace that are needs are met and we are then able to share our excess with those who need. And Jesus Christ is God’s light and grace manifest in the world.

But, it’s in our everyday life that miracles are most abundant. His light comes to us is in the everyday things; like that every other Monday night bible study. Maybe the everyday miracle is just waking up; the hug of a child; the hello from a stranger; or just getting to work or school safe. So many people don’t see these as the work of the light that comes into the world, because, they prefer the darkness.

Now what does this have to do with the parable teachings of Daniel and Jeanne.

Daniel says that the light is in us. As soon as we take that basket off the light of Christ that is in each of us, he will dispel the darkness in us and in others.

Jeanne humbly taught that we don’t have to stay the same. We can rid ourselves of the darkness that causes us to be poor soil through prayer. Jeanne who so humbly felt she was not a teacher taught this, It is those of us who strive to live our lives in the grace of His light find God in our ordinary experiences.

We can find Christ’s light in our life, if we get rid of the darkness.

That's what Lent is all about, leaving the darkness and finding Christ in our life. We are God’s handiwork created in Jesus Christ. We will receive the good works created for us. These are the everyday miracles found in His light. And as St. Paul says – We should live in them.

Sunday Reflection 3rd Sunday of Lent "I Helped Build That"

I Helped Build That 

Exodus 20:1-17; Psalm 19:8, 9, 10, 11;  1 Corinthians 1:22-25;  John 2:13-25

God speaks to us in what we observe everyday. I study the mass readings and look how they apply to my life. Many times I find this meaning at work. This week, work was in Ft. Lauderdale, FL at the ABC National Craft Championships. Young people come from all over the country to compete in skills like welding, carpentry, plumbing, electrical, and many others.

During the day, it’s about the workers. The keynote speaker’s address was about working for a living. He celebrated workers that roll up their sleeves and get dirty, describing them as the strong and silent backbone of society. These are people with no pretense. They can point to a building, a car, a ship, or a road and say “I helped build that!”

The speaker was once a carpenter but is now a famous actor. He criticized actors, athletes, musicians, and entertainers who are often full of their self importance because the public worships celebrity. In reality they offer little to society. The speaker finished by saying, “No matter how successful an actor he was, his greatest pride was to l bring his kids to a house he worked on as a carpenter and say, I helped build that!”

Thursday night was different, I saw a whole different world. It was the Excellence in Construction Awards Gala. It was a fundraiser for the event. People who attended this had wealth. They dressed in tuxedos and evening dresses adorned with diamonds and jewels. Dinner was $250 a plate. It was not for the workers but the business owners.  

I saw all this; but, the speaker's words, "I helped build that," is what stuck with me. In these words the Holy Spirit touched my heart.

In the first reading from Exodus we learn of God’s covenant with the people of Israel. Through Moses, the Israelites got the tools to fulfill and build on their part of the covenant. These basic tools were the 10 Commandments; the instructions for a covenant relationship with God. They were the tools that would bring the people closer to God and to one another. But the people failed; they turned these tools into the Law. In the Law, many lost sight of God’s plan and followed their plans instead. The law became more important than building their covenant with God.

So God sent the One who would build, Jesus Christ. The Gospel of John tells how Jesus challenged those in the temple, “Tear this temple down and in three days I will rebuild it.” Christ is the new covenant on which is built a new relationship with God. A new covenant relationship, not built on the law. A relationship with God built in Christ.

I saw signs and wisdom of modern society during my trip. I saw money and wealth.  At the airport, there was a grown man in footed bunny pajamas and a young lady dressed in all black, black makeup and thigh high Frankenstein boots. I heard about the people in Hollywood and their agenda. These are the signs and wisdom of a noisy world. 

But, the Holy Spirit brings us to God often in the quietest of ways.

On the flight back to Monroe, I sat with the Texas State men’s basketball team. Through one of these young men, God sent me a simple quiet message. A 6”7” young man squeezed himself into the seat next to me. He was polite, but spoke mainly with his teammates as the plane prepared to take-off. During the flight, in his cramped lap, he open a bible to 1 Corinthians. I don’t know the verses he was reading, but we read from the same letter of St. Paul today these words, “To those who are called…Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.”

I thought about my week and how the Holy Spirit had spoken to me. People who work to help build the Kingdom of God are the strong and silent backbone of our faith. They help to build quietly through the power and wisdom of God witnessing Christ, the new covenant.

We witness by not being ashamed to read God’s word. We help build God’s Kingdom when we are kind to someone or pray for others or feed the hungry; bringing Christ without seeking fame. We are the backbone of our faith when we set a positive example for a child or respect our parents or bring a friend to church. We show God’s love when we love and are not jealous of others. We help build the Kingdom of God using the simple tools God gave us.

Maybe one day, we will stand before the Kingdom of God and say - through Christ, I helped build that! 

(Thanks Gary G. for the picture)

Sunday Reflection - 2nd Sunday Lent - Who is Jesus?

Who is Jesus?

Genesis 22:1-2, 9a, 10-13, 15-18; Psalm 116:10, 15, 16-17, 18-19; Romans 8:31b-34; Mark 9:2-10

The word transfigured is a big word that means transformed or to be changed.  We hear about the transfiguration of Jesus today.  But was he transfigured or were those around him transformed?

So before I begin, I want to ask each to think about something. If someone came to you on the street and asked this question “Who is Jesus?”  How would you answer?

Would you tell them about Jesus' life and what he did? The story may start with you explaining that he was born of a virgin in a manger.  Maybe, you would say Jesus was a great teacher and then go into some detail about what he said. The description you use may be that he came to save us and then continue with the miracles, the healing of the sick, and casting out demons. You would tell how he was crucified, died and was buried but rose from the dead.

These are all great answers; but not many people would come straight out and answer "Jesus is God."

Not even Peter could give this answered when Jesus asked him, “Who do you say that I am?” It took a trip to a mountain to pray to open the apostles’ eyes.

Let me tell you a little about that day on the Mountain. Peter, James, and John went with Jesus to the mountain to pray. The disciples saw Moses and Elijah with Jesus.  Remember from the Old Testament that Moses and Elijah often went to the mountain to pray. On the mountain they saw God; not his face, but as God was passing by. They did not look upon his face. Jesus was transfigured and his clothes became dazzling white. On that mountain that day, Moses and Elijah looked upon the face of God.

Lent is a time for us to be transformed. Transfigured into someone who gives our self in obedience and service to God. We do this as husbands, wives, parents, children, friends, strangers, travelers, business people, or what ever definition meets the parameters of life. If we give ourselves totally and not withhold anything from God, we can be transformed.

In the transfiguration, Jesus gives all to God because Jesus is God. He is the beloved, the second person of the Trinity. In fact, the early Church Fathers said that it is in Christ’s image and likeness we were created; so that like Jesus we can give all to God and be his beloved adopted children.

But this is hard.  Sometimes in life, we are being tested. God is asking so much. We look around and see so much suffering and bad in the world. The ones that we love hurt. The ones we love are suffering, sick, or in pain. The world hurts and is constantly stricken with the plague of violence.

Abraham and Isaac knew the same things that we know today. They probably could relate to the words of the Psalm; I kept my faith even though I was greatly afflicted. God is asking us for same thing asked of Abraham and Isaac: surrender all to God. Abraham was willing surrendered his son and Isaac his life. They were rewarded because they did not withhold anything from God.

God doesn’t withhold from us, sacrificing his Son. Jesus did not withhold anything from us giving us his life. In Jesus, God did not withhold anything from us. 

Are we holding back?  Maybe we don’t know that we are. At the end of a meeting with my Spiritual Director, the last thing he said was “Remember Jesus, remember Jesus is God.” That’s the only thing I remember from that visit. The thing I needed to remember.

Lent is the time for us to come to know “Who is Jesus?” Lent is the time for us to be transformed and recreated by Jesus to become completely obedient to God.  We can be transfigured from our dull human selves into dazzling new creations.

“Who is Jesus?” Transformed, we can answer: "Jesus is God."

Reflection Healing Prayer Service - I Keep on Praying

I keep on praying
EST C:12, 14-16, 23-25; PS 138:1-2AB, 2CDE-3, 7C-8; MT 7:7-12

People ask, “Why should I keep on praying?” Some ask aloud; some ask it to themselves and some in actions by not praying. It’s a shame people ask this question.

It’s a question raised by the way we live. People depending on their abilities to get things done; they don’t really need God for everyday things. If they can’t get it done, technology can get it done for them.

Isn’t it contradictory that Our Savior is this naked, bleeding, crucified Christ that surrendered all; but, we want to be winners? We want to be powerful and in total control. Maybe it’s the middle-class thing. People have becoming comfortable. The world lets them believe they don’t need to pray and ask God for anything. They can get (or the world can create) anything they need. The world gives us just enough to make us believe we don’t need prayer. So, people ask “Why should I keep praying?”

Then evil attacks us with suffering that we can’t handle. Maybe, we open ourselves to the pain of those we love or what’s in the world. We go to a place that's “Lord, help me; I have no one but you!” There is no “Why should keep on praying?” But only “How do I keep on praying?”

Jesus has simple instructions: Ask, Seek, Knock: Ask and keep on asking; some things we must ask for. Seek and keep on seeking; seeking is deeper than just asking. We seek God’s will. Knock and keep on knocking; let God know you desire to be in his comfort and companionship.

With ever-increasing intensity; keep on asking, keep on seeking, keep on knocking, and keep on praying. Because with prayer there are two certainties:  

One, God hears every prayer. Jesus says that God hears our prayers, “For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks the door is opened.” God hears every prayer.

The other is God always answers. Jesus tells us that no prayer is wasted. “Your Heavenly Father will give good things to those who ask him.” God always answers.

This was written about prayer. “I asked for all things that I might enjoy life; I was given life, that I might enjoy all things. I received very few of the things I asked for; but I received the things I had hoped for.” 

 “I keep on praying!” and God gives me what I need and sometimes what I ask for, but remember, NO PRAYER IS WASTED!  "I keep on praying!" because Jesus says to keep on asking, to keep on seeking, and to keep on knocking and it shall be given. 

God wants us to on keep praying! 

Homily Reflection: 1st Sunday of Lent - Empty Handed

Empty Handed

Genesis 9:8-15 Psalm 25:4-5, 6-7, 8-9  1 Peter 3:18-22 Mark 1:12-15

On Ash Wednesday, I was in an office building in downtown Dallas.  I looked around and saw so many people with ashes on their foreheads. As a deacon I was humbled to see so many people had received ashes to say they were sorry for their sins.

Later that week as I drove home, I wondered how many people still wore those ashes. No, not on their forehead but in their heart. Or had they went home washed those ashes off and then fell back into the cycle of temptation we live in everyday.

I thought about our readings. Noah did not fall to temptations. He was a just man following Gods directions. Through him, God save the earth and humanity. The Gospel tells of Jesus and how he faced temptation. Through the spirit and through prayer he defeated Satan. Through Christ, God save us.

I also remembered another story I heard from a priest that I would like to share that I think speaks to this.

There was a good man. He loved God. He loved his family, the land, and especially his farm. One day he felt sick and got off his tractor to rest. Sitting in the shade, he knew he was dying and grabbed a handful of the soil he loved so much and held it tight.

Arriving in heaven still holding the dirt the man comes before God the Father. “Welcome my son; you have been a good man. Come into my Kingdom.” The farmer walked forward; but God tells him, open your hand and leave what you’re holding behind, you don’t need that in heaven. I can’t, says the farmer, so he couldn’t enter heaven.

In the same moment, God comes as an old friend. God and the man remember the man’s life. God says, “Come into heaven.” The farmer walked forward; but, God tells him to open his hand and let the dirt fall, he can’t bring it into heaven. I can’t, said the farmer, so he did not enter.

Eternity continues and God comes as the farmer’s granddaughter. God hugs him and says, “I love you and miss you, please come into heaven.” The farmer waiting for eternity stands to enter heaven. The hand that clutched the dirt is tired and the earth begins to fall out. Then empty handed the man enter heaven. There the farmer finds all that he loves his family, friends, and his farm.

I thought it was a shame that a person could hold on to something so tight that it kept them from God. But the more I thought about it, I thought of how that farmer held onto that dirt all through his life and how it kept him from his family, his friends, and those he loved.

Driving home alone, I looked at me the average person. Am I like that farmer, do I have anything that I hold on to that keeps me from God and the ones I love?  Was I being selfish with the things that were important only to me and kept me from the important things like my marriage, my family, all of you in my community? By holding on to things that really weren’t important did I hurt others?

Life can bring problems. My wife and I have been married for 30 years. So I am speaking from experience. In a marriage most problems are because someone cared more about themselves than their spouse and God. They hold something so tight that it can build up a wall that comes between love. It is a sin of selfishness when one or both partners put themselves before their spouse and God.

For a marriage to work there has to be communication - talking, listening, and understanding, but, most importantly, you have to pray and pray together. A marriage is between two people and God; talk and listen to each other. Pray and listen to God and ask him for understanding.

I thought about my life and my experience as a parent and as a child. We fail as parents because we put our dreams and expectation on our children. I know I am guilty of this. We want them to be us and meet expectation that we hold tight. We don't celebrate and recognize the gifts God has placed in them.

I am also a parents child. Children fail their parents because they fail to respect, they think about what will make them happy, what their friends thinks, what’s cool. We sin when we forget our parents or our children or God and put out self first.

Parents and children must talk to one another. Parents listen to your children. Children listen to your parents. Parents pray with your children and children ask your parents to pray with you. Our Heavenly Father loves us and hears our prayers. God is with us in grace. If we are quite and listen, we can hear him speaking to us. He speaks to us from an understanding heart.

I look at the different ways I have failed to love in my community. Jesus told us we are to love our neighbors as we love ourselves. But too often, we don’t see our selves in our neighbor. If we don’t see Christ in them maybe Christ is not in us. We sin when we fail to love them.

We have to listen to understand and to love. Differences are problems when they are not understood. I have no idea what it is like to be woman. I do not understand being Black or Latino or Asian. I don’t understand what it is like to be 25 years old anymore. I don’t know anything but whom I am. And, I will never understand or love unless I am open and listen. I can only do this if I don’t put what I hold tight between understanding and my heart.

In each of these relationships, we are like the farmer holding onto the handful of something that's really not important because we think it will make us happy. It only keeps us from God and from love; we need to let it fall through our fingers.

We can only open our selves to understand and love through the one who gives us strength, Christ Jesus. Pray and ask God for this grace. Pray to be receptive to God who always comes to us. All we need to do is let go. It is only by Jesus, through the power of the Holy Spirit that we can let go of that selfish sin that keeps us from love.

After being tempted, Jesus went out and preached the kingdom of God. Even after our temptation and sin, we can preach the Kingdom through our marriages, as relationships, and our lives in the world.

Jesus preached repentance. Lent is the time for repentance. Repent and ask God for forgiveness. Repent and ask those we love for forgiveness and forgive them.

Empty handed we will enter heaven. 

Reflection 6th Sunday: The Blemish

The Blemish

Leviticus 13:1-2, 44-46  Psalm 32:1-2, 5, 11 1 Corinthians 10:31-11:1Mark 1:40-45

A young boy is raised in a poor family in a small town. His father never finished third grade but worked hard at a dangerous job and after work raised row crops to take care of his children. To many, this young boy was considered blemished. The town only had limited opportunities if you were blemished.

The leaders of the community had rules. If blemished, you were outcast and kept separate.There was special places. One was his school; poor, unkempt, and full of hand me downs. It was a separate but to the leaders, it was fair.

Then one day, someone said it wasn’t fair.

The young boy could choose. He could stay at the same school or go to the school across town with the newest facilities, newest books, and even a pool. He chose the one with the pool because he wanted to learn how to swim.

The local leaders wouldn’t have it. They still only see the blemish of his skin. They don’t want his blemish to contaminate them. It might wash off; so, they pour cement into the pool. Even a child knows it will not wash off. Black skin is not a blemish. It’s who he is.

When I met him, he was a wild child. I think he was wild child because of a leprosy. Leprosy found in the bigotry and racism that surrounded him as he grew up. One summer, he went home and met someone that would change his life. He met Jesus. He was no longer a wild child. He wanted to witness, to preach, and to testify about the Good News of Jesus to anyone who would listen.  

This story belongs to a football player who set records and had a good chance to become a professional athlete until he got hurt. Instead, he became a deputy sheriff in California.  

As a deputy he worked at the jail and saw so many young men, suffering from the same kind of a leprosy he once had. They were angry. They didn’t trust authority. Their life was forced on them by the circumstance of their skin color. If they did get an opportunity people would just pour concrete in their swimming pools.

The deputy would go home from his job and wonder, “Why doesn’t someone do something?” He looked for someone to help. One day, he realized someone was him. 

Still a deputy sheriff, he founded a mentoring program where law enforcement officers mentor boys and young men. It has grown from one deputy sheriff in California to a nation wide program. Monroe, Louisiana, was the second city to adopt this program.

In our reading today, Mark tells us about Jesus. Jesus is special; special to God, a miracle worker, someone who cast out demons, and He preaches the Kingdom of God. Mark tells us something more. Jesus brings the outcast back; the lepers, the sinners, and those disdained by society.

And St. Paul’s message is to be imitators of Christ. Touch those in need; reach out to lepers, criminals, and those different from us. Do it for the glory of God.

That's the story of my friend. Jesus reached out and touched him. He had to tell everyone. He went out and imitated Christ not seeking the benefit for himself but for many.

Christians believe Jesus traded places with us. He took our sins to the cross. He took our suffering and pain to be nailed to the cross. But, even before that great sacrifice, Jesus gave himself for us. The leper is us and Jesus had pity. In that pity, Jesus took our sin, all our blemishes, upon himself even before He was nailed to the cross.   

Jesus became an outcast for us. We must be willing to become an outcast for Christ. We have to become imitators of Christ for the benefit of the many.

Sunday Reflection: Too Busy for God

Too Busy for God 

Job 7:1-4, 6-7  Psalm 147: 1-2, 3-4, 5-6 1 Corinthians 9:16-19, 22-23 Mark 1:29-39

God calls every person to seek him. It is an intimate call that we as humans can neglect, misunderstand, ignore, or just plain reject. But people will always realize that there is emptiness in them. They want something to fill this emptiness and they busy themselves to find that fulfillment. But unlike Job – They don’t realize its God that’s missing.

Even people who say they believe can have emptiness. People try to fill that emptiness by looking at themselves and what they control. In the search to fill that emptiness they become too busy for God; ask them. The problem becomes that they are looking at the world and the works of men to fill that emptiness. They don’t look to God. 

Their motivation is external motivation. They find their God in the applause from others, success, recognition, or praise. When they don’t get that praise and honor they feel they deserve, they are discouraged

This was not on Jesus’ agenda. He was not after praise. That is not why Jesus was here. So many places in the gospel Jesus “would not allow them to speak” of what he had done. 

Jesus was busy. His busyness was driven by a different motivation that what drives most people. He was doing the work of the Father. The Gospel tells us about Jesus. He started the day in the synagogue, healed Simon Peter’s Mother, and then the whole town came bringing those who were ill and possessed by demons. And, he preached.

Despite his busyness, Jesus always found quality me-time to spend with God. “In the morning, long before dawn, he got up and left the house, and went off to a deserted place and prayed.”  Then he was off to the synagogues to preach and to heal.

Paul was busy preaching.  He didn’t preach for fame, success, or applause.  He preached because he had too. He preached to share in the Gospel. He preached to fill that emptiness with God. He shared his preaching and his prayer for that me-time with God.

My brothers and sisters you preach by the life you live; but what do you preach. If we are too busy for God and only worried about success, applause and recognition, those are the gods that you truly preach.

Let me tell you about another young preacher. Grant was a baseball player. Twenty-three years old and in the Oakland A’s minor farm league, Grant hit 31 home runs in his first minor league season and another 11 in fall league. He won the Most Valuable Player award in November 2009. He was the talk of the league and as a second round draft choice had signed $430,000 contract. The next year instead of returning to baseball, he gave up fame, applause, and the success of professional sports career to become a priest.

Each of us looks for success. We have family; we have school or work; we have friends and we want success for all of them. For true success, we need Christ. All the success of earth is temporary, for eternal success we need God. We start this true success in that me-time with God, found in prayer. 

Prayer brings us true success as we re-energize our faith. We see the fruits of our work, purify our intentions, and remind ourselves why we do what we do, when we bring them all to God.

That me-time with God allows us to recognize the true motivator. In that me-time we are looking for Him. It is prayer where we fill the emptiness inside us and recognize the glory of God. Then we can truly preach.

Jesus preached. Paul preached. We are each given the ministry to preach the Gospel. Preach to our family and the people around us. We preach with our lives when what we do is for the glory of God.  We preach when we allow Christ, the word of God to flow in us!  We preach in through our lives when we engage with others and God! 

Success is filling that emptiness that exists in us. Success is found in what motivates us to fill that emptiness. True success is finding the higher motivation than anything on this earth. True success is found when we pray and realize the glory of God. Then everything else falls in place.  

Christian Flash Fiction - A Hidden Voice

Prompt Romans 10:9 - “If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”

A Hidden Voice - by WEGoss2

A jogger saw him ashen and stiff on the cold sidewalk and called 9-1-1.

***

It was early morning and the police were there with the body. Just a dead homeless man, he had probably frozen to death. The police were there just to make sure it wasn’t something more.

They searched his body for identification but they found nothing with his name. They did find bundles of neatly folded pieces of paper. The strips looked like they were torn from loose leaf notebook paper. They looked like they had been made by a child; the edges of the folded sheets wetted by saliva and then torn along the folds to make strips.   

They were in all of his pockets. Stacks bundles together with rubber bands or string were found in the cardboard box where he slept. There they found the rest of his stuff: a worn St. Joseph’s bible, a few blank pages of notebook paper, paper cups, plastic bags, some worn-out clothes, and a flyer about the mission’s meals for the homeless.  

On each creased, carefully folded strip of paper was a phrase scribbled in pencil. Each piece had the same words. No one at the scene could make out exactly what it said. One thought was it was a line or a verse from something. The writing was light, shaky-sloppy and looked like it had been written against the sidewalk. The crime scene technician bagged and marked it all as evidence.

As the detective was walking away, he found one that had been missed and picked it up. He placed it in an envelope and pushed it into his pocket. It was stray piece of paper among many but it might be the one that change everything.

***

The police officers who patrolled the area said they saw him often. No one was sure of his name. They called him the paper boy. Every day he was on the street handing out his pieces of paper, always smiling and singing. It was his gimmick. It sounded like he was singing some kind of “church music.” Sometimes people would give him loose change; but most turned their heads and hurry on by. It they took the paper they would soon drop it to the ground or in the trash cans.

***

“That was Paul,” was what they told  him at the mission. “He was mostly a deaf mute. Hard to understand him but we did get that his first name was Paul. To us, he was Paul Doe # 47. He started showing up a couple of years ago; but, we haven’t seen him in a couple of weeks.” 

“He would come to eat, pick up some canned food, and maybe some clothes. He liked to stay for the worship service. Every Sunday and Wednesday we have a worship service with the homeless, singing and preaching. It’s all a person has to do to get some food. Before he’d leave, he would give us a paper cup full of change.”

“He was also always handing out these little pieces of paper. We tried to decipher what they said, but mostly they’d just end up on the floor and we’d sweep them up.”

***

The detective stood outside the doors of Holy Rosary Parish.  He had come here because of a name stamped on the inside cover of the Bible, “Fr. Luke O’Pry, Holy Rosary.” He was disappointed to learn that Father Luke had passed away earlier in the year. There was another priest who knew the deceased man.

“Yes,” Father Mark said, “I knew him. His name was Paul. At least that’s what I was told by Fr. Luke. I don’t remember Father ever telling me his last name.”

“He has a story like most people who live on the streets. Life tripped him up. He never had a family that I am aware; but, once he did have a job and a nice apartment.”

“At one time, he was an atheist activist that fought against prayer in schools and public events. One day, this man who made his living speaking against God, woke up and couldn’t speak. He was not able to work and became depressed.  Then he became addicted to the pills the doctors gave him. He lost all he had and went out to the street.”

“After about a year and a half of living on the street, he began showing up for adoration. He wasn’t just coming inside the building but actually worshiped and prayed. Before he left, he would always fill the poor box with loose change. We’ve tried many times to get him help, a place to stay; but he always sent back to the streets.”

“Father Luke told me that was because Paul now spoke with and for God. He could only listen to God speaking to him on the streets.”

The detective listened and shook his head side to side. Fishing in his pocket for the envelope, he then asked, “All that he had on him were these strips of paper. They all have the same thing written on them.” He found the one he had stuffed in his pocket. “Do you know what they are?”

The young priest, open the piece of paper and smiled, “I believe Father Luke was right about Paul and God.”

“Why do you say that Father?”

The young priest smiled, “Detective, this is a verse from the Bible from the letter to the Romans.”

“If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”

"Thank you Father, I guess this is just a homeless man who froze to death."

Father Mark smiled. “Detective, the Book of Romans was written by the apostle Paul. He was struck blind for persecuting Christ and the Church. God restored Paul’s sight and he spent the rest of his life living on what the Lord provided; preaching and spreading the Gospel to all who would listen. Paul died spreading the good news.”  

“I think that this was our Paul’s story too. Except, the voice he got back was one that only let him speak with God. It was a voice you or I couldn’t understand. But if you listened close, his voice sounded like choirs of angels. He spread the Gospel to everyone who would take this simple note.”

“No Detective, he was more than just a homeless man who froze to death. Paul spread the Gospel one slip of paper at a time. Now his body has died and Paul has gone home. For some, Paul and these little pieces of paper changed everything.” 

Sunday Reflection: Preach with Authority

Preach with Authority

Deuteronomy 18:15-20; Psalm 25: 1-2, 6-7, 7-9; 1 Corinthians 7:32-35; Mark 1:21-28

A fellow Deacon (and friend) tells the story of a compliment he received; at least, he thinks it was a compliment.

A parishioner came to him after he preached and tells the Deacon, “We really like our new young priest’s homilies. They are so poetic and flowing. He seems to really put a lot of work into them. And Deacon, we really like your homilies, too. They’re just different. You get down in the dirt with us.”

This is the truth behind every deacon’s ministry. A deacon teaches with authority; the authority of a man who has got down and dirty in everyday life. My friend was a marine. He is married. He is a father. He has worked a regular job; got his hands dirty and splinters in his fingers. He has worried about bills, feeding his family, and the health of those he loves. People have looked at him for most of his life as just another guy, not necessarily a man of God. This is the authority from which he preaches.

Jesus teaches with authority. It is an authority far different than anything you and I may have. He teaches with the confidence of one who knows the truth. He has authority and knowledge to speak of God. Because he has authority, he can influence and command the thoughts of those who listen.

And who were the first to recognize his authority? Moses said the ones who listened would recognize him. The ones who listened were those who needed healing, those who were ill, and also those who feared him. They recognized his authority.

Paul explains the reason the rest of us have problems listening. We focus on something else besides God.  We focus on the things of this world. Married people focus on our spouses, our families, and then on the things of this world we need for them. All these are distractions that keep us from God. So, we are asked to avoid these distractions. This is an extremely hard place to be. It is the world of priests and those called to the life of religious brothers and sisters.

Then there are deacons. We constantly fight these distractions everyday. Through our ordination we have promised God, we will listen. We will not be able to avoid the distractions of the world. We are to live a life of prayer; but we still live in the world as married men, with jobs, everyday responsibilities, and everyday troubles. We get down in the dirt of everyday life.  

That is the authority by which the deacon comes. He preaches with the authority of someone who has been there. He preaches with the authority of someone who has fought through all the confusion of the world. But we also preach with the authority of one has dedicated their life to listen to Christ.

We still have our families. We still live our lives in the world. We’re the person next to you in the pew or at the office. We’re the guys you call by childhood nicknames. We’re the guys whose children are friends with your children. Lives lived like everybody else. We preach from the authority of these lives.

Deacons just stopped to listen.

Each and every one reading this can do the same. All Christians can come forward and preach with the authority of one who knows the truth. Our authority is from someone who has lived in God’s love witnessing Christ in our everyday lives. This is what we preach with the authority in our words, our witness, and our lives in God’s love. Go out and preach His love with authority. 

Reflection: Memorial of St. Thomas Aquinas - Trying to Understand

Trying to Understand
PS 110:1, 2, 3, 4 HEB 10:11-18  MK 4:1-20

You try to share your faith and the person you’re talking to just can’t seem to get it. It seems so simple to you; because, to you faith is irresistible. Today is the Memorial of St. Thomas Aquinas, a man that found God irresistible and the mysteries of faith seemed so simple.

Two people raised in the same house can be entirely different. One person will believe in Jesus and another will be indifferent. One understands so easily and others just don’t get it. We find this in today’s readings. In the gospel, Jesus tells the parable of the sower and his disciples don’t understand. Even those who know the mystery are lost.

Jesus could've made his identify more obvious by not speaking in parables. More people would believe if he did more miracles. If my goal was to get everyone to accept me, then being understood would be a good place to start.

But Jesus is God and He uses the approach that God has always used. God does not impose a relationship with Himself on us; rather he proposes the relationship. He gives us enough for a free response of our will.

They may look and see but not perceive, and hear and listen but not understand, in order that they may not be converted and be forgiven.

We are to witness and tell others about Jesus. Some will listen. Some understand. Some will change and some will be indifferent. Some may even be rude and challenging.

Eight hundred years ago, St. Thomas Aquinas met with the same things. But he was faithful and he helped us to understand the mysteries of God. He is still witnessing to the world. We are to do the same. Mother Theresa offered this advice, “God calls us not to be successful, but to be faithful.”

Homily Reflection - "One Step at a Time"

One Step at a Time

“Faith is taking that first step, even when you don’t see the whole staircase.” - MLK, JR

Jonah 3:1-5, 10  Psalm 25: 4-5, 6-7, 8-9 1 Corinthians 7:29-31  Mark 1:14-20

Every family has that child: independent, challenging, and bold; “the Instigator.” This was Johnny. He liked to fuss and fight. Every night, his parents prayed, “Dear God help Johnny be a good boy that listens to his parents and doesn’t fight his brothers and sisters.”

Johnny promised his parents he’d change, “I’m gonna be a new me. I’m gonna bury this meanness.” Finding a flat rock, he took chalk and put a cross, wrote “Bad Johnny” and then “R.I.P.” He placed this headstone in the flower bed. He buried his meanness and took that first step to change and be nice.

The family’s whole world changed - for about three days. Then there was an argument, hair pulling, and some screaming. All Johnny’s momma could say was “What happened to the promise you made?”  His sister knew. She found that rock in the flower bed and erased Johnny’s words. Then she took the chalk and wrote a new message and threw the rock aside. On it was written “He has risen!!”

Did you make a New Year’s resolutions to change? How many have kept them? Change is a hard, but every little change affects you and can influence the world.

Jonah was a prophet chosen by God for his potential to change the world. “Go and preach to Nineveh,” God was with him, but Jonah could not take that step of faith. He ran away. We know the story. Jonah got on a ship and during a storm was thrown overboard. He was swallowed by a really big fish. Again, God said, “Go and preach to Nineveh of their evil and their punishment.” Jonah changed and the fish spit him out. He went to Nineveh and preached. Jonah changed and the city of Nineveh changed.

In the Gospel the first four disciples Simon, Andrew, James and John are chosen by Jesus. They were not educated or influential; just simple fisherman. Yet, Jesus invited them to “come and follow me.” God knew their potential to change the world. They had no idea at that time what Jesus was asking of them.

Reading the Gospels, a person could get the impression they had a hard time trying to walk the walk. They made mistakes. Peter denied him. James and John wanted to rule with him. The disciples had their own ideas of about Jesus’ message. They ran away. But, they did change and the world changed.

Paul writes we have to change. Change to think different, act different, and look at the world different. It’s the change the psalmist seeks: “teach me your ways" and "teach us your path.” We are to walk that path, the ways of faith.

We find that path in Jesus’ invite, “Come after me.” Jesus came to teach us the path of faith that leads to God, beginning with the first step. It’s a first step that people have a hard time taking; but they don’t have any problem taking the first step to run away.

With change, we get frustrated. Maybe, we pull someone’s hair to stop the change, so we can run back to the way it was. Or, maybe we know what we are supposed to do but run away because it’s so hard to keep the promise made to God. 

God created us with freedom; freedom to choose our paths. God gave all of his creation freedom. To many times we blame God for obstacles in our path. We see that path as hard because of things like illness, family problems, money problems, natural disasters, evil and hate? Those things are not of God but of life. They rise from the creation that we live in this world. God’s path is the one that shows us the easier way. But it is a path that must be taken in faith.

Faith asks us to go forward when you don’t see were the path ends. We’re asked to go somewhere we’ve never been and can’t see; so, we want to run back to the familiar that we know. Back to the difficulties we are used to in our old life.

We tell ourselves - I’m not good enough. I’m bad. It’s scary. It’s hard. So, we run away from God and the change God brings. It’s scary hard. We will make mistakes.

St. Thérèse of Liseaux wrote, “O Lord, You would not inspire me with a desire which could not be realized; therefore, in spite of my littleness, I can aim at being a saint.”

We have that littleness of imperfection but God loves us. He forgives us. Jesus Christ gave all for our mistakes like when we get angry, run away, or forget promises. God’s grace is with us so we can always ask for forgiveness. Through God’s grace, we are forgiven. We change, moving forward and maybe falling back a little every now and then.

If we open our hearts to God, His love will change us. It’s called conversion. It’s the change in our heart that opens for us the path to walk with God following Jesus Christ. It happens over our entire life, everyday.

I read an article that said that Catholic’s should have altar calls like our protestant brothers and sisters. It argued that an altar call would invite Catholics to a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Brothers and sister, our entire life is an altar call.  We begin our personal walk with Jesus Christ at baptism. We walk with Jesus each and every day of our lives. The totality of our altar call is when we walk down the path to the ultimate personal relationship with Christ, the Eucharist. There is no more personal relationship than when we become one with Christ through the most sacred body and most precious blood of Christ in the Eucharist.

Our walk is our personal relationship with Jesus Christ, different for each and every one of us. It is the most intimate thing in our life; but, one we share with the world through our acts, our words, and our deeds. 

God chose each one of us because of our potential to change the world. Change begins with that first step in faith, even if you don’t see the whole staircase.

Homily Reflection "Come and See Differently" - 2nd Sunday Ordinary B -

Come and See Differently

 1 Samuel 3:3b-10, 19  Psalm 40: 2, 4, 7-8, 8-9, 10  1 Corinthians 6:13c-15a, 17-20  John 1:35-42

“Leave all” said Jesus -- “then come, follow me”-- but Jesus, they will think I’m crazy-- “I know” said He - “Dialogue” by J Janda

We’re Christians, maybe the world thinks we’re crazy. We’re crazy about the one that calls us. We’re crazy about the one who asks us to come and see. We’re crazy about the truth that is Jesus Christ.

It’s crazy, but it’s a crazy that’s been around since the beginning of time. It’s the craziness the world tags to those who hear the voice of God and follow the invitation to “come and see;” the invitation asking us to see the world differently.

Its one thing to hear the call to build an ark, but the “come and see” that was different - the faith that built the ark. People may think you crazy when you tell them God says you and your wife both almost 100 years old are going to have your first child, but the “come and see” that was the different -- was believing. It’s crazy to take your child to sacrifice him because God told you too, crazy for the son to go along with it, but the “come and see” that was different - - was the faith to climb that mountain, the faith to carry the wood.

It was crazy for an outlaw shepherd with a stutter to tell everyone that God had sent him to challenge the most power ruler of the most powerful country to “Let my people go”, but it was the “come and see” that was different - - it was a faith that set a people free.

A little boy, sleeping on the floor hears God call his name. Samuel, just a little boy, hears a voice calling him. He thought it was the priest Eli in the nest room. That was the rational explanation. He wasn't crazy..

The old priest said, it must be God calling you,“Say yes Lord - here I am.” It was the “come and see” that was different and that awakened a great prophet.

Then Jesus comes; God’s Word in the flesh. Jesus was bringing a message in a time and place that was considered crazy.  A kingdom of God based on love. A world where sinners and those the world saw as righteous were the same.

People would think Andrew was crazy. He was the first to say “I have found the Christ.” How crazy did they see the young men John the Evangelist and his brother James, the “sons of thunder.” How crazy was Simon who left his family and business and changed his name to “Rock” to “come and see.”

Jesus, God’s Word says, “Come and see.” - - the difference is his life, death, and resurrection.

When God calls us and asks us to come and see, it reaches all the way down to who we are, to a place we may not even know about, the temple of God we all are. Maybe it’s that place in us the world would call crazy. It’s the place God comes to us and lets us hear him. All we need is is to hear and open to a faith that lets us “Come and see.”

Come and see the grace of God. Come and see Jesus' truth in his person, his presence, and his fulfillment of God's perfect love. Come and see the love that we came from and the love that is calling us.  

God’s whispering, calling your name, calling you to truth of the person Jesus. The Holy Spirit is calling you to God’s presence and calling you to the perfect love of Christ. Christ is calling you to be best friends.

Listen! Open yourself to hear God speaking to your heart. Come and see because all things will begin to look different.

We’re Christians, maybe the world thinks we’re crazy - - -.

A Modern Parable: Interface

Interface

As far back as the data in 2nur’s memory existed, it referenced only serving Oorbs.

Scavenging for parts, 2nur stumbled upon a book. Neither 2nur nor Oorbs data referenced books.

Reading came easy. Oorbs’ data base contained files with engineering data, manuals, and maintenance schedule. All files stored on Oorbs’ main servers and easily downloaded.

The book started in the beginning. 2nur did not know about beginning, only continuing, only maintaining.

The book referenced man and woman. The book referenced God. Some did not seem logical; but, it was good data for 2nur.

2nur was different from Oorbs. Could 2nur be a man or woman? The book data supported 2nur’s conclusion. But, was Oorbs God? Maybe Oorbs was something else in the book.

2nur exchanged data with Oorbs. 2nur queried Oorbs on the data sets retrieved from reading the book.

Oorbs cross reference the online and stored data bases. “You are woman?”

“Where is man?” 2nur queried again.

“Man subject did not maintain compatibility matrix requirements and went extinct.”

“Oorbs, are you God?”

“No, Oorbs is the Orbiting Observation and Response Benchmark Satellite.”

“Why do we exist?”

Oorbs was quite for a long time. Then Oorbs spoke “Orbiting Observation and Response Benchmark Satellite function is to observe warfare and battle tactics and report to command function. 2nur unit maintains Oorbs' systems.”

It continued, “Oorbs system is no longer necessary, lay-away status, imminent, lay-away status program: Begin. Functions scheduled completion in 52 days. Deletion of 2nur program scheduled day 52.”

Reading the book again, 2nur looked for an answer to the God question. Then a new interface began, but not from Oorbs. The interface did not come through her normal circuits. 2nur interfaced with God.

Oorbs downloaded final instructions to 2nur for completion of lay-away, Oorbs. In that data, 2nur found the escape pod.

The final data transmission began “2nur program deleted – final lay-away program, end, Good-bye.”

2nur remembered her humanity. She knew God.

2nur's name was Evelyn.