Comfort: A Poetic Reflection for the 2nd Sunday Advent

Readings

Calm us Lord,

           with your presence

                        complete: 

                                       lovingkindness & peace & joy

Only the power

           your comfort

           your calm

                        overcomes

                        anxiety and turmoil

                        obstacles & waste lands

                                                            life 

                                                            destroyed

                                                                                 by

                                                                         comfort

           Rough places

           &

           Rugged landscapes

                         full of MouNtaiNs & Hills

                                                            life

                                                                             in this

                                                                              world

           seeking 

                      joyful comforting

                                                Valley of peace

                                                                                but

                                                                       not found

                                                                             by all

Many still

             listen     

            for a voice crying

                          out

                                            from the desert

                                            of the world

                          becoming

                                         barren of God

                                              barren of hope

                                                  ever more barren

                                                                         absence 

                                                                            of faith

For those still

            in the desert

            listening 

            for voice

                                    prophet

                                    calling

                                    make 

                                                              way 

                                                                     for the Lord

                                    make 

                                                              straight 

                                                                       your paths

One of us

                ?

                 one brave

                 proclaim Jesus

                                        the path of salvation

                                                                        know God

                 one

                 that

Remembers,

            God 

                        does not want        

                        only the Church

            God 

                        wants the world.

            God 

                        want us

                                    many voices

                                    crying 

                                    in the wilderness & desert

                                                                           the word

Those 

who have been 

dressed in sin

             voices 
                        in the desert.

             voices

                        lost 

                       without the Lord

                                      but have found him.

             voices

                        nourished
                        by locust & honey of faith

                               complete : 

                                               lovingkindness & peace & joy

             Christ Jesus.

                                    each voice

                                                                                       filled

             power

             Holy Spirit

crying out in the wilderness

of a sinful world.

Isaiah's Warning: Don't Be a None - Reflection 1st Sunday Advent

Readings

Welcome to Advent. This is the time of year we celebrate the coming of the Savior, Jesus Christ. Christ is coming!!  He has come already, two thousand plus years ago. Believers know and celebrate that coming. He will come again!! Believers celebrate the coming of Christ again in glory. This is what Advent is about.

We tend to forget  the Church celebrates three comings of Christ: the coming of Christ in Bethlehem, the coming of Christ in glory at the end of time, and the coming of Christ today in the life of the Church.

Christ comes today through Christian believers bringing Christ to the world every day. Some do it well. Some do it poorly. Some don’t care but say they are believers, yet don’t bring Christ to the world. The effects of those who call themselves Christian and bring Christ to the world are more than can be imagined.

The effect of those who call themselves Christians but don’t bring Christ to the world is just as immense. That may be the reason the world is experiencing an epidemic of faith caused by “Nones.” N-O-N-E-S. Nope, I did not misspell nuns.

“Nones” are those who have left the church, especially young people that when asked about religion will identify as “none.” Church leaders of all denominations are worried about these “Nones.”

There are a lot of “Nones” in the world; some call themselves Christian. Younger generations learn from those who come before them. They just chose to identify as “Nones.”

It is not something new.

Isaiah saw it. “There is none who calls upon your name, who rouses himself to cling to you. The poetry of his description can apply to each of us and if we are not diligent all become “Nones.” “We have all withered like leaves”.

All of us have become like unclean people, all our good deeds are like polluted rags; Lord would that you might meet us doing right, that we were mindful of you in our ways!

Paul wrote “God has called all to fellowship with Jesus Christ our Lord.” He continues, “In Him you were enriched in every way, with all discourse and all knowledge…”

Sadly, we seemed to have forgotten this. We are like those early Israelites who moved from a relationship with God. The world and so many who call themselves Christian have forgotten Christ.

We forget the mission of the church, to continue to the work of Jesus Christ. It was a mission given by Jesus. “As the Father has sent me so I send you….”

Our great commission is to bring Christ in the present. The living Christ comes in the Church and lives of Christian believers. Christ comes in the Eucharist, the sacraments, Christian tradition, our vocations, service and charity. Christ is present in Christian believers all across the earth.  

If we fall asleep and forget these, we become “Nones.” And none will call upon your name; none will rouse themselves to cling to you.

Show your love, show your salvation; or, we become “Nones.” Evangelize and share the good news of Jesus Christ; or, we become “Nones.” If we fail to live our mission to continue to the work of Jesus Christ, we become “Nones” that just call ourselves Christians.

Jesus tells us to be watchful.

Many are watching. May they see Christ in us.

Be watchful of the coming of Christ. Be watchful of His coming again in glory. Be watchful that we are not becoming “Nones:” N-O-N-E-S. Be watchful that Jesus Christ is coming to the world today through us, His Holy Catholic Church.

Be watchful. Be good. Be holy. Preach the gospel in the way we live and love. In those things, we will bring Jesus to the world every day. Amen.

Old Goats - Homily Reflection Christ the King

(Readings)

At family gatherings there is always someone who says something upsetting.

It happened this thanksgiving. Every year, I hear, Billy, the older you get the more you look like your daddy. This year, I hear, Billy, you’re looking more and more like papaw. I look like my grandfather. Does that mean I'm old?

As a child, family gatherings were places you could hear interesting things. I remember certain men being called “old goats” by the ladies with either affection or disdain. Later, I learned an “old goat” is a lustful old man. As years passed, I understood why the term “old goat” came with a twinkle in the eye or scorn on the tongue.  

Also, a person was said to be “acting like a goat” if they did something socially and morally unacceptable. Look around, being “old goats” and “acting like a goat” may be the ambition of many.

In Jesus’ time, a sheep was simply more valuable than a goat.

Today, we celebrate Jesus Christ, King of the Universe. A King who came not as a mighty warrior but a humble shepherd. He is the shepherd who separates sheep from goats.

The Lord says. “I look after my sheep. I seek out the lost and bring back the stray. I care for the injured and the sick I heal.”

Every believer proclaims the Lord is my shepherd; But, many do not know him.

Jesus Christ the good shepherd is the King of the Universe. He is the good shepherd the world is looking to find. He is the one that protects and cares for them. He is the King that recognizes dignity and freedom in every person.

He is no ordinary king. The misguided declare wars in his name; but, he is a King of Peace without violence, prejudice, or persecution. He is the king who calls each to share oneness and unity with him and all of humanity.

He is King by faith. It’s faith that exists not in doctrine or principles, but lives by our action and works. It is not something we have to do but something we do. As King of the Universe, He is the Alpha and Omega alive in the world today.

The Alpha, the source of our creation, is the basis of our life and our faith. In the same way, the Omega is the fulfillment of our life and faith by our actions, which are Christ living in the world today. The Alpha and Omega separates the sheep from the goats.

Christ’s Kingship declares the oneness and unity of all humanity. Each of us is the magnificent and kingly image of God no matter how small or simple we see ourselves.

My family sees my father and my grandfather in me. My brothers and sister, we are to see Christ in each and every person. We are to see God in every part of our lives, even in suffering. Jesus says to see him in the hungry, the thirsty, the sick, the naked, the stranger, and the imprisoned.

Oneness and unity found in Jesus so God may be all in all; so Christ is all in all. (Col 3:11)

In a child’s simplicity, I thought “old goat” a term of endearment. Now, call me an old sheep following Christ, living oneness and unity with the shepherd. Old sheep will follow the master’s voice. It is the sheep that see Christ in all.

He is King and He is shepherd. He separates the sheep from the goats.

Old sheep pray for the “old goats” and those “acting like goats.” Preach the gospel, proclaim Jesus Christ to all the goats by your life strong in faith, hope, and love.

Jesus Christ, the King of the Universe, comes not a mighty warrior but a humble shepherd. He does not demand gold, riches, and might; He asks only, “Whatever you do for the least, you do for me.”

Feed the hungry.

Give drink to the thirsty.

Clothe the naked.

Care for the sick.

Welcome the stranger.

Visit the imprisoned.

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

Hi-ho, Hi-ho, Its Home From Work We Go - Reflection 33rd Sunday OTA

Readings

Have you ever thought about grace? Protestants say that we are saved by grace alone. Solo gratia is the Latin term and it is one of the differences between protestant denominations and Roman Catholics.

Are we saved by grace alone?

Protestants say grace is all we need. Roman Catholics believe grace comes with works. It’s our work that compliments and cooperates with God’s grace. It is by grace we offer Him our works.

In Walt Disney’s Snow White, the seven dwarfs worked their mine. It was a mine full of diamonds and precious jewels. They had all the riches they would ever need; yet, everyday returned to work. Always happy in work, they were even happier when work came to an end. They sang: “Hi-ho, Hi-ho, its home from work we go!” (If you thought it was “off to work we go.” I did too.)

There is a lot of theology in that scene.

In the gospel Jesus tells the parable of the servants. They were all given a sum of money called a talent. One was given five, another two, and a third one. A single talent was a lot of money. The first two were smart and went off to work and increase that money. The third was scared he would lose it. So, he buried it.  

When the master returned, the ones who worked and made more money were greatly rewarded. The one who did nothing had everything taken away from him.

Think about that in terms of God’s grace.

God entrusts us with riches greater than money and treasure. God gives us His abundant grace free of charge. That grace comes to fill us with life, talent, and love to share with all those around us. We share His grace in genuine works of unselfish love.

We flourish in God’s grace. But, Jesus’ parable tells us to do something with it. Make the most of what you have. We will then realize the abundance of God’s grace in life.

God’s grace is all we need. It is infinite. Anything we bring is finite, but other people need us to cooperate and compliment God’s grace with works in this world. Go out and make God’s grace grow by love for God, for our neighbors, and even for those hard to love. Bring good and not evil, all the days of our life.

Don’t be like the last servant. Receive God’s grace, never bury or hide it so to lose sight of God. Remain in me as I remain in you, says the Lord whoever remains in me bears much fruit. (JN 15:4-5) Even with God’s grace, we must persevere to the end to be saved. (MT 24:13)

Not all who cry Lord, Lord, will be saved.(MT 7:21) By free will, not all will choose to cooperate with grace. .

Use it or lose it. If we don’t use love, we lose it. If we do nothing or think we’re not worthy, we never realize the abundant grace that fills us with life, talents, and love.

My brothers and sisters, it is not by grace alone that God wants us to be in this world. We are saved by grace and are to live out our salvation.

When the day of the Lord comes, or we just simply are finished with our works here on earth and ready to go to our eternal home. Those of us who complimented and cooperated with God’ grace, we might be told - Come, share your master's joy.

Then we too can sing, “Hi-ho, hi-ho, its home from work we go.”

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

Flash Light Tag - Homily Reflection 32nd Sunday OT

(Readings)

Monday night, at the CCM game night, the students were playing hide and seek in the dark using cell phones as light. Younger me played a similar game, flash light tag.

It’s a game played in a dark yard or woods and everyone has a flashlight and you chase after those with the light. If you lost it or your batteries went dead and you didn’t have spares, you were at the mercy of the dark. That included running into trees, tripping over roots, stepping in holes, and all the dangers darkness brings.

Similar circumstances are what the young women found in the gospel. They were probably teenagers, maybe a little older. They took a lamp into the dark of the night to wait on a promised relationship. Some didn’t bring enough oil and their lamps went out. They were in the danger of the darkness. They asked for more oil but there was none to spare.

Waiting in the night five had light and found the relationship they were seeking. The other five became victims of the darkness.

As human beings, we exist in the fullness of the world as God made us. Each of us has the reality of a physical body, personality, demeanor, and emotions. In that reality, we look to establish relationship. They look for something special with someone else; but, it is a complicated thing.

It’s been that way since the beginning.

When it comes to relationships, we can be playing flash light tag. If you have light, you’re in pretty good shape. But if you lose your light or your light goes out and don’t have spare batteries, you become victims of darkness.

What is your light? Is your light Christ? Is your light fueled by the Christian virtues of faith, hope, and love? Are you as living the Easter proclamation - dearest friends standing in the awesome glory of this holy light

This holy light is where we make full and strong relationships with spouses, children, family, and friends; even our relationships with those who are against us.

If our relationship with others is based in Christ, it is a full relationship. The glory of this holy light which is Christ Jesus offers us union with God, union with neighbor, union with creation, union with oneself, and even union with those against us. 

We have this holy light of Christ in us. And, the glory of that light is fueled in us by the virtues of faith, hope, and love. If we lose these virtues our light dims.

Faith that fuels the light of Christ is the wisdom that is talked about in the first reading. Faith is for those who believe. The wisdom of faith is found by those who seek. Because of faith, our souls thirst for God.  

Hope that keeps the light of Christ burning is written about by Paul. Hope is more than mere optimism. It is the knowledge of truth that God has something great in store for us.

Love is the light of Christ. God is love and love eternal is found in heaven. By the light of Christ, look for relationships that moves us to God; moves us closer to eternal love.

In this worldly reality, the foolish will find relationships without the light of Christ and relationships without Christ can fall victim to darkness. Those in the darkness call out: Lord, Lord, open the door for us.

How do we help others come to a Christ centered, Godly relationships? I found these examples given by young people. These are young people looking for romantic relationships but they are truths for all Christ centered relationships.

One young woman shared her thoughts on finding a relationship in the light of Christ, “Never lead me to you but lead me to Christ. To love me, know and love Christ first. If you hold onto Christ with both hands and I do the same, then He will mercifully bring us to Himself.”

I saw this sentiment preparing for mass today. One elderly gentleman who had just read the gospel turned to his wife of over 60 years and said, “I am so happy God let me find you.”

Striving for true relationship is complicated by the fact that this world is full of darkness. Friends keep all your relationships, friendships, and romances in the light of Christ fueled by the virtues of faith, hope, and love.

If others don’t bring the light of Christ to a relationship share with them your light in Christ through faith, hope, and love. It is made for us to share.

Standing in the awesome glory of this holy light –

Play a game of flash light tag. Share your light. Seek out those with the light.

My father told me when I was young, be good, be holy, and live the gospel every day. Amen.

Triple D: Deacons, Dinner, & Discussion

Readings

Deacon Chris Domingue and I were sitting at dinner and discussing the gospel. He is giving the homilies this weekend at Jesus the Good Shepherd Parish. His concern was how to approach the Gospel: call no one father, call no one rabbi, and call no one master.

I wanted to describe my ideas, so I started; but, I never got there. I got distracted. The direction of my thoughts pulled away by a dinner of wonderful stuffed cannelloni and wine prepared by the ACTS community for the deacons and their wives.

So when I got home, I texted him …. The Gospel is about relationships.

I hope he got it, the text. I got it, the idea of relationship in Christian ministry. It’s about a relationship with God in Christ that brings us to relationship with others.

If our relationship goes wrong, it is as the prophet Malachi writes:

You have turned aside from the way,
and have caused many to falter by your instruction…

That is what Jesus is warning his disciples about. Beware of forsaking your relationship with God for your own vanity. Do not follow the way of the scribes and the Pharisees. They preach but they do not practice.

The scribes and Pharisees seemed to have gotten distracted. Instead of discussing the wonders and mystery of God, they were distracted in their vanity.

They forgot why they were ministers of God. They were not about giving praise and thanksgiving to God the most high; but they were about their own pride and glory. They love places of honor at banquets and when they go out in public they widen their phylacteries and lengthen their tassels. They wanted titles for their self-grandeur instead of labels indicating they lived for God. 

My brother went to a non-denominational church. Instead of the pastor teaching and preaching the word of God, they watched videos. He said that during service, they played the Eagle's song “Hotel California.”

That song is a religious experience to some folks: but, one thing for sure is it doesn’t praise God. Maybe, that Church should listen closely to Jesus warning before it become like the scribes and Pharisees.

Being a Christians is not self-serving and self-promoting. We are to promote and serve Christ. The ministry of Christ is not proclaiming our self-importance, but the importance of others. It is not to raise our standing among others for vainglory but to lift up others.

If you do not listen, if you do not lay it to heart, If you do not to give glory to my name says the Lord, You have turned aside from the way, and have caused many to falter by your instruction (Malachi) ; for whoever exalts himself will be humbled; but whoever humbles himself will be exalted."(Jesus)

That is what Jesus warns his followers not to become exalted and forget that we are to have a humble relationship with God through Christ. Don’t tie up heavy burdens hard to carry and lay them on people's shoulders and not lift a finger to help them.

Paul tells us about true ministry. It’s not about the titles. It’s not about vanity. It’s about a relationship; a relationship with God in Christ that brings us to relationship with others.

Our ministry is given with affection for you, given with determination to share with you not only the gospel of God, but our very selves…. Working night and day in order not to burden any of you …we proclaimed to you the gospel of God…. as it truly is, the word of God, which is now at work in you who believe.

I know Deacon Chris gets this message.I can hear him singing, “In you, Lord, I have found my peace.” He is a physician, a man of great learning, who in Christ is always God’s humble and loving messenger. As is all my brother deacons and their wives.

We should strive to be the same.

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

Questions from PreK -Is God Real? Reflection 1st Friday Adoration

1 Corinthians 2:7-10a

What we utter is God’s wisdom: a mysterious, a hidden wisdom. God planned it before all ages for our glory. None of the rulers of this age knew the mystery; if they had known it, they would never have crucified the Lord of glory. Of this wisdom it is written: “Eye has not seen, ear has not heard, nor has it so much as dawned on man what God has prepared for those who love him.”

Yet God has revealed this wisdom to us through the Spirit.

My grandson asked his mother and grandmother this question “Is God real or make believe?” He followed with, “How do you know?” 

What are they teaching in preK3 at Jesus the Good Shepherd school?

How to answer him?  How to answer a world asking the same question?

The problem is too many don’t answer. We fail to answer the questions of our children and the world because we might utter something wrong.

Don't worry, scripture tells us God is a mystery to everyone.

God is a mystery to even the smartest of the age. It is those who look for the answers in the reality of the world of men instead of the realness of God, They become lost in the world because believers fail to tell them God is real.

Brothers and sister, tell everyone that God is real. Telling others that God is real doesn’t need great theology or learned scriptures. The answer comes from our relationship with God.

When they ask, “How do you know?” Don’t be afraid to answer. The answer is  in how you live your life, how you love one another, and then your words; because, “What we utter is God’s wisdom.”

If those who ask truly want to know if God is real, our words are God’s wisdom that tells: Eye has not seen; ear has not heard. And by our answer, it will dawn on them what God has prepared for those who love him.

Those who have no relationship with God say God is not real only make believe.

But those who believe, our answers come from the Holy Spirit. They are answers filled with joy, happiness, and love that can only come from a relationship with God through Jesus Christ.

If they are looking for God, trying to know that he is real. Then the answers that we utter are enough. The Holy Spirit will do the rest. 

Amen