God is Not Chained - Reflection 28th Sunday OT

God is not Chained 

(Readings for 28^th Sunday OT)

I read this the other day, “Behind every mistaken understanding of reality is a mistaken understanding of God.” (Richard Rohr) 

The truth of that statement can be found in St. Paul’s words “The word of God is not chained.”  God is not chained to our mistaken reality.

In the first reading, we hear of Naaman. He was a General. He fought for his king and his kingdom. He fought for his Gods. He fought for what he knew. This was Naaman’s reality. Another part of his reality was that he was a leper.

In the Bible, leprosy is a disease that causes the sufferer to experience abandonment, isolation, and being an outcast of society. It’s also a metaphor for sin.

Naaman was a powerful and wealthy man. He looked to defeat his leprosy. He went to his king. He went to the king of Israel. He was looking to the wrong Kings; only the true King can heal, the Lord God most high. God sent Elisha.

Elisha instructed the leper to dunk himself in the Jordan seven times. Can someone say baptism? Naaman thinks this is preposterous; surely there are better rivers in his home country.  Yet, in an act of faith, he washes himself in the river Jordan seven times. He comes out clean.

The healing of Naaman is not just a story of the healing from disease but it is a story of salvation. Now, he knows the true King. Naaman realized that his healing was the work of the true God; but, he still has a mistaken understanding of God.

“Please let me, your servant, have two mule-loads of earth, for your servant will no longer make burnt offerings or sacrifices to any other god except the LORD.

Naaman mistakenly thought to give thanks and praise to God, he had to bring the earth of Israel with him. He chained God down to that one little place.

God is not chained.  Not by place not by time not by person

In the Gospel, ten lepers met Jesus on his journey to Jerusalem. They stood at a distance from him and raised their voices, saying, “Jesus, Master! Have pity on us!”

Ten lepers were cured. One returned. Jesus asked, “Where are the other nine?”

The other nine had a mistaken understanding of reality and a mistaken understanding of God. Their reality was to go to the priest to be declared healed instead of giving thanks and praising God. Healing was chained to the priest.

Only one came to our Lord Jesus Christ, to give praise and thanks. The one who realized he had been healed returned, glorifying God in a loud voice. He knew that God had healed him. He fell at the feet of Jesus and thanked him. He was a Samaritan.

The word of God is not chained. Not by place not by time not by person.

Naaman and the Samaritan realized not only had they been healed, they had also died to their old lives filled by the leprosy of disease and sin. The healing power of God had cured their leprosy and cured them of their sin. They had been raised up to a new life. 

These things still happen today.

I recently read the story of Juan Perez in the article “When Faith meets Cancer.”  Juan was diagnosis with synovial sarcoma. Even with treatment, most patients survive only 12-16 months. Last spring, Juan traveled to Lourdes at 21 months past his diagnosis. He was looking for a miracle.

He and his wife prayed. They bathed in the spring and sipped the waters. They attended mass and gave thanks and praise to God with 25000 other pilgrims.

It was in the mass that the miracle happened. Perez said, “While I was there, I just can’t explain in the right words. It’s an unbelievable experience. The choir singing. Everybody rejoicing. So peaceful.  When I was there, I just felt that I’d rather have a spiritual healing than a physical healing, to know God better. It helped me.”

To know God better helped me. Juan gets it. He understands his reality and found a little understanding of the mystery of God. Juan received healing even though the cancer may still be there.  

As of the beginning of September 2016, Juan’s cancer had shrunk. God was not chained to the time the doctors said Juan had left.

Juan’s story is witness. Remember Jesus Christ, the word of God is not chained. Not by place not by time not by person.  God is not chained by our reality.

Today there is a mistaken understanding of God. In the mistaken reality of our world, remember the words of St. Paul to Timothy: If we have died with him we shall live with him; if we persevere we shall reign with him. But if we deny him he will deny us.

Y’all be good, y’all be holy, and preach the gospel by the way you live and love. Amen.

Quality v Quantity - Reflection 27th Sunday OT

Quality v Quantity

 27^th Sunday OT

The disciple’s asked Jesus to increase their faith. They had faith, but, only if they had more faith. And Jesus said to them: “If you have faith the size of a mustard seed you could tell that mulberry tree to uproot and be planted in the sea.”

  

It’s not about the quantity of your faith it about the quality.

Faith is a wonderful thing. In the first reading we hear that the faithful survive because they believe in God’s justice.  The second reading St. Paul calls faith the gift of God. But these same two readings tell us having faith is hard.

Having faith is hard when we look around to see ruin and misery, strife and discord, poverty and hunger, oppression and war. Keeping faith is hard when we realize the evil of the world. Like the prophet we ask God why evil exists and how long will it go on?

Having faith in Jesus Christ is hard. The world places a stigma on us. We face persecution, suffering, misunderstanding, resentment and hostility because the message of our God is love.

And about our faith, Jesus tells us that it’s not how much faith you have; it’s how strong your faith is.

Eight people attended our healing service this month. They came in faith before the Lord in the sacrament of the altar. They came to pray in faith that God’s healing would touch them. In the darkest time of life, they come to Jesus in faith. They come to Jesus for faith.

We come to Jesus for faith and to have the faith of Jesus.

Jesus had the strongest faith of any man to walk the earth. But even with all that faith, He was afraid. On the cross, He cried out to God the Father, Lord why have you forsaken me.

I remember when my faith was tested, a time I was afraid. It was a test of faith for my entire family and until recently I never really understood that test.

My father was a man of faith. Yet, when he came to the end of his life - he suffered greatly.  He suffered from lung disease. The lack of oxygen caused his brain and thoughts to grow dark and troubled. Almost the entire last year of his life he was on a ventilator. He slowly suffocated.

By his life, my father tried to live as Jesus lived. He taught my brothers and I to have charity for others. He taught us to respect with justice the dignity of every person.

Jesus lived a life of love. But before his greatest trial, Jesus went through a dark time in the Garden of Gethsemane. Jesus’ life ended in suffering. Jesus hung on the cross and he dried out in despair before his death; death on the cross by slowly suffocating.

My father tried to live like Christ. In his faith, he gave his suffering to Lord. He even died like Jesus.

It was a dark time for me and my family. In the darkness of the world, the faithful believe. We asked why this happened. We asked how long it would hurt. When I was 26, I didn’t have a lot of faith, but my faith was like that mustard seed, a good quality faith taught by my father. My heart didn’t become harden to God in fact it turned to God even more.

Faith leads us to become the unprofitable servants. In faith, we live to teach, preach, and serve in charity. By faith, we respect with justice the dignity of each and every person. We do this not for us, but for our Lord. Faith moves us to share the love of Christ with our brothers and sisters.

By grace alone, we are saved. Grace gives us that mustard seed of faith that does great things. In grace and faith we put on a servant’s apron.

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

He Cares for You - Healing Prayer Serivce

He Cares for You (Reflections of the Healing Prayer Service)

Thanks Dan for Inspiration

God provides great words to touch those who open their hearts. From scripture come these words: Bow humbly under God’s mighty hand, so that in due time he may lift you high. Cast all your cares on him because he cares for you. (1 Ptr 5:6-7)

We come here tonight to pray for healing. In these prayers and words are healing. They tell us of God’s love which is the most awesome healing power there is.

We just need to take that love into our heart’s and return it to God.

It is the fire of God’s love that frees us from our suffering and purges us of our sins. In the fire of God’s love, the light of his grace brings us the strength of hope and the peace of his presence.

It is a fire that burns hot and strong, so we tend to keep at a distance; even those who think we’re religious. Because, the  truth is we try to control everything.

We forget to open ourselves to God’s love and return it. We forget God is our loving Father who cares for each and every one of us. Because we’ve neglected God, we think God has forgotten about us.  

We forget to bow before Him. We forget to praise Him. We forget His mercy. We forget to return His love.

Then we come to a crisis. We get angry and in that anger shout at God. It’s alright to be angry. It’s alright to shout and ask God why. It’s alright because He cares. He loves. He forgives.

It’s alright. Because, in this anger, shouting, and questioning, we recognize that we don’t control everything. Everything is in God’s control.

 From Psalms 62

• In God is my safety and glory the rock of my strength
• In God alone is my soul at rest, my help comes from him. 
• In God alone be at rest my soul, for my hope comes from him

Pray to God and offer him your suffering, your illness, your crisis. Pray to our Heavenly Father for his mercy. Pray to Lord Jesus Christ, the Divine Physician for strength, hope and healing.  Pray to the Holy Spirit to know the peace and joy of God’s presence. Pray for forgiveness. Pray often.

I am filled with joyed when my wife, children or someone tells me “I love you.” I never get tired of hearing those words. That’s our prayers to God, the “I love you” from us to God.

Praise God, offer Him all our suffering. Give our pain to the Lord Jesus Christ who suffered for us. Our Heavenly Father brings grace, peace and joy, because as the scripture tells, He cares for you.

Where That Came From - Reflection 26th Sunday OT

Where That Came From   

26^th Sunday OT

Being a preacher’s son, one Sunday a month we'd go to a member of the church’s home for Sunday dinner. My mother would give out instruction: mind your manners, eat one bite of everything on your plate, and never ask for seconds.

My brothers had problems with the first two, my problem was the third. It never failed that the chubby little boy would be asked. "Would you like seconds? There’s plenty were that came from." I would stare longingly at a second piece of fried chicken and say “No mam, I'm full.”

Later, we would go to my grandparents’ house. My grandfather always had a pack of Wrigley's gum in his shirt pocket. If there were more grandchildren than gum, he would tear the sticks so everyone would have a piece. He would give it all out and say “That's all I have, there’s no more where that came from.” No matter how many times he divided a stick of gum, it was more than enough. We’d be happy with all he had. 

“There’s more where that came from,” is a modern phrase. When Jesus preached his parables, people believed abundance and good things were limited. They only knew, “There’s no more where that came from.” People who had things were favored by God.

The only thing in abundance for the poor was misery. Illness and suffering were thought to be divine punishment. To improve one’s stations in life was unthinkable. If a person gained something they were suspected of taking it from someone else. That’s why the shepherd looked for his one lost sheep and the woman searched for her one lost coin.

In this world of rich and poor, the rich controlled everything. The rich were blessed by God and the poor and suffering received divine justice for a sin they or their ancestors had committed. The poor survived on the generosity of the rich. The Law of Moses instructed the rich to share their good fortune by alms to help the less fortunate.

This brings us to the story of the rich man and Lazarus. In a world about the powerful, wealthy, and beautiful people, it is a story with great irony. To see only beauty, the world ignores the people it considers unimportant or nameless like the poor and suffering.

The irony of this story, it is the successful we don’t know; but, we learn the name of the poor and suffering, Lazarus. Christ is the paradox that puts a name to the nameless and brings beauty to those the world has thrown away. Though He was rich, he became poor, so that by his poverty you might become rich. Rich and abundant is His grace, mercy, and love.

God did not condemn the rich man. The world saw him as a favored by God. The rich man condemned himself by forgetting his God given responsibility of caring for the poor. He created an abyss between himself and the poor and suffering.

He lived in opulence all his earthly days. In that, he created a chasm between himself and Lazarus. He ignored the poor and suffering man not even offering scraps from his table. His destiny of torment began at the door that separated the two on earth and grew to a great abyss in the next.

The difference was who stood on the favored side.

In life Lazarus was a forgotten person. No one even cared enough to “shoo” the dogs away. He lived on the poor side of the door; yet, he never begged or asked the rich man for anything. After death, Lazarus was received in the bosom of Abraham, a table of righteousness filled with God’s love, grace, and mercy. 

After death and in torment, the rich man begged. 'Father Abraham, have pity on me. Send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am suffering torment in these flames.'

Lazarus is a precursor image for Christ raised from the dead; but, Lazarus did not preach repentance. Christ preached repentance and sends his disciples with the same message.

The message for us is don’t chase the riches of the world. Instead, “Pursue righteousness, devotion, faith, love, patience, and gentleness. Compete well for the faith.”

This is mercy. This is love. Rich and abundant is His grace, mercy, and love. Like my grandfather's piece of gum, in his grace He gives us all.

Pursue Christ’s abundance. “Lay hold of eternal life, to which you were called…” We are his disciples. As Christians, we took his name. Go out to learn the name of the poor and suffering. With great love, bring His riches. The Lord will give us all. If your goal is to love, give all that you have.

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

Put Your Feet in the Right Place - Reflection 25th Sunday OT

Put Your Feet in the Right Place  
25^th Sunday OT

On vacation with my parents this week, I visited the Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historic Park in Hodgenville, Ky.  At this park is a large monument at the place of Abraham Lincoln’s birth. A grand set of stairs in the hillside leads to a large granite and marble structure. Inside is a humble cabin not much more than an arm’s span wide and three arm’s spans long.

The only problem, scientist have discovered it's not old enough to be Lincoln’s birth cabin. Yes, it sits on the spot of the original cabin; the land belonged to Thomas Lincoln, Abe’s father, but it is not the cabin. 

The National Park Service calls it a symbolic birth cabin. It all started with plan to make money. Visit the park to learn the whole story. It's kind of like the stories we hear today.

In the first reading, greedy people take advantage of the poor by cheating them out of their wages, out of food, and even take advantage of their lives. We will diminish the ephah (a bushel) add to the shekel (used as balance of scales) and fix our scales for cheating! We will buy the lowly for silver, and the poor for a pair of sandals; even the refuse of the wheat we will sell!”

They wanted the Lord’s Day to be over so they could continue their cheating. They wanted the festivals of the Lord to end to continue their dishonest ways. They are just going through the motions of prayer and worship.

The gospel parable asks if we are doing the same. Are we honest stewards of God’s mercy? Do we share from our bounty with those less fortunate or are we cheating God?

Jesus came to teach us to love, to care for the poor, the less fortunate, and those in need. Paul re-enforces Jesus’ message by bringing this ideal of a new life. We are to offer supplications, prayers, petitions, and thanksgivings for everyone. This is good and pleasing to God our savior, who wills everyone to be saved and to come to knowledge of the truth.

I like the fact that St. Paul asks us to pray for the poor and lowly sinners who are Kings and those in authority. These are poor for the love of Christ.

This is a great idea in our time's of politics and issues. It is a great idea when political platforms are built on legalized killing of the unborn and rail against Christ and His church. Our countries founding ideals and thoughts are not understood and twisted to become a rallying cry for unrest. The messages we hear are poor for the love of Christ.

Abraham Lincoln said, “Be sure you put your feet in the right place, then stand firm.” I think that is what God is asking us to do. Put our feet in the right place and stand firm. Stand firm in God’s mercy and be good stewards.

This week the USCCB posted “As we prepare for our national and local elections, may our political engagement be guided by our Catholic faith.” Don’t just go through the motions. Don’t be symbolic Catholics. “Put your feet in the right place and stand firm!”

Pray for the poor and lowly who are our country’s leaders. Pray our leaders are not greedy people. Pray they are not just trying to take advantage of us. Pray they become good stewards of all that they are entrusted with in positions of authority. Pray for those poor for the love of Christ.

Abraham Lincoln wrote “I remember my mother's prayers and they have always followed me. They have clung to me all my life.”

Pray for everyone. Lift up the less fortunate, the lowly, and the outcasts. Be good stewards of God’s mercy, which is the grace and love in Christ we share. 

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

Lost! A Reflection 24th Sunday OT-C

Lost!   (Link - 24^TH Sunday OT)

Many people watched the TV show “Lost.” According to one of the show’s creators, it was about “people who are lost in their lives. Then, they get on an airplane, crash on an island, and become physically lost.” (Lost)

Sounds like Exodus. The Israelites' lives were lost. They left Egypt, crashed into God, and then got lost in the desert. Moses left the people for just a little while and they crashed into God. They got lost. They turned from the way pointed out to them; they made a molten calf and worshiped it.

God tells Moses “I have seen this people, how stiff-necked they are.” God said the people were stiff necked, stubborn, and obstinate. In the narrative of Exodus, God was upset with the people; He was broken-hearted. Did they get what they deserved? No, they got what God gives: Forgiveness. 

You would think they learned a lesson. Not so. They continued to be this way; refusing to change. They continued to get lost, a stiff-necked people sinning against God. God forgave them again and again and again.

I think Jesus parables are about stiff-neck people. Look at these parables in a different way; see the lost from a different perspective. They tell of those who turned aside from the path shown to them.

We know the parable of the lost sheep. But, the shepherd is lost, stubborn, and foolish to leave 99 sheep unprotected to go after one stray. The sheep becomes the false god the shepherd chases. The greater good of 99 are left behind.  

We know the parable of the lost coin. Yet, tear apart your house and forget others for a single coin, you’re lost, stubborn, and on the wrong path. The coin becomes the false god the woman worships forgetting all else.

Both, shepherd and woman turned aside from the way pointed out to them. Their molten calf is worldly things like the sheep and coin. Jesus words hint that something has become lost, yet God the Father, welcomes and forgives. The grace of our Lord is abundant. They return to the right path; there is a great party.

The Israelites, shepherd, and woman were lost worshiping things of this world, things of men. We have the same in our houses, cars, clothes, and our things. We can be a stiff-necked people, worshipping man-made things in this world  that turn us from the path and purpose God has revealed.

The prodigal son worshiped the things of this world.  The son demanded his inheritance, left home, and the love of his father. He chose the things of the world, which he saw as “freedom.”  But “freedom” is not what he found. He found lost.

Defeated, the son returns to his father’s house. The father runs to meet his son. He embraces him and prepares a feast of welcome. Did the son get what he deserved? No. He got what his father gave: Forgiveness. 

We can become lost in our lives; physically lost in the sin of the everyday world. Lost in our stiff-necked stubbornness and sin, do we get what we deserve? No, we receive what God our Father gives us: forgiveness.  We are reconciled to Him in Christ.

St. Paul writes, “Christ Jesus came to save sinners.  Of these I am the foremost…. so that in me …, Christ Jesus might display all his patience for those who would come to believe in him for everlasting life.”  God saves us and calls us to him despite what we have done according to His own purpose and grace bestowed on us in Christ Jesus. (2 Tim 1:9)

Heavenly Father may all who are lost chasing things of this world return to you, know your abundant grace and forgiveness, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. Amen.

Y’all be good, y’all be holy and preach the gospel by the way you live and love.

Jesus' 4 letter Word - Hate - Homily Reflection 23rd Sunday OT

Jesus said Hate – 23^rd WeeK  OT

My grandson turned three Saturday. I watch him learn about Jesus and how to say his prayers. He loves to dip in fingers in the fount and make the sign of the cross. I am so proud of him and his parents for their faith.

I love that little boy. I love my children, both my daughters, son-in-law and future son-in-law. God blessed me with a beautiful wife that I love so much. I love my parents, my mother- in-law, my brothers, brother-in-law, and all my extended family. I thank God for such a wonderful family.

God has given me another family, all of you. I am blessed. I love my church family. Every week, I try to write a reflection or preach a homily that expresses Christ’s love. 

This week these are the words of the Gospel: “If anyone comes to me without hating his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple.”

How am I supposed to understand such a hard thing?  It takes a lot of praying.

During my praying and reflection, I realized some things.

First, I’m not a theologian. Another is that in a perfect world, those words would go away. They make me, the weak Christian disciple, uncomfortable.  But, comfort was not why Jesus came. That’s why he said those words.

I realized both love and hate are forms of passion. They are the opposite ends of the spectrum, but both are passion. The absence of passions of love or hate is indifference not caring at all.

Love is the passion for everything that you consider good and beautiful. Hate is the passion for the things you do not consider good and beautiful.

The sin in most of us is that good and beautiful is found in ourselves, our thoughts and beliefs. We love what we consider to be like us and hate what we consider not like us. And in these “We love to hate!”

Look around us. Conservative, progressive, and liberal politicians are at each other’s throat. If a representative of one says something, the others attack with hate. They attack with passion detesting everything the other represents.

During a psychological evaluation in Deacon Formation, you’re asked your thoughts on repulsive situations. I asked, “Who could find those outrages acceptable?”  The answer, “For some there is no wrong in these situations. They would boast of them.”

I want to make this clear, I am not saying that conservative, progressives, and liberals are all wrong, but what is their passion? Wisdom tells us, “the corruptible body burdens the soul.”

That is why we are to look deeper when Jesus said hate. What is within our grasp we find with difficulty….”

Think of the parable. What kind of builder starts to build a tower without a good foundation and supplies to finish the work?  What kind of leader goes to battle without making sure his forces are strong enough?

Jesus’ teachings are culture changing. He was against the status quo. He was against what were the normal expectations of the world. Jesus calls his disciples to a passion against the worldly thinking represented by father, mother, spouse and children, brothers and sisters, and even his own life.

Jesus is calling those who follow him to be more. He asks his disciples to have a strong foundation and the stamina to battle against those who will oppose them.

Jesus' disciples are to be a tower standing true and tall for others to see like their family, community, and all of society. The disciples are to be an example and have the strength and stamina to denounce self and proclaim Christ. To be an example so the paths of those on earth can be made straight.

St. Paul is a true disciple of Christ. He writes as true disciples, we change. This was his message to Philimon and Onesimus. St. Paul tells them to have passion for what is of Christ not the norms of the culture and society of the times.  

What are the norms of our times: hate speech, prejudice, bigotry, attacking the dignity of others, and even violence. Jesus is none of these things. These deny the image of God in other human beings. Do not fall to these passions!

One of my favorite verses is from the first letter to the Corinthians:  The kingdom of God depends not on talk but on power.

Jesus asks us to have a passion against worldly things. To have passion for all that is good and all that is good is Jesus. This passion is not found in talk, but by the power of the Holy Spirit.

This Sunday, Mother Teresa is recognized by the Church as a saint. Once, Mother was asked, “How did she continue?

In my words, she was asked: How did she remain a disciple; how did she stand tall; how did she have the strength and stamina to denounce self and proclaim Christ?

She answered “Just Pray.”

I am not a theologian but I like that answer. I am a disciple. I try to be the tower but I often fail. It is by Christ Jesus, my redeemer, that in spite of my weaknesses I have strength.

Then, it came to me. I have so many people I love so much because I love him so much.

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

A Table of Humility - Sunday Reflection - 22nd Sunday OT

A Table of Humility 

Readings: 22^nd Sunday OT

The wisdom of proverbs tells us to “Conduct our affairs with humility.”

Jesus teaches humility in the parable of the wedding feast. “Do not take the place of honor but go to the lowest place. You will be esteemed when the host invites you to a higher place of honor.”

Humility is shown “inviting the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind. You will be blessed because of their inability to repay you.”

What is humility? In our faith, humility is a virtue. It is recognizing our relation to God and the acceptance and submission to His divine grace.

Jesus is our example. His humility was accepting and submitting Himself to divine grace.

This is a truth about humility. Humility begins in the place you find yourself. Where are you at the table: the place of honor or the lowest place? The proverb says, “Humble yourself the more, the greater you are, and you will find favor with God.”

My grandparent’s kitchen table filled the room. My papaw made it so (at the least) all 12 of his children could sit at the table. As the children got married and had families of their own, I remember how that huge table became small. So for holidays and special events an eating schedule developed.

After everyone gather for the blessing of the food, the first group at the table would be the grown men and any guests. Second to eat was the older grandchildren; the third group at the table was the youngest children. The last group to eat would be my mamma, momma, and aunts who cooked.

I did not recognize this as humility. Most of the food was gone by the time they got to table. My mamma, momma, and aunts were important people to me. They should have been the first to eat.

I said that’s not fair. My mamma’s answer, “Mais no, (But no; of course not) the second time we eat at the table. We always have the first taste when we are cooking. It makes us happy seeing everyone eat.

An attentive ear can tell you that there is much wisdom in those words.

Happiness is found serving others. We get our first taste of heaven humbling ourselves before God. For each of us, it‘s in a different way. Humility begins in the place you find yourself. When we serve others for God, even the huge table becomes small.

Heaven is a place of celebration. Our invitation is Jesus Christ. Jesus who humbled himself by his sacrifice and made his table is open to all who believe in him.

Come to the table of the Lord. Humble yourself before others; humble yourself before God.

Y’all be good, y’all be holy and preach the gospel by the way you live and love. Amen.

"Surprise! Surprise! Surprise!" Homily Reflection - 21st Sunday OT

“Surprise! Surprise! Surprise!”  - 21^st Sunday OT

When I was a little boy, I loved the TV show, Gomer Pyle. Gomer was a simple country boy drafted into the Marines. There, he faced a different world than the one he was accustomed. When something unexpected happened, Gomer would exclaim “Surprise! Surprise! Surprise!” Then he’d find the lesson in it.

How about that as the theme for today’s readings? Surprise! … Surprise! … Surprise!

Surprise! Salvation is not promised to everyone. Lord open the door for us. And, He will say in reply, I do not know where you are from. You are not guaranteed heaven because you’re Catholic or Baptist or attend the Assembly of God.

Surprise! Outcasts will be welcome; maybe those we think are super religious will not.

Surprise! Look who is being saved. “Some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last.” Salvation is not promised to priests, deacons, preachers, or other religious.

To the surprise of those outside the door the ones who recline at the table in the kingdom of God will not be them. But, it will be those who gave everything for God and their neighbor. Heaven will be full of those who’ve seen their lowest points. It will be full of sinners who fell to their knees before the Lord, our Redeemer. Heaven will be missing many who dressed in their finest; tithed great sums; and, said they had been saved. Convinced of your salvation, then you may be surprised.

For most, the surprise will be He lets us in. But first, He will ask us to do something. Go out to all the world and tell the Good News.

The faithful are telling the Good News. Christ is witnessed for the world to see. Deeds of the past continue to tell the Good News today. The faithful tell the Good News of Christ every day. They tell His goodness by their daily lives. Even those you would never expect witness God’s goodness.

If you have watched the Olympics, you will see Christ witnessed to the world.

God spoke through the Prophet Isaiah. I know their works and their thoughts and I come to gather nations of every language; they shall come and see my glory.

If you look at Rio de Janerio’s skyline, you will see a witness standing above the city; a statue of Christ the Redeemer stands at the summit of Mt. Corcovado. Hands outstretched, Christ welcomes all who come to him.

It was erected after WWI to witness Christ to the people of Rio de Janerio in the battle against Godlessness. At this Olympics, it witnesses to the world. The rector of the Christ the Redeemer Sanctuary said, “The Christ with his open arms welcomes and protects all the peoples of the world…” Praise the Lord of all nations; glorify him, all you peoples!

Even deeds from the past continue to witness the Good News today.

The Olympic torched was blessed by Rio’s Cardinal Tempesta at the base of the statue. A blessing not sanctioned by the Olympics, but, requested by mayor of Rio. These are true witness for Christ.

God will use those we never expect. Some of these I will take as priests and Levites.

Athletes can be elitist, pompous, and egotistical; at these Olympics, God has used athletes from every continent as His witness. They can be seen praying before they compete and giving glory to God in their victories. Many wear crosses, miraculous medals, or other sacramental.

In interviews, athletes give Glory to God and witness their faith. These athletes tell how Christ is most important in their lives and how He has saved them. Many are Catholics.

I don’t know about you; but, I’m not the most athletic figure in the world. But, I can give glory to God.

All of us are to do the same. Don’t wait too long because many will stand outside the locked door knocking, saying Lord open the door. We ate and drank in your company. He will say I do not know where you are from.

Proclaim God’s Glory to bring others to the Lord. You and I may not have the world’s stage but Go out to tell the Good News?  Get people’s attention!

No, we’re not these amazing dynamic figures of athletic ability on the Olympic stage. We are amazing and dynamic figures that can bring the Good News of Jesus Christ.

Everything the Church gives makes us ready. Every Sacrament, every mass, every sermon, every hymn, every bit of priesthood, ministry, or liturgy brings us to Christ, holiness made flesh.

Live a holy life. Live a life of charity. Live a life with respect for human dignity, kindness, courage, and truthfulness. Shout goodness. You want to bring someone to Christ, be Christ like. 

The parable tells us that to be with Christ is to enter the narrow gate. It is a place of lovingkindness, forgiveness, and the mercy of God. Many think it’s easy, they’ve done it; and, they will be surprised.

So, Go out and tell the Good News. Tell of Jesus Christ, the most marvelous story of all time. Tell the world about Christians by the way you live. Tell the world that through love the unexpected happens.

He lets us in: Surprise! … Surprise! … Surprise!

The only thing left is to find the lesson. I think it’s a pretty simple lesson summed up - Y’all be good, y’all be holy, always preach the gospel by the way you live and love. Amen.

Don't Yell Fire in a Crowded Theater - Reflection 20th Sunday OT-C

Don’t Yell Fire in a Crowded Theater

20^th Sunday OT

During our adult education study of this week’s Gospel, someone asked, “Why are the people in the Gospel mad? Why are families divided?” Maybe, we can find the answer.

The messiah, the one known as the prince of peace spoke: “Do you think that I have come to establish peace on the earth?” Jesus said to his disciples “I have come to set the earth on fire, and how I wish it were already blazing!”

Fire is something you don’t joke about; you don’t yell fire in a crowded theater. If you do, there is going to be problems. That’s what happened in the Gospel.

Jesus was man of peace; but, the fire of His word is divisive.

God’s Word can set our world on fire and His truth tends to turn our world upside down. God’s Word has always done this.

Jerimiah was sent to do bring the word of God to the people. Jerimiah turned people’s lives upside down. Bringing God’s word to the people, he set the world that he lived in on fire. Jerimiah saw the things that were happening and gave them the truth of God’s word of what was to come.

And, people didn’t like that. People don’t like to be told the truth that what they are doing is wrong. People want their own words and beliefs to be God’s truths.

The people didn’t want to hear God’s word. They wanted the prophet dead so they threw Jeremiah into a well.

Prophets came, and prophets died. And, God’s word does not change. People still did not listen to the truth. Because people would not change and hear what God asked of them; He sent his Word in human form.

Jesus is the truth of God’s word. And, people didn’t like that. People don’t like to be told the truth that what they are doing is wrong. People want their own words and beliefs to be God’s truths.

They wanted Jesus dead so they nailed him on the Cross. Still, God’s word does not change.

Christ Jesus sets us on fire by the Holy Spirit; by the Holy Spirit has given us the Gospel. For believers, the Word of God sets us on fire.

For the world, the gospels are a pain for there are those who don’t want the truth of the Word of God. This is where division is found.

If you believe in Christ, it changes you. It causes a divide between you now and who you used to be. In Jesus’ time, an individual was identified by their family, their religion, and their politics. If you crossed these lines by following Christ, you divided your family.

Today, we’re just like that. In our world, our country, our state, our city, and our community, people are divided by politics, by religion, even by the variations in people. We are divided by the truth of God’s word in Jesus Christ. That truth is love.

The problem is humanity wants to define its own truth. The world doesn’t want God’s love. It wants a human idea of love based in the spark of human passions and desires, this type of love fuels conflict in human hearts. The love for money, power, and even a certain lifestyle is a counterfeit love humanity created.

The truth of Christ’s love is a blazing fire of fidelity, justice, and peace. Do not grow weary and lose heart because it is stronger than any spark of passion made-up in the human heart.

This fire for Jesus Christ is not a scheme. Jesus is not a social order but discipleship. It is the love that sets hearts on fire to share our faith in Jesus Christ with the world. By the fire of Christ through the Holy Spirit, we love what God loves. It helps us keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, the leader and perfecter of faith.

In us, Christ continues to set the world on fire. We keep it blazing. Remember the questions, “Why are the people mad? Why are families divided?” It’s because of love, the love of Christ.

All my life I have been told don’t yell fire in a crowded theater. But, if it is a fire that comes from love of Christ, yell about His love at the top of your lungs.

Y’all be good, y’all be holy and preach the gospel by the way you live and love. Amen.

Treasure Map - Reflection 19th Sunday OT

Treasure Map   19^th Sunday OT

The past couple of weeks, I have been working with a family in crisis. They are in a crisis of family, health and finances. In this time, they reach to the one they were taught to turn to when in trouble.

“Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father is pleased to give you the kingdom.  Provide yourselves with money bags that do not wear out with the inexhaustible treasure in heaven that no thief can reach nor moth destroy. For where your treasure is, there also will your heart be.”

It is the treasure God has shown to our fathers and brought to us by Jesus’ promise of the Kingdom of Heaven. It is the greatest treasure of all. It is meant to be shared.

The treasure is God loves each and every one of us. We have to tell others about this treasure. Tell others that God loves them. Tell everyone how to find this treasure, give them the map.

To get the map, know the creator of the map. We do this through the Gospel; the Good News of Jesus Christ. It proclaims that Jesus Christ is the living son of God, who came, was crucified for our sins, and rose from the dead.

  

The map is written in faith. Faith is the realization of what is hoped for and evident of things not seem.

Most who call themselves Christian will say yes, we have the map. We know Jesus, we have faith. But, they forget important parts of using a map.

Not everyone who calls themselves an expert can read the map. You need someone who was given instructions. You need the faithful steward of Christ, the Church. The faithful steward that knows the masters will. Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to set the path. At the Last Supper, He gave His light to the apostles to see the way. In this light, they see the path and set the landmarks that lead the faithful to the treasure.

The path is found in prayer. The landmarks are the sacraments.

Over the centuries, the map has been befuddled and complicated. For this reason, many don’t realize the treasure of God’s love is for us all. Many have lost the path and fail to find the landmarks. It’s easy to do.

This week, I went to Camden Ark to visit a new customer at defense contractor facility that is about 25 square miles. I had the latest GPS map. When I got to Camden, the GPS told me to go an additional 20 miles.  After a little while, I seemed to be getting farther from my destination. So I stopped and called. I learned that due to national security, the government jams GPS systems. With the best of intentions, they had befuddled and complicated my map.

My customer said you drove right by; retrace your steps to the landmark of a certain sign. My destination was under that sign.

That was easier said than done. I got more lost. After wandering in the wilderness of the Arkansas Piney woods for 15 minutes, I found someone to ask directions. He said, “go down here a bit, when you cross the railroad tracks take a right at the stop sign, then real quick, take another right, follow that road to a fancy fence. Follow the fancy fence and it will take you to the main road.” I could not find any of these landmarks.

But, I found a security officer, someone who knew the right path and whose job was to give me the right directions. Under good guidance, I found my way. I found the landmarks given to me, the fancy fence and that certain sign. I found what I was looking for.

Isn’t that the story of the journey of faith? We are so lucky to have the Church that can read the map, shows us the path in our prayers, and to give us true landmarks in the sacraments.

Jesus tells us he put his faithful steward to stay prudent to His wishes to wait for his arrival. Jesus’ parable tells us to light our lamps and stay vigilant. We do this by following the map, staying on the path of prayer, being mindful and true to the landmarks of the sacraments.

God has given us the map to his love. God’s love is always there. God loves each and every one of us.

The treasure of heaven is not found in our perfection but in God’s goodness. This treasure is not found in the world but in God’s mercy. Tell others about this treasure, tell them that God loves them. We have to tell others how to find this treasure.

God used Abraham, one man as good as dead to produce descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and countless as the sands on the seashore. How much can God use our faith to share his love? Reach out in love to those in crisis. God loves us all. It is the greatest treasure and meant to be shared.

Y’all be good, y’all be holy, preach the gospel by the way you live and love.  Amen.