How Do You Pray? (Gn 18:20-32; Lk 11:1-13)

I remember as a child, my mom or my dad taking me to bed and telling me to say my prayers.  As a child, prayers were simple.  My dad, a Baptist preacher, taught me to talk to God like I was talking to him.  Thank God for what I was given.  Ask God to watch over me.  Ask God to bless me and those I loved.  Then tell God what bothered me.  These prayers grew as I grew.  

My parents were never wealthy or even financially secure.  I know they lived paycheck to paycheck most of my dad's life.  He never lost faith no matter how hard the times.  My mom, although a little more dramatic, never lost faith.  The one thing that they always told their children no matter what the problems,  pray.  Thank God for what you have.  Ask God to watch over your family and to bless those that you love.

My father has been dead for over 25 years.  I am now becoming an old man.  I know that my father still prays for me.  My mother tells me she prays for me.  The advice she still gives to her children me is never lose faith.  No matter what your problems you can bring them to God and offer them in prayer.   

This is what Abraham did.  He saw the problems and drew closer to God.  He petitioned God for the people of the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah.  Abraham bargained with God to save the cities and to protect the good people despite the bad.  God heard Abraham.  The people of the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, however, did not hear God.  

In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus gives his disciples a very basic version of the Lord's prayer.  Praise God.  Ask God for your basic needs.  Ask God to bless you and those around you with forgiveness.  Ask God to protect you from the bad that is in the world.

I have known both of these types of prayer.  There have been times in my life that I have bargained with God.  Like Abraham, I tried to make God come to my terms and maybe God did, but I may have been like the peoples of those condemned cities and did not hear God.  

As my faith grew, most of my prayers became like the one that Jesus gave his disciples.  It is a prayer that I try to live in every moment of my life.  I remember that it is the same simple prayer my parents taught and believed.  I looked back and realized that I have always lived by this example. I thank God for my blessings.  I ask God to protect me and the ones I love.  In my prayers, I am seeking. I am knocking.  I am persistent.

As I have grown older, my prayers become more like the prayers of my childhood.  The prayers that my parents taught me.  In the same simple way to pray that Jesus showed his disciples. 

How do I pray?  I pray always seeking.  I pray always knocking.  I pray persistently.  I pray with a simple childlike heart.  The is a difference between now and that child almost 50 years ago.  Now, I know that in Jesus Christ everyone is loved.  I know that Jesus love me so much, that his prayers and his life were given for me.  So, how do I pray?  Hopefully, like Jesus, simple, with my whole heart in forgiveness and love for everyone. 

If you have a child or a grandchild or bother or a sister pray with them so they learn to pray.  If you think you do not know how to pray, pray in the simplest way.   God knows your heart.  How do you pray?  Just begin.

I Saw Jesus Yesterday (Mt 12:1-8)

I saw Jesus yesterday.  Here in Northeast Louisiana in a small town, that sits under a rusting mountain of a papermill that was once the life blood of the town. Mostly, what is left is smaller businesses and outside of town rows of cotton, soybeans, and corn.  The stop lights on the main roads, Walmart, and some chain restaurants are why people stop if your not from the community or not coming to one of the festivals that every now and then brings the outside to this town.  It is a place where those not from this part of the world usually think hatred, bigotry, and intolerance only exists.  I saw Jesus yesterday.

Jesus told the Pharisees that something greater than the temple is here, "I desire mercy not sacrifice"  This is where I saw Jesus.  I drove up to a local restaurant to eat lunch with my wife, as I got out of my car and walk to my wife's car to meet her, I notice two young men walk out of the restaurant and get into their car.  They were well dressed in shorts, t-shirts, and baseball caps.  After they left, an elderly woman, old enough that her walk was a shuffle, her hair piled on top of her head in a style from 40 years ago, walked out the  door.  She stopped at the edge of the entry walk, looking down at the 8-9 inch step down to the parking lot.  

I was a parking lot away; but, I saw Jesus.  

The two young men who had left earlier, stopped their car next to the entrance of the restaurant and the passenger got out and asked "Ma'am, would you like some help."  He held out his arm, muscled and tattooed for her to take.

The elderly lady, reached out with her pale white hand that was the map of her life in blue veins and liver spots and placed it on the inked and muscular forearm of a young black man who smiled down at her.  I saw Jesus in his smile.  I saw Jesus, as she smiled back.  I saw Jesus in the young man who waited patently in the car as his friend showed mercy to a stranger.

I heard the president say to the world that he was Trayvon Martin.  That all young African American men are victims of prejudice.  Yet, I also remember when what I saw in that parking lot would not have happened.

If George Zimmerman had seen Jesus in Trayvon Martin or Trayvon had seen Jesus in George would we be talking about these two men.  I do not know if either knew God or had a relationship with Jesus.  Many people who speak hate and violence often do it doe God or in Jesus's name. 

Jesus says there is more to the temple, "I desire mercy, not sacrifice." This is what should be talked about around the table and among us.  We should talk about the people who express the mercy that Jesus desires, when people see Jesus in each other.  

A Pillow of Rest (Mt 11:28-30)

In Mathew, Jesus tells us, "Come to me all you who labor and are heavy burdened and I will give you rest, for I am gentle and humble of heart."  This is a message of love.  It is a message of love we should apply to ourselves and those around us.  The labored and burdened suffer from injustice.  Injustice suffers both victims and proliferators.  Yet, Jesus's words offer a promise of perserverance in our darkest times. 

 

As I read and study, God opens my eyes to the reality of the world.  The world has prejudiced me in my thoughts and views in ways which may have championed injustice.  These are just some of the burdens that I bring to Jesus.  I want to leave that yoke that ties me to those burdens behind and put on Christ's yoke.  

The more I learn, the more I love.  Knowing God's love humbles me.  It lets me know that God is sharing in the labor and burden of those seeking rest.  It is through our Lord Jesus Christ, whose humiliation, suffering, and death that God knows our burdens.  

 

In striving to learn how God works in the world and the truth of God’s promise to humanity, the more I learn the more I love.  I have learned and realized Christ’s promise, “Whoever believes has eternal life.”   This is the yoke that becomes my pillow of that promised rest.

 

 

The Good Samaritan - A Sign of Peace

Moses tells us that God's commandment is written on our hearts. This is the ultimate truth in the parable of the Good Samaritan. It is found in the kindness and goodness that the grace of God has placed in us and is Christ's love and peace. 

In the parable of the Good Samaritan, the man was robbed and beaten, stripped of his clothing, and left to the side of the road for dead. But I think the parable holds the truth that the one attacked was not the only victim. Jesus tells us of all the victims.

God's commandment is written on our hearts and this is the greatest commandment that Jesus talks about. "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind."   Jesus adds "Love your neighbor as you love yourself," which is a continuation of the first part of the commandment. God is in your neighbor as part of God's creation. 

By identifying this greatest commandment, Jesus reminds the lawyer of more.  There are too many distractions in the World from this commandment.   The lawyer would of known all that Moses said. The commandment is not a mystery you don't look to the sky, you don't look across the sea.  It is in you and all you have to do is carry it out.

When the lawyers asks "Who is my neighbor?"  He shows that even though he knows the commandment, he does not understand it.  He has the expectations of the world distractions.  This distractions make us all victims.  Victims of sin.

Like the priest who was too worried about the Law.  Every thing else that was written down, not God's greatest commandment written on his heart. 

Like the Levite, a temple official who was too worried about the distraction to status. A distraction from what should have been written on his heart.

Both were victims of the robbery.  It robbed them of the greatest commandment.  The victim was stripped of everything that protected him from the outside world; but, the priest and levite were stripped of the love for God and their neighbor.  Their souls left for dead.

How many of us can say we are truly the Good Samaritan? We all posse the love of Christ that makes us so full of kindness and goodness that we want to go out of our way to help our neighbors and bring comfort. Go our of our way to rid ourselves of intolerance and prejudice and bring justice to the poor.  But, many of us have distractions that make us fail as a Good Samaritan.

We all fail.   I work so hard to make myself God's servant, a follower, and minister of God's word.  We all fail.  It's hard to be a Good Samaritan. Sometimes the world puts so much in our way.

But there are so many ways to be a Good Samaritan, which is truly the Sign of Peace that we are all to share with those around us.

Pay attention to the needs of your family and community.  The priest and Levite ignored a member of their family and community.  But we can recognized the needs of our family and community through programs such as St. Vincent de Paul, Catholic Charities, Diocesan Stewardship Appeal, Our House, Angel Ministries, and more.  All they ask is that you do not cross to the other side of the road.  The simplest of things like visiting someone in the hospital or nursing home, calling someone who is grieving, or even a smile to someone who is lonely is the mission of peace.. 

The greatest commandment lives in us. It is the kindness and goodness that God has placed in in our hearts. This is the peace we are asked to share. It is the peace that the Samaritan shared. "Christ tells is to go and do likewise." Don't let the world steal this from you. Don't let the robbers and thieves strip you of Christ's love and leave you naked to the world.

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Sheep in the Midst of Wolves (Mt 10:16-23)

Being a Christian is like being sheep.  What does it really mean to be a sheep?  Most people in our culture would say it has a bad connatation.  It does not, especially if you know the psalm that begins "The Lord is My Shepherd."  Many who say they are Christians forget this and even that they are followers of Christ.  Jesus calls those who follow him to be "sheep in the midst of wolves."  This is truly to become a follower of Christ.  The Lord becomes your shepherd and you become that true Christian follower.  

A sheep depends on the shepherd and the flock.  The sheep is unselfish. It cannot be centered on itself and survive.  This total abandonment of self is what is so hard for modern people.  This is why so many identify themselves as a spiritual Christian but do not believe in religion.  They do not want to follow any defined rite. They want to do their own thing.  Can you call yourself a Christian if you have not been disturbed from the centeredness of your self? Can you be a Christian if you cannot be moved from the intimacy of your self importance?

As a spiritual person, it is easier to seek justice for the poor in the external community and the world than those immediately around us.  By doing this, we can care without disturbing the centeredness we have on our self.  But it is within that intimacy to our self that we can loose the focus of love towards the circle of those we touch, our friends, family, and community. 

If you are really a Christian and accept Christ fully in your heart, then you will have a conversion that is a disturbance of "the me" at the center of your life.  

It is at that point that we think we have given our all and then God asks us for more.  The demands are not unreasonable, never more than things perfectly deserving of our Lord and Savior, and our creator.  These demands again are there to disturb the centeredness of self.

This circle of those we touch is where we are called to be "sheep in the midst of wolves."  This is a call for love in action towards those we immediately touch..  It is much more than just being nice to each other. Being nice is good but it is a worldly behavior. Nice is how we act to get people to like us.  Nice can be used as a tool to build up our for self centered intimacy. Being nice can take a back seat to being like Jesus.

Christ's message is not to be nice. Jesus asks us to love which is more than just nicety.  Jesus' love is kindness and goodness.  Kindness and goodness leads to true actions and true attitudes of love towards others  In these actions and attitudes we find healthy relationships.  In this we find happiness.  Truly, happiness springs forth for us and for those around us in these healthy relationships.  The kindness and goodness that draws others to us also pulls us away from the intimacy centered on ourselves to others.  It makes us sheep and we follow the Good Shepherd.

A sheep is a sheep.  It cannot be a wolf.  A sheep follows its master's voice and depends upon those around it as well.  If the sheep is lost from the flock, it cries out until it is found.  The sheep draws others to it and sacrifices the selfishness of a self centered life to followed the voice of the shepherd.  This is the call for Christians.

Being a Christian requires sacrifice of self and sometimes it asks for more and more.  But when we put our Christianity in the right priority, it turns from something that we struggle to  maintain by making sacrifices into a true gift of God's grace.  Our Christianity is the kindness and goodness of genuine love expressed in every layer of our lives.  It is the unselfishness that has become the core of ourselves.

It is important to work for justice for all people in the world.  The ones that we truly touch with our love is our family and the circle of people we touch daily..  What we have for them has  a far greater impact than just the immediacy of our kindness and goodness.  Our unselfishness now found in our kindness and goodness also touches all those still lost in their self centeredness.  This love becomes intimate to everything - our church, our community, and the world.  And Christ sends us out as sheep amidst wolves.

Some Do and Some Do Not (Mt 10:5-15)

My secular job is a Safety Professional.  I currently work for an insurance company and am responsible for evaluating companies business practices, identifying hazards, and working with the company to make it better.  I make a lot of people mad.   This week, only one company has told me that I do not know what I am talking about and to keep my nose out of their business.

I can understand this resentment.  I am a stranger,  who comes in and looks at their company and then after just a few hours or maybe a few visits, I tell them what is wrong.  The reply I get is usually not a good one.  Usually a force smile and something along these lines, "This is my company" or "I built this company" or "Who are you to tell me that what I am doing is wrong."

My answer is that these issues are important to my company; but, it is a decision that they have to make.  Some do and some do not.

Although I would rather work with the man working on the machine, I am well educated.  I have a BS plus additional hours. I have a double major emphasis business and sociology and a minor emphasis in construction.   I have graduate level courses in Business Management and Safety Management from LSU, Kentucky, Minnesota, Indiana University Pennsylvania, Oklahoma State, and several smaller colleges.  I also hold professional certifications in many different areas.   Still people don't want to listen to me.

The apostles had it a lot tougher than I do.  They were fishermen, tax collectors, zealots, and revolutionaries.  Twelve men following an itinerant, wandering preacher whose message was about loving God and loving your neighbor.  A man who told the religious leaders of the community that their concept of religion and worship of God was wrong.  

Jesus sent his disciples to preach to Israel.  Twelve messengers trained by the Lord.  They were to cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, and cast out demons.   Sent to spread the news of the Kingdom of Heaven, they began a message that has continued for almost 2000 years.   The reply the world gives is "Get out of my business," and "This is my life," or  "Who are you to tell me what I am doing is wrong!"

In my job, I have seen people ignore what I have told them or failed to follow through.  This has consequences.  I have seen companies that employed many people and provided security for their families close.   I have seen people seriously injured or die because they failed to what should be done.   Maybe, it was not because they did not listen to me but many times it is a large contributing factor.   

The disciples were sent to share the message.  Christians have repeated this message to the world.  Many fail to hear the message and Jesus said there would be consequences.   It is a simple message of love, but a hard one to live by.  It is a message important to those who believe; but, it is a decision the individual must make.  Some do and some do not. 

In my secular life my message is for success in things of this world.   Many do not listen.   In my spiritual life, I speak of the Good News of Jesus Christ, the love of God and the love of my neighbor.  People will say, "Stay out of my Business!"  I pray all will listen.

More Than Peace

At each mass or communion service,  we hear, "Let us offer each other the sign of peace,"  and share "Peace be with you."  Important words especially when said with love.  They are part of our celebration but how many really take this action to heart and know what it truly means.  

Depending on what generation you are from defines the picture of peace you hold.  It may just be a greeting, you heard it in movies or on the street, "Peace, man" or even given nonchalantly "Peace" with fingers in a "V".

Peace to many may be an absence of war for which we all pray.  But even though we have friends and family who may be in harms way and we are devastated by the loss of life.  Peace does mean the same to those in the violence as those who see it from a distance.

At the War Veteran's home there is a mass on the first Friday of the month.  My community shares our peace with these brave people.  At this sharing of peace, I heard the story of one man who was held as a POW in Korea.  It was told by his wife.  He never spoke in detail about it.  She did know that he was confined in a small metal box, cramped, not able to move his body other than just a small bit.  The North Korean guards would be beat on metal box with pipes and batons for hours a day.  

What is peace to this man?

The word that Jesus used for peace was "Shalom."  Shalom means peace, but not just the end of war or violence.  It means something deeper.  Shalom means completion and perfection.  If you wished someone peace/shalom you wished to them a life of fulfillment, abundance for all of their needs, or prosperity.  It was not just a passing saying but a term of commitment to make that person live in shalom.  

When Jesus said "I bring you peace", it was a commitment.  But it was not a commitment of this world when Jesus said "do not let your hearts be troubled, or afraid."  It was a promise of so much more than worldly peace. 

When we extend the sign of peace are we making a commitment or is it just a word, a gesture that is part of the action of mass?  Every action, movement, or purpose of the Liturgy has a sacramental meaning.  From when we kneel, to when we stand, the response, the candles, the altar, everything means something.  Everything in the liturgy is the shalom, the sign of peace, the commitment to each other and to God.  

Let us go back to the War Veterans home.  We have the mass with several residents, their friends, and family.  Our former POW friend is again a prisoner.  This time a prisoner in his own body, unable to move, confined to a gurney.  Instead of the torture of the guards, we bring him the sign of peace, the recognition of him as a person, and the acknowledgement that he is still a man.  Our small mass is peace/shalom to him and every other resident there if they attend or not.  

The sign of peace is not just a sign of peace to the person next to us.  It is a sign of fulfillment of God's promise.  It is the message of the good news that we are to bring to the world.  Our peace is a sign of commitment to ourselves, our neighbors, our community, and the world.  A commitment that we make with that handshake, that smile, and eye contact.  In these little things that we share with each other we then bring this peace to to the world.

Pope Francis recently stated that not everyone is called to a clerical life and not all are called to do the work of Christ  in the church building.  Laypeople are ministers to the world by our baptism.  This is how each of us is called to do the work of Christ in our families, our workplace, our community, and the world.  Sharing the peace of Christ is done by visiting the nursing home, visiting the hospital, praying for those who need our prayers, and reaching out to those in need.  We imitate Christ in our daily walk, sharing the peace/shalom with those we meet in lives.   

To wish another peace/shalom is a commitment.  A promise to do all we can to let those around us live in the fulfillment and prosperity of peace. Let the peace we share today be a commitment to those around us.   

Happy Independence Day!!

What Sort of Man is This? (Mt. 8:23-27)

Jesus asked his disciples "Why are you afraid, you of little faith?" He got up and rebuked the wind and the sea.  They were amazed saying "What sort of man is this that even the wind and the seas obey him?"

Coptic Priest, Fr. Zakaria Botros is a man not of little faith.  He knows who calms the wind and the sea.  Fr. Botros is in the middle of the storm.  He is a priest in a part of the world dominated by conflicts.  It is said that his minsitry and writing has resulted in a $60 million bounty on his head.  Yet, Fr. Zakaria Botros continues to write, continues to make television, and continues to evangelize..  He continues to convert non christians to Christianity.  One newspaper in the region called him, ". . . public enemy number 1."

Fr. Botros, who is from Egypt, weathers the storm of his ministry.  His ministry is to open the truth to all.  His evangelization opens exposes the truth with commentary on other beliefs.  It is often found offensive by his opponents.  They denounce his ministry as treason against their faith and the government.  Those opposed to Fr. Botros have asked that his citizenship be renounced and that he be exiled.  Despite the constant storm of death threats and civil actions, the 79 year old priest is not afraid.

The storms faced in life are made from our fears.  Even the disciples faced this storm, they were afraid!   Fr. Botros' storm comes from those he challenges with his ministry.  He faces a great storm, but he is not afraid and continues his journey.  Hopefully, we live in a country where we are not threaten by a storm of the magnitude of Fr. Botros.

Maybe, we are afraid for some other reason.  In the world today, we are most afraid of the loss of our comfort.  For this reason, many of the storms we face as Christians are within ourselves.  The storms are made in fear of what others will think or say, fear of ridicule, or fear of the unknown that can arise from illness or some other loss.  Like the disciples, we become afraid.  The answer, is the same one the disciples had.  The truth to calming the storm is to turn Jesus Christ.  His voice calms the wind and the waves.  When we hear Christ, it calms the storms in our lives.

The people Fr. Zakaria Botros challenges ask,"What sort of man is this" This is asked about both Jesus Christ and Fr. Botros.

"What sort of man is this?"  Fr. Botros answers this question about himself and Christ with his beliefs.  In evangelization, he answers with, "But Jesus Christ, son of Mary is the messenger of God, and His Word, and the Sprit of Him, that He gave to Mary."  He shows in this statement the Trinity - God the Father, God the Son (Word), and God the Holy Spirit.

This is where the storm arises.  A storm of fear from this simple message of his ministry.  It is not Fr. Botros words and is not from the Bible.  This is a passage from Islam's holy book, the Koran.  ("God is One in the Holy Trinity" by Fr. Zakarias Botros; www.fatherzakaria.com)    Fr. Botros only shares the truth that is available for all.

Building Houses - Which Little Pig are You (Mt 7:21-29)

Everyone has heard the story of the three little pigs.  Each one built a house but every house was different.  One built a house of straw, but it did not last through the big bad wolf's assault.  One built a house of sticks.  But again, it did not last through the huffing and puffing of the wolf.  

The third little pig was a smart and hard working little pig that built a house of brick.  It took him longer and was hard work but it was strong house.  This little pig was a hearer and a doer.  The little pig was smart so he looked around and got the message.  He was not afraid to do what was necessary to act on the message. This built a house that was strong.

The story of the three little pigs comes from Jesus' parable of the wise man who built his house on rock,.  The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on the house but it stood firm because it had been founded on a rock.  A foolish man built his house on a foundation of sand, and when the same trials came, the house fell.

How many children know the story of the three pigs?  Almost all of them, they know you have to build your house of brick to keep the big bad wolf away.  If they are brought up in the Church, they hear Jesus' parable of building your house on rock not on sand.  It is a strong allegory that even as a young boy, I put together.

As we grow up we tend to forget this stories.  We take the easy worldly way and build our houses of straw and sticks.  It is, of course, a lot easier to build on a foundation of sand.  When trouble comes and beats against our houses of straw and sticks built on sand - "Our fall is great."

These houses of straw and stick are our lives, our relationships with our families and friends, and even our faith.  Jesus tells us not to deceive ourselves.  Not everyone who builds a house to the Lord will have a strong house.  Like the two foolish little pigs, our weakness allows everything to fall down around us.  To be strong, we are to hear Jesus' words and act on them to build a strong house on a strong foundation. 

The greatness that is in us through Jesus Christ our Savior is the ability to change.  We can always leave our houses of straw and stick and build a stronger house.  My favorite ending to the story of the three little pigs is that they all end of in the house of brick - singing and dancing.  (I think they may have been Pentecostals)  

I know that I used to live in a house of straw and I fell.  Then I thought I had made my self stronger; but, it was only a house of sticks and again I fell.  My most gracious Lord has allowed me to build a stronger house on a foundation of rock hewed from all I have experienced in my life.  Now, I sing and dance with the joy that is in Him.

Fear Not, For I am Your Shield (Gn 15:1)

I received an email forwarded to me by a friend.  The email was from a young woman who was seeking help for her friend.  In her email, she asked, "What would Jesus do?"  It was not her friend's fault that she was born with bad parents. (my phrasing)  It was not her child's fault that he was born into almost poverty.  The young lady who wrote the email went on to say, you know how I feel about religion and stuff, but ignoring this girl, who is crying out for help, is not a Christian thing to do.

First, I don't know how she feels about "religion and stuff"; but, I also think, she does not know.  

Second, as a father, a grandfather, and a soon to be deacon, my heart aches for the young woman and her child.  I immediately went to work to try to find some help for the young lady.  I know of several ministries in this area that work with young unwed mothers.  All but one of the agencies, I provided was a non-profit that was run or started by a religious organization.  The one that was not was a State funded agency that identified the other organizations as sources of help.

I wonder how this young woman seeking help felt about "religion and stuff?"  In our small city, there are ministries that are there to help in some little way.  It never matters how those who need help feel about religion.

The atheist Madeline Murray O'Hair said that "Atheist believe that hospitals should be built instead of Churches"  How many hospitals have been built by atheist and how many built by the Church?  It is the same for organizations offering help and support for those in need.  It is easy to speak of magnanimous acts.  In reality, it is the indifference manifest by lack of action that reveals true intentions.  Christians realize that indifference is true sin.

God told Abram, "Fear not for I am your shield. . ."  It is a truth even today.  To the ancient world, the shield was important not only for protection but also for rescue.  In battle, the shield was used to stand behind for protection against attack.  The shield was also an implement of rescue.  When a person was not able to continue, the shield was used to carry them to safety.

Maybe I do know how this young person feels about "religion and stuff"; but, maybe she doesn't know.  In a time of need, she fell behind the shield that God provided.   She asked the shield to carry the wounded.  How she feels about "religion and stuff" is shown by her  caring.  She did not show the indifference of those who truly do not believe.  Her shield was built in the Church, she only needs to hold tightly to it.

Who Do You Say That I Am

A person can go through their entire life and never know how to answer the question "Who am I?"  But it is always easier for us to look at others and see who they are.  Maybe it is not who they think they are but the reality of who they are in the world.  Look at others and who do you see.  You see your neighbors. You see your friends. You see your family.  You see the good and kind.  You see the those who are maybe not so good and kind.  Is the person you see the "Who am I" they want to be?

Each of us can define "Who am I?" by answering the question that Jesus asks "Who do you say that I am?"

We can see how people answer this question.  The answer is seen in those who have given themselves totally to Christ.  It is answered in those who have started a family and in that family is Christ.  In others, it is seen as single adults, living their faith, loving their life, and happy following the path that our great God has places before them.

Many search for answers. They may not know the love that is Christ.  Many have embraced the world instead of Christ. They are looking for the answer to the question "Who am I? without realizing the question of Christ "Who do you say that I am?"

If we stop to think, everyone answers both questions.  The answer comes from the freedom that God gives us.  Some find the answers early in life.  People ask "Who am I?" continually and answer it in every choice they make.  Some souls think they have found the true answer to realize that they have found nothing but despair and loneliness apart from the love of Christ.  "Who am I?"  is a question that is imprinted on our heart.  Every time we answer yes or no to what God asks of us, we answer the question "Who am I?"

Apostles and disciples, saints and future saints, the sinner, you and me answer yes or no to what God asks of us.  So when we stand  before our ultimate judge, I think our judgement will be for us to ask of Christ, "Who do you say that I am?"  At that time, we will know the answer of "Who am I?"  But in that answer, we will answer the question that Christ asks "Who do you say that I am?"   

We answer both questions every moment of every day of our lives.

A Lesson in Humility

2 Corinthians 12:7-10

This week, I worked with my company's management team making visits to some of our brokers and customers.  It was a very good week on the most part, except one of my friends had to leave due to a death in his family which left me as a driver for several in the group.

During our visits, I received several compliments from brokers and some very important customers on my abilities and work ethics.  After our last customer visit, we said our farewells and my boss told me that I had done a good job and he was proud to have me as part of his team.  He asked that I share the secrets of my success with my peers.

I got in the car with the people I was driving,  My ego and my head swelling with pride.  I promptly backed into my customer's mailbox.  I did not damage the mailbox, but I had to go in and tell them and then I had to call my boss who had just praised me.

St. Paul says in his second letter to the Corinthians, "So that I would not become conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh . . . to keep me from getting proud.  The Lord told Paul, "My grace is enough for you, for in weakness power reaches perfection.""  

I thank my creator with my prayers for the grace that bestows on me so many blessings.  A happy and healthy family, good friends, and the ability through God's gifts to work with people.  I do have thorns in my flesh that keep me humble. 

God's grace has allowed me to have a good job and good people to work with; but sometimes we think that our success is all us.  We are tempted by our humanity with pride that leads to conceitedness and boasting, a thorn in our flesh.  But, this week shows how God can humble the proud in such a simple way when they forget the source of their gifts.

I was telling this to a friend of mine and I loved his comment.  "Humble pie taste great when you know where it comes from."

Fathers are Fixers

Luke 7:36-50

[I heard Pastor Bill Dye, (N. Monroe Baptist) speak about fathers as fixers on a radio broadcast as I left mass this morning.  I loved this idea so here is my reflection and perspective.]

Fathers are fixers.  It doesn't matter if you're born into the role of a dad, adopted or married into it, or are a mentor to some one, if you are looked at as a dad, then for someone you are a fixer.  

Now, some dads are natural born fixers, others have to learn to be fixers, and some never quite get it right, but try so hard.  The most important thing about being a fixer is seeing the good in what you are trying to fix.

This is Jesus.  Jesus' love sees the good no matter how broken we are.  Jesus the fixer,  asks the Pharisee the question about a creditor who forgives the debt of one who owes a small amount and one who owes a large amount.  Which one would be more grateful?  The Pharisee's answer was the one with the larger debt.

Jesus asked the question to fix the Pharisee's bigotry.  But the question was asked from the point of view of someone needing to be fixed.  Maybe we missed the point, both of the debtors were fixed.

God our Father is the fixer.  He made us and He fixes us when we are broken.  God forgives us no matter how bad we are broken.  If we are broken in a small way or shattered completely our Heavenly Father, through grace, offers through forgiveness, a way of fixing our broken lives.  

This Fathers Day, a friend of mine posted on Facebook the words of his dad.  "Love is the willingness to sacrifice anything for the happiness of someone else."  This is the sacrifice of our Heavenly Father.  God became man.  As Jesus, He taught us what love is and then gave his life for the forgiveness of our sins.  All of this was done in order to fix us.

Sometimes we must go to our dads.  Many with only a small thing that dad needs to fix.  Others will come to dad on their knees and crying with so much that needs to be fixed.  In the loves that our dad have, they forgive us and try to fix the problem.  Some are naturals, others have had to learn, and others though they try with the greatest love, just cannot quite fix it.

We all have a Father we can go to.  A Father we can turn to when we need fixing.  A Father we should approach on our knees.  Ask for the His love to truly make us.  The love that makes us the best fathers, the best mothers, the best children, and the best family.   It is also the love that also makes us the best friend, the best neighbor, and the best helper to all who need.  

As earthly fathers, dads are fixers, but we do not un-break.  Only our Father in Heaven can un-break.  Through Jesus, He knows our need of fixing.  It was through Jesus, He offered a way for us to pick up our pieces.  Through His sacrifice we are forgiven.  In God's forgiveness, we are made unbroken.

Remain in My Love

Jn 15:9-11

I think everyone has a poetic heart. Some express it in music, some in song, some in the beauty of their lives. Some of us always strive to find that poetic heart. I cannot sing, I cannot play music. All that I can really do is talk. Sometimes I am lucky because what I am thinking, what I am saying, or writing actually are the same thing and make sense.I hope my words do today. This is my prayer. Not a prayer as we think of it; but, God wants our prayers and worship offered through our gifts.

Remain in My Love
Remember that his love means - we will never be alone, if
everything we have done or will do is in unselfishness,
meant to follow the greatest commandment.
Always love the Father, through the perfect love that
includes the poor, the forgotten, the suffering and not with pity. 
No with the truth of love found in dignity.

If loneliness is the absence of love, then
no one who knows truth is lonely.

Mystical searchers seek to know the answer to that interior
yearning for closeness to what they do not know; a
love that is joy.  A love in the
oneness that is the divine, three
voices, love in unison,
even to the ultimate love of his sacrifice.

Retelling the Emperor's New Clothes: The Story of the Rich Young Man

A rich young man came to Jesus and asked what he had to do to become a disciple of Jesus. The young man had followed all the commandments since his youth. He had kept the law and had become very rich and successful in worldly things.

Hans Christian Anderson told a story most of us has heard as a child and the story reminds me of this young man. It is the story of the Emperor's New Clothes.

The Emperor was very vain. He loved himself and loved his possessions especially his clothes. One day a thief came and told the Emperor that he could weave the finest and most elegant cloth in the world. Only the finest people with the most refined taste could appreciate the fabric. The clothes made from this cloth was the most beautiful in the world. The most sophisticated and elegant of people were the only ones who could really appreciate the clothes he made.

The thief came and on the royal looms wove the cloth and made the clothes. Then he fitted the Emperor; but, the Emperor did not see any clothes. If you know the story, you know the Emperor did not want to be thought foolish or unsophisticated or unrefined and said the clothes were beautiful. His court not wanting the be thought that they were not elegant, sophisticated or wise said the same, except the Emperor was still naked.The Emperor held a parade to show off his new clothes. Everyone saw him naked but did not want to be thought lacking elegance, sophistication, or wisdom praised the beautiful clothes. One small child saw the Emperor was naked and said "He is wearing nothing." It opened everyone to the truth that the Emperor was naked.

Looking at the story of the young man, the same things can be seen. At a young age this man is a leader in the community. He has wealth, he has influence, and he has wisdom. The young man follows the law to the letter. The young man may also be a little vain.Jesus comes to the community.  A rabbi that is teaching something new.  Jesus is performing miracles and people are saying that he is the messiah. This is a great opportunity for the young man.  The story does not say that he comes boasting of wealth or power or influence or wisdom.  It says that he has kept the law.
The young man approaches Jesus.  He is wearing his best piousness.   I am a follower of the law.  I have kept them all.  I would like to know your teachings and add them to my collection.

"Jesus loved him." Jesus told him to give all his possession to the poor.

His face fell and he went away sad. To the young man, all he had done in his life by following the law was like he was wearing nothing at all.   All his wisdom, influence, and wealth meant nothing and had not value.  All the fine robes he had made for himself by following the law were like he was wearing nothing at all.

To follow Jesus the young man would have to dress himself like Jesus.  It would have to take off the fine robes he had made for himself.  He would have to make himself naked to what he knew and come to Jesus.
The young man was like the Emperor in the story.   He wanted the finest, he wanted to be known as the most elegant and wise.   The young man saw in Jesus the finest of clothes. But, in truth he wanted to put on a fine robe so all could see how great he was, but, Jesus told him to give that all away. The rich young man was like the Emperor too vain to see that in truth to what was really important he was actually naked.
So many people today want to believe in things that are not there.  The robes that they have made are far finer than the robes that Jesus asks us to wear.  People deny the robes of religion because they drape themselves in the spiritual. It is the modern attitude of an emperor.  It is the attitude of the young man who would not give up himself to know the truth. Yes, you can be spiritual without a religious faith, but for many in this spiritual robe they are just naked, too vain to see the truth.

Share Your Gifts - Memorial Day Remembrance

My great-aunt Lizzie was my grandmother's sister and was married to my grand-father's brother. They had four children; but, it was said that my great-uncle was a mean and violent man. To protect Lizzie and her children the men of the community came together and advised the husband that it was best for him to leave the family and the community.

This small community built around a Catholic Church and cemetery in the hills of west central Louisiana was a people of Native American and French descent. It was a community with a very devout Catholic faith that was closed and tight knit. Most of the people who lived in the community were related. Family helped the family. Being poor and rural, everyone had a garden and chickens, maybe pigs, and a milk cow. Those who fished and hunted helped as well. But still in the 1940s, it was hard for a single woman with four children. Many of the young men had left for WWII. Rationing of most staples such as sugar, flour and coffee was in place. The community was between three military bases and the hills and forest in the area were used for military training.

One rainy night before Christmas, after everyone had gone to bed, there was a knock on the door of Aunt Lizzie's house. Standing at the door were three young soldiers in soaking wet uniforms. They were polite and said that in the dark and the rain they had become lost. They asked if they could sleep in the corn crib or on the porch to get out of the rain. My great aunt said the porch would be fine.

The rain continued and she thought of the young men on the porch, some other mother's sons and asked them to come in and warm themselves by the fire. One of the young men, asked if she had maybe a small biscuit to eat. The only thing in the house was a chicken that was for the holidays. Aunt Lizzie pulled it down and using her rationed flour and rationed coffee prepared a meal for the young soldiers. The next day the weather cleared, they were given directions and set off for the base.

The Bible tells us that those of "earth speak of earthly things," and "the one God sent does not ration his gift of the Spirit." The earthly gifts of the Spirit that each of us can share is love and compassion. We are not to ration these gifts but to give and share them freely.


Members of my family died in the military. They shared their gifts by protecting those at home. Remember in your prayers those who who shared the gifts of their life protecting us in their military service.

An Introduction

My name is Bill.  I am on a journey to become a deacon in the Roman Catholic Church.  It is a continual discernment and test that allows me to grow.  I ask everyone who reads this to forgive my typing and writing ability.  I am trying to grow in these skills as well.

As I go down this path to the diaconate there are so many discoveries I make and people I meet.  One of my cohort group's mentor/instructor told us that as we mature in our knowledge we will question everything we knew before we entered the program.  Our faith will be tested but true faith will grow stronger.

We all continue to grow in our relation to the divine.  I hope that anyone who finds this blog and reads my meager attempts will be able to grow in their relationship with God.  Words mean so much and they shape who we are and what society becomes.  Hans-George Gademer states that "The meaning of the word cannot be detached from the event of proclamation."  I hope all my words are inspired by the Holy Spirit to proclaim the divine relationship of God's love found in the gospel of Jesus Christ.