Sunday Reflection - Strong Enough - 3rd Sunday OT

Strong Enough

Nehemiah 8:2-4a, 5-6, 8-10; Psalm 19:8, 9, 10, 15; 1 Corinthians 12:12-30; Luke 1:1-4; 4:14-21

Faith is something we share. Faith grows in us individually but at the same time with the help of others, especially those around us. True Christian faith brings to us justice, love, and respect for the dignity of others.

Then I look at the internet – Facebook, Twitter, Blogs & other places- post made by people who call themselves Christians; and, that is not what I see.  Is our faith strong enough?

It is part of the story in the readings. At two separate times, two separate men come before the people. They are both returning home, to unroll the scrolls of God’s word to share with the people.

They came to build. They built on the word of God because they came to build faith. They both were there for God’s work. Ezra came to build the temple. Jesus came to build the kingdom of God.

Ezra finds Jerusalem and God’s temple in ruins, destroyed. The people and community had been destroyed by years of absence, captivity, and outside influence. Jesus came to find the same thing but he was not working with physical ruins but spiritual ruins. The people and community had been destroyed by outside influences, greed, and politics.

They brought God’s law to build faith. They used God’s word to proclaim justice, love and the dignity of others. Jesus and Ezra did this sharing God’s word with those around them. Each called to the poor, the downtrodden, the wounded, and people seeking forgiveness.  Do not be sad and do not weep— for all the people were weeping as they heard the words of the law.

Those were people just like us. The people were weeping because they knew they had sinned. There were a people seeking justice, needing to be loved, and most of all needing dignity.

We live in a world of people just like Ezra’s time. We live in a world of people just like in Jesus’ time. We live in a world that is broken both physically and spiritually. Is our faith strong enough?

Ezra asked the people to believe and realize the certainty of these teachings. Luke asks of us to believe the words of Jesus, “Today this Scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing.” 

That’s what faith is about. Justice, love, and dignity is found in God’s word, which is alive today. Believe in the scripture and it is fulfilled.

It is still being fulfilled today through the Holy Spirit. It is fulfilled through Christ who is always present, especially in us, his Church.

Luke points out that we are a continuation of Jesus’ work. We continue the building of his kingdom as the body of Christ. A body of many parts we are one body in Christ.  For through the Holy Spirit we are baptized into one body. We are one body giving glory to God and bringing holiness to his people through the word of God.  Do not be sad, and do not weep your words, Lord, are Spirit and life.

The Church is the body of Christ anointed by the Holy Spirit. We build the kingdom on faith. It is a faith that exudes justice, love, and respect for the dignity of others. For the Lord asks us to stand above the crowd. God sends us to the poor and to the oppressed.  

This calls for us to be strong, right? Maybe I am not strong in the way I need to be strong. Am I strong enough?

Jesus tells us faith the size of a mustard seed can move mountains. I pray and pray waiting for something to happen. I pray for people to be healed, peace to be realized, and for justice, love and the world to realize the dignity of all people. I am only part of the body and part of the prayer.

Even the parts of the body that seem weaker are necessary and important. If one part suffers, all the parts suffer with it; if one part is honored; all parts share its joy. This is the truth shared by Ezra, “rejoicing in the Lord is our strength!” Our joy is strength; it refreshes the soul!

Together we are strong enough!

Jesus, Ezra, and Luke teach us on our relationship to God and to one another.  Our relationship to God is the basis of our faith; a faith built in justice, love, and respect for the dignity of others.

In this Year of Mercy share God’s word and your faith like Jesus, Ezra, and Luke.

“Y’all be good, y’all be Holy, and always preach the Gospel by the way you live.” Amen.

Sunday Reflection - "How Good is the Wine to Come?" - 2nd Sunday OT

How Good is the Wine to Come?

Isaiah 62:1-5; Psalm 96:1-2, 2-3, 7-8, 9-10; 1 Corinthians 12:4-11; John 2:1-11

“Everyone serves good wine first… but you have kept the good wine until now.”

Moses and Aaron appeared before Pharaoh with God’s message. Pharaoh asked, “Who is your God that I have to listen to him?” Pharaoh’s heart was hardened. He didn’t listen to God speaking through Moses.

Because Pharaoh didn’t listen, God used Moses to answer. Moses touched the water of the Nile and it turned to blood. No one could drink the water and the plagues began. The water turning to blood was a curse on Pharaoh and Egypt for not hearing the word of God.

There was a wedding at Cana. Jesus’ mother was there and so were Jesus and his disciples.

When the wine ran short, his mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.” And, they did. They filled six stone jars with water. They were stone jars for the ceremonial washing before worshiping God. Then, the waiters drew some out. The water had become the good wine.

And the headwaiter said, “Everyone serves good wine first… but you have kept the good wine until now.”

This passage from the Gospel of John is the first sign in Jesus’ ministry. Any one hearing this at the time the Gospel was written would have known that Moses had turned the water of the Nile into blood. Now, someone greater had come, someone turning water into wine.

Isaiah painted the picture of God’s blessing on Zion and Jerusalem. He speaks of a wedding, a covenant between God and his delight. This is a covenant in which the Lord rejoices.

Jesus is the new covenant; a covenant different from previous ones. It is a covenant of blessing manifest by Jesus turning water into wine. Wine is the symbol of abundance, blessing, celebration, and life.

This wedding at Cana is a symbol of the new covenants between God and all the earth. The Lord’s delight made evident through his son Jesus Christ. God rejoices in us and blesses us with gifts.  They are different that the ones that Isaiah proclaimed. They are different blessings but the same Lord. They are different workings but the same God. The Holy Spirit is itself a gift of the Lord’s; and when the Holy Spirit fills a person the Spirit brings gifts as well.

“Everyone serves good wine first… but you have kept the good wine until now.”

Now, we go back to the water. Water turned to blood. Water turned to wine. Water we can see as our life. Do we see curse or do we see blessing?

God shows his greatness through these miracles with water. In one, water becomes a curse of blood. The second, the water becomes the blessing of wine. “Wine.” as Scott Hahn points out, “that Jesus does something special with.” It becomes his blood. The Blood of Christ is our blessing.

We need to shout and sing the Psalm (96) - Proclaim his marvelous deeds to all the nations. Announce his salvation, day after day. Tell his glory among the nations; among all peoples, his wondrous deeds. Worship the LORD in holy attire. Tremble before him, all the earth.

“Everyone serves good wine first… but you have kept the good wine until now.”

Follow the instructions of the Holy Mother of Jesus, “Do what he tells you!” Listen to him.  

Jesus… so revealed his glory, and his disciples began to believe in him. What does the future hold for us who believe? How good is the wine to come?

“Y’all be good, y’all be Holy, and always preach the Gospel by the way you live.” Amen.

Homily Reflection - Baptism of Jesus - Y'all be Good (Pt.2)

Y’all be Good (pt. 2)

 Isaiah 42:1-4,6-7; Psalm 29:1-4,9-10; Acts 10:34-38; Luke 3:15-16,21-22

My parents raised 3 boys. I was the oldest and the biggest, although my two brothers were a whole lot meaner. As we grew up, there came a time when we out grew the punishment of a child. My father would tell us, “Y’all boys be good and be holy Christian men.”

I remembered that this week when my brother and sister-in-law wish me a happy birthday. They told me about someone who had met me at work.  

Normally, I work with construction companies. In fact, the morning I met this person, I had been at a construction site and was dressed in khakis, muddy work boots, and a plaid shirt. But, I was called to a rush meeting with the administrative staff of an aging services company. They usually see people in suits.

I showed up to an office full of ladies. They were told a consultant was coming. They didn’t know what to expect; but, it sure wasn’t me. It was said “I filled the doorway and then I filled the office.” To them, some man who looks like he just climbed off a bulldozer shows up to tell them how to run a nursing home. I was intimidating!

But my sister-in-law was told that I was nice, encouraging, and knowledgeable. It was a nice surprise to them that I knew about the issues they were having and could offer solutions for them. I was polite and respectful and never made them feel uncomfortable or talked down to them. She said many other nice things about me.

I remembered my daddy’s words, “Y’all be good and be holy Christian men.”

Do you ever wonder how people see you? Do you live the gospel in your public life? Do others see Jesus in you?

We celebrate the Baptism of Jesus, the beginning of his public life and ministry. What did people see in his public life in the time when people were expecting the messiah?  

And “The people were filled with expectation, and all were asking in their hearts whether John might be the Christ. John answered them all, saying, “I am baptizing you with water, but one mightier than I is coming.”

John was preaching in the wilderness and baptizing people for repentance of sins.  John baptized them in the Jordan.  He dunked them to wash away their sins.

People saw this wild looking man, shouting for change, to be good, and to be holy. People thought surely this is the one to come. John’s answer, “Y’all be good. Y’all be holy; because, I’m not the messiah.”

Yet, people kept coming for baptism. They had sinned. They needed God’s help. But there was one in the crowd who knew the truth. The one in the crowd was Jesus.

John baptized Jesus. 

Jesus didn’t need baptizing. He didn’t need to be told to be good and to be holy. He was without sin. And, a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.” 

The voice of God proclaims Jesus “my beloved son.”

But doesn’t God love us all? Doesn’t God in his perfect way love us all the same whether we are saint or sinner, good or bad, angel or devil, king or pauper? I am going to answer that “Yes.” Jesus tells that God’s love is unmerited and unconditional. In Romans, Paul said that our lack of faithfulness to God does not cancel God's faithfulness to us. No matter what we do God loves us; and, nothing can ever stop God from loving us.

Then why do we need to be baptized, why do we need to be good, to be holy, if God loves us all the same shouldn’t we all be promised heaven. I am going to answer that “No.” It’s about how we love God in return.

Our love for God is apparent by the baptism of the Holy Spirit and fire and power  Jesus brings.

To be good and to be holy is when you give the LORD glory and praise; give the LORD the glory due his name; and adore the LORD in holy attire. (Ps 29) Clothe yourself in goodness and holiness. The good and holy of John’s repentance; holy attire he prepared for the people through baptism. The holy attire “Y’all be good; Y’all be holy.”   

Anyone truly living their baptism lives in the goodness and holiness that faith and the love of Jesus asks. Being good and being holy is the response to God’s love and the expression of the love of God in mercy and dignity for others.

A voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son…” But, it was easy for Jesus; He was the beloved Son of God and I am a sinner.

God didn’t promise easy for Jesus or for us. By coming to baptism, Jesus showed his unity with us. He took our sinfulness though he never sinned. He was tempted and we’re tempted. Jesus suffered and we suffer. Jesus was persecuted; we are too. Jesus was crucified for our sins. God didn’t promise easy for Jesus or for us.

Jesus gives us the secret of being good and being holy, “After all the people and Jesus had been baptized; He was praying.”  Jesus prayed, constantly. He lived those prayers doing good and so should we.

Jesus baptism was the beginning of his public life and ministry. Compare our public life to Jesus’ public life. Compare our Church ministry to Jesus’ ministry. Look at ourselves. Clothe yourself in holy attire. Live your baptism; Love others like Jesus showed us.

Share the Gospel, “This is my beloved Son, listen to him.” Spend some special time with God: pray, go to adoration, attend mass, and come to the Lord in the Eucharist. Give God a special place in your heart. Through baptism, God has settled upon you as “one with whom I am pleased, upon whom I have put my spirit.”

I have a new way I am going to end by homilies. I hope you never get tired of it.  “Y’all be good, be Holy, and always preach the Gospel.” Amen.

Sunday Reflection - Epiphany - Y'all Be Good

Y’all Be Good  

Isaiah 60:1-6;  Psalm 72:1-2, 7-8, 10-11, 12-13;  Ephesians 3:2-3a, 5-6;  Matthew 2:1-12

One of my father’s favorite sayings, “Y’all boys be good; cause, Christmas is coming.”

Y’all be good; cause, Epiphany is still Christmas. We tend to forget.

In our busy world, it’s become anticlimactic. Probably, in the past two weeks we’ve forgotten some of the gifts from Christmas. We’ve moved on to the next thing: the New Year, getting back to work, and every body’s favorite tax season. We’ve put gifts up and unless we bring them out every day; we accidentally forget about them. They lose their luster.

But for people of faith, the true gift of Christmas --- the babe of Bethlehem, the word made flesh, the precious Son of the Father --- will never lose its luster.

Today's readings are about that gift which Isaiah sees in the one to come, the servant who is the “light to the nations.” A gift the scriptures describe by these words, “Nations shall walk by your light, and kings by your shining radiance.” And “… every nation on earth will adore you.”

These scriptures perplex the world. Too many of us have put this greatest gift of all up on a shelf, seldom bring it out, and maybe even have forgotten about it. It has lost its luster in the everyday of human life. It’s the story of the Epiphany.

This is a story of great contrast. It is a story of how people receive the greatest gift of all in Jesus’ birth. It is an examination of the difference in the reaction of the Magi, the wise men that bring their gifts and place them at the feet of messiah to worship him, and King Herod, who tries to kill him.

Herrod knew this child was special. But,to the world, Herrod was King not this Child. His own chief priests and scribes affirmed the prophesies spoken by the words of the Magi. What was Herrod’s Epiphany? Herrod’s realization of the divine was to destroy it.

We have that same problem today and we call ourselves Christians. If we have not had an Epiphany of who Jesus is and what he means, then we have probably forgotten about the gift of Jesus.

In the world we live in, we call ourselves Christians; but, we deny and destroy the idea of the divine. We look at Jesus as an exclusive gift for just a few lucky people. The ones we think are included. Jesus is not for only a few to worship. He is all inclusive. He is God and we are all joined to him. Jesus is not a gift for the few but a reward for the many.

Last week, I got  a new follower on Twitter.  The twitter follow was by Brian Gill who authors the blog “A Catholic Citizen in America”. This is a very eclectic blog written from a Catholic Christian perspective. Brian Gill is a convert to Catholicism.

Brian writes this about himself.

“My values are somewhat counter-cultural. That's because I'm a practicing Catholic who is also an American citizen: not an American whose name shows up in a Catholic parish directory. ”

He hit on the problem of faith today. We put everything before being followers of Jesus Christ. We destroy the divine when we put our country, our politics, the color of our skin, and our self before our Messiah. These are all the things that Herrod did.

Maybe we need to be counter-cultural, following the example of the Magi. We need to forget how we identify, forget our selfish motives, forget the world around us and “prostrated ourselves and do him homage. Open our treasures and offered him our gifts.”

The world is still searching for Jesus. Each of us searches for God. Those who find Jesus find the divine. In our Epiphany do we worship the divinity of Jesus or destroy it. As Catholics, we find him in the Eucharist and open themselves to a true Epiphany. 

I believe that Brian Gill found Jesus in the Eucharist. I found Jesus Christ in the Eucharist. . If someone asked, I believe we’d agree this is how our story goes. Jesus was born in our hearts; we came to the place he was and found the Lord. We fell down and worshiped him, offered him our gifts, and we do him homage. We didn’t go back the same way, we had changed.

This is how we learn to walk in his light. This is how nations will adore him by the Epiphany in each one of us.

Epiphany is still Christmas. For those of us who have experienced a personal Epiphany in the babe of Bethlehem, the word made flesh, the precious Son of the Father, this is the most precious gift that will never lose its luster.

Brian Gill thanks for following me.

I'll close by paraphrasing the words of his father-in-law, Deacon Lawrence Kaas (age 81) of St. Paul’s Catholic Church, Sauk Centre, Mn.  (I think I’m going to adopt this; it reminds me of my father and brothers.)

“Y’all be Good, be Holy, and always preach the Gospel in Words and Holy Actions.”  

Amen.

Sunday Reflection - Holy Family - An Influenced Mixture

An Influenced Mixture (Sirach 3:2-6, 12-14; Psalm 128:1-2, 3, 4-5; Colossians 3:12-21; Luke 2:41-52)

During the week, I prayed over a paragraph from the Catechism.  The paragraph, “The whole life of Jesus Christ showed how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power.”

God can give you insights before you know they are insights. They came with this weeks readings.

“The whole life of Jesus Christ….” His life included every breath he took. Life experienced with every inhale and exhale like traveling to the temple, studying scripture, the traditions of the feast and festivals, and even living in the extended family community in Nazareth. 

A whole life that included every good time and ever bad time, “Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?”

A life lived in the Holy Family. 

Family was important. Jesus knew the commandments and the writing of Sirach on family honor. Honor your parents and parents point your children to God. These were part of Jesus' life that showed how God anointed Jesus. 

An anointed life in which Jesus lived the virtues that Paul writes about. The virtues of God we are to "put on." Jesus showed us how to live these and put on the love of Christ.

These were a part of the whole life of Jesus. What about ours?

There are so many different faces in the world. Faces show family. Some of our faces have the features of our mother or father. Some features will bring memories of a grandparent, the same eye color, the same hair color, or maybe it’s the way of a smile. The way we act, live our lives, and even for some of us the way we make our living, comes to us through our family. Our whole life, who we are, and what we look like is an influenced mixture of all those who came before us.

We are constantly challenged by our world on our relationship and belief in God. Our faith should find strength in being challenged. Our faith is strongest when supported by a Holy Family like the family made up in that influenced mixture that came before us. Yet looking around, it is easy to see that less of us going to our Father’s house.

The reasons given are that mass is inconvenient, hard to schedule, or not important to my spirituality. But, Jesus went.

In the Sang-pour-sang and Bayou Cypre Apalachee communities in the hills west of the Cane River, life was hard. It was a life that included intimidation, harassment, and even death. Families had their homes burned. People were hunted down with dogs until they were killed, left the area, or disappeared into the woods. Others denied their race and if lucky blended into the white community.  

In the early 20^th century, missionary Dominican Priests came to the remnants of these people. They found a people often uneducated. There were no schools. Children were not allowed school because of who they were. 

But the priest found one other thing, a people of strong faith. The people who could not read or write still had a community school that taught their faith and the catechism. All this knowledge of faith had been passed down by word of mouth over the generations.

Poor, persecuted, and isolated, these people were always in their Father’s house. They lived as a Holy Family doing the Father’s work, they “put on” Godly virtues and the love of Christ. 

They lived this: “Let the peace of Christ control your hearts, the peace into which you were also called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, as in all wisdom you teach and admonish one another, singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.”

We too need to live in these as we strive to live the life of Christ. “The whole life of Jesus Christ….” and it includes every breath we take; what we inhale and what we exhale. We are children of God and part of a Holy Family. We are the influenced mixture of our family that came before us. As a Holy Family we should always point the members of our family to God and to our Father’s House.

“The whole life of Jesus Christ showed how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power.”

Amen.

Christmas Homily - Why a Manger - A Reflection on the Nativity of Jesus

Why the Manger
A Reflection on the Nativity Story

There may be some academy awards in the future of the young people who told us the story of the nativity of Jesus at this vigil mass. It’s a story they portrayed with the joy and love of Jesus in their hearts; a joy and love that’s contagious.

So children, parents, aunts, uncles, grandparents, family, and friends, I’m going to put the message they gave us to words: JOY TO THE WORLD THE LORD IS BORN. Tonight we celebrate the Birth of our Savior!

Every year, the children of St. Lawrence look forward to telling us the nativity story. The girls are all eager to be Mary or an angel. The boys are a little more bashful but we have Joseph, shepherds, magi and even Herrod.   

In the nativity story Mary and Joseph travel to Bethlehem. There is no room for them at the Inn, so they take shelter with the animals. The only place they have to lay the newborn child, Jesus, was in a manger.

God’s mercy was wrapped in swaddling clothes and laid in a manger.

In our little nativity play, the little girls want to be Mary and place baby Jesus to the manger. They know - The manger is important.

Think about that for a moment, the manger is important. A manger where animals are fed; it’s polluted by where it's at: dirty, dusty, and chewed up.

Why would God come to us in such a humble place; a place where animals are fed?

The answer is in the angel’s message - “Don’t be afraid, I bring good news and great joy for all people.”

Good news and great joy for you shepherds, who probably don’t know anything about good news or joy. Jesus is the messiah for even the lowliest of people; the dirty, dusty, and chewed up. Good news shepherds, a savior is born for you.

Good news and great joy for all people, even those like the magi, who have so much. Good news for those who know there’s more than what this world can give them. Jesus is God’s mercy to the world. Good news magi, a savior is born for you.

Born the savior for all people, Jesus came

·      Not in a palace – there wasn’t even room for him in the Inn.

·      Not in royal robes – he's wrapped in swaddling clothes.

·      Not sitting on a throne – he's laid in a manger.

He's the savior for those who can’t always be perfect. Like the shepherds who were terrified by the angels of God; but, came to the manger to be face to face with God. Then they went out and spread the word about the good news they had been told.

He’s the savior for those looking for something greater like the magi, educated people who studied the stars and the writings of prophets, always looking for something more. Educated, rich, and worldly they were compared to kings; yet they were humble enough to come to the manger bringing gifts and prostrating themselves before the messiah.

He's the savior for those like all of us. It doesn’t matter if we consider ourselves magi or shepherds.

Maybe we live a life we think perfection: educated, worldly, and the king of our own little world. No matter how much we have, something’s missing and we look for answer. There has to be more than what our worldly possessions give us.

Or more likely, we’re like the shepherds, far from perfect, terrified, alone, and living with our sins.  We don’t feel comfortable or fit in; we just want to be quite, unseen, and blending into our surroundings.

The thing is that in both cases, to find God, we have to go to the manger.

Our Savior comes to us in a manger. The Savior of the world comes to us: not in a palace; not in royal robes; and not on a throne. God comes to us approachable in a manger.  

Don’t be afraid, because Jesus Christ is approachable. Jesus comes to us in that manger called our hearts. Just like that manger in the animal shed, it’s polluted by all that's around us: dirty, dusty, and chewed up.

The manger of Christ is our hearts. It is in the manger of our hearts that we make room for Jesus.  It is from this manger we humble ourselves to come face to face with the mercy of God. It is from this manger we give Glory to God in the highest.

Come to the manger. The shepherds came with all they had. The magi came with their wealth. Ask, “What do I bring?  What gifts do I lay before Jesus? What do I bring face to face to God?”

That brings us back to the story portrayed for us by the children, young people whose hearts are filled with the joy and love of Jesus. It’s joy that’s contagious. It is the love and joy that bring us to the manger.

All I can say is “JOY TO THE WORLD THE LORD HAS COME; EVERY HEART PREPARE HIM ROOM!”

Just as Jesus came to us in a manger, tonight we celebrate a special child at our manger. Her name is Olive Grace. Olive Grace was diagnosed in the womb with a severe birth defect. The doctors recommended that the pregnancy be terminated but her parents never hesitated to joyfully receive this child as a special gift from God.  After her birth, she was expected to live only a couple of weeks or months. Today, two years old, we celebrate the life of Olive Grace who represents our baby Jesus in the Nativity.

On behalf of our Pastor Fr. Joe Martina, Fr. Job Scaria, myself and my family I wish you all a Merry Christmas.

Today and every day, may the manger of your heart be filled with the love and joy of Jesus Christ; I pray that each of you and your family’s lives be filled with God’s overflowing mercy.

Amen

Sunday Reflection 4th Sunday Advent - Who Wrote This Story?

Who Wrote This Story?

Micah 5:1-4a; Psalm 80:2-3, 15-16, 18-19;  Hebrews 10:5-10; Luke 1:39-45

Then I said, ‘As is written of me…, I come to do your will, O God.’

In the Bible, the world can be a wonderful place. Angels take care of people. God gives great blessings, protects his people, and brings peace.

Who wrote this? As believers we know it is inspired by God and is sacred. But it is a divine message interpreted by the human authors.

The writers see the significance of even the lowly. They see the possibility of every person. God turns the unsettled, uneasy, unhappy heart to himself; and, turned to God, every heart can be at peace.

They also speak of God’s redemption of his people. Words are written on salvation and even holiness. There are the stories about the saints of God, the everyday lowly people who find God’s glory as example of holiness that is attainable by all.  

Let’s look at Elizabeth.

Elizabeth is an ordinary woman. In her time, she was distinguished as the wife of Zachariah who was barren and not much more. But look at her life in the Gospel.

Filled with the Holy Spirit, she became a prophet. She recognized and announced the glory of Mary. She gave us a prayer we pray today. She was a prophet to Mary, mother of the Lord.

Elizabeth’s glory is this story. Brought to this place of glory by the closeness of the Lord; as the mother of John; as the prophet to Mary, then nothing else about her. Elizabeth found her glory in her closeness to the coming of the Lord.

Elizabeth, insignificant, nobody important, became somebody.

Most people like Elizabeth will live their lives quietly. Some may say they live insignificant lives; but, they are happy.  

In contrast some peoples cannot be happy, because they believe they are insignificant. They become angry and turn to violence to get attention.  

Look world we live in. Where are the angels, saints and blessings from God? Were is the peace in the world, holiness in our hearts, and the glory in our lives?

Go the mall or Walmart and look around. Listen to the news. Just this week there was a shootout on the interstate cause by road rage. Look at the protests, hate, prejudice, racism, bigotry, and violence that are put forward as faith in God.

Who wrote this story? It was not God.

It's a story lived out in anger, rage, and violence. Despite what those who are misguided believe, it is not a divine story.

The same ugliness and the evil we see today have existed for all time. But those who wrote the scripture didn’t let it overtake the deeper reality of God. The reality of God is where we find grace. The reality of God’s glory and holiness is available for all.

Look at our lives and ask who wrote this story? Is it God and you tell the story of his love, joy, and mercy?

Shout, “I come to do your will, O God.” Through grace have hope for the world. In Christ no one is insignificant. Just like Elizabeth, an ordinary person who found her glory in the coming of the Lord.

Let me give you an example in a dear friend of mine, who is in ICU fighting for his life. He was the one who said “Billy-boy you need to be a deacon.” He wrote a letter to the Bishop recommending me for the Diaconate. You read this reflection today because a man that many did not know was a prophet to me. We come to do God’s will and in Christ, no one is insignificant.

It is in simple ways that God uses ordinary people. In ordinary people he sends angels and saints to lead others to Christ. Through our lives, His greatness reaches to the lowly. He is peace.

God inspires the story. We interpret it by our lives as ordinary people, maybe to others insignificant. Yet God sees the significance of even the lowly. Bring Christ to every person. Bring the peace that turns the unsettled, uneasy, unhappy heart to God; and, turned to God, every heart can be at peace.  God turns the world around.

The world of the Bible is a wonderful place. Our world is too, it just depends who is writing this story.

Amen

Sunday Reflection - Finding Joy - 3rd Sunday Advent

Finding Joy

Zephaniah 3:14-18a; Psalm: Isaiah 12:2-3, 4, 5-6; Philippians 4:4-7; Luke 3:10-18

This third Sunday of advent we reflect on Joy.  I look at the world seeing terrorism, hate, bigotry, and prejudice given so much attention that it is to the point where it is almost celebrated. So where in the world I am supposed to find joy?  

That’s what we learn today.

John the Baptist was a voice crying out in the wilderness. He was the last prophet who preached about the one who was to come after him. John tells us how to find joy.

His message of joy is simple: “Do what’s right!”

John doesn’t tell the tax collector not to be tax collector but to what is right as a tax collector. He doesn’t scold soldiers for being soldier but tells them to be good and honest soldiers.

And he tells everyday folks, to do what’s right by others: share with the less fortunate, cloth the naked, and feed the hungry. These simple acts are works of mercy.

John preached the good news promising the coming of one mightier than he; one he was unworthy of; and one who would baptized with the Holy Spirit and fire.

Paul's message on joy is similar. In his letter to the Philippians, the apostle writes, "Rejoice in the Lord always. I shall say it again: rejoice! Your kindness should be known to all. The Lord is near."

Paul identifies further works of mercy. He tells us to council the doubtful and pray for the living and the dead. “Have no anxiety at all, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God.”

Paul promises the Lord is near.

This advent we look at the world, a world truly in need of joy and the mercy of God.. This is where we will find joy. Joy is found in bringing God’s mercy to the world.  It is in the ordinary and everyday things we do in our life. As John the Baptist points out – Do what’s right in our everyday ordinary life.

We find joy by bringing joy to others. Joy is in bringing Christ to the world, sharing the good news, doing works of mercy for both the body and the spirit. When we find joy, truly the Lord is near.

Joy is found in everyday life as a truck driver or a teacher, a ditch digger or a lawyer, a fireman, police officer, doctor, nurse, or someone who takes care of those around them. Joy is being a mother, father, spouse, parent, child. Joy is found in the love of Christ. In his love, Joy finds us.

Take these true words of joy from today's readings as we prepare for the coming of the Lord “Shout for joy, sing joyfully, and be glad and exult with all your heart; be confident and unafraid.  My strength and my courage is the LORD, and he is my savior.”  

Amen.

Advent Retreat - Where God is, There is Mercy - Closing Conference

Where God is, There is Mercy

We began “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the one who is and who was and who is to come….” (Rev 1:8)

That what advent is about celebrating the one who is, who came for us, and getting ready for him to come again.

The first man and the woman lived in paradise. They were friends of God. They walked with God in the evening.  God gave them all of creation and he didn’t give them the 10 commandments. God had one rule, “Don’t eat from these two trees.”

The serpent comes along to challenge God’s word. Why not eat the fruit of these trees? Listening to the serpent, they sinned.

God could have looked at this sin and with a just a word to start all over. Humanity was young. All the evils of the world hadn’t started yet. God could have started over. But that is not the God of Mercy.  God  called to them but in their shame, the man and the woman hid from him.

In God’s mercy, he let them start over. He let them know the consequences of their sin, but his mercy was still with him. Even another remarkable thing is that God’s mercy was given to the serpent.

In the Old Testament, you will find God’s mercy. The stories of Abraham, Joseph, Jonah, David, and so many others are stories of God’s mercy. The history of God’s people is a history of God’s mercy of benevolence, forgiveness, and loving-kindness.

Through the immaculate conception of the Virgin Mary, she was made ready to be the Mother of Mercy, the vessel to bring God’s mercy in human form to live among us. Jesus is the face of God, the face of his mercy. God has blessed us in Christ. (Eph 1:6)

Jesus’ “I Am(s)” tells us of his Mercy. When Jesus says “I Am” it manifests his gentle mercy. During his time on earth, he lived his greatest “I Am,” the example of mercy.  

The blind man shouted “Jesus, son of David, have mercy on me” (Mk 10:47) and Jesus let him see. Jesus healed the sick, cast out demons, and fed the hungry. Jesus offered mercy to those that society didn’t see the prostitutes, tax collectors, and sinners.

Just like the first man and woman, our life is from God. Our earthly life is from the Father and he has given us opportunity for a new eternal life through Christ. Both these gifts we carry in our earthen vessels. Life is fragile to suffering, illness, and death. The promise of new life is fragile to loss from sin. We continue only by the mercy of God. “The dust returns to the earth as it once was, and the life breath returns to God who gave it.(Ec 12:20)

Look at our lives for examples of God’s mercy. Find time when something really stupid was done and we were protected by God’s mercy. Think of every day, when God protect us by his mercy from things we are not aware.

Years ago, because of illness and not paying close attention to my money, I had difficult times. I thought my car was paid off but there was a partial payment due at the end, I never paid it. One day, the sheriff showed up, there was a small balance of less than $100 dollars. They took my car. Thank you God, at least I have a house, they came for that the next day.  

Over an eight year period, I had missed three payment years apart. Life issues like illness, hospital stays, or the starting of school had disturbed the payment schedule. I thought they were caught up, the bank never said anything, until the sheriff showed up.

Like Adam, I was ashamed, hiding from God and blaming my wife. .

But God’s mercy was there. We got the car back.  The bank refinanced. God’s mercy was there, telling me he was in control.

Human have a hardness of heart that resist God’s mercy for us and for others. People put the things of this world before God; but, mercy cannot exist without God. People put things before Christ so they cannot bring Christ, the face of Mercy.

Mercy comes directly from God and by Christ working in us through corporal and spiritual works of mercy. The loving-kindness of the corporal works of mercy are feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, clothe the naked, shelter the homeless, visit the sick, ransom the captive, and bury the dead. The benevolent compassion of the spiritual works of mercy are instruct the ignorant, counsel the doubtful, admonish sinners, bear wrongs patiently, forgive offences willingly, comfort the afflicted, and to pray for the living and the dead.

Christ asks us to forgive others. Christ asks us to bring him to the world.

Advent is time to ready ourselves for the coming of Christ. The coming of Christ we are waiting and the Christ in the world every day.  The Christ we see in the hungry, the oppressed, the victims, and the one sitting next to us. The face of God’s mercy is the Christ that is in us. 

Where God is, there is mercy.  Praise the LORD, for he is good, his mercy endures forever. (Ps 136:1)  

Amen!!!