Maybe Jesus Will Say Peter - Reflection 21st Sunday OTA

Readings

(Inspired by Carmelite Lectio Divina)

My brothers and sisters, Christian life is striving to be Holy in with all our shortcomings, insecurities, disobedience, and personal faults. God is found in all things, even in painful, tragic, and sinful things. 

God is in each of us. Each of us is the face of Christ. Each is the Church.

Jesus asked the disciples “Who do the people say that I am?” The disciples answered some say John the Baptist, Elijah, or even Jeremiah.

Jesus asked the disciples, “Who do you say that I am?”

Christ will ask us the question every day. Our answer is Christ, the Son of the living God?  Our answer must be visible to all so strive to be holy.

Then, if we turned that question around and asked Jesus “Who am I Lord? Who do I remind you of Lord?” Maybe, He would say Peter!

Peter was like us, and ordinary person in the world. He had a family and went to work every day. He worked to take care of those around him, pay his bills, and make life easier for his family.

The people in his community knew him as Simon, son of Jonah.  But, then Simon, son of Jonah met Jesus.

Jesus would call him Cephas or rock and that would become Peter.

 In reality, ordinary everyday Simon Peter was everything but rock. But Jesus, inscrutable his judgments and unsearchable his ways, chose Peter to build his church.

Peter was a good person, but, he had his faults. Yes, he tried to be courageous, but would often collapse in fear and flee.

When Jesus walked on the sea, Peter asks: “Jesus, allow me also to walk on the sea”. Jesus says: “Come, Peter!” Peter left the boat and walked on the sea. He realized the  wind and waves so he panicked and lost trust. He began to sink crying out, “Lord, save me!” Jesus reached out and saved him.

At the Last Supper, Peter tells Jesus: “I will never deny you, Lord!” But a few hours later, after Jesus was arrested, a servant girl recognizes Peter. Peter denied him, swearing that he had nothing to do with Jesus.

When they came to arrest Jesus in the Garden of Olives, Peter takes out the sword but then runs away leaving Jesus alone.

Peter was far from being rock.

Peter was weak and human, so similar to us, yet he becomes rock by knowing Jesus.  From him and through him and for him are all things.

God is found in all things, even in the painful, tragic, and sinful things. Jesus could say: “You are Peter and on this rock I will build my Church”.

When Jesus gave us the Eucharist, He prayed for Peter: “I have prayed that your faith will not fail …, strengthen you brothers.”

After the Resurrection, Jesus asks: “Peter, do you love me?” Peter responds two times: “Lord, you know that I love you!”

Jesus repeats the question a third time, Peter answers: “Lord, you know all things! You know that I love you very much!” And Jesus entrusted to him the care of his sheep: “Peter, feed my lambs!”

Peter became rock with Jesus and the coming of the Holy Spirit. The strength and steadiness of rock grows in Peter revealed on the day of Pentecost.  

The apostles were behind locked doors for fear of the Jews. Yet, in the coming of the Holy Spirit, Peter finds rock and courage. He throws open the door and announces to the people the Good News of Jesus.

Peter is a rock among believers, a rock standing firm.  

He was arrested and imprisoned because of the Good News. Even from prison, he remained steadfast continuing to teach the way of Jesus. At his trial, he was forbidden to announce the Good News; but, Peter does not obey.

He said: “We have to obey God more than men!”

He was arrested again and tortured. He said: “Thank you. But we shall continue!” Peter’s life was ended because he announced the Good News.

Peter was weak, human, and like you and me. He was one Jesus loved and trusted. He was the rock on which Jesus built his Church. Rock refined by the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God!

“Who do you say that I am?” We are asked that question every day. Our answer must be visible to all, so strive to be Holy.

Even in our pain, tragedy, and the sinfulness of our faults and disobedience, if we love Jesus and open ourselves to the Holy Spirit, we can be rock like Peter.

In us and on us, He will continue to build His Church.

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

Following Jesus Is Not Easy But It's Wonderful - Homily 20th Sunday OTA

Readings

“Do you take risks to follow Jesus?”  

Early this year, Pope Francis asked that question on faith,

Taking risks to follow Jesus is the place we grow in our faith. It keeps us from becoming stagnant.

But, the reality is that taking risks to follow Jesus is about facing our fear. And, we are our own distractors. I’ll stay where it’s safe:

• What if someone judges me?
• What if someone hurts my feelings?
• What if someone challenges what I say?
• What if I embarrass myself?

As a deacon, I face these every day. To stand against this self-doubt, I pray a lot and think about things like bungee jumping.

Most have seen a bungee jump. A person stands on the edge of a cliff tied to an elastic rope and jumps. Bungee jumpers take risks with the faith that the elastic rope will catch them before they hit the bottom.

That’s what faith is about, the risk of the unknown. Real faith takes risks to realize rewards. If they can trust that rope, I can trust God. The bungee jumpers’ rewards are thrills. A Christian’s reward is hope.

That’s the story in the gospel. Taking a risk, the Canaanite woman came to Jesus for a reward of hope.

She was alone. She was a Canaanite Gentile and a woman in a time when a Canaanite would not approach a Jew and a woman would not approach a man.

Like every person that comes to Jesus, she came for what was important to her.

That is the way it is with everyone. People come to God with a personal agenda. They think God is behind them, what they do, their beliefs, culture, and even more.

But, God doesn’t care about personal agenda. He has mercy on all.

God’s mercy and grace extends to the hearts of all who live. God’s house is a house of prayer for all peoples. Christ’s church is for all believers.

We should pray that personal walls between people fall. In faith, we should work to break down walls of hate, prejudice, and bigotry. These issues are still prevalent in the world today.  

That is why people who follow Jesus should be risk takers by faith and in faith.

By taking a risk to follow Jesus, the Canaanite woman knocked down walls. The disciples tried to run her off. She persisted. Her faith was Jesus would cure her child.

Probably, she was afraid, but, took a risk of faith. She came to Jesus with hope for a miracle. Someone was depending on her to stand up and take the risks to follow Jesus.

She stood up to hate, prejudice, and bigotry for love of her daughter and the hope of healing.

Jesus’ words are confusing because He insults her. “It is not right to take the bread of the children and give it to the dogs.”

Maybe it was a test, because even with that insult, He doesn’t send her away.

She doesn’t turn away. Like a bungee jumper, she went to the edge and jumped.

“Even the dogs eat the scraps that fall from the table.” She stood her ground before the one she recognized as the messiah, the Lord, the Son David and had just asked for a miracle.  

She was considered a person who didn’t matter. Everything was stacked against her as a Canaanite and a woman in a male Jewish world.  

Yet, Jesus loved her and her answer. “Woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wished.” And the woman's daughter was healed from that hour.

God doesn’t care about personal agendas. He cares for all. Christ’s love and compassion extends beyond personal boundaries. He has mercy on all.

Jesus came looking for lost sheep, for someone ready to risk all for faith, hope, and love. This woman was the one willing to take that risk.

Jesus was looking the sheep that recognized him as the messiah. The shepherd breaks down walls of culture, prejudice, bigotry, and hate that scattered his flock.

Following Jesus isn’t easy. It’s always a risk, but it’s wonderful! (Pope Francis)

We are adopted children of God, which is our greatness and call to faith.

Our faith is special; put it out there for the world to see. Someone is depending on you to standup and take the risk to follow Jesus when everyone is trying to send you away.

The world faces the same problems that Canaanite woman faced. We should take risks to follow Jesus or our faith will become stagnant. We don’t move or grow instead we judge.

The world is on the edge ready to jump. God is mercy and asks us to be conduits of mercy. Take the risks needed to follow Jesus and bring to others God’s mercy through faith, hope, and love. It keeps our world from hitting bottom.

Don’t live in your fears, take risk to follow Jesus. Trust God win everything. Be like the Canaanite woman and make a difference.

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

Mary, Our Example - Reflection Feast of the Assumption

(Readings)

Your popularity does not make a difference. It’s really not impressive how many friends you have on Facebook. Because no matter how big and important they think they are, most of the people in the world are really just poor and unknown, even when they think they have money, fame, and position.

But even poor and unknown, we have greatness in us. That greatness is following our Lord Jesus Christ with all that we are.

Each is called differently,

In those differences we can find greatness. We carry Christ to the world in our own way. We are messengers and symbols of God’s covenant in Jesus Christ by who we are and how we are in this world.

In that we become quiet and soft spoken heroes that walk the path of Jesus’ example with those we meet. Our lives should be a l like the S on Superman’s chest.

How is that for an image?

Quiet and soft spoken super heroes found in the poor and unknown like a young girl so many years ago.

Today Pope Francis said, the Virgin Mary is a symbol of how God often works though the poor and unknown to carry out His plan for redemption.

She was the first to carry Jesus to the world. Mary gave all she was, “My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my Savior for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant.”

She was the new Ark of the Covenant. She was His mother and His disciple. Mary was the first to preach the good news when she proclaim at the wedding at Cana – Do what he says.

Mary said yes, became the Mother of God, and loved Jesus following him even to the cross. She was the example of discipleship. She walked the path of Jesus’ life.

There is very little else written about her; except, she was in the upper room when He appeared after His resurrection. The Holy Spirit would have always been with her, but, nothing more written on her life, her ministry, or her witness after the Acts of the Apostles.

The Catholic Church teaches in the Catechism that Mary was taken to heaven when her earthly life was finished. The Church does not declare whether Mary died and then was assumed into heaven or whether she was assumed before she died. It leaves open both possibilities.

And, since Mary is associated with all the mysteries of Jesus’ life, the Holy Spirit has led the Church to believe in Mary’s share in his glorification.

God's temple in heaven was opened, and the ark of his covenant could be seen in the temple.

All those who fear the infallibility of the Pope, relax, there are only two infallible teachings. Both are about Mary: her Immaculate Conception and her bodily Assumption into heaven. These are teachings that have been recognized and celebrated since the early days of the church

We celebrate the Assumption of Mary: the completion of God's work in her,

As Catholics, we are to believe in the real, physical elevation of her sinless soul and incorrupt body into Heaven.

In Mary’s life, we can find the promise of our human greatness. By the Power of the Holy Spirit, we can be like Mary, love Jesus, speak the Gospel, and follow Him to the cross.

If we do this, through our Baptism, the promise of the greatness of eternal life is ours to seek. They are borne in with gladness and joy that enter the palace of the king.

God is loyal and merciful. He carries out his plan of salvation with the little ones, the poor, the unknown, and with those who have faith in Him, who trust his Word, like Mary.

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

Still Walking on Water, Reflection 19 Sunday OTA

(Readings)

Moses and Jesus were out hiking and came to a lake. Instead of walking around the lake, Moses parts the water and walks across.

The lake closes before Jesus can cross. No problem, He’ll just walk on the water. He steps out and sinks. He cries out what happened? Moses answered, “It might be the holes in your feet.”

That joke is so wrong.

For most in the world, God is hidden and mysterious. People look for God in the powerful things of the world.

Elijah looked for God in the wind, earthquakes, and fire. But, God was not there.

We look for love and God in all the wrong places…,

Looking in the big or powerful things...,

Looking in miracles, cures, and life altering events…,

God is there, but….

God comes to most in the quiet. Many encounter God in an inner experience of God’s mercy. Even Jesus went to the quiet of the mountain top to pray.

God speaks to the quiet of our hearts in times of crisis. That quiet is the place of miracles.

Psalm’s speaks that the presence of God is where kindness and truth kiss; it’s the place of quite truth and gentleness in our hearts, the abode of your conscience.

For the apostle Paul, speaking the truth of Christ is when conscience joins with the Holy Spirit. It’s where Jesus walks on water and calls out to us to take his hand and walk with him. Nothing is more solid and truthful in the heart and soul than that. Nothing is more powerful.

The disciple learned this out in a boat being tossed about by the waves and wind. Powerful things, but God was not there. They had left Jesus behind.

It is the same way in our lives. God is not in the powerful and destructive things that come upon us. Illness, cancer, disease, suffering, crimes, violence, war, chaos and crisis are not God.

The reality of our lives is that chaos and crisis throw us about. Our truth is injury, fear, and worry from the difficulties in life like the wind, waves, and darkness faced by the disciples. We wonder if we will survive. We huddle in our self. We cower in our boat because we left Jesus behind.

God comes in the quietness of Jesus walking on the water. If we look for him, Jesus will come in middle of all that is causing our problems.

We trust Jesus just like Peter; but like Peter, we are of little faith. It is not that we don’t have faith God can take away our suffering. It’s not we don’t have faith the Christ is holding out his hand, reaching to us.

The problem is that the wind, earthquake, and fire of Elijah cause suffering. We look to see God in problems but God is not there. And the loudness of chaos and crisis overwhelm us. We sink.

God is in the quietness. When that quietness comes, we fail to leave the perceived safety and step out of our boat for the mercy of God. Our little faith fails to open us to all God wishes to pour into our hearts.

Christian believers, God pours all into our hearts by the holes in the hands, feet, and side of Jesus.

Holes in his feet and He still walks on water.

He walks on the water bringing peace, calm, and quiet during troubling times. Christ is the source of miracles against the chaos and crisis of life. He brings the quiet peace of the Lord.

The ultimate miracle comes from that quiet place.

The miracle is we become a new person in communion with God through Jesus Christ. Open our hearts and the Holy Spirit will pour out all God wishes in truth and healing.

The inner experience of God’s mercy will drive that miracle outward. Respond in a life giving way. Speak of Christ and proclaim His gospel. Go out and make a difference. Live the Gospel in a way that can change people.

Jesus walked on water and invites us to do the same.

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

Listen Up! Homily Reflection Transfiguration Sunday.

(Readings)

Peter wrote as an eyewitness, remembering the experience of the transfiguration. I want to begin kind of in the same way, remembering that we are all to be the face of Christ in the world.

I remembered my high school football coach reading today’s gospel. 

Butch Stoker commanded attention. He would walk into a room; raise his hand and say, “Listen up, men!”

He never won a state championship in 32 years coaching at Alexandria Senior High; but, he accomplished more. He built young people of character. His character was our example.

I was an eyewitness.  One example he set was he never cussed. He did not allow his assistant coaches to cuss. And if you played for him, you did not cuss.

Listen up men, be good students! Listen up men; respect each other, be good friends! Listen up men, become good fathers, good husbands, and good citizens! Listen up men, do your best, live a good life!

Some found it hard and would leave. Yet, he was a man respected by the school, the community, and the thousands of lives he touched.

Listen up men!

We read, “A majestic voice came from the cloud and said, ‘This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.’ "

This was the eyewitnesses’ experience. They saw Elijah and Moses. They saw Jesus change before their eyes, transfigured; His face shone like the sun and his clothes became white as light.

But the words from heaven were: Listen to him. Listen, understand who Jesus is.

I wonder how many still listen to him. Some find it hard and they leave. Saying we don’t need religion; we don’t need the Catholic Church. These are things that step on their toes.

Peter points to the truth “We possess the prophetic message that is reliable. Pay attention to it like a lamp shining in the dark…..”

By that experience on the mountain, Peter, James, and John, disciples of Jesus, apostles of Christ, were given the truth and told listen to him. And by listening they learned that He is the One whose dominion is everlasting. His kingship shall never end.

Over 2000 years later, His kingdom still reigns.

But the one who was the leader of the rebellion against God in heaven continues to rebel against Christ and his Church on earth. The Devil’s message is do not listen to the word of God.

The devil tempts with an unhealthy notion of God and God’s church in the lie proclaiming that it is all a myth. It is a lie some who call themselves Christians may even believe. They argue God. They argue Jesus.

Peter writes “it is not a myth; we are eyewitnesses of his majesty. Jesus received honor and glory from God the Father in that unique declaration of the majestic glory.”

They listen to him. They didn’t argue God. They didn’t argue Jesus. They did share their witness.

The problem is we were not eyewitness. Many do not listen to Him.

People will listen to the King of Lies instead of the King of Kings. And the devil tells the world that God is a myth. God is meaningless. God is dead.

It’s what many want to hear.

It’s easy to believe the deceiver because all our human concepts of an infinite God are inadequate. All the teachings of the Church are insufficient to explain God’s grace and glory and radiance. People believe what is easy to believe.

Until we witness it in our lives like Peter, James, and John, we cannot even come close to understand the glory of Christ.

We can become eyewitnesses of Christ’s glory. Listen to him, listen to the words of Jesus in the gospel; listen to Jesus alive in the writings of the Apostles; listen to Christ in the traditions and sacraments of the Church; and listen for him in the world.

Seeing Christ alive in the world make it easy to believe and even easier to be a witness.

Even those with a heart far from God, if they listen to him and to his Church, will rise up and not be afraid to leave the lies of the world. They will proclaim “The Lord is king, the Most High over all the earth.”

For His Church, the path God is no one else but Jesus.

Those who believe will raise their eyes and see no one else but Jesus alone.  

The eyewitnesses told the world these things.  They told the truths of the Church as eyewitness of the glory of Jesus’ life, his transfiguration, his death on the cross, and to his resurrection and ascension.

Listen to him, understand who Jesus is.

May all peoples see His glory!

Listen up, men! Listen up, women! Listen up, everyone! May the world see His glory in you, be the face of Christ that brings out the best in others.

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

Re-gifting - Reflection 17th Sunday OT A

(Readings)

I had to prepare a presentation for a professional meeting. No specific topic, it just had to be current, profession related, and insightful. I had no idea.

Instead, I studied the word of God for this reflection. The church gives me someplace to start and the Holy Spirit takes over with the message to proclaim.

The message I found is that God gives each of us a gift; but how do we respond and use that gift. How do we re-gifting the gifts of God?

In the first reading, God gave King Solomon a gift of wisdom.  The LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream and said ask me and I will give it to you. Solomon’s response was for the wisdom on an understanding heart. In that understanding heart, God gave him so many other gifts.

Solomon re-gifted his understanding heart and wisdom to the people as King Solomon.

Christ gives us gifts even greater than the Wisdom of Solomon. Through Christ, we receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. With the gift of the Holy Spirit, we get wisdom and also understanding, counsel, knowledge, piety, fortitude, and fear of the Lord.

It is a gift that allows us to know the Kingdom of Heaven of Jesus’ parables. The treasure buried in the field and the pearl of great price. The Kingdom of Heaven we should want to achieve. 

Christ’s gift gives us all we need for that and more.

We celebrate the gift of the Holy Spirit in the sacrament of Confirmation. Blessed are you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth; for you have revealed to little ones the mysteries of the kingdom

By the presence of the Holy Spirit, we bring our gifts to others. Those instructed in the kingdom of heaven brings from his storeroom both the new and the old. It is a gift we are to share, re-gift to others.  But do we?

Too many people forget the sacrament and put their gifts away to never to use them. The gift of the Holy Spirit becomes like unused and unopened Christmas gifts hidden in the back of the closet. The gifts we receive as believers born in Christ are left unrealized and undeveloped, put away and forgotten.

That is not the way it should be!!

King Solomon was called to be king, sharing the gift wisdom with his people. For that, the Lord promised he would be remembered as great among the kings of Israel. 

Re-gift what Christ has given; bring the old and the new because “All things work for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.”

For myself, hopefully, I have grown in the gifts Christ bestowed on me when I was a new believer and have shared them with others. As a spouse, parent, son or daughter, brother or sister or friend each of us should grow in the gifts of the Holy Spirit; re-gifting them to all those we love.  

We are called to share our gifts as disciples; sharing the gospel and proclaiming the Kingdom of Heaven. For that, Jesus promised, “The angels will go out and separate the wicked from the righteous.”

Think about the words of wisdom from today’s Psalm:  O LORD, my part is to keep your words. In all your precepts I go forward. The revelation of your words sheds light, giving understanding. Lord, I love your commands.

As a deacon, my ministry is bringing the Gospel to the workplace. Today’s gospel brought me a message for the workplace. You might say, I’ll be re-gifting this gift.

We are all called according to our purpose. King Solomon took the gift the Lord gave him and built up the Kingdom of Israel. Jesus tells us use all He has given us to build the Kingdom of Heaven on earth.

Our part is to keep His words and move forward sharing God by a life lived in His gifts.

Do you understand all these things?

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

Communication - Communication - Communication - Homily 16th Sunday

(Readings)

Jesus tells the parable of the wheat and weeds. This parable was common practice to plant weeds in a field for revenge or hate or competition and it was against Roman law. The weed is called darnel.

It grows like wheat. It looks like wheat. It’s so similar it’s called false wheat; but it’s poison. Eating it makes you sick or worse.

Unless you knew what to look for, it was hard to tell the wheat from the weed. But when ripe, the fruit of the wheat turns a golden brown and the weed turns black. The master gave these instructions: wait until the harvest. Let’s see the fruit.

This week, I worked with great people from my company. My boss gave me these instructions: communication–communication-communication.

I’ve worked in my field for 30 years. In the beginning, every day I would learn something new and then something new again. I still have a lot to learn; but, my learning is not in leaps and bounds as it once was.

The communication instructions I was given was about learning every day. Learn from co-workers, peers, and customers. Most importantly, communicate what I learn so others learn.

That’s easier said than done. To learn more I will have to seek it with intentionality, with a lived life.

It is also the way of faith. Faith comes with intentionality, with a life lived.

Faith is by the grace of God; but to be strong, it needs to be experienced in life. Purposely put faith in our daily life by how we live in Christ and how we bring Christ to others. It’s a lot easier said than done.

Yet, the Spirit comes to the aid of our weakness

In the beginning, faith can grow like a mustard seed. Faith gets stronger every day and the next day again. Those who’ve lived long in faith still grow, but maybe in less leaps and bounds as when it was new.  

It is by the intentionality of faith through prayer we communicate with God. It is hard to pray as we ought but by the purposeful intention of prayer we grow in God; so pray – pray - pray.

Pray so that as faith matures, it will continue to grow. Again, seek faith a lived life.

Sometimes the experience of a lived life hurts and all we can do is groan. Offer that as prayer. Scripture says that then, the spirit himself will intercede… and God will hear it and know our intentions.

The Holy Spirit is the source of our prayer.  By grace, the Holy Spirit communicates us to God and God to us to grow our faith. Then by the Spirit that is in us, we communicate God to others.

A couple of weeks ago, Father challenged us to become dynamic Catholics. We are to be good wheat; but, we must be dynamic, which means being Catholic with the intentionality of a lived life.

According Matthew Kelly’s book The Four Characteristics of Dynamic Catholics are prayer, study, generosity, and evangelization.

These are all communication. Prayer is communication with God. Study is the communication of His knowledge, wisdom, and reason. Generosity is communication of His love and caring. Evangelization is the communication of the gospel of Christ to others. The first three all lead to evangelization. The more you grow in Christ through prayer, study, and generosity the more you desire to share Christ with the world.

Imagine a world living in accord with the greatest commandment. Imagine a world where prayer, study, generosity, and evangelization communicates love of God and neighbor in the most natural and effective way of kindness and friendship.

The world constantly changes for better or worse; full of good or full of poison. It is the way it is because of our human weaknesses, bad seed strewn by the enemy. As dynamic Catholics, we are wheat separated from the weeds by our fruit. We are to live a dynamic communication of God in prayer, study, generosity, and evangelization.

We have to do it intentionally, with a lived life.

Yall be good. Yall be holy. Preach the gospel by the way you live and love. Amen.

Fertile Ground - Reflection 15th Sunday OTA

 Fertile Ground

Readings

"A sower went out to sow.
And as he sowed, some seed fell on the path,
and birds came and ate it up.
Some fell on rocky ground, where it had little soil.
It sprang up at once because the soil was not deep,
and when the sun rose it was scorched,
and it withered for lack of roots.
Some seed fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked it.
But some seed fell on rich soil, and produced fruit,
a hundred or sixty or thirtyfold.”

When it comes to mass, you usually see many of the same faces, some faces you don’t see as often, and then some you see once or twice a year.

I was thinking about this in reflecting on the gospel. To grow a seed has to fall on fertile ground. For us to grow in the Gospel, to grow in love, we have to be in fertile ground.

There is an old saying “We are what we eat.”There is something else I have always been told. “All that we hear and we see becomes part of us.

Those two sayings are true for those who consider themselves Catholics. The Mass, the worship of God, and the praise and thanksgiving of the Eucharist, becomes part of who we are. We are what we eat, all that we hear and see becomes part of us.  Today, what we eat, we see, and we hear can be far from God. 

In scriptures Jesus’ followers found Jesus’ teachings hard and left him. But the disciples who stayed asked to whom else shall we go?

That’s what we find in the gospel. It asks are we fertile ground like the disciples who stayed or have we gone somewhere else and become hard, rocky, or thorny ground. Each and every time we turn away or forget or have something more important than God, we become bad ground that cannot grow the seed that is the word God has put in us. Instead, to whom else do we go?

In life, I have been guilty of going somewhere else, probably many of us have. I played golf, instead of coming to mass. Or, the ball game was to start at noon and if mass is long; I’d miss the pregame and some of the first quarter. And, I heard it was to be a great game.

At one time in my life, a child’s ball game or athletic event was more important than mass. The most important thing for my child’s life is to play ball, mass can wait. God’s asks something hard; to whom else shall we go?

At some time, I realized this truth. The truth of those who stayed that Jesus has the message of eternal life.

I understood this parable of Jesus; the hard ground, the rocky ground, and the thorns. My life had been the all those places.

Many times I’ve been hard and indifferent to the word of God. The birds were things I put before God. And because of my hardness and the things I put before  God, truth and love had no chance to grow. I put things before Him; a round of Golf, a ball game, or even work.

There were times I was on rocky ground. I thought I was good Christian but inside I was hateful to the world. Ugly and angry thoughts burned up the good inside of me for no reason other than to justify my own unhappiness. The seed of truth and love of God sown by Jesus could not find fertile soil.

When I was younger I lived among thorns. Even though I knew the love of Christ, I frequented things that were a bad influence not to change hearts; but, more often than not changing mine. Life among thorns can choke the love and goodness in you.

In times I was hard of heart or in a rocky place or living among thorns, God seed was in a little patch of fertile soil my parents had prepared in me. The seed that fell on this rich and fertile place grew. It made me work on the bad places. It worked to soften the hard part of me. I worked on the rocky parts and got the thorns out of my life.

I got away from bad influence of things I saw and heard that became part of me. I ate the body of Christ. I drank His blood. I saw and heard prayers of praise and thanksgiving that drew me closer to Jesus. That little patch of fertile ground became more and more. “The knowledge of the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven has been given to us....To anyone who has, more will be given.”

Are we being infertile ground so love and truth has trouble growing in us, our spouse, children, and friends?

What are you putting before God? A  ballgame, work, a fishing trip, or maybe a trip to Disney World,  remember, all in this present time is as nothing compared with the glory to be revealed for us.

Consider the example you set for others, because we are what we eat, all that we hear and see becomes part of us. You build fertile ground by the way you live, love, and preach the gospel.

Yall be good, yall be holy. Amen.

Got Burdens? Reflection 14th Sunday OT-A

Readings

Jesus used the words of the prophets to point to who He was. Before we begin, I’ll share these words that point to who we are, “The beginning of the Christian life is easy, the end joyous; but in the middle - battles take place!” (Viola)

Jesus used these words from the Book of Sirach "Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for yourselves, for my yoke is easy, and my burden light."

Jesus refers to himself as a place of rest. These are words of wisdom; especially for those of us in the middle, where battles take place.

There is a young woman, beautiful, with loving husband and healthy and attractive children. She has a great job and a nice home. The world would say she’s got it made; but, she has burdens many will never carry. She battles for peace, trying to break the warrior’s bow that targets her life.

She comes to Jesus each week at mass. She comes with a broken heart washed in tears. She takes all that she has, all her burdens, and gives them to Jesus.

She has realized the truth. We can only give to the Lord who and what we are. This includes the burdens and sufferings in our lives, “Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened and I will give you rest.” This promise is words of comfort.

We all have burdens and nobody needs to tell us.  We can look at our life and make a list.  Burdens cannot be erased from lives. Suffering cannot be expunged from the world. But, when burdens or sufferings descend upon us, there is a safe place to go far beyond our troubles, “Come and I will give you rest.”

Those who see clearly know that everything can lead us to God. Everything and everywhere, even burdens and sufferings become a juncture for good and an occasion for encounter with God. 

He will use even bad situations for good. God, the Father, will bend down low to raise us up. He comes to us a humble and loving God. We know “… and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to who the Son wishes to reveal Him.”

He is Jesus, the word of God that lives in the world. He is God that experienced the burdens of humanity, love, hunger, thirst, and sufferings. Jesus Christ is the love of our Heavenly Father that bent down to bring us up.  

God is the Holy Spirit that continues to lift us up. The Holy Spirit is continuously at work in the world and move us towards God’s plan for us.

A plan so perfect even burdens, suffering, and tragedy can bring us to Him. God’s plan makes them part of the solution; so, we see in truth. The truth found in the cross Christ revealed to us. Like the cross which came from this world, burdens and sufferings are parts of living in this world.

We are exposed to a world where success is to have control; control of the situation and others. We are shown that power comes from having an advantage over others. Strength is said to be monetary wealth and possessions.

Jesus says learn from me. “Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart, and you will find rest for yourselves.” Carrying a burden and suffering bears true fruit as we change and heal by taking on the yoke of Christ.

There was a man who was a professional. Successful and prestigious, he had money and power over many. Then his child contracted a terminal illness. It broke him. He could not find comfort in his success, money, power, and prestige.

This man and his family found rest by embracing the meek and humble heart of Jesus. They found the just savior who triumphs over the battles of the world.   

In burdens and sufferings, you know who are in God. Either you turn away from God or you run to Him. God is the one in control. God is the only one with power and advantage over our burdens and sufferings.

Scripture tells us, The Spirit of the one who raised Jesus from the dead will give you life.  Look around, many are quietly carrying their burdens. We don’t know the battles they fight. They come to the one who can give them life. They come to true comfort, the one who gives them rest.

Look at yourself, He will give you rest.                                     

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

My Worst Nightmare - Reflection 13th Sunday OT A

(Readings)

A professor gave an impassioned lecture on his area of expertise in class. After class a usually half-asleep-back-row student came up and said “Wow! You take this stuff seriously!”

People take stuff they are passionate about seriously. Just look at politics: Democrats and Republicans, Liberals and Conservatives. They take their stances passionately. But in that passion, do they live the ideas they express?

In a restaurant recently, I overheard a man speaking with his coffee break buddies about the virtues of the Democratic party in his county, He stated he would rather do something reprehensible than to shake a Republican’s hand much less  vote for one. Then he went into an elitist and racist tirade against everybody else.

Hearing the rhetoric shouted by Conservative Republican Christians, I wonder do those words go together. Christians are to announce the praises and live the gospel of the one who called then out of darkness. But, praising Christ and living the gospel can go against many people who identify as Conservative or Republican or Liberal or Democrat.

Jesus told us it would even be hard for Christians to praise him and live the gospel. "Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me….”

Democrat or Republican, Liberal or Conservative, no Christian should ever deny justice to the poor, the sick, the naked, or the homeless. Every Christian should respect the life and dignity of every person, unborn, newborn, elderly, terminal, and even those in prison.  For believers to fail in these is the worst nightmare of our faith.

The media’s new buzzword is “social justice.” This is not something new, Jesus tells us “Take up your cross and follow me.” For Christians, social justice is defined by following Christ. Social Justice must be part of who we are, our faith, and the cross we carry; yet, we fail.

We don’t care enough. We stand behind fake crosses and ignore what we champion. The cause of the weak and poor are just papier-mâché crosses we rally behind. We rail against politicians for in action thinking we are being compassionate but only place blame and never carry the cross.

We live in centrally cooled and heated houses with spare rooms and the homeless people are sleeping outside on pavements. We scrape good food into our garbage disposal, compost piles, or garbage cans; and, under a bridge on the opposite side of town hungry people wait in line for handouts. We want more stuff; yet, the tattered person on the corner scavenged possession fit in a shopping cart. The list can go on and on…

Good people say there are agencies; but, can a mentally ill person find safe shelter or a person with a history find a bed for the night? These will be turned away. And, the world still stands behind labels, throwing insults and rocks to protests. Even Christians fail in the responsibility of their faith.

In all our passion, do we do more than just ask, “Can something be done for them?” The answer is “Yes!”

Whoever gives only a cup of cold water to one of these little ones to drink because the little one is a disciple— amen, I say to you, he will surely not lose his reward."

Instead of going out to the incarnate suffering world to bring relief, most find it easier to argue, oppose, critique, judge, and evaluate those in need or those who don’t agree. But those of us, “…baptized into Christ Jesus are baptized into his death. If we have died with Christ, we shall live with him.”  We are to live His ministry, his works, his caring, and his mercy. Most of all, we are baptized into his love.

My worst nightmare is for all of us to go through life as half-asleep-back-row Christians speaking justice, bringing none. The Lord takes this stuff seriously. “And whoever does not take up his cross and follow after me is not worthy of me.” It is time for us to take our faith seriously.

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