Well Done My Faithful Servant: Remembering My Father

My father was a Southern Baptist Minister.  September is the anniversary of his death.  His death pushed me away from God for a while.  Not because I did not believe, but because I was scared.

His death was a slow suffering death.  At the age of 12, he began smoking.  He contracted TB and developed serious lung issues in the military immediately after WWII in Japan.   As long as I can remember, he had problems breathing. 

In the last couple of years of his life, his brain became tortured from lack of oxygen.  A calm, gentle man with a great intelligence outwardly became hurting, angry, and frustrated.  At one point before his death, connected to a ventilator, he could not talk so he suffered even more.

I remember him lying there and dying.  The ventilator breathing for him in a constant rhythm: woosh-click, woosh-click, woosh-click.  It was the hardest thing to go there and visit my father, the man I loved so much.  I did not want to see him small, fragile, and struggling to live.  Suffering and dying at 55 years old, I did not want to remember him that way.  So, I ran and hid from it.

I only wanted to remember his good times.  I wanted to remember his largeness, his laugh, his smile, his hugs.   I wanted to remember his life for God, the love and kindness showed to everyone.  I wanted to remember the lives he touched.  Changing rough, grumpy, callous people with his presence.  Always ready with a prayer.  Preaching in the pulpit, sharing Christ's message, not for money but for love.

He told me that each and every person has their own relationship with God.    Some have a deep relationship and some only a casual acquaintance.  The God a person's life could be the God of the Bible or maybe a god they thought was God.  A god fashioned to fit their lives.   His ministry was to guide them to a relationship with God through Jesus Christ.  He was only part of a person's journey to a relationship with Christ.  A relationship found in themselves.

Twenty years later, I lay in a hospital bed, with a ventilator breathing for me.  Woosh-click, Woosh-click, Woosh-click.   I was alone and quite with God.  The first time I had been alone with God for some time.   I remembered my father's funeral.  The sermon came from Matthew, the parable of the "good and faithful servant."   As the minister closed the funeral, he said God was welcoming this man with "Well done my good and faithful servant."  

I looked at the crucifix on the wall, Christ suffering for the sins of humanity.  There in the hospital bed, my father's message continued twenty years after his death.  Mr father had been only part of my journey with God.   In the example of my father's life of faith and suffering death, God spoke to me in the woosh-click of the ventilator.  

Forgotten over the years was the understanding offered by my father.  I had taken what God had given me and made it into what I needed it to be.  My father's gift of faith and example had been buried.  I had done this because I was scared like the foolish servant who buried what the master had given him.  

Christ's parable tells us to take the gifts and talent God gives us and build his kingdom.   The greatest thing God gives us is the simple example of our lives.

  

It's All in Forgiveness

This semester in the Diaconate training program, we are beginning our second class in homiletics -  Preaching.   The focus of this semester will be reflections for special occasions:  holidays, funerals, weddings, and holy days of obligations.  Our first assignment is a homily for Holy Thursday.  

I did not want to reflect on the obvious.  I am sure that there will be several reflections on the last supper or the washing of feet.  I wanted to look at what the readings more deeply had in common.  So I wrote my reflection.  I have changed it. I tweaked it. I ran it over and over in my head.  I knew I had the perfect reflection.

That last paragraph had a lot of  "I"s in it.  However, what I think and what God wants are usually two separate things.   

What God wants me to do I usually do reluctanly.  I don't want to exercise, but God makes me fight my weight.  But my walk/jogs gives me quite times to be with God and my thoughts.   Reluctantly exercising not because I don't want to be alone with God: but, because I can always find and excuse to not exercise.  Again a lot more "I"s.

Last night, as I went around and around on the track at the high school, my homily ran around and around in my head.  Suddenly, the Holy Spirit placed in my heart that what I was saying was not enough.

The true message is forgiveness.  This is what makes our Christian faith different from every other faith.   God's grace found in the love and forgiveness that Jesus brings.  It is the truth of the Eucharist and in the washing of feet.  It is the truth that sums up the entirety of Jesus' public life, the message of His ministry, and the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus Christ's passion.  Through God's grace and our faith, we find forgiveness.

"I" thought "I" had crafted a great homily; but, it was based in pride: all those "I"s.  Christ's true message comes from opening your heart to the inflowing of the Holy Spirit, and as John the Baptist said - "I decrease so that He may increase."  Unless "I" do this, "I" will never truly be able to bring the Lord's message, but only bring my message.  When I truly realize my selfishness and ask, my pride is forgiven.

Strength Lies in the Small Things

To a young lady, who leaves today to begin her journey with the Salesian Sisters of John Bosco.

If your want a message of love to be heard, it has to be sent out.  A message sent loudly in small faithful things.  It is in these small things where strength lies.   It is in the love and charity seen in your eyes.  Sharing with others until it hurts and hurt is no more.  It is in speaking words in the love of Christ to rid the darkness in others lives.  It is in the small faithful things were strength lies.   

Arranged from the words of Mother Teresa

Unity is Sharing Our Diversity (Jgs 2:11-19; Mt 19:16-22; CCC 813-820)

The Trinity is exemplar of unity. (CCC 813)   The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit separate distinct persons, yet one.  This is the basis of the faith of the Church.  But, throughout all times, unity has been disparaged.  

In the early history of Israel, the unity of the nation was God.  However, the people often fell away from God to worship the gods of nearby nations. (Jgs 2:11-19)  The unity of their faith, community, and nation was compromised and the Israelites suffered.

When the young man comes to Jesus and asks what he must do to have eternal life, he was told to "keep the commandments."  The young man feels he is still lacking.  Jesus gives him a lesson in unity.   "Sell what you have and give to the poor," be one with those who need.   The young man was sad because he had many possessions.  In this remorse he showed his failures.  The young man "went away sad, for he had many possessions."  The young man's selfish diversity kept him from unity.  (Mt 19:16-22)

The Church exists in diversity.  (CCC 814)  This sounds contradictory to a statement of unity.  However, this is the mystery that is the Triune God.  We find diversity in the distinct persons of the Trinity.  The Church is a celebration of the diversity of God's gifts and the diversity of those who receive them.  The the richness of diversity is the strength that is the unity of the Church.  Diversity shared in charity. 

Christ gave the Church unity from the beginning.  But like so many, through time people fell away from unity, forgetting charity called for in our diversity.  In the historical schisms in the church, people fell away because of their possessions.  Both sides were at fault in this wrong against unity. (CCC 817)

It is not wrong to be born in non-Catholic denominations. (CCC 818)  Wrong is straying from God for selfish reasons.  Wrong is not to recognizing the diversity of  Christ's church.  It is wrong as Christian not to seek unity.  As Jesus did, we must pray for the unity of Christ's Church. (CCC 820)

You're Not Ugly, You're Just Fat (Jn 21: 1-14)

One of my favorite ministries is working with the St. Vincent de Paul weekend meals for the elderly.  Seeing these people who have lived so long,  happy at the opportunity for a short visit. Sharing brief smiles and words between the visitors is a gift for everyone.  

Usually I do this with my wife and my daughters.  As my daughters have grown up it was a family ministry.  Now, my daughter are grown women.  Our ministry is becoming more often, just my wife and I.  One  Saturday, my daughter was out of town.  My wife and I were delivering meals, when my daughter called just as we pulled up to Ms. Sadie's house.  While my wife chatted with my daughter, I took the meal and knocked on Ms. Sadie's door.  Ms. Sadie was delighted to see me.  She enjoyed the people who visited her with the meals.  One set of visitors she really enjoyed was a young man and his two young sons.  She loved to visit with those two beautiful young boys.

I told Ms. Sadie that God had given me many gifts and good looks was not high on the list.  Usually my daughter and wife knock on the door to delivered the meals.  As big and ugly as I am, I do not want to scare any of the elderly people who lived alone.  Ms. Sadie look at me and summed it all up, "Honey, you're not ugly, you're just fat."  

Sometimes God speaks to you in places and ways you may never recognize.  In this passage from the Gospel of John, a man call's from the shore. "Children have you caught anything to eat."  The apostles then recognized that it was the risen Christ.

Christ was not asking about their physical nourishment or how many fish they had caught.  Christ was not asking them to make sure he had enough fish on the fire for breakfast.  It was a hidden question the apostles should have recognized.  

After Jesus encountered the Samaritan woman at the well, his disciples are telling him to "eat something."  Jesus said to them "My food is to do the will of the him who sent me and to complete his work."(Jn 4:34)  So Christ's hidden question was,  "Are you carrying on my work?  Are you fishing for men, are you casting your nets for the Kingdom? Is your food doing my will?"

It was all about their ministry.  Peter and the apostles are to b spreading the Gospel to the world.   Christ already has a few fish; but they are to cast the nets of their ministry and  bring them to me.

I thought about Ms Sadie during the reflection on this passage.  Maybe it was Christ speaking to me.  The apostles were happy to be humiliated for preaching the Gospel, maybe I need to be as well.  I'm not ugly in God's eyes and I have the right intention; but, maybe what nourishes me is not the will of the one who sent me.   

We should all look at our lives and ask, "Are we still beautiful?  or Have we gotten fat?"   It is not that we have become physically ugly but have become spiritually fat.   How we look to Christ is not our outward beauty.  We are beautiful in God's work.  We do not get fat if we do Christ's work in the world.  We exercise our spiritual selves in our church life, in our ministries, and in our prayers.

You never know when Christ will speak to you, maybe through the words of an 85 year old woman.

Freedom of Conscience

The Feast of the Assumption celebrates Mary's assumption to heaven.  But it also a feast that is a celebration of freedom.  It is celebrating Mary's freedom, humankind's freedom, your freedom, and my freedom.  A celebration of freedom's choices and the freedom that allows us to obtain the same reward.   

Mary's freedom was her ability to say "yes" to God.  Humanity's freedom is in the reason and will that allows growth and maturity in truth.  Our freedom is perfected in our ability to direct it towards God in a "yes" to the divine will. 

Freedom, however,  is hampered by our own fallibility.  The fallibility of sin and refusal of God's plan of love that results in an unjust exercise of our freedom.  Freedom has given humanity a history of oppression and wretchedness from our denial God, forgiveness, and salvation.  Here we find humanity's fallible exercise of freedom that denies the just freedom of others.

One of the most basic attributes of our freedom is the development of a conscience.  The root of the word is from Latin "to know". This conscience is how we make the decisions of our freedom.  Your conscience is the process by which you make the choice between good and evil, right and wrong, moral and immoral choices.  With a just freedom your conscience is going to point to the good, the right, or the moral choice. 

So when a person says they have made a conscious choice it does not mean that it is a choice of conscience.  Conscious means awareness.   If it is a choice that is against the teaching of the moral truths, then it is a conscious choice made without or against conscience.  It is an anti-conscience choice.   It is a denial of what is good, right, and moral.  A choice saying "no" to God.

Mary was given a choice.  It was a choice made in freedom.  A  choice of conscience to say "yes" to  God.  A choice that celebrated her freedom.  It was a choice that has magnified the freedom of others in self dignity and love.  If she had made a choice of conscious based on self, it would been an act of her freedom, but contrary to a just exercise of freedom that God seeks. 

Mary's assumption resulted from Mary's freedom.  She continually said "yes" to God even to the foot of the cross.  The assumption of Mary into heaven is a promise to all of us of what is possible by saying "yes" to God.  A true celebration of freedom is the conscience decision in our conscious choice answers "yes" to God. 

Let's Go Fishing (Dt. 10:12-22; Mt. 17:22-27)

In the gospel reading, Jesus foretells of his death and resurrection.  Then the reading follows with a fish story.  Being charged a temple tax, Jesus tells Simon to cast a hook into the sea and take the first fish.  In it, he will find a gold coin worth twice the amount of taxes, "pay it for both you and me."

Why is this paired with the foretelling of Jesus upcoming death? Some say that it is two separate stories.  Paying the taxes could be about doing what is right and not rocking the boat until it is Jesus's time.   

I am not a great theologian, I only see what I see in stories.  I may not be correct and sometimes the stories can be read in many ways.   This is what I see in the relationship between the gospel and the paired old testament reading.

What God does in the smallest ways has so much rewards.  God took the 70 that came to Egypt as the sons of Israel and made them the nation of Isreal, as numerous as the stars in the sky.  Just like catching a fish would seem a meager attempt to pay the temple tax, it more than sufficed for the debt owed.   Jesus' sacrifice, "The Son of Man"  paid for the sins of the world.   It paid not only for the sins of Israel, but for the sins of the whole world.  This payment by the "Son of Man" was done so that as "Sons of the King" we would be free.

Looking at these examples, what can the God do with the little bit that each of us can offer?  It is not us with our small talents that does great deeds.   God makes our small talents great and bountiful for His needs.

Offer what you have to God in prayer.  Offer what you have to God in all you do.  Offer your self totally to God.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             

Consubstantial (Mt 13:54-58)

In our creed, Jesus is announced consubstantial with the Father.  What a great word that means "of the same substance" or simply "made of the same stuff."   

The creed does not say consubstantial with man but Jesus is.  He was born of the Virgin Mary.  Most Christians seem to want to forget this.  They want Mary out of the picture.  They forget Jesus's human side.

Catholics do not forget that Jesus was a man.  God's Word that experienced Humanity.  He lived.  He suffered.  He died.  In other churches you see an empty cross.   In the Catholic Church you see the crucifix which has suffering tortured man, Jesus.  

The Catholic tradition remembers Jesus'  life and ministry.  It is contemplated in the rosary.  His human suffering is remembered in the stations of the cross.  His birth is celebrated in the Christmas celebration.  His agony, torture, and suffering experienced in the Easter Tridium.  We do not forget that Jesus was consubstantial with us.

This human man Jesus is what the people knew in Nazareth.  They did not see a prophet.   People were astounded at Jesus' expertise and authority in the synagogue, but, could not except it.  Jesus was the carpenter's son.  A man with callouses, he knew wood.  People did not have to ask "whose your momma."   He was just a local boy, from a poor family.  The locals were offended by his authority, ability, and deeds of power.  

Jesus was consubstantial with us.  Through this shared humanity,  Christ gave his authority to his apostles.  Authority which has been passed down through his Church.  

Maybe we have become like the people of Nazareth.  We are not seeing the substance of the Christ in the Church.  We only see the human side with all its shortcomings.  Too many have forgotten the consubstantial Christ.  One with the Father, Christ said "this is my body".    Too many live in a world view of spirituality, religion, and faith; seeing the  faith the world not the divine.   

Consubstantial with the Father is the source of our faith in Jesus Christ.  Consubstantial with man is the event of our redemption and the act of our salvation.  It is important that we remember both and we remember that it is found in the Church.

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."