My Dear Theophilus - Reflection Ascension Sunday/7th Sunday of Easter

Readings: Ascension & 7^th Sunday of Easter

My Dear Theophilus: There are those who say to we live in a post-Christian world and brag the God we love and know in this world is dead. They seemed to be a little confused. He was dead for three days; but, he rose again.

That’s a big shock; for the world, it’s unbelievable. Just like it was that day on Mt. Olivet, “They saw him, they worshiped, but they doubted.”

That is what’s wrong in the world, even with many who call themselves Christians. They see Christ in the world all around; they simply refused to accept it! They refuse to give glory to God. Doubt and unbelief robs them of joy.

What is it they are to believe? Maybe, it’s in the power of God’s love in the calamity of this world.

Maybe, its Jesus words, Father, they believe the words you gave to me and that I have given to them. They accepted them and understand I came from you, and they have believed you sent me.

It’s a shame to live in a world where Christ is not the loudest message and is often unheard. Instead all hear the message that God is dead. Sometimes, those calling themselves Christians are not sharing Christ’s love. Non-believers see hidden behind a label of Christian an ideology of bigotry, hate, and fear mongering detrimental to freedom and scientific thought. It’s too bad the world sees jaded ideology not true theology. It’s too bad the truth that is the freedom of God’s love is hidden by false truths.

My dear Theophilus, how do we get the truth to the world? How do we tell a post-Christian world the love of Christ?

He knew that for us to do this, He had to ascend into heaven. 

Jesus commanded us three things: Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.

Then Jesus promised, I am with you always, until the end of the age. And in another scripture, Jesus says, I do not pray for the world but for the ones you have given me…

Terrorism spreads across the world. Violence and death grows on the streets of our city. These portray a world that accepts God is dead as people are killed for hate.

Sadly believers die. By the witness of martyrdom, they bring the love of Christ to our community, our city, and our world. They tell the world God is not dead. Their lives are lived as witnesses to the ends of the earth.

My dear Theophilus, we live in a dangerous world, just like those who first believed. But hear the words of angels, "Why are you standing there looking at the sky?” Lover of God show that we believe.

Start in our neighborhoods. Go and make disciples, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son, and the Holy Spirit; and teach them to observe all Jesus commanded. There should be no doubt by our witness that Christ is alive. There will be no doubt by our teaching that Christ rose from the dead and will come again.

Live in the joyful presence of the Holy Spirit, pray for the world, that the eyes of hearts be enlightened, and all will know the hope that belongs to his call.

Y’all be good, y’all be holy and preach the Gospel by the way you live and love. Amen.

The Orphanage - Reflection 6th Sunday Easter

Readings

Charles Dickens wrote the classic Oliver Twist. If you’ve read the book or seen the movie, you know how the hungry young orphan, spoon in hand comes forward at the orphanage workhouse and asks, “Please sir can I have some more.”

Think about the disciples, Jesus is telling them he is going away. They have not had their fill. “Please give us some more.”

Jesus promises I will not leave you orphans.

If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate to be with you always, the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot accept, because it neither sees nor knows him. But you know him, because he remains with you, and will be in you.

People of the world say they believe in God; but, they don’t need religion. They proclaim that they have faith, but they don’t live it. They are spiritual but they don’t believe in the Holy Spirit.They do not know him.

We create our own orphanage by starving ourselves of true spiritual food, by forgetting God.

The Father does not forget us, His adopted children. Christ does not abandon us. We were sent the Advocate, the Holy Spirit. This is the truth of the Christian faith, One God, the Holy Trinity.

Jesus tells us that those of the world cannot accept this because they don’t see him and they don’t know him. For worldly reasons, we forget our heavenly Father. We abandon Christ. We don’t know the Holy Spirit. One reason is the worldly do not understand God.  

I met a Muslim person that told me Jesus couldn’t be the son of God, because God did not have relations with Mary. This is an anthropomorphic opinion of the creator of all things. It is not just Muslims that have this opinion.

Anthropomorphic means that we as humans give human characteristics to things that are not human. Why do we make God like us? God is not human. We cannot understand the mystery of God. It is only humanity that we think we understand. It is an easy reality for us. We see it. We touch it. It does not require faith.We try to understand God in the same way.

Because of the absence of faith and the lack of the Lord Jesus Christ in their hearts, the worldly ask those who believe for explanations. Why do you believe? How is it that you believe? Why do you have faith? Why do you do good things?

Believers celebrate the resurrection. The resurrection is the reason we believe. It was Jesus promise and He fulfilled that promise. So we trust his words and believe His promises. This is faith.

But worldly don’t believe what they can’t see. They put human limitations on Christ Jesus, the Holy Spirit, and God the Father. They forget God. The worldly know only the reality of human existence.

The worldly say they are spiritual, but they don’t know the Holy Spirit. If truly spiritual, they would know the one the world does not see. They would know the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is in the Christ. Christ is in the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is in the Father. The Father is in the Holy Spirit. Christ is in the Father. The Father is in Christ.

If the worldly were spiritual they would know the Church Christ left for us. If spiritual, they would know those sent by the Holy Spirit, proclaiming the Christ. They would know the Church of Peter, John, and Phillip guided by the Advocate, the Holy Spirit. Christ promised He would be with the Church always.  

The worldly do not want to accept these truths of God. Running away from God and the Church, the worldly make the world they live in an orphanage.

In the story of Oliver Twist, we learn that good will survive against the evil of the world. Jesus promised, I will not leave your orphans.

Y'all be good, y'all be holy, and preach the gospel by the way you live and love. Amen. 

Living Stones - Reflection 5th Sunday Easter

(Readings)

I knew God was calling me. I felt it in my heart; but, it was not me who said I should be a deacon. It was the members of my faith community who chose me, calling me to this ministry. Brothers, select from among you reputable men, filled with the Spirit and wisdom. I’m working on the wisdom.

I prostrated myself in front of the altar with 15 other men to give my life to God and his church. Family and friends were there with me. The voices in the Cathedral rose in the litany of the saints. The people sang - “Pray for us.” I knew I would not be in this journey alone.

We come to him, the living stone rejected by human beings but chosen and precious in the sight of God. The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone. He will build us like living stone into a spiritual house.

God is calling us - all different with human weakness and imperfect. In these faults, we are to be like Christ Jesus, living stone built up into a spiritual temple to praise God in all we do.

We do this by being obedient to the faith.

Like Jesus, as living stones we are to bring God’s good lovingkindness to the world. We do this by living the beatitudes. We bring God’s good lovingkindness in the corporal works of mercy: feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, shelter the homeless, visit the sick, visit prisoners, bury the dead, and give alms to the poor. This is good lovingkindness.

Like Jesus, as living stones we are to proclaim the kingdom of heaven. Jesus said as you come to a town: Heal the sick who are there and tell them, ‘The kingdom of God is near you.’ And another time, As you go, preach this message: 'The kingdom of heaven is near.'

Heaven is near us. The Kingdom of God is in what we do in the world today. We do this in faith by giving our lives to God, living every day in his presence, and living a holy life by the example Jesus gave us. I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

To be a living stone remember these words of Jesus "Do not let your hearts be troubled. You have faith in God; have faith also in me. Because I am in the Father and the Father is in me. People should see Christ in us in the world; living the gospel and sharing the love of Christ with all those we meet.

On that ordination day, I prostrated myself on the floor with living stones in Christ around me. Living stones were praying to build me up my spiritual temple. Living stones were singing to the saints and to Christ –“Pray for us.”

Each of you is a living stone, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people announcing the praises of the One who calls us out of darkness into His wonderful light. Living stones built on the foundation of the living stone the world rejected.

Living stones made by being a person of good lovingkindness, being holy and preaching the gospel by the way they live and love. Amen.

Follow Me - Homily Reflection 4th Sunday Easter

(Readings)

To live life is not a static thing, it’s dynamic. Being dynamic, we get off track. Let me give an example.

This week, there was a Tri-Council Leadership meeting with Our Lady of Fatima, St. Lawrence, and Christ the King. The president of the OLF council said, “Let’s go around the table and introduce ourselves and ministries.”

Then, he looked at me. I was sitting at the head of the table, I thought he wanted me to speak, so I jumped in and introduced myself.

But, that’s not what he wanted, he just looked at me.

I think back on it, I was like a young sheep, the gate was opened, I ran through it jumping and kicking in excitement, away from where I should be. But, our good pastor pulled me back in.

Picture all 6'3", 300+ pounds of me running, jumping, and kicking like a young sheep.

Don’t take this as an insult but you’re all sheep. Sometimes, sheep won’t make good choices. Sheep are stubborn. Sheep follow the crowd. Sheep become lost.

People are like sheep, I know that I am. Jesus, the Good Shepherd, has patience with all my sheep like faults. That’s why I need the Good Shepherd.

A shepherd calls to his sheep “follow me.” Jesus called his disciples with the same words: “follow me”

That’s what a good shepherd does. He leads. The flock follows. They follow with faith, totally trusting their safety to His care.

As for me, Jesus is my shepherd and I follow where my shepherd leads. My faith knows the Good Shepherd is totally on my side. My faith trusts where the Good Shepherd leads and knows that where He leads is good. He gives peacefulness inside me. He restores by soul. He guides me in right paths and gives me courage so that I fear no evil. The Lord is my shepherd.

He leads us to the waters of baptism.  Repent and be baptized, every one of you, receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Baptism and the Holy Spirit allow us to hear the shepherd’s voice as he calls his sheep. We will recognize his voice because we are his sheep.

He calls each by name. The shepherd recognizes us and we recognize him.  

We may still misunderstand His voice, ignore it, resist it, fight against it, and get lost in the stubbornness of sin. Yet, in moments of wholeness or in times of trouble, we hear His voice. It rises within us.

Jesus said, “I am the gate for the sheep.” No matter how many times we butt our stubborn heads against the gate, the gate does not go away. By its protection, we have the chance to learn and change. We come to Jesus.

The gate is there to protect us and the good shepherd to watch over us.

Jesus said, “I am the gate,” the gate that protected us by his own life. Jesus said, “I am the Good Shepherd,” the Good Shepherd that defended us by his own life.

For our sake, He gave his own life. The Father has made both Lord and Christ this Jesus whom you crucified. We had gone astray like sheep because of sin; but, we return to the Good Shepherd. By his wounds we are healed and made free from sin, to live for righteousness.

To live life is not a static thing, but dynamic. Because it is dynamic, we get off track. We go astray like sheep. Like young sheep when someone leaves the gate open, we want to jump and kick and have fun. We can be like sheep that think they see better grass on the horizon, go to it, and become lost.

Sheep need a good shepherd:

•  A shepherd with a strong constant voice;
•  A shepherd concerned with what’s best for his sheep; and
•  A shepherd that seeks out the lost.  

Each of us needs a good shepherd --The Lord is my shepherd.

It’s not an insult to be called sheep, when Jesus is our Good Shepherd. If I learn to recognize his voice and follow where he leads then goodness and mercy shall “follow me” all the days of my life.

My brothers and sisters, if you know Christ, it will be the same for you.

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

Cookie Walk, The Road to Emmaus - 3rd Sunday of Easter

(Readings)

Someone gave my daughter a cookie. She thanked the person for their kindness. But, she’s on a diet, watching what she eats, exercising, and really didn’t need a cookie.

With pure innocence the young cookie giver suggested this solution. “Then just walk while you’re eating the cookie!”

Walk while you’re eating a cookie and it goes away. It doesn’t.

Maybe that was the purpose of the walk to Emmaus: walk and talk the Jesus experience away.  He didn’t go away. Christ Jesus was resurrected and He will come again.

“We had hoped,” they said on the road to Emmaus. They had hoped but had lost hope. They did not understand what happened. So they walked to Emmaus trying to reason it out.

Life is a journey. It is not static but the continuously changing event of our existence, a walk on the road of life from birth to death. The greatest thing, we are joined by Christ Jesus on the journey. By the power and presence of the Holy Spirit, the resurrected living God walks with us.

He walks with us during good times, those times are easy for us to see. But even more, Jesus walks with us during our loss of hope and in times of lack of understanding. He is with us when we are weak in our faith; at times we doubt and find it hard to believe. Jesus is walking with us when we don’t recognize He is right there beside us. 

Because of their expectations of a Messiah, the two travelers on the road to Emmaus did not realize Jesus’ true purpose. “We had hoped,” He would have met our expectations.

Just like them, something is happening in our journey that we are not able to realize. What we expect of God is not what God has planned for this world and for us. So we doubt and find it hard to believe. But, Jesus is with us.

“We had hoped,” He would be who we wanted him to be. How foolish they are.

Even today, many study the Scriptures. They study Christ and his works. They talk to prove Him, to teach of Him, and to preach of Him, but they preach him the way they want Him to be. They walk away from Jerusalem and the cross. They don’t live a life of Jesus’ works or His words. They don’t know the true Christ that walks with them.

Scripture tells that God is known in the breaking of bread. “Their eyes were opened, and they knew Him when He broke the bread.” There will be surprises at the true table of Christ. The bread of life will change many.

Hope is in the breaking of the bread. We realize He is always with us. “We had hoped … our hearts would burn within us.“ Transforming our frustration; giving us a passion to share our hope, our belief, and our love. In the breaking of the bread we realize a passion to share Christ with the world.

Recognize that God is with us on our journey. With God with us, the feelings of loss and longing are hope. With God with us, the desire to believe is believing. In God’s presence, longing to love is love.  

The breaking of the bread is the best cookie we can receive.  

Y’all be good, y’all be holy, and preach the gospel by the way you live and love. Amen.

Have Mercy - Reflection Sunday of Divine Mercy

(Readings) & (Divine Mercy Chaplet)

In today’s gospel we read, “On the evening of that first day of the week, when the doors were locked, where the disciple were, for fear of the Jews.”

Maybe, the doors were locked for more than fear of the Jews.

We‘ve been there. We’ve believed in something and it does not come to be like we wanted. We're disappointed and sit back, close our hearts and sulk.

Jesus’ followers believed He was the messiah.They were disappointed because they didn’t know what that meant.

They were disappointed and doubted. They doubted they would be able to continue without their master. They lacked a leader. Their purpose was gone. They doubted they could stand up to non-believers. They doubted they could answer believers who had questions. They huddled behind a lock door and hid behind their doubt.

In the Chaplet of Divine Mercy we pray. “For the sake of His sorrowful Passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world.” Those behind that locked door were in need of God’s mercy. Just like you and I are in need of God’s mercy.

Jesus came and stood in their midst and said to them, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” He then breathed upon them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit.” And the source of life gushed forth for souls, and the ocean of mercy opened up for the whole world.

By the presence and the power of the Holy Spirit, they no longer doubted.

We forget everyone behind that locked door had some doubt; but we remember Thomas. We remember Thomas because he gave voice to the doubt. “Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands and put my finger into the nail marks and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.”

Thomas asked to see the wounds where the Blood and Water gushed forth from the Heart of Jesus as a fountain of Mercy for us.

When Jesus told Thomas to put his hands in the wound, Thomas cried out, “My Lord and my God!” Thomas prayed “Jesus, I trust in You!”

After this, Jesus said “Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.” 

Acts and Peter describe those who have not seen and believed. They have a strong faith even when they suffer through various trials. They have a pure and precious faith tested by fire. They give praise, glorify and honor his name. They believe and come together in Church and Eucharist table.

These are true for those who believe today. So, let us give thanks to God, His love is everlasting.

Today is Divine Mercy Sunday. We celebrate faith that overcomes the doubt that stands behind the locked doors of our hearts.  We celebrate the sacrament of penance and Jesus' forgiveness found in these words, “Receive the Holy Spirit, Whose sin you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained. “

In His Divine Mercy, Jesus is never disappointed in those who believe. That is the mercy we seek when we pray the final Divine Mercy prayer, Holy God, Holy Mighty One, Holy Immortal One, have mercy on us and on the whole world.

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

A Little Blue Chicken - Homily Holy Saturday - Easter Vigil

(Readings)

When I was a little boy, the Easter Bunny would bring baby chickens. These chicks would be yellow or pink or green or blue.  When I was 3 or 4 years old, I got a blue one.

My brother and I both got one. That’s the only part of the story I remember: getting that little chicken on Easter and how happy I was. The whole story comes from mom and dad.

We lived in apartments in New Orleans which frowned on chickens; so, after a couple of weeks, my parents brought the baby chickens to my great uncle and aunt’s house is the woods of Mississippi.

It was an old house high up off the ground; the animals would go up under it in the heat of the summer to cool off. Every time we’d visit, I’d run under the house looking for my chicken.

My great uncle would tease me, “Boy how’d you like to see your chicken today, baked or fried?”  I was afraid I’d eat my pet chicken. My aunt would fuss at him for teasing me.

Years later, I asked Dad, did we eat my chicken. He’d say “That’s what chickens are for.”

I’m fifty-six; I’d like to have some chickens. Deep inside a part misses that little blue chicken.

I tell this story as a parable of humanity. In the beginning God created us. He looked at all He created and said it was good. We were happy when we were young and God was with us in the garden.

Humanity ruined it.  We forget that.

It was long ago and humanity was young. As humanity grew older, happiness in the Garden became a memory.  We remember parts of it. Even though we don’t remember exactly, we long for the part that’s missing. There is a God-size hole in us. We just don’t remember how to fill it.

We look to someone older to know the whole story. The story is that God is always with us even though we think differently.

God spoke to Moses, Why are you crying out to me? I am with you, I will protect you, I will lead you through the waters.

Isaiah writes those who are thirsty come to the water. Ezekiel says I will sprinkle clean water upon you to cleanse you from all your impurities….

The scripture from Romans says we were baptized into Christ Jesus… so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might live in newness of life.

The whole story points to the waters of baptism. The same baptisms most of us share, the baptisms we remember tonight; the baptism that brings us to God. Baptism brings Christ to the God size hole inside us.

Because of that hole, we long for God. We will never truly be happy until we fill that missing part of us.  

But my brothers and sisters here is the problem. Evil and meanness exists in the world. It tells us that the hole is not the absence of God. It’s the absence of self, of the world, of things we can get or buy or steal. Or maybe, the hole is something as simple as a little blue chicken.

This world tells us anything and everything will fill that hole. This world changes anything and everything to the acceptable; the thing that will make right; and the thing that will fill that longing in our heart. The world asks “How do we want to fill that hole inside us?”

Do we want to be baked of fried?

Nothing that comes from man or the world can fill that hole.

Things the world puts forward can never fill the hole that only God can fill. The world can change but the hole inside does not change. God does not change. Many will never acknowledge it: but, our longing for God is always there.

After the crucifixion, Jesus’ disciples and the apostles knew what caused the hole inside them.  But they forgot, He is always with us, even when we think differently.

The Gospel tells us, that Mary Magdalen and the other Mary came to see the tomb. The angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid! You are seeking Jesus the crucified. He is not here, he has been raised … They went away quickly, fearful, yet overjoyed…

Christ Jesus meets us and tells us - Do not be afraid. Jesus came to change us.  And by that, Christ fills that God-size hole.

I look at everyone here: those who live in Christ, those about to be baptized, those to be confirmed and about to make a first holy communion. Your faces show the joy of people who seek Jesus and your hearts want Jesus more than anything.

By our baptism, we open that hole inside us so Jesus can fill it. By partaking in the Holy Eucharist, the risen Christ becomes part of us and fills that God-size hole in us.

That‘s what Jesus came for and what He died for. That’s what Christ’s resurrection was for.

Have a Holy and Happy Easter. Amen.

Beast of Burden - Reflection Palm Sunday

(Readings)

It's about Jesus and His choice. 

On Palm Sunday, Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey. He did not ride in on a kingly horse or a royal chariot but on a lowly yet ennobled beast of burden. He rode a beast of burden that dutifully carried him to the cross.

Think about it, Jesus was the one carrying the burden of the sins of the world. He carried them into Jerusalem. He brought them before Caiaphas, the high priest, as he was accused. He bore them before Pilate and was beaten and suffered. He carried our sins in the cross to a place called Golgotha.

All the world and those He loved abandoned him. They denied him. 

We do that today, "Surely not I, Lord!"

In some way, each of us asks the world we live in "What are you willing to give me if I hand him over to you?"  

We ask that question, maybe not in those words but in our acts and actions. We asked that by prejudice, hate, and bigotry. We ask that by falling to drugs, addictions, and pornography. We seek reward in lies, cheating, and the idolatry of the world.

In our weakness for these things and so much more, we chose the world over Christ. Given a choice, we answer, "Barabbas!"

Christ looks down from the Cross, looks at us and his eyes speak “why have you forsaken me?"

Jesus gave us all that he was, his life and his death, his body and his blood. He gave all these things in His passion as a beast of burden for our sins as he rode into Jerusalem and to his crucifixion.

It's about HIs love for you.

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

Expectations - Reflection for the 5th Sunday of Lent

(Readings)

In the Gospel, I recognized something that I missed many times before, Jesus was perturbed, twice.

When Jesus saw Mary weeping and the Jews with her weeping, he became perturbed and deeply troubled…. And when, “Some said, ‘could not the one who opened the eyes of the blind man have done something so that this man would not have died?’ Jesus was perturbed again….”

To be perturbed is to be anxious. In Philippians we are told “Work with anxious concern to achieve your salvation.” In other translations, anxious concern is written “fear and trembling.”

I picture these emotions as an upset Jesus speaks with the crowd. He was upset at the death of Lazarus and perturbed at the expectations of the Jews, Mary and Martha, and even his disciples. Even as Jesus neared the cross, they did not understand everything He did was for the glory of God.

Everyone has expectations. We have expectations for our self. Parents have expectations of their children. Spouses have expectations of one another. You have expectations of the Priest and Deacon. Priests and Deacons have expectations of the community.

We even have expectations of God. Remember, Jesus was perturbed, twice.

Expectations hold others to our standards. It is not fair to impose our expectations upon another. Only God has the right to expect things from us and scripture says that “Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.”

Maybe that is why Jesus wept. He wept for his friend Lazarus; but, He also wept in anxious concern for our salvation.

As Christian believers, our salvation is manifest in striving to meet God’s expectation and His will for us. We are to follow Him.

But this is made difficult because the world has human expectations of God, "Rabbi, the Jews were just trying to stone you, and you want to go back there?"

God’s expectation is not passiveness. We must be active in God’s work. “If Christ is in you…, the spirit is alive because of righteousness.” He gives us his righteousness, which is the goodness and love in us to do His work,

Salvation has anointed us for His work. Jesus tell us, If one walks during the day, he does not stumble, because he sees the light of this world. But if one walks at night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him."

In Christ, we can raise those dead because of sin. Like Jesus’ call to Lazarus, Christ reaches out to others through our goodness, our holiness, and our lives lived as an example of Christ’s love. The Christ shouts, Untie them.

This is done in Christ’s perturbation for sin. It is done not of expectations but in anxious concern. This is done in fear and trembling, because we always fall short of God’s expectations. Yet, we continue in the hopeful expectation given by Christ’s death on the cross.

“Then you shall know that I am the LORD….”

God’s expectations are the same for all Catholics, Christians, and true believers. So like Thomas, called Didymus, said, "Let us also go to die with him."

Jesus, our salvation, words, "I am the resurrection and the life; whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?"

Those who believe answer, "Yes, Lord.”

The resurrection is not a place or a time, but is Jesus. – (Fr. Joe Martina) For some this is unexpected and it perturbs them.

Y’all be good, y’all be holy, preach the gospel by the way you live and love. Amen.Amen.

Are You Scared - Homily Reflection 4th Sunday Lent

(Scripture Readings)

Let me tell you about my week.

Monday, my wife and I were eating lunch and received fortune cookies at the end of the meal. Mine read, “You cannot be happy in what you want to be. Be happy in what you are.”

Janet says, “That would make a good homily.”

I didn’t think a fortune cookie homily was a good idea.

Tuesday, I read an article about a young woman entering a cloistered convent. At 21, she was leaving her family, friends, and the world to live as a bride of Christ in penance and prayer.

Her sister said, I don’t see a nun, I see my little sister with wild curly hair and loves pretty clothes.

This young woman was asked a question, “Are you scared?”

I think everyone has thought about that in their life, being scared. We like control; we want to be who we want to be and when we're not in control we can get scared.

Wednesday, I read the scriptures for this Sunday.

David was just a boy out tending the sheep and goats when God call him to be King of Israel. God had rejected all of David’s brothers who were taller, smarter, strong warriors, and charismatic leaders.

David’s father and brothers didn’t see a king. They saw a ruddy faced little boy who tended the flocks. God chose David. God sent Samuel to anoint a boy as the next king of Israel.

I wonder if someone asked David that day, “Are you scared?” David had no control of God’s plan for him.

There was a blind man Jesus healed. The disciples saw nothing special in him. In fact they asked, “Why was this man born blind?” “Did this man sin or was it his parents?” They looked at the blind man and saw sin.

The blind man sat alongside of the road listening for Jesus’ answer. I wonder what the blind man would have said if someone asked, “Are you scared?”

He had no control of the sins of his parents or his past or what he would be. The blind man had no control of what Jesus would do in his life.

Thursday someone told me of their life and failures. I wondered how many look themselves and see nothing special? There is no way the Lord would call me.

Not true; each of us is born for the same reason “…so the works of God might be made visible through us.” It’s out of our control - God’s plan for us. Are you scared?

The Psalm says, “The Lord is my Shepherd. There is nothing I shall want.” It continues, “Though I walk through the dark valley I shall not fear, for God is at my side.”

It’s true. The Lord is our shepherd. Before anyone became who they are like the nun or King David or a blind man healed by Jesus, the Lord was their shepherd. With the Lord there is nothing we lack or nothing to fear. There is no reason to be scared. God is the one in control.

We know the words of the Psalm. We have good intentions. We want to live for Jesus. We want to do good things in the world. We want to be someone who will make the works of God visible to the world.

Yet, in all this, we still see ourselves as what we are sinners who have failed the Lord. Deep inside we cry that there is nothing special this sinner to give to God.  

That’s not what God sees, “Not as man sees does God see, because man sees the appearance but the Lord looks into the hearts.” “You were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord.”

We are scared because we have no control.

Friday was the Way of the Cross, confession, and Fr. Job giving me the blessing of giving the homily.

In that it was made clear: No one really knows until they are called how they will make the works of God visible in the world. That’s up to God. We wait until the moment that God lifts us up, lifts up our works and prayers and makes it His works.

David was boy tending his flock. By the end of his life, he was a strong and powerful king of a great country.

The blind man was a beggar on the street. By the end of the Gospel, he was thrown out of the synagogue for defending Jesus.

The 21 year old nun is someone’s curly haired little sister who loves pretty clothes. She admitted to sometimes getting cold feet about God’s call.

Are you scared? There’s no need to be. In the light of Christ, goodness and kindness will follow us all the days of our life.

Today, I remember that fortune cookie, “You cannot be happy in what you want to be. Be happy in what you are.”

We are by grace what God calls us to be. That’s what Lent is about, realizing what God calls us to be – someone who will make the works of God visible to the world.

Y’all be good, y’all be holy, preach the Gospel by the way you live and love. Amen.

S.E.L.F. - Homily Reflection 3rd Sunday of Lent

(Readings) 

(Thank you for the inspiration Mr. Derreck Kayongo)

Monday’s bible study was Daniel, Jeanne, Janet, and I. Daniel and I were busy interpreting the symbolism of this Sunday’s readings. We dove into the meaning of living water. We carried a conversation about the woman's bucket. Yes, we were deep in the word.

Then, I looked over at Jeanne. She had that look on her face, lips pursed and forehead wrinkled; wringing her hands as she looked at the Gospel. Then she says "I just don't see it. It's a story about a woman who meets Jesus. He tells her sins and she believes. It’s simple; that's what I see."

She was right. It was simple. Jesus met and spoke to the Samaritan woman. She looked at herself, her life, and she believed in Jesus. All we can do is give to the LORD our entire self. 

That's a great message for Lent. Look at self. The woman did. Look at our life in reference to self, S-E-L-F (Serve, Educate, Lead, Faith)

First, S is for serve. Jesus called the woman to serve. Give me a drink of water.

Jesus calls each of us to serve; feed the hungry, visit the sick and imprisoned, and clothe the naked. What you did for the least, you did for me. Every day in the voices of the poor Jesus calls, “Give me a drink of water.”

The E is educate. Jesus educated the woman. He told who she was and told her sins. Jesus told her of the living water that He would give. Then, He told her more.

For many sin is the “yuck" factor.  It what makes following Jesus so hard: realizing sins, trials, and low points in our lives. We don't want to face our shortcomings. Yet, facing that part of our lives educates us. It teaches us that we need to turn to Jesus, listen to his gospel and learn the truths of our faith. Educating others in Christ is ministry and mission.

What about the L? The L is for lead. After answering the call to serve and learning the truth about Jesus, the Samaritan woman left her bucket at the well and went to lead others to Jesus, the savior of the world.

That is how Christians are called to lead. Lead others to Christ. Every good leader knows others find Christ by service, mission, and ministry.

It’s the "yuck" factor that makes us leaders. Leading others through the sin, trials, and low points where we've already been. We lead people to Christ through our experiences, knowing Jesus, and sharing the gospel, the good news of Christ.

Not least is F for faith. The Samaritan woman believed in Jesus. She would lead others to Jesus by faith.

Everyone needs faith. Faith is what makes us whole. Faith brings us to the living water that Jesus promised. We believe in faith that Jesus is Savior of the World. "It is by faith we are justified."

I don’t want anyone scratching their heads about the living water and the bucket. The bucket represents the empty lives we bring to Jesus. Jesus speaks to us and fills us with the Living Water (the Holy Spirit); the gift He promises. As the spirit fills us, we want to be something more in our SELF.

God knows us and wants us. The Holy Spirit fills us. We leave behind the old empty bucket that we once were to tell others about Jesus. The bucket and living water, Jesus puts it all in motion, when we hear is voice.

Because, God loved us so much that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. On this third Sunday of Lent, a season to look at self, Love enough to give your entire self to God.

Jesus spoke. The woman looked at her SELF. She believed. It's a simple message.

Y'all be good, y'all be holy; preach the gospel by the way you live and love. Amen.

A Mystic Path - 2nd Sunday Lent

 Genesis 12:1-4a;   Psalm: 33:4-5, 18-19, 20, 22;  2 Timothy 1:8b-10;  Matthew 17:1-9

Listen to him.

A person once told me they were a mystic and the first thing that came to my mind was - mystic no; kind of freaky, yes. I wondered, can an everyday person be a mystic?

My idea of a mystic came from movies and fantasy novels. It was an ancient thing or a Hollywood interpretation of Christianity as an ancient thing. Mystics spent their time in prayer or a monastery or a convent or a cave. They had visions, stigmata, or experience holy ecstasy. Mystics aren't normal everyday people.

I pictured mystics walking in a mist with hoods and long robes, otherworldly. I never imagined a highly-intelligent woman in business clothes. I've learned since, that a true mystic is someone with insight into the mysteries of God.

One of those mysteries is the presence of God in our lives. The Bible is full of mystics, normal ordinary people that experienced the presence of God in their life.

Abram's insight came when God told him, "Go forth from the land of your kinsfolk and from your father's house to a land that I will show you."

Leave what makes you who you are, your family, your kinsfolk, your inheritance, and go. Leave what protects you. Leave your father's house. Leave what makes you who you are and gives you comfort. Walk the path I give you. Live in the world depending on the LORD your God and by the LORD God's instructions. Experience the LORD in the world, follow Him to a promised land.

Peter, James, and John had followed Jesus from the beginning. They followed even though Jesus promised hardship and ridicule. They followed not understanding the words He preached or the message He spoke. He took them to a high mountain.

They knew He was messiah, the anointed one, the son of David. They knew he was something more than an ordinary man. They knew these things; but, did they know Jesus?

Jesus was transfigured before them. His face shown like the sun and his clothes became white as light. And a voice spoke this is my beloved Son with whom I am well pleased, listen to him.

The transfiguration allowed them to see the son of the living God. They got a deeper understanding into the mystery of God, the mystery of Jesus.

Abram, Peter, James, and John came to understand the mystery of God through the ordinary and not so ordinary experience of God in life. Each grew in their faith.

That is the way our faith grows through the ordinary and not so ordinary experience of God in life. Our existence, our everyday life living with the mystery of God begins in the concrete reality of breathing, of our body being, of our thoughts, emotions and feelings. The secret to these mysteries, listening to Jesus.

Jesus taught us to find God in this world, in our neighbor, and in the ordinary of life. He taught us in parables of the ordinary. Jesus taught us how to see, what to emphasize, and what to ignore.

People protest, we do not live in the same world Jesus did. Humanity and society are changing; yet, we are still created in God's image. We forget that and forget God's presence in our lives.

That brings us back to mystics. Abram became a mystic by walking the path the Lord set before him. Peter, James, and John followed Jesus to have their eyes opened by the transfiguration. All truly aware of God's presence in their life.

Most of us are aware of God and are trying to understand the mysteries of God by believing Jesus Christ is our Lord and savior, the only Sion of God. We grow in understanding the mystery of Jesus believing in the true presence of Christ in the Holy Eucharist. We move to familiar with the Holy Trinity by recognizing the presence of the Holy Spirit, the Paraclete in our life and in our world.

These are realize by contemplation and prayer. Look at your life, God has put us on the path we walk. Look back on God's presence in your life. Believe your prayers are heard. Believe your prayers are powerful. Pray all the time, pray in Jesus name. Study the word of God.

In the hard times we find our strength in God. God calls us, not because of what we do but because it is God's will. Listen to him. Be aware of his presence. Follow where he leads.

Maybe there are a lot of mystics that are everyday people. People freaky for Jesus.

Y'all be good, y'all be holy and preach the gospel by the way you live and love. Amen