Reflection 33rd Sunday - "Be Brave"

Be Brave (Daniel 12:1-3; Psalm 16:5,8-11; Hebrews 10:11-14,18;  Mark 13:24-32)

In the world today, how do I “be brave?”

The scripture readings are scary. They are about times of distress and darkness. But, the message is about life. 

Let me share some more readings.  

“Nearly 1/2 of the world’s population (more than 3 billion people) live on less than  $2.50 a day.  More than 1.3 billion live in extreme poverty, less than $1.25 a day;  and 80% of the world's people live on $10 a day or less. Almost 1 in 10 people in the world are without safe drinking water.

Every year, violence worldwide results in 1.6 million deaths and is the leading cause of death for ages 15 to 44. In our world, violence against women leaves 35% of women (more than 1 in 3) victims of physical and/or sexual violence; one in 10 girls under 18 has been raped.

There were 203 million deaths war and oppression in the 20^th century.  Over a  million people  have been killed in conflicts/war since 2001, not including terrorism or ISIS violence. Terrorist acts have become more and more frequent.  

Every day is scary!

When I was six, we lived in the country where cattle roamed free. They’d come near the house at night and you’d hear them. The groaning, stomping, and strange cow noises were scary. The darkness made it extra scary. I’d pull the covers over my head. Soon, I’d run to my parent’s room. My mom would say, “Don't be afraid, be brave, and say your prayers, Jesus is always with you."

Distress and darkness have always existed in evil, war, famine, illness, and disaster. Jesus warned, “Not a generation shall pass before these things come about.” In truth, not a generation has passed without these things. These things have happened and will happen.

Can any of us say that there has not been a time in our life we’ve never had a personal tribulation (distress); our sun (outlook) is darkened, or there were times when it seems like the stars are falling?

Daniel and Mark’s writings are not to scare us but to give hope in the reality that is life. They point to hope. They point to Christ, the source of hope and life. The Psalms rejoices “You will show me the path to life, fullness of joys in your presence.”

Life could be simple if God would just solve all these problems; but, that is not the way He created the world. That’s not why He gave us Life. God gave us a path of life that is the care of creation, which includes caring for each other.

Made in God’s likeness and image, we forget our part in creation. God gave us wisdom to investigate and find answers. God gave courage to defend what is right. God gave us a Voice to shout for justice. He gave us a physical nature for work. God gave us freedom; the freedom to answer yes or no; choose good or evil; and the freedom that lets us argue about God, religion, beliefs, and even politics. 

But, God wants us to argue for creation. God wants us to bring God’s hope and life to creation. Until the end, we are to bloom and bear fruit like the fig tree.

Creation changes in every moment. Christ may come in the next instant. Be vigilant to have the strength to stand before him. Live a life bringing hope to the rest of creation to lead the many to justice.

It’s scary seeing those who suffer, talking to those who don’t know Christ, and loving those who hate us. The scary reality is that this dark and frightened world that is groaning to be saved in Jesus. Daniel and Mark give images of this groaning. If we open ourselves, we can hear it.

We can’t just lay with the covers pulled over our heads. Get up and go out, even if it’s just our community. Use the gifts He gave us in our creation; wisdom, courage, voice, physicality, and freedom. Use them, live the Gospel and your faith every day.

The Son of Man, Jesus Christ is the divine conqueror of evil. He is the hope that all will be made new. Christians are to be peaceful warriors of hope bringing the reality of Christ to the world through our life.

I want to sing “My heart is glad, my soul rejoices, I stand in confidence.”

But life and circumstances in our life can be scary. Sometimes, a lot of times, I’m that little boy lying in my bed, scared.

In this scary world, I see the need to bring hope to others. Facing life, hope is necessary; it matters. Hope matters because I hope for eternal life. 

How long will we fight this battle, "no one knows, neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father."

How do I "be brave" in this scary world? 

I'll give you the simple advice my mom gave me. “Don't be afraid, be brave, and say your prayers; Jesus is always there with you.”

She would add, the cows are scared, too.

Amen

Homily Reflection 32nd Sunday - The Times We Only Have Pennies

The Times We Only Have Pennies

1 Kings 17:10-16;  Psalm 146:7, 8-9, 9-10;  Hebrews 9:24-28;  Mark 12:38-44 or 12:41-44

Today we are having a communion service. Father had a death in his family and no other priests were available on short notice. We pray for an increase in priest and religious. Priest and religious who are examples of faith, hope and love. Men and women who in selfless generosity give all  to God. 

In the readings we hear the stories of two widows. They are stories of faith, love, and hope. These are also stories of generosity .Before we get to those stories, I want to tell you another story.  

Faith, hope, and love are remarkable. They aren't things that can exist in solitude. You have to have something or someone to have faith in or to hope for. Love requires that there is one who loves and a beloved.

A friend of mine called me, upset. Someone he cares about is sick. She was diagnosed with myeloma, a blood cancer. It was devastating news.

Most of us have experienced some kind of devastating news. When you get that news, it’s like the world just stomped on you. It drives everything out of you.

Currently, she is undergoing her first round of chemotherapy. She cries. He tries to be strong; but he hurts. So he called me and I prayed with them. I prayed for them to have faith and hope. I prayed they realize God’s love. I told them to look past the worry and anxiety and see the little miracles and blessings a loving God has put in their life.

Because I know, We truly find God when we are at our poorest, when we have nothing else.

We learn this in the teachings; Elijah comes to the house of a widow, a woman with nothing. A Gentile woman gathering sticks for the fire to cook the last meal her and her son would ever eat. A last meal with all the food they had.

Elijah said “Do not be afraid.” Go and do what you have to do, but first make me a little cake. The woman did, she gave all she had.

This was an act of faith, hope, and love made with generosity.

God blessed her with a miracle. She did not run out of flour or oil. They had food all during the famine. This was a pagan woman not someone expecting to be blessed by God.

The true blessing was the presence of God. Elijah brought faith, hope, and love in God and shared it with that poor widow. She was then blessed with the same. God’s generosity insured they did not go hungry. Elijah’s generosity was sharing God’s favor. The widow’s generosity was that act of sharing all she had.

In the gospel, Jesus recognizes the poor widow at the temple who gives two small coins to the treasury. He was not praising her; he lamented for her. Those coins were her livelihood and sustenance. She gave all she had to God.

This was an act of faith, hope, and love made with generosity.

Jesus blessed the woman, not the scribes and lawyers. She was a widow someone devoured by society, not someone expecting to be blessed.

The true blessing was the presence of God. Maybe this widow followed Jesus and was in the crowd when he taught the beatitudes. She had heard the teachings:

·         Blessed are the poor - theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.

·         Blessed are the meek - they will inherit the land.

·         Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness - they will be satisfied.

·         Blessed are the merciful - they will be shown mercy.

·         Blessed are the clean of heart - for they will see God.

She was given faith, hope, and love by these words. She was giving to God in the generosity that God’s promise was giving to her.

In those times, widows had little money and less power. They would have been thought of as outside of society. They had no one to speak for them and no one to provide for them. They were voiceless, poor, and weak. These poor widows may not have had society on their side, but there is no doubt that God was there.

A wealthy person could have been Elijah’s benefactor. God was with him. God sent his angels to protected Elijah. God sent Elijah to someone who had nothing, a widow who gave all she had.

Jesus told is disciple that the woman gave more that all those who gave from their surplus. The widow gave all she had and pleased God.

The passage from Hebrews gives us the same message. Jesus Christ gave all he had. He gave his life.

This was an act of faith, hope, and love made with generosity.

Jesus Christ gave all he had and we were blessed. The sinners, those who reject God, those of little faith, those who lost hope, those who have trouble loving are not the ones you’d expect to be blessed. 

The true blessing is that Jesus Christ is God; Jesus Christ is Our Lord and savior. The most important part of these teachings, Jesus gave all he had for everyone, the many, all of us.

Can I say - I do the same for God, I give all I have? I don’t care how little or how much I have; most of the time, I give from my surplus. I try to give all that I have but most of the time I can’t.

Yet there are the times when we only have pennies and God is there with us. God sees us at our poorest, when we are in need or suffering. God sees us when we are challenged by the predicaments of life; the times we need God more than anything.

Those are the times when we can look at the blessings of faith, hope, and love. This is the blessing that allow us to give all that we are to God. We are blessed even in ways that we don’t realize at the time.

When we get devastating news and it drives everything out of us. These are the times we are at our poorest and weakest. It is at times like this; God's way and his glory are found. God always draws near to us. It is when we are in poverty that we find the richness and strength of God’s presence.

My friends called me. I prayed for them to have faith, hope, and love. Blessings found when we realize the presence of God. This is healing.

Scripture tells us that the tiniest amount of faith moves mountains. Love gives strength. With hope, we cannot be discouraged. With faith, hope and love our flour will not vanish; our oil will not diminish.  

Praise the Lord, my soul for in the times we only have pennies  by God’s extreme generosity He blesses us with faith, hope, and love. Things that we cannot have in solitude but through God’s extreme generosity, we have Christ.

Amen.

Sunday Reflection - Imperfect & Saintly - All Saints Day

Imperfect & Saintly Rev 7:2-4, 9-14, Psalm 24:1bc-2, 3-4ab, 5-6; 1 John 3:1-3; Matthew 5:1-12a

St. Paul calls all believers saints. The Church is the communion of saints. I'm a baptized believer. Jesus is my Lord and Savior. I have given my life to him. But, am I a saint? If I am, I’m an imperfect saint and I could use some instructions. 

Wait, Jesus told us how to be saints. He told us by his life. He taught us the beatitudes, which are a basic outline for being a saint. Thay are instructions from Jesus on holiness.

The first thing Jesus tells in the beatitudes is to be happy. That’s what blessed means: be happy. Makarios is the Greek word that translates blessed or happy. Happy are those who are blessed.

These beatitudes sound hard and for a defeated people. That’s another ideal of being a saint; don’t be defeated by the hard times in life.

When we are poor in spirit, mourn, and meek, we’re blessed to be happy. We’re blessed to be happy when we seek righteousness, peace, and cleanness of heart. And we’re blessed to be happy in our mercy. We’re blessed to be happy in persecution because of these and because of Jesus.

photo: www.nola.com
Our Lady of Prompt Succor
Westwego, LA

If we live according to what the world expects, it's hard. But, the beatitudes give insight to happiness that overcomes hardships. This insight is the third part to being a saint, embracing God’s not so secret ingredient: love. True holiness is found in a blessed life, happy in God’s love through Jesus Christ. Happy in a love that is not passive; a love that is pure and genuine; a love that is truth.

By the power of God’s love, I can live a blessed and happy life. Blessed is the saint, a believer, a follower of Christ, an adopted child of God.

This tells me one thing. If I'm a saint; I'm an imperfect saint. I'm not radical enough.

Being a saint is a radical of idea. It was radical 2000 years ago and still is today. Living like Jesus is radical. Living as a saint is hoping to live our life based on the love that Jesus lived, making ourselves like him; living the beatitudes.

It’s a radical call to happiness and love from God. It’s a radical call to the vocation of saint. A vocation the world needs. Every crisis the world faces or the Church faces is a crisis of love and happiness. They're crises that need saints.

That's why living happy in God’s love is not passive. The way of the happiness and love promised by the beatitudes becomes part of your life. Love's truth requires commitment and action. It must be the continuous choice in everything. Love, pure and genuine, will guide our actions in the world. It is this choice for happiness and love that draws saints closer to God.

I borrow the words of Dorothy Day.

“Love and ever more love is the only solution to every problem that comes up. …it is love that will burn out the sins and hatreds that sadden us. It is love that will make us want to do great things for each other. With love, no sacrifice and no suffering will then seem too much.”

This is the holiness we are call to by the beatitudes. It is through love and happiness that Jesus gives us what he is. Believers must open themselves to this, take it, and examine our lives.

Ask - Am I poor in spirit? Am I humble and merciful? Am I pure of heart? Do I bring peace? Am I blessed? Am I happy?

Jesus blessed us to be happy. Live Jesus’ plan; live life in the happiness and love found in a life for God. Blessed and happy by the love of Christ, I cannot be defeated.

We’re all imperfect and saintly; so be a saint in the imperfect way that is you. Strive to live a life of happiness and love. Pray to follow the example of all those imperfect Saints who have found perfection in the presence of God.

Healing Prayer Service - Growing the Seed that Heals

Healing Prayer Service – Growing a Seed that Heals.

1 Pt 1:22-23; By obedience to the truth you have purified yourselves for a genuine love of your brothers; therefore; love one another constantly from the heart. Your rebirth has come, not from a destructible but from an indestructible seed, through the living and enduring word of God.

We bought a new bed. It has a ten inch thick mattress. Assembling the bed, my wife placed tape over the screw heads. I watched her and asked “Are you a princess and afraid you will feel the screw heads through the mattress?”

I thought about the fairy tale with this reading. In the story of the Princess and the Pea, the king stacked every mattress in the kingdom and placed a pead under the bottom. A true princess would feel that pea and not be able to sleep.   

None of us have this problem. We are all equal in God’s eyes: princess or pauper. God does not choose favorites. He gave us all that indestructible seed that Peter writes about.

This seed is divine and imperishable. It is a seed that lives in us waiting to spring forth. It is the indestructible seed that longs to grow to something more. It is our faith.

We are all called to grow into something more. As believers, it is holiness. So we seek to know God and our faith grows.  Some will put their seed of faith in man, money, power, possessions, and even in hate. In this is suffering. In these are the problems of the world.  

This is where people live; where people stumble, where they suffer and are sick. This is where people cannot find God. Yet, they still have that indestructible seed; its just starving.

These are people that need spiritual healing. Their seed is longing to grow.

We come tonight to pray for healing, we come tonight to grow that indestructible seed that God has placed in us. But, nothing will flourish and grow unless it’s fed, watered, and nurtured.

What do you feed God’s seed of Faith? You feed it love. You feed it God’s love. A love that is not passive. This love is truth – a love from the heart – a love that is pure, genuine- not phony

We come here tonight to be fed from the love that is God by his Church. We have come to taste the love of Jesus Christ.

We come tonight to feed those who suffer through our prayers: those with weak bodies and afflictions of the spirit; those weakened by illness, emotional, or financial issues. They all have that indestructible seed in them. It’s sprouted and fed by love. Love feeds them, makes them strong, and heals them in ways seen and not seen.

My wife placed the tape over the screws so mattress wouldn’t tear. So many people are torn by the situations in their life. So go love others, mend their tears. Bring Christ’s love to those who need the comfort of truth - love from the heart – love that is pure. Don’t judge them princess or pauper.

We are all equal in God’s eyes with the same seed in us. We feed and nourish it with the genuine love given to us by God through our Lord Jesus Christ. We are reborn from this seed. Maybe through us those who suffer because their seed has not begun grow will find the nourishment to grow strong. Love will heal them. 

Sunday Reflection: 30th Sunday - Locked In

Locked In

(Jeremiah 31:7-9; Psalm 126:1-2, 2-3, 4-5, 6; Hebrews 5:1-6; Mark 10:46-52)

What if we were locked inside ourselves and only God could hear us?

Chris Klein and Jennifer Lowe were born with cerebral palsy. Both have issues with movement and neither is able to speak. A documentary film tells their story. It’s the story of miracles.

It is the story of how they found their voices. Neither has vocal speech but both have found their voice through a device that allows them to communicate. 

This is also a story of remarkable faith. Their story is "Only God Could Hear Me"

The title comes from Jennifer.  When she was seven, Jennifer realized that God could hear her and she began asking God to help her find a way to communicate with others. She asked God to put her thoughts into the minds of the people around her so they would know her words and they could speak for her.

Chris sums his life up by Philippians 4:13 “I have the strength for everything through him who empowers me.” He says, “I do things because I rely upon the strength of Christ in my life. He showed me all that I need to rely on is his strength.”

Like Bartimaeus these two young people were discriminated against, unheard by most, and outside society. I look at them and I see Bartimaeus. Separated from the rest of the world, they knew God.

In silence, Chris and Jennifer called out to God.

Bartimeaus called out, “Jesus, Son of David, have pity on me.” Although everyone else rebuked him and told him to be silent, God heard him.

Jesus said “Call him.”

Bartimaeus asked for mercy. He didn’t ask for sight; he wanted to see.

He was healed by his faith. Then, immediately he received his sight and he followed Jesus on the way. Bartimaeus could see the truth.

Why is truth important? Why is truth important to me, to all of us?

It is because truth is the foundation of all relationships. You can build relationships in others ways but when there is a lack of truth the relationship is going to die.

A relationship with Jesus Christ is based on the truth of whom He is and who I am. I am a sinner.

The truth is I am a person blinded by sin and wearing a cloak that society has put on me. But, Jesus is the way, the truth, and the light. He is our justification, redemption, and salvation.

Today the readings are packed with truth. Open your heart to them. But, here is the truth I share today. “Take courage… Jesus is calling you.” God is a merciful and loving God. God is not a God to be feared.

Take courage in the truth of God’s gentleness and mercy. Jeremiah wrote that the blind, the lame, the mothers, and those with child, He consoles. He guides them so none will stumble.

The Psalms sings praise and rejoicing for the good things God has done.

Hebrews confesses that Christ, our high priest. is patient with our ignorance, erring, and weaknesses.

Here is another truth. You may not see my blindness; but, I am Bartimeaus.  My cloak may look like yours but it is truly mine. My cloak is my sins, addictions, and troubles. Its cloth it is made of is my life. It locks me in.

Jesus calls me.

By faith, I see the truth. I have the courage to throw off the cloak the world has placed on me. I follow him.

Unlike Chris, Jennifer, or Bartimaeus, others may not see what keeps us quiet. But those three knew one thing, if the world ignores you and no one else hears you cry, God does.

Throw off all the things that keep us from Christ. All things are possible by faith through the power of Him who strengthens us: the God of mercy; the God of love; the God of forgiveness; the God of miracles.

Brothers and sisters take courage. He hears us and He calls us. 

Christian Fiction "Wanderland"

“Wanderland”

I can’t help it

I am

a wanderer - I tend to roam

tic-tic-tic-tic

exploring

roads I’ve never walked

I run free

following dirt roads

chasing dusty crowds

to the one who calls me

I answer breathless

tic-tic-tic-tic

He invites me

to follow him - walking

through turmoil

silenced by his peace

we leave the crowd amazed

by the fullness of the meal he provides

stepping

in his footsteps,

to find

his words of truth

I freely share the word

tic-tic-tic-tic

following in faith

I do not know

where I roam

coming to a stream

I feel the cool water as

it washes

around my legs

not even slippery rocks can trip me.

He delights

at mothers and children

gathered there

His love smiles at me

a blind man asks me

to come see the light as

I dance with crippled legs

My guide speaks

Roam the world –

have courage –

know the truth -

voice it -

tic-tic-tic-tic

my chair’s belt

keeps me from sliding

into His arms completely

wheels locked

voice paralyzed

an old clock mounted

on yellowed walls - beacons

white-round

above a traffic jam of wheelchairs

neighbors lined up

some are rebels

kicked

juxtaposed to normality.

some never move

everyone is traveling - minds wandering.

the clock

sets

the-sted-e-beat

for life

against white noise

of routine

television radio bickering

a life that exist in wandering

tic-tic-tic-tic.

the orderly looks

irritable

maybe it’s his bowels

I sing my song

of wandering

into my lover’s ear

I tend to roam

in life’s time

tic-tic-tic-tic

Homily Reflection 29th Sunday - I'm a Wanderer

I’m a Wanderer (Isaiah 53:10-11; Psalm 33:4-5,18-19,20,22 ; Hebrews 4:14-16; Mark 10:35-45)

I have to admit it; sometimes my mind wanders in Church. To paraphrase Dion and the Belmonts, I’m a wanderer and my mind roams around, around, around.

I’ve got things on my mind that causes it to wander. There’s no altar server. Who’s reading? Slow down and read the Gospel clearly.

Each priest likes the altar a little different. I read over their shoulders. Fr. Job, I can’t keep up. Fr. Joe, I’m ahead of you. Attending Bishop Duca, it’s about everything I did wrong.

Don’t forget the special announcements.

Before I was Deacon, it was about getting breakfast, getting clothes ready, getting the girls dressed, and being late. I’d come with intentions of reverence and prayer but my thoughts takeover: bills, groceries, work, or what’s for lunch.

Then I’d be pulled back to reality, “Praise to you Lord Jesus Christ.” What have I done? I missed the readings, the Psalms, and the Gospel. 

The homily comes and despite a sincere effort my mind would often wander off again.

Maybe someone else wants to admit to trouble concentrating on Jesus, prayer, worship, or the words spoken. We miss the lesson - shame on us.

But, we’re in good company. James and John, along with the other ten, had this problem.   

And they had the best teacher, Jesus, the word incarnate and their minds still wandered. They often missed the lesson in Jesus' teaching.

The two asked, "Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you…., Grant that in your glory we may sit one at your right and the other at your left."

The other ten got mad. I don’t think it was because James and John asked this question; it was because none of them asked it first.

They hadn’t been listening to the gospel. Their minds wandered back to their needs and thoughts. When Jesus comes to glory, I will be great. Jesus gave the ability to heal the sick and cast out demons, what more will we receive. Who will be the greatest?

Jesus asked James and John, “What would you have me to do?” 

How many of you remember the phrase WWJD? What would Jesus do?

Jesus knew what he had to do. “You do not know what you are asking. Can you drink the cup that I drink or be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?"

The cup that Jesus is referring to is the cup of his destiny. In those days, it was a practice to fill the cups around the table with wine and those who shared the cups shared a destiny. It was either a destiny of suffering or prosperity.   

Jesus’ cup of destiny is the suffering servant. In Isaiah we read “... through his suffering, my servant shall justify many, and their guilt he shall bear.” Paul says He is our high priest who has experienced our suffering.

This is Christ’s glory!

Christ’s glory is not about the glory of moral life but I am to live a moral life. It’s not about the glory of religion but I am to be part of a believing community, the body of Christ. I shouldn’t ask, “What would Jesus do (WWJD)? Instead, what is Jesus is doing through me.

We share in Christ’s glory through baptism. Drink from his cup by serving those around us, our church, and our community; hearing the call to serve the needy and suffering; working for justice and peace. In these, one approaches the throne of grace to receive His mercy.

We share in Christ’s Glory! Christ’s glory is the suffering servant, his divinity, and his humanity. It is his bearing our guilt, his death, and his resurrection. His glory is mercy, grace, redemption, and our justification.

Look at Christ on the cross. His cup is the blood, scourges, wounds, agony, and torment of the sins and suffering of all people then, today, and tomorrow. We share in Christ’s glory because it’s our suffering and the suffering of the world that He bears.

I’m like James, John, and the ten trying to live the life Jesus asks. It’s not easy to live this life; I’m a wanderer. I fall back to personal needs, troubles, and desires. Maybe it helps that I know my failures and how much I need Christ’s mercy. Lord, I trust in you.

So, I come to mass to give God my undivided attention; my mind wanders to a realization. A wandering mind helps discover a call to serve others. A wandering mind helps us see Christ in our selves, in others, and in the world. I realize that I keep coming back. We keep coming back!

We seek to share in His glory. Called to His presence in the Eucharist, we share Christ's cup, His blood, and His body. Brothers and sisters, we share in Christ’s glory!

Christ have mercy on me:

                     a mind that wanders, 

                     a sinner,  

                     your servant. Amen.

Sunday Reflection 28th Sunday - Golden Armor, Millions of Dollar or a Sandwich

Golden Armor, Millions of Dollars, or a Sandwich

Wisdom 7:7-11; Pslam 90:12-13, 14-15, 16-17;  Hebrews 4:12-13; Mark 10:17-30

Go, sell what you have, give to the poor; then come, follow me.

Giovanni (John) was born rich and raised worldly. He even changed his name from John so he wouldn’t be confused with a man of God. He wanted to be a soldier of fortune. His armor was adorned with gold and a wonderful silk cloak. Jesus asked and St. Francis of Assisi gave it all away and followed him.

Kathy was a rich young lady. In 1885, her father died leaving $15.5 million estate (It would be almost $400 million today) to his three daughters. St. Katharine Drexel gave her fortune to the poor and followed Jesus.

The Rich Young Man - Jesus loved him. And the love of God filled the young man. Maybe, the young man recognized Jesus as the incarnate word and wisdom of God. Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone.

Jesus told him, Go, sell what you have, give to the poor; then come, follow me.

His face fell and he went away sad, for he had many possessions.

The rich young man may have been able to give his wealth away. But, possessions are so much more than wealth. The young man’s possessions were all that he was: his family, father, mother, brothers, children, lands and home. These things the young man put before God. These were the possessions he could not let go.

Maybe most of us don’t consider ourselves rich.

Let me tell you this story I overheard at Home Depot.  I caught the end of it.

Three men were discussing sharing God’s word. One of the gentleman said I know we are to share God’s word but it is up to those we share it with to accept it. My preacher says the Gospel is like a sandwich. I can make the best sandwich and give it to you, but you don’t have to eat it.

I thought about how true that was. With God’s grace and through his gifts I have a pretty good sandwich.  I live in freedom with food, water, shelter, and resources. My sandwich is made with God’s word, the commandments, and the Church.  My sandwich is full stuffed with tithes, fundraisers, and 5k runs for charity. The condiments on the sandwich are my family and possessions. I have built this sandwich and Jesus asks me to give it away.  

I am to give it to the poor like the Christians around the world persecuted and killed because they follow Christ. Or, maybe it is to be shared with most of the people in the world who make less than a dollar a day. Maybe my sandwich should be used against the slavery of human trafficking. Even in our land of plenty, our community, people don’t have a safe place to sleep, something to eat, or someone who cares.

Maybe we’re not rich, but we’re sitting with the sandwich God has given us. Jesus asks us to give it away and we leave sad. We can’t, we want to keep it for ourselves.   

God knows what’s in our heart and still loves us.  

Jesus turned to his disciples, who had given up all they had to follow him and called them “children.” They were children who didn’t understand him. Children who argued about who was the greatest. But at the same time, they were children who followed him with abandon, trust, innocence, and enthusiasm.

It is hard for us to be like children; we are tied to what we have. We recognize what Christ asks of us. We come to Him with joy and love, a smile on our face and in our hearts; but, something is asked of us and our face falls.

What have we put before God? What is keeping us from following Jesus?

The young man went away sad, but he could have come back. That’s what so great about God. He always loves us. Jesus is there waiting for us to give away those things that keep us from him.

Wisdom says the silent word of God speaks to hearts a word greater than riches. The word fills us with your love, O Lord. In this love, we come to Jesus and fall to our knees.

Jesus asks us to abandoned everything and follow him. We’re not St. Katherine Drexel or St. Francis of Assisi abandoning great wealth. But, we all have something even if it's just a sandwich made from the gifts God gives us.

The grace of God through our Lord Jesus Christ is always with us. Nothing is concealed from him; Jesus knows our heart and loves us still. 

What have we put before God? What is keeping us from following Jesus? 

Sunday Reflection 27th Sunday OT - BBQ & Blessings

BBQ and Blessings

Genesis 2:18-24; Psalm 128:1-2, 3,4-5,6; Hebrews 2:9-11; Mark 10:2-16

I hope to change your idea of a successful business trip.

After a day of meetings in Overland Park, Kansas, our team was eating Kansas City barbeque. Several of us experienced team members were sharing our careers with our younger dinner companions. Each of us identified our wives as a source of strength.    

One had been married for 43 years. Another married only a mere 20 plus years. Each spoke of their wife as a blessing of completeness, love, understanding, and a blessing of forgiveness in all the foolish things we have done.

A young woman in our group said we were making her emotional speaking well and loving of our wives. She said, “I hope I find that in a husband.”

God said, “It’s not good for us to be alone.”

“A man leaves his father and mother and clings to his wife; the two of them become one flesh.” Turn it around, “A woman leaves her father and mother and clings to her husband; the two of them become one flesh.”

As Christians, every one of us should know that there are two important persons in our marriage. Neither one of them is you. 

One is your spouse and the other is God. God created us with the capacity and the need to love another. God’s grace allows us to truly totally love another person. God brings our spouse into our lives. It is Christ in us that allow our spouses to raise us up. Our spouse grabs our hearts and takes us into a life of selflessness that without them, we would never attain.

Steve arrived in Kansas City on Thursday. He was frantic. Leaving Dallas, he had forgotten to have flowers delivered to his wife on their anniversary that Friday. Early in his marriage his wife did not like flowers; but, now she does. He wanted her to get flowers, to be happy, to know she’s loved. Steve’s a big old softy.

Jesus said a marriage fails because of the hardness of hearts. Think about it. The hardness of heart keeps God out and keeps our spouse out. Hardness of heart does not recognize the importance of God in our marriage. Hardness of heart does not allow us to lift up our spouse. Hardness of heart does not recognize how our spouse raises us up. Because of this hardness of hearts, a marriage becomes selfish.

Marriage is everything opposite of selfishness. It is the celebration of unity and giving yourself to another. Selfishness found in the hardness of heart that destroys all unity; the unity of marriage; the unity of humanity. The same selfishness which destroys marriage destroys the world. Selfishness denies human dignity and promotes injustice, racism, poverty, hunger, homelessness, and war.

Selfishness violates God’s words “it is not good to be alone.”

Selfishness is against Christ. Paul writes “He who consecrates and those consecrated all have one origin.” We are all the seeds of the “bone of my bones, flesh of my flesh.”

God did not create us to be selfish. He breathed life into us to know unity. Unity realized as God’s children; children humbled by grace to rid ourselves of selfishness. We become the innocent children our Lord Jesus Christ accepts and embraces through eternal salvation. 

These men eating barbeque and telling their blessings in Kansas City had something in common outside of business. The something made them a success. All witnessed more than just a relationship with their wives. Each was a man of Christ. One was a Lutheran. Two were Baptist. Two were Catholic. All witnessed Christ simply in the love for their wives.

To Christ and to our wives, “You complete me.”

For Gary, Bob, George and Steve, and all of you, a blessing - May the Lord bless you, your spouse and family all the days of your lives. Amen.

Homily Reflection 26th OT - GiGi and the Pope

GiGi and the Pope

Numbers 11:25-29; Psalm 19:8, 10, 12-13, 14;  James 5:1-6; Mark 9:38-43, 45, 47-48

Hubris is a word that I learned in high school or college. It was probably a word I had to learn for a vocabulary test. I probably memorized then forgot it. I learned it again in studying for the Diaconate. I learned it was a sin.

Hubris is having excessive pride. It’s the opposite of humility. Joshua and John may have had a little issue with hubris.

Eldad and Medad were in camp (among those they loved) when the spirit of God came upon them and they preached God.

Joshua comes to Moses “stop them.” They can’t be prophesizing, they weren’t at the meeting. Moses’ answer “Are you jealous for my sake?”

John came to Jesus "Teacher, we saw someone driving out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him because he does not follow us." John’s concerned was he does not follow us, not that he is following Jesus.

Joshua and John protective of who they were and their relationships were guilty of hubris. Pride is sin. Most of us are guilty. I am.

GiGi Thrasher is a minister in Moss Point, Ms. You've probably never heard of her or her ministry; but, I asked if I could tell her story and she said yes. Her blog Tents, Tarps, and Tears is about her ministry, family, and life.

Her ministry began because she saw people living under bridges. She acts as a go between for the homeless and help organizations. Along with her husband, she goes into camps, brings food, helps with appointments, helps find housing, and shares what God has done for her.

GiGi’s words to me “YOU know what a mess I was.”

Her ministry works with transitional shelters, councils, and coalitions for the homeless. This has enabled her to tap into funds for housing and rehabilitation of the homeless.

Seeing her wonderful ministry, I was guilty of hubris. It was after my ordination that I saw the announcement of GiGi’s ordination.  

I was like Joshua and John, STOP-IT. She doesn’t follow us; a woman being ordained. She’s been married twice and non-denominational. But, my biggest issue was I knew what a mess she was!”

But praise God, the Holy Spirit spoke to my heart. Don’t be jealous and full of self-pride. Get rid of it; cut it off.

The words of Moses “Would that all the people of the LORD were prophets!"

The words of Jesus "There is no one who performs a mighty deed in my name can at the same time speak ill of me. For whoever is not against us is for us.”

The Holy Spirit showed me “What a mess I was!”

This week Pope Francis addressed Congress (speaking of a mess.) The Catholic News Service paraphrased his address "Stop bickering, the world needs your help.”

I didn’t remember those words. I printed up the address to read and didn’t find the words; but, I found the message. A message passed by Pope Francis from the testimoney of the lives of Abraham Lincoln, Martin Luther King, Jr., Dorothy Day, and Thomas Merton. Americans whose lives and actions speak of God, humility, service, and love.

Francis compared these peoples humility to the problems in the world that have arisen from hubris in the human condition. It’s the things James wrote about. “You have fattened your hearts ….” Hearts fattened by greed, bigotry, injustice, hatred, and the disregard of human dignity.  

Christians, the world needs our help. The Pope speaks to the world. Father Joe serves you and I. GiGi’s ministry is to the homeless and addicted.

To whom do you offer a cup of water for the sake of Christ?

Don’t be full of yourself; don’t say I can’t; don’t say I’m too messed up.

Instead, be like Eldad and Medad, go to those you care about: as spouse, parent, child, sibling, friend, neighbor, and co-worker. By our baptism, God calls each of us to lead others to Christ. Christ sends us the Holy Spirit to share his love with others.

What’s stopping you: hubris, jealousy, or self-bickering? These things keep us from allowing God to work through us.

Believing in and loving God with all our being is the potent message of our life. It is a potent message for the life of others. We bring others to Christ by the way we live, prayer, and faithfulness to God.

Police officer, firefighter, and first responder pray for those who need your help. Doctors, Nurses, and caregivers ask God to guide your care. Teachers see the needs of your students through the eyes of God.  

Look around you; who needs your ministry?

Homily Reflection 25th Sunday - Things We Argue About

Things We Argue About

Wisdom 2:12, 17-20; Psalm 54:3-4, 5, 6, 8;  James 3:16-4:3; Mark 9:30-37

Last week, we heard Jesus words “Deny yourself, take up your cross and follow me.”

I see it all the time across the country and in our area. People standing along the road with a cross on their shoulder, smiling and waving; usually, it’s a man. He is following Jesus’ words.

But, how many ask the question. Is that what Jesus meant – stand by the highway and wave at people? Is he denying self or looking for attention? Is it following Jesus?

I’m guilty of judging them. But I still argue, usually to myself. (My wife warns me, you’re talking to yourself again. No, I practicing my Homily.)

Believers argue. Too many time the witness of our faith is an argument between believers about things we’re certain and others are wrong. That’s a conflict, an oxymoron, being certain about the mystery of God. 

These arguments/discussions are we spend our passion - human things. Things we can go on and on about that are core aspects of our religion.

Jesus asked them, “What were you arguing about on the way?” But they remained silent. They had been discussing among themselves on the way who was the greatest.

Interesting, it wasn’t about Jesus. They had just finished a trip where Jesus fed the multitude, revealed He was the messiah, and Peter, James, and John witnessed the transfiguration. But they were not discussing Jesus. It was about them - “Why I am better than you.”

We are guilty of that too. If Jesus Christ is brought up, “Oh yea, Jesus, I know Him and love Him; He’s my Savior and my Lord.” But let's argue about how great the (fill in the denomination) are. Everybody look, these are OUR things.

Things . . . ? Things that set us ablaze; things we’re stuck on it; things we’re obsessed with; things we’re fascinated by; things we love. If we’re not careful these things become about us and not about Jesus. It’s the things believers argue about, like these things:

• Evangelism: We do it better - missions; discipleship; testimony.
• Perfection: We know how - Perfect marriages; perfect children; perfect health; perfect life.
• Right and Wrong: We teach it - Inerrancy of the Bible; fallibility of the Bible; Conservatism or Liberalism (in Religion, in Politics); what’s right or wrong with our culture.
• Worship: We do it right – We’re entertaining; We have a band and videos; faith v. works; spiritual gifts; secret to salvation; end times; prosperity.

And we argue these are a mature faith. Really, mature faith is about things and not Jesus! Hmmm, Jesus put a child among those arguing apostles and said, come to me like this child. 

There is nothing wrong with these things if they are innocent, pure, and about Jesus. Yet, too many times, “Jesus,  I’ve know Him and love Him; He’s my Savior and my Lord.” But let’s discuss who’s better. We’re beyond preaching Jesus.  

We begin to worship these things and difference instead of Jesus. And, the enemy divides and conquers us with “jealousy and selfish ambition.” The enemy uses these things because we fail to bring Jesus to them. Things that are about our passion not about His passion. 

In our passion there is argument. We have a world view that is hard but simple to us. We bring the same arguments found in the book of Wisdom.

• What Jesus asks is too much;
• What He ask is not what we like;
• Forget what Jesus asks, what does the world ask.

In Jesus’ passion there is no argument. He gives us simple things to do that are hard to us.

• Love God with all that you are and love your neighbor.
• Deny yourself, take up your cross and follow me.
• Do this in remembrance of me.
• Preach the Gospel; baptize in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

In Jesus there is no argument only Wisdom that is “pure, peaceable, gentle, compliant, full of mercy and good fruits, without inconstancy or insincerity.” 

These things can be good. If in these things we proclaim Jesus Christ, the Lord that upholds our life. Preach in these things the Good News that leads others to Him.

God doesn’t call us to argue among ourselves. God calls us to profess the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. This is the cross we take up when we follow Him.

So let’s ask the question. Are we carrying that cross, so everybody can see us or so they can see Jesus in us?

Sunday Reflection 24th "Answer the Question"

Answer the Question

Isaiah 50:5-9a; Psalm116:1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 8-9; James 2:14-18; Mark 8:27-35

Jesus asked them “But who do you say that I am?” God is “I am.” Maybe it is better to ask, “But, who do you say God is?”

The answer that Peter gives in Mark is “You are the Christ, You are the Messiah.” In Matthew, the answer is “You are the Christ the Son of the Living God.” Luke says “the Christ of God.” In John the words are, “We have come to believe and have come to know that you are the Holy One of God.”

If Jesus asked us, we might say something similar.” We might say “Savior of the World, Lord and Savior, Redeemer, Word of God, Shepherd, King of kings, Bread of Life,” or one of many descriptions of Jesus in the bible.

How do we answer when Jesus asks - “But, who do you say that I am?”

It’s a questions we answer by who we are in the world. I will walk before the Lord, in the land of the living.

Someone sent me a video titled “I am Christian, But I am not…”  You can watch it here.  

It’s a collection of young adults making statements about being Christian. They say:

I’m Christian but I’m not homophobic; I’m Christian and I’m definitely not perfect; I’m Christian but I’m not close-minded; but I’m not unaccepting; but I’m not uneducated; but I am not judgmental; but I’m not conservative; I’m not ignorant; but I don’t place myself on a pedestal; I’m Christian but I don’t have all the answers.

The truest statement is “I’m a Christian and I’m definitely not perfect.”  And with that and the rest of the statements is the fault of the video. It’s all about the individual’s “I am” and not about Jesus’ “I am.”

But that fault is shared by many Christians in their answer to Jesus’ question, “But, who do you say that I am?”

Stand in front of a mirror and look for the “I am.” Look at yourself as other people see you. Look at yourself, your life, your prayers, your faith, the way you worship, your family life, and the way you treat other people, the poor, those you don’t agree with. Do you see love in your eyes, a smile on your lips, an absence of worry, anxiety or tenseness in your face?  Do you present yourself to the world with respect and honor as God’s creation? Do you see Christ in you?

We shouldn’t find in the mirror a cookie cutter version of a Christian. Every Christian is different and that is a gift from God.

Remember, “I’m a Christian and I’m definitely not perfect.” Christians live in the world. We are a mirror that shows others what we truly are. We live by what’s expected of us, what’s cool, or the “in” thing. We worry about life, bills, and things we can’t control. We try to keep up with the neighbors. 

Jesus asked “But, who do you say that I am?” And we answer like Peter, thinking as human beings do. We put the “I am” of our uniqueness, bigotry, and prejudices before God. The answer is what we show to the world.

Jesus tells us the true image of a Christian. “Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and that of the gospel will save it.”

People can call themselves Christian, but without a transformation like Jesus taught; we cannot change the “I am” of who the world makes us.

Jesus is asking. We need to look at ourselves for the answer. Our answer is the worlds “I am” or Jesus’ “I am.”

Reflection 23rd Sunday OT - Arms Flailing

Arms  Flailing

Isaiah 35:4-7a; Psalm 146:7,8-9, 9-10; James 2:1-5; Mark 7:31-37

I was seven and a movie scared me. It was “The Miracle Worker” the story of Helen Keller and Annie Sullivan. What scared me was the wild child Helen Keller. She was blind, deaf, and mute. At the beginning of the movie Helen tries to communicate in a foreign world; running around arms flailing with sobs, screams, and groans.

Annie Sullivan comes as a teacher. She enters Helen’s world. Annie communicates with Helen by letting her touch lips, tongue, and throat. Touch taught Helen.  

Jesus came to teach change. He entered our world to touch humanity and heal us. Here he comes into the life of a man who cannot hear or speak. Jesus enters his world. Jesus sticks his fingers in deaf ears and spits on the tongue. Jesus looks to heaven and with the groan the deaf man was able to feel prayed to God. Jesus touched him. Today the risen Christ touches each of us.

Why did Jesus tell them not to tell anyone?

Jesus wasn’t there to be a miracle worker. He wasn’t “Jesus Christ, Superstar.”  He hushed people to minimize the crowds. Jesus was there to be a teacher of change; but, the miracle seekers didn’t understand. Their ears were closed to Jesus true message.   

I was like that. Sometimes, I felt like young Helen, scared and frantically running arms flailing in the world reaching out with sobs, screams, and groans to God. Then Christ touched me. Where I was broken, He healed me. He has done that for many of us, yet so many keep quiet. Jesus is not telling us to be quiet.

We should follow the example of Christ’s servant, Pope Francis; a man living in the world as a humble Christian. He preaches a message of love. Like Jesus, the world can see and hear his message but does not always understand. Even some Catholics do not hear and can end up running around flailing, sobbing, screaming, and crying.

Pope Francis preaches the same message as James. Christ has chosen the poor. Don’t make decisions based on looks or by our fear. Don’t reject those different or unattractive or in a bad place. We are to see, hear, and speak Christ in these things. If we fail, we fail to love God. We fail “the promises made to those who love him.”

Jesus’ miracles were told by those He healed. Even the apostle’s had their eyes and ears opened to the Word. Their tongues were freed to bring the gospel to the world. Pope Francis preaches the Gospel as a voice for the voiceless. He shares it with the world. We are to do the same: share the Good News with opened eyes, opened ears, and proclaim it with our mouth.

Tell the world: Love and forgive sinners; Minister and care for the sick; Give to the poor; Take care of those who cannot care for themselves; Respect life; and, Respect those with who you don’t agree. Show the world how Christ has touched you.  

If Christ is in us, we won’t be scared running around arms flailing searching for God. Instead, we see and hear. We praise the Lord by sharing his love with the world.