Cats, Dogs & Bringing Love - Homily 4th Sunday of Advent

Readings

Today is the fourth Sunday of Advent. We light the last candle on the advent wreath. We’ve already lit the candles of hope, peace, and joy. This week the fourth candle represents love and the white candle for Christ.

Christ is love. God is love. God is being itself. And God is not a being that occasionally decides to love. God’s love is infinite, absolute, and eternal. It is at the very nature of being itself.  God is the one in whom we live, move, and have our being.  (Rohr, Daily Meditations 12/5/2018)

But the problem in the world today is we focus our love on the wrong things.

Has anybody ever heard of the cat and dog theology?

The cat’s theology is these people that live with me give me shelter, give me food and water, protect me, and love me. The cat thinks, even though I don’t need any of those things they give them to me; so, I must be a god.

A dog’s theology is these people I live with provide me shelter, provide me with food and water, protect me, and love me. The dog thinks even though I’m brave and strong, I still need this; so, they must be a god.

Sometimes I think the world is moving toward that cat theology of God. Because all this that is provided for me; I must be a god.

Maybe the reason so many people error in God’s love is because it is radically different from human thinking on love. Maybe, this is why more and more people are not coming to mass. Maybe it is why so many are hurt by the sins of man manifest in a Church of sinful people.

More and more are not coming to mass or attending in the worship Service because they don't understand ultimate love. They fail to realize the truth of God‘s love or any love.

To most, the reality of love is “What’s in it for me.” It is reality even for some in ministry. Love is not about what is given to me; love is about what I give to others.

It was for love of the Father that Christ said, “Behold, I come to do your will." It was His act of love for us fulfilling the Father’s will.

And today’s Gospel gives another example of giving love.

Mary traveled to the hill country to visit her cousin Elizabeth who was with child. And when Elizabeth saw Mary, She was overjoyed and filled with the Holy Spirit. Elizabeth was overcome by love; because, Mary in more ways than one was filled with the ultimate love of God.

Mary, the mother of God, Mary, the Christ Bearer, Mary, the vessel that brought the ultimate revelation of the love of God into the world carried the love of Christ to Elizabeth. This was the first time she gave the love of Christ in her to someone else.

Elizabeth cried aloud, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. And how does this happen to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me?”

We come to mass to know love, to be filled with the Holy Spirit, to be filled with Christ in the Holy Eucharist, and  share the love of Christ with one another. My brothers and sisters do we take that love to others outside these walls.

Do not disrespect the love of God who gives everything to us by not bringing the one who is love itself to others.

I think that is what Elizabeth realized when she said the moment the sound of Mary’s greeting reached her ears, the infant in her womb leaped for joy.

The love of Christ leaps for joy inside of us. It will leap for joy inside of those who we share Christ’s love.  Share the feeling.  Share His love.

Look at the dog; it leaps with joy, wags its tail happily, and barks excitedly when it sees the one it loves. Dogs are so enthusiastic with the love  we have for them and they have for us that they share that love with everyone around them.

We should do the same for our love of God through Jesus Christ. Jump for joy, shout with excitement, and share with everyone the love God has for all of us.  

Cat lovers don’t get upset, some cats do tolerate, maybe, even love their people.

Have a blessed Advent. Be good, be holy, and preach the gospel by the way you live your lives and love one another. Amen.

Joy in Who I Am - Reflection 3rd Week of Advent

Joy

This week I sat in the surgical waiting room at M. D. Anderson in Houston. I met a family of a young man undergoing colon surgery. The doctors in his home town said there was no hope; but, the doctors at M. D. Anderson said they could help.

The young man’s wife was there as a source of strength for her family, her husband’s family, and for their family, two small boys. The surgery was to remove 1/2 of her husband’s colon to fight the cancer. He was only 32 years old.

She was so strong, so positive, smiling and loving.

After 9 hours of surgery the young man was moved to recovery and most of the family left.The young wife was left alone except for a single close friend, a young woman of the same age she had known since they were small in school.

They talked. They laughed. Then, they cried.

I overheard the young wife confide to her friend these words about her husband. “He is who I am. He is who my children are. He is all I have known for the past 12 years.”

Some would say, those were the words of a weak and dependent woman.

All I saw was strength. The strength to say the one she loved made her who she was and that is who she wants to be. In tears, she rejoiced in the relationship with her husband.

Some of us are lucky that we have someone who makes us who we are. It could be a spouse, family, a child, or even friends. We rejoice in that relationship.

Yet, all of us have one relationship in which we can rejoice. It is a relationship with God the Father through our LORD Jesus Christ. Rejoice in the LORD.

Some rejoice in the relationship. Some are looking for that relationship. Sadly, some deny any want or need or possible relationship with God.

We should all rejoice in The LORD, our God. God is in our midst, a mighty savior. Our LORD and savior rejoices over us with gladness. Christ renews us in his love.

This is the truth the blessed virgin Mary knew; the truth in which she became the mother of God. It is the truth of her strength. The strength to say the one she loved made her who she was and who she wanted to be.

This is the truth John the Baptist preached. He called for a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sin.

He promised that one greater than he would come. One that baptizing in the strength of the Holy Spirit and fire. The Holy Spirit that gives the strength to say this is who I am and this is who I want to be.

Through baptism we are called to the joyous relationship with our Lord and Savior. If we are true to that relationship, he is all that we are. He is all that we want to be.

And those who don’t know that joyous relationship will look at us and say we are a weak and dependent people.

They do not recognize strength.

I saw strength when I went to mass Sunday morning at the hospital chapel. I saw people well and sick who came to celebrate that joyous relationship with the LORD. Some were doctors. Some were nurses. Some were patients. Some were family of patients. The one strength in each and every person at that mass was a relationship that defines who they are, a relationship with Christ.

A relationship with Jesus Christ is all that I am and all that I want to be.

Even though our church community is small at Our Lady of Fatima Parish, St. Lawrence Catholic Church, and Christ the King - Catholic Campus ministries I ran into several members of our family at that Hospital. Each and every one of them has a story of strength.

Each has a story of strength in their relationship with Christ even as they fight cancer. I pray that Jesus Christ the Divine Physician is with them and heals them. May God's miracles found in the skills, knowledge, and wisdom of those who treat them be released to all those in need.

Friends, pray for those who are sick and crisis and all those who need our prayers. May the Holy Spirit give them continued strength. 

St. Peregrine, pray for us. St. Anthony Mary Claret, pray for us. Blessed Francis Xavier Seelos, pray for us. Holy Mother of God, pray for us.

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

"If Only" - Homily Second Sunday of Advent - C

Readings

Today is the second Sunday of Advent and we light the Peace Candle, the candle that represents John the Baptist.

We come together in Advent as a time of anticipation about new beginnings, new starts, and new arrivals. But, Advent is also about the incarnation and life.

Scripture tells us God became a person “that we could hear, see with our eyes, look at, and touch with our hands.” 1 Jn 1:1 God became a person so we could experience him and He could experience us through a human life. God in Jesus Christ would have a human life story.

Each of us has a life story. I wonder how Jesus’ would compare to ours.

Our lives all begin as helpless and naked infants.

From that beginning, life becomes is a series of new beginnings, new starts, and new arrivals. We live advent, waiting and many times longing of the next stage of life; living in anticipation of getting somewhere or being something. We look to find our life’s incarnation of happiness and peace.

At every stage, we wish “if only”….

“If only” I could ride a bike. “If only” I could finish school. “If only” I could meet the right person. “If only” I could get that great job. “If only” I could buy a nice house. “If only” I would get that raise or promotion. “If only” I could get what I want in life; I would know happiness and peace.  

These “if only” wishes fills our lives with ups and downs, rough ways and winding roads, valleys and mountains.

Yet, when life nears death, the “if only” wish of many - “if only I had lived my life differently.”

In college I asked my dad “Was it wrong for me to want to go to night clubs?” I liked girls, dancing, and beer. A nightclub was a place for all three.

“If only” I didn’t have to spend my little bit of money on a bus ticket home. “If only” I wasn’t expected to work around the house, clean, and wash clothes.

At that time, my dad was sick and even though I never said it aloud, I thought it. “If only” I didn’t have to come home to all the sadness, sickness, and suffering.

My life story doesn’t compare very well to the life story of Jesus.

But my dad answered that question with a smile and some of the best theological and spiritual advice I ever received. “The Lord is coming again. Go ahead and live your life, but don’t let Jesus find you where you shouldn’t be.”

At that time, I probably didn’t hear the truth in those words.

We make bad choices in our imperfect human life. These are choices that we mistakenly believe are the source of happiness and peace. We find these “if only(s)” wishes in our pride, greed, envy, lust, anger, gluttony, and laziness.

Why did they get a promotion and I did not, “if only” it was me. Why do they have a big house and I do not, “if only” it was me. Why do they have someone special in their life and I do not, “if only” it was me.

These “if only(s)” are not the way to live.

God lived a human life in example of the life He wants of us. It’s not about us. It‘s about God. Although, the Prophet Baruch’s words were about Jerusalem and prophesying about Jesus, they apply to our lives. 

God will show the earth your splendor, the peace of justice, and the glory of God’s worship.  

That is why Jesus’ life was so much different than ours. He lived a human life to the expectations of God the Father.

Paul encourages us in our new beginning.  “The one who began a good work in you will continue to complete it.” This one is Christ. As we prepare for His advent, he prepares us for ours.  

Every valley shall be filled and every mountain and hill shall be made low. The winding roads shall be made straight, and the rough ways made smooth, and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.

Each chapter of a person’s life leads inevitably to the next, from birth to death. We can’t change that; but, we can change the “if only.” These are life’s new beginnings, new starts, and new arrivals.

Our advent is the everyday “if only” to live life in the Lord. It is the beginning of true happiness and peace.

God leads us in joy, by the light of his glory, with mercy and justice.

“The Lord is coming again. Go ahead and live your life, but don’t let Jesus find you where you shouldn’t be.”

Friends, try these “if only(s)” during Advent. “If only” we can be good. “If only” we can be holy. , “If only” we can preach the gospel by the way you live and love one another. Amen.                            

Have a blessed Advent.

Ordinary becomes Extraordinary - Homily Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception

Being raised Baptist; the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary was something I had to work at to understand.

The best place to understand the Catholic faith is the Catechism. Paragraph 490 uses Ephesians 1:3-6 to explain the Immaculate Conception.  

God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavens. He chose us in him, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and without blemish before him.

The Church says that God, the Father, blessed Mary more than any other created person “in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavens” and chose her in Christ “before the foundation of the world, to be holy and blameless before him.”

So that when the angel Gabriel salutes Mary "Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with you." Mary, filled by God’s grace, was able to give free assent through her faith to her vocation.

Mary’s ordinary faith became the extraordinary.

The Catholic author, GK Chesterton said -The most extraordinary thing in the world is an ordinary man and an ordinary woman and their ordinary children.

Ephesians speaks to us - ordinary men, ordinary women and ordinary children – the Church. It is a church of ordinary people, full of grace working hard with love to build a foundation of faith for their families and community.

Full of grace, they go to mass. Full of grace, they are spiritual leaders of the family and the church.  Full of grace, they serve the church and partake in the sacraments. Full of grace, they teach their children to trust in God and pray the rosary

Full of grace, charity is at the heart of even the most meager of resources. Full of grace, seldom is heard a complaint about mass, the priest, his accent, or the chaos in the Church.

Yet today, the numbers who attend mass has dwindled; maybe like our first parents, so many feel separated from God, ashamed and hiding, afraid they are naked in grace.    

God asks “Who told you that you were naked?” 

In Christ love, we will never be without grace.

We may not be immaculately conceived: but He has chosen us in him, a Church full of grace. Ordinary people of faith in Christ that becomes the extraordinary.

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

Blessed with Hope - Homily for the First Sunday of Advent 2018

(Readings)

Today is the first Sunday of Advent. This is the day we bless the advent wreath and light the first candle, the candle of hope.

I hope I get this right, because I am often confused by what to say at this time of year. It is too early for Merry Christmas and happy advent or merry advent is just not right. Of course we could always go with the secular Happy Holidays.

The appropriate greeting is “Have a Blessed Advent.” That is what it is about, because we are blessed by the anticipation of the coming of the Lord.

We are blessed; Christ came as the child Jesus born in Bethlehem. We are blessed; Christ is coming again. We are blessed; Christ comes every day to our lives. In all these we are blessed with hope.

These are the advents our readings point to today.

The prophet Jeremiah proclaims the first coming from David will come a just shoot that will do what is right and just in the land.

Of the Second Advent, Jesus proclaims stand erect and raise our heads because redemption is at hand. It is with these words he prepares us. Beware that your heart does not become drowsy from the Anxieties of life. Pray that you have the strength to stand before the Son of Man.

For most Christians prepare for these two Advents. They celebrate that He has come and He will come again. But many fail to recognize the everyday advent. They fail to realize the hope of Christ in ever day life.

That is what Paul is telling the church in Thessalonians.

Brothers and sisters: “May the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all….” And again, “Conduct yourselves to please God ...., strengthen your hearts, to be blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his holy ones. Amen”

Everyday advent is seeing the face of Christ in each other. Advent is bring Christ to the world in all we are and in all we do. It is an everyday advent. It is hope for this world.

This week I flew to Kansas City for a business meeting. I had a layover in Dallas. There, I met a beautiful lady, Mrs. Caldwell. The valet had pushed her wheelchair next to where I was sitting.

After she finished her lunch, I offer to throw away her trash and we struck up a conversation. Boarding the plane, she said to me “I saw Christ in you the moment I laid eyes on you.”

It was not about me. It was her faith seeing Christ in others. It was her advent.

On the return flight again in the Dallas airport was another woman. The valet had pushed her wheelchair to the area I was seated so she could watch the Saints - Cowboys game.

Immediately, she was on her phone, obviously upset. Upset the valet had placed her chair too far from her departing gate. She was at the gate but in front of the television.

She was upset with the Dallas Cowboys, upset with the New Orleans Saints. She was upset with the person on the phone, apparently a family member.

And in all this she showed an extreme talent for colorful language and used it in abundance.

She was clearly distraught. And as I and another person offered her assistance, I noticed that around her neck hung a cross.

As we approached her, she said to the person she had been so upset with on the phone “Got to go now, love you!”

I thought to myself, she doesn't sound very Christian.

Friends the problem was not her. It was me. I was not seeing Christ in this person who was in need of help. I was not celebrating the coming of Christ in the world today.

My brother and sisters advent is to prepare ourselves to meet Christ every day. It is seeing Christ in our brothers and sisters, every person. No matter if they are hungry or needy or sick or in pain or can talk a blue streak, Christ comes to us in each and every person.

I met two beautiful ladies; in one was so easy to see Christ and in the other it was a little harder. It is that way for all of us.

Remember this prayer from the psalm:  All the paths of the LORD are kindness and constancy; to you o Lord I lift up my soul.

Have a blessed advent, be good, be holy and preach the gospel by the way you live and love one another, Amen.

Where is your King? Reflection Christ the King Sunday - Year B

(Readings)

I’m not a shopper, but my wife told me of the lines wrapped around the store on Thanksgiving. People were people looking for bargains. If you are out looking for bargains remember the poor. Remember the needy. Remember truth.

Truth is found in love.

Jesus came into the world to testify to the truth.

Scripture describes love testifying to us in four ways: Eros, Philia, Storge, and Agape.

Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice, to which love do you listen?

Eros is romantic/erotic love. It’s important in people’s lives. It can be fulfilling and wonderful or emptying and appalling. It is not where truth is found.

Storge is love of family, the bond between parents, children, brothers, and sisters. Everyone wants this love but not everyone has it.

Philia is the love Christians practice toward each other. It is love called friendship, a powerful emotional bond. True friends will not hold back truth; but, it is not the truth we seek.

All these types of love are worldly standards of love. However, Eros, Storge, and Philia can waiver, fade, or fail. It is love built upon human imperfection and fault.

Truth does not falter.  

Truth is God’s love. Agape is God's immeasurable, incomparable, and divine love. It is unconditional, sacrificial, perfect, pure, and selfless. Only God’s love allows truth in all other love.

It is this love Jesus Christ revealed by the way he lived and died. He is coming amid the clouds. Every eye will see him even those who pierced him. It is God, who is love, giving away God in every moment. Even to those who deny him, God’s love comes with every breath we take.

Each breath is God choosing us again and again and again. To know and accept God’s love, all we have to do is breathe.

For this reason, His kingship shall not be destroyed. The truth of his kingship is in each of us created in God’s image.

Each of us is a unique manifestation of God’s love.

Every person is different because God’s love is infinite. By that infinite love, God is living in each and every one of us and through each and every one of us.  

Yes. Amen. - God’s love is infinite. It is unconditional, sacrificial, and selfless. God’s love is freedom. It is freedom to choose love. It is freedom to choose who we are. It is freedom to believe or deny God. It is freedom of good or evil. It is the freedom of yes or no.

It was in freedom Pilate asked the question, "Are you the King of the Jews?"

Jesus answered. "Do you say this on your own or have others told you about me?"

Freedom to choose love is the freedom to know truth not just what others say is truth. Truth is not limited by our limits. Truth is ultimate faith in God’s selfless infinite agape love.

Love giving love in every moment. God who is love giving away God. God’s love given freely in every breath we take.

God’s love is in us to remember the poor and the needy. Remember truth. This is why Jesus was born into the world, to testify truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth will listen to his voice.

The reality of God’s love does not waiver, fade, or fail. The reality is the flesh and blood of Jesus. The reality is Jesus who says, “You say I am a king.”

In freedom, each of us proclaims our king by our choice of love. Choices based on our truths - romance, friendship, family, or God’s love.

Only God’s love allows truth in all other love.

Choose Christ as King. Choose God’s love.

"God’s love is the Alpha and the Omega the one that is and was and is to come, the almighty."  God’s love is in our first breath and our last breath. It is in each breath, the one that is, the one that was, and ones to come.  

God chooses us with each breath, again and again and again.

Be good, be holy and preach the gospel to share God’s selfless love for one another. Amen

Be a Hero - Homily 3rd Sunday OTB

 (Readings)

A week ago, a friend of mine who is an elder at Lutheran Church outside of Kansas City, sent me his Church Security Plan for review and comment. It’s about keeping their church safe.

Yesterday, someone parked their motor home on St. Lawrence’s parking lot. Instead of being welcoming and loving, parishioners challenged them and made them unwelcomed. The parishioners were only trying to keep our church safe.

In our community and country we experience tension and anger towards each other, even in people who call themselves Christians.

The evil one will attack where he finds our weaknesses.

That’s scary. We must be brave.

Friends, remember this, God made us to be heroes.

When I was young, we lived in the country. Cattle roamed free and would gather outside the house at night. They made weird scary cow noises. Darkness made it extra scary.

I’d try pulling the covers over my head; but, I always ended up in my parent’s room. My mom would say, “Don't be afraid, be brave, and say your prayers. Jesus is always with you."

She would add, the cows are scared, too.

Our scripture readings are scary - if you don’t understand them. They describe times of distress and darkness seen even today in the reality of diseases, hunger, poverty, violence, and oppression.

It’s scary; but, these have always existed. Jesus said, “Not a generation will pass before these things come about.”

Not a generation has passed without them. They have happened and will happen. It is what scripture promises.

But, these scriptures, also promise life.

They call us to life and justice. They promise eternal life. They point to hope.

These scriptures tell us Christ is coming again.  

They tell of trials to come; scary things if we forget that Jesus is always with us.

We live our life in a time of tribulation experiencing suffering and crisis. The sun (our outlook) is darkened, and everything can be in disarray.

It would be simple if God solve these problems; but, that is not the way He created the world. That’s not why He gave us life and a mission to care for creation and each other.

We were made heroes in Christ, for by one offering he has made perfect forever those who are being consecrated.  

And the wise shall shine brightly and those who lead the many to justice shall be like the stars forever.

We are to feed the hungry, shelter the homeless, cloth the naked, visit the sick and imprisoned. We are to love our neighbor.

These are the precepts of our church our faith built by the blood of martyrs, heroes.

We can be heroes in Christ. We may not have superpowers like in the movies, but God in his wisdom has given us all the super powers we need.

God gave us intelligence to ask questions and find answers. He gave us courage to defend what is right. God gave us voices to champion justice and a nature for hope.

He gives us freedom of yes or no and good or evil; freedom to be heroes or not. 

The idea of being a hero is scary. It’s scary to see suffering, to talk to those who don’t believe, and to love those who hate us.

So, take a lesson from the fig tree, sprout leaves and be fruitful.  The hero’s path is the fullness of joy in the Lord’s presence.

Be vigilant to have the strength to stand before him. Live a life that brings hope and leads to justice. Fight this battle until Christ comes again.

"But of that day or hour, no one knows, neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father."

Christ may come in the next instant. For some it will be a day of terror. The cows are scared, too.

For heroes of Christ made perfect by his sacrifice, it will be a day of rejoicing.

God made us to be heroes; the church calls these heroes saints.

Don't be afraid, be brave, and say your prayers. Jesus is always with you.

Knowing that Jesus is always with you makes a hero. Amen.

Jesus is Watching - Homily 32 Sunday OTB

Audio - Jesus is Watching

(Readings)

Happy Veterans Day, we remember those both young and old who have served our country. The one thing about veterans is their faith. They have faith in their country, the military, and their fellow veterans.

We should all, especially as Christians have such a strong faith. Here are some features of faith. Faith is a good; Faith is a gift; Faith is a choice; and Faith is a challenge.

Faith is a challenge because people find it hard to trust and believe.

In today’s readings are two examples of such faith; two widows who gave from all they had to possibly face poverty, hunger, famine, and death. But despite that adversity, they trusted God.

Today, we struggle with faith, afraid to trust in God’s providence and mercy.  

But Elijah reminds us with these words - Do not be afraid. Give all in faith and by faith it will increase. The jar of flour shall not go empty. The jug of oil shall not run dry.

These words are not about money or worldly goods. They prophesy the prosperity of faith. Faith will build faith.

Everyone has a story of faith; let me share a part of my story of faith.

In the spring of1981, I received a call my Dad was sick and dying. He was not expected to leave the hospital alive. I returned home and found a job to help my family. I promised my dad, if he would get better, I would go back to school. I did the next fall.

As a football player, I weighed 290 lbs. I was no longer a football player, but trying to go to school, pay for it, and survive. It was taking a toll. By the end of the spring semester I weighed 190 lbs. I had lost 100 lbs. in two semesters.

I was starving. I worked part time at Kmart and most of my meals were left over sandwiches from the deli. At closing, you could buy a ham sandwich for 10 cents. But, there were not always sandwiches left or 10 cents in my pocket.

I never lost my faith; but, it was challenged. I prayed a lot. I knew God was calling me. I searched for him.  I kept trying to leave Monroe, but God had a reason for me to stay.

There is a treasure in not having 10 cents. People like you for you. They help you when they can. Since, I had to walked most places, I asked the new girl at work for a ride; and, the rest was God’s plan.

My friends, Jesus is watching.

Jesus sat down opposite the treasury and observed the crowd. He saw those making a show of it and He saw those giving from what little they had.

In the Bible, widows are the poorest of the poor. The two widows in today’s reading gave from all they had to God. Just like Jesus. Compare their sacrifices and struggles to ours.

We live in an affluent country. For some the struggles may be about money or food; but, for most its not. Some may have life and death struggles, but, for most its not.

The thing most struggle with is placing our lives in the hands of God. We are afraid to sacrifice the control we think we have in our lives and surrender it by faith to God.

Don’t be afraid. Even when faith is a challenge, it is still a choice and a gift.

The widows were afraid. They chose to give to God from all they had.

Jesus may not have been afraid, but listen to his words in the Garden of Gethsemane. “My soul is sorrowful even to death…. Father, if possible; let this cup pass from me.” And still, Jesus made the choice of the cross.

Choices of faith bring more; by faith you will increase.

Sustenance came from the widow’s act of faith in Elijah’s story. Honor came from the faith displayed in the widow’s few coins in the gospel.

Our salvation came from Jesus’ faith in us  as he hung on the cross. Give all in faith and by faith and it will increase.

You may have guessed, the girl who gave me a ride was my wife Janet. She made a choice that day by her faith in me. Last week was the 34^th anniversary of that first date. Her faith was that God meant for us to be together and she was going to make it happen.

She took the flour that was me, and mixed it with the oil of her faith. She brought me to the Bread of Life. Her faith opened my heart to God.

Remember, Faith is a good; Faith is a gift; Faith is a choice; and Faith is a challenge.

In that challenge, everyone has a story of faith and Jesus is watching it.

Be good, be holy, and by faith preach the gospel and love one another from all that you have. Amen

The Harlot, The Stranger, The Sinner - Reflection 31st Sunday OTB

readings

The first and greatest commandment is to love God with all our heart, all our understanding, and all our strength; and, the second is to love our neighbors as our self. 

This is a hard thing to do.

It is hard because to love our neighbor is to truly love God. That is where we run into trouble.

To love God is to love our neighbor with understanding and strength. This is where we fail.

People don't seem to be able to love by the example Jesus set. We fail to love our neighbor and in that we fail to love God.

We fail to love our neighbor because we see them as the harlot or the stranger or the sinner. It is hard for us to love  in the way Jesus expects from us.

The harlot has ideas different than us. It may be a different sexual view. It may be a different political view. It may be a different faith. It may be a different belief. 

I watched a local minister on television state preach that every Christian that did not worship as his church worshiped was wrong and would never know God. Other Christian’s faith was corrupt and like an unfaithful harlot.

Everyone can be a harlot.

Every stranger comes from someplace different. Today we define strangers in political rhetoric. And, strangers scare us by their different faiths, skin colors, or religions. Instead of love for the stranger there is violence.

A man shoots up a synagogue. Another shoots up a Sikh temple. Some say they fight for freedom by interfering with the freedom of others. Protesters shout profanities and spit on Christian monks in a march for life.

The truth is everyone is a stranger.
 

Sinners are hard to love. Maybe, it is because we see our self in the sinner. Instead, we consider our self as perfect, closer to God than a sinner. 

We’d rather judge others and ignore our own sins. 

Need proof, turn on the television. Many point out the sins of the others and ignore their own sins.

It is hard to love a sinner; it is hard to love our self.

When He created us, God breathe life into us. Each of us has that breath of God in us. No matter if we are Christians or non-Christian, believers or non-believer, harlot or stranger or sinner; we all have that part of God in us. When we fail to love our neighbor, we fail to love God. 

To love the way God wants us to love is a hard thing to do. I know from experience.

God asks us to bring all our heart, and all our understanding, and our strength to loving our neighbor and loving our self. Then we can love God.

Despite how hard it is for us, God still loves us in His perfect love.

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