Giving a cup of water

Pope Francis' visit to the United States has brought increased attention to the Church as well as providing us an opportunity to embody his message which is profoundly reflected in today's readings.  His constant example of giving especially to children who are disabled or disenfranchised is cause for personal reflection.  The prevailing message in the past week's readings seems to be one of mercy and of not immersing ourselves in the passing world around us, but to follow God.

Matthew gave up his profitable post as a tax collector and followed Jesus. Jesus instructs the Twelve that in order to follow him they must take nothing on the journey. Today James warns us of the evils of allowing wealth to be our ultimate goal.  Not coincidentally, I have been reading a book entitled Love, Skip, Jump: Start Living the Adventure of Yes, by Shelene Bryan.  The book details the author's struggle with success, wealth, and the life changing experiences she and her family had when they decided to make personal sacrifices in order to better serve God and those less fortunate.  Each chapter provides the reader with Shelene's experience of surrendering to God's will during the course of her adult life and the life changing rewards that came putting those less fortunate first.

Being five or so years from retirement, God willing, this book and this week's messages have provided me an opportunity for great reflection.  I do want to retire comfortably and with children in college there is the challenge that many people of my age face. Do I sometimes obsess with doing both? Yes! As James states "You have stored up treasure for the last days." Instead of this obsession with saving that sometimes causes me great angst, I realized that this must be left to God.  As Shelene Bryan states in a chapter about selling her family's house, "let God be the realtor." Taking the Pope's example of simplicity, Selene Bryant's message of skipping comfort, and the readings this week reminds me that are far more important things to ponder on.  Pope Francis once said "the first in the Church are those most in need, humanly, spiritually, materially, the neediest."(Magnificat September 2015). I sometimes forget this as I become immersed in the daily grind. His challenge I take seriously.  My prayer today is "Lord you are creator of all, both big and small.  Grant that I may have my eyes opened to those that our world has diminished.  Grant that I not focus on the material, but on the need of those in my midst.  Open my ears to their call. This I ask through the Holy Name of Jesus. Amen."

Which Seed Am I?

The parable of the seeds that Jesus tells the crowds and later his disciples in private prompted a reflection this morning.  One of my passions is vegetable gardening specifically of tomatoes. I dabble with seed harvest of heirlooms and with other vegetables as well.  As any gardener knows there is a chance that volunteers will sprout up during the course of the year after the fruits have fallen and decompose in the soil.  Somewhere in my neighborhood there is a fig tree because every year a seedling will sprout up in my backyard as the birds have carried the fruit in the air and the falling seeds make their home in the yards in the area.

Back to the tomatoes.  Based on the number of seeds that are in a tomato that has fallen off a plant it is evident that only one or two seem to germinate and sprout as a volunteer.  When I see these volunteers excitedly I tender the soil and find a place for the young plant to grow in hope of producing a new crop.

In the parable Jesus refers to the seeds that fall on the path and are taken away, those that are on rocky ground and have no root, and those that fall among thorns.  Throughout my life I have fallen in each of those categories.  Now more grounded in faith I found myself struggling to cut away the thorns that come with everyday anxieties and the draws of pleasure. Since I compost there are invariably seeds of many types including weeds that choke out plant growth by wrapping themselves around vines or vigorously spreading across the ground.  When these seeds germinate they attack those volunteer plants and the struggle is on for survival.  Only with careful weeding can I assure that the volunteer plant will endure to produce a bountiful crop. I find the parallel of the thorns and my own garden quite profound.  God in his enduring mercy through the workings of the Holy Spirit is constantly weeding the garden of my sinful soul, pulling out those weeds of anxiety and material pleasure, but careful not to disturb the germinating fruit seed that will hopefully produce generosity and loving actions.  In my daily struggles I need the composted rich soil, in my case Scripture readings, prayer and meditation and most importantly to overcome the weeds.

Who do people say I am?

Jesus question to the disciples as they make their way to the outlying villages of Caesarea and Philippi seems to be a conversational piece.  But in the ever thought provoking and probing manner that Jesus embodies he then asks the disciples "Who do you say I am?" The following discourse on suffering shakes the group up with clear intention.  Separating ourselves from our own willful desires to the will of God is a consummate challenge.

The very question posed by Jesus is also directed at us.  Who do people say I am? Do my actions reflect that of a Christ-loving person who embraces suffering and taking up the cross daily? Having endured a back injury recently that has taken me off my bike indefinitely as I trained for an endurance ride, I find myself constantly challenged. I resolved to take my right to complain about my pain to God and not project my hardship on to those around me.  This has proven quite a challenge coupled with the beginning of a new school year which brings the usual barrage of technology and logistical issues. With good intention I have tried not to complain in most cases, but human fragility and thinking as human do have brought frustration and stress. I have found that my actions are very human-like. I imagine that those around me would find a quick answer to the question "who do people say I am?" Yes I am trying to save my life and yes I am not thinking as God does. Here lies my challenge. Will I embrace the words of Isaiah in the first reading today, "The Lord opens my ear that I may hear" and "The Lord God is my help therefore I am not disgraced" or do I think as Peter? This reflection always leads me to consider the millions of people that are suffering without food, a home and the comforts that I have. The second reading from James challenges me to get out of myself and look to those whose need is much greater than mine.

My prayer for today is  "Lord grant that I take upon the crosses of daily living and suffering every reminding myself that many others are suffering more than myself. Grant it o gracious and ever merciful God that when I am tempted to complain that your Spirit guides me to pray for those less fortunate. Amen."

"Ephphatha"

"Ephphatha" said Jesus to the deaf man. The actions that Jesus takes with the man when he is brought to him are puzzling for the observing crowds.  What power does he seem to have? Spitting, touching his tongue which I interpret as touching his tongue to clean his finger and pronouncing "Ephphatha!" thus curing the man.  What is the meaning of this?  For the crowd the man is cured from being deaf and mute. However, for us there can be a deeper interpretation.

Putting one's finger in the ear results in plugging up the ear canal resulting in poor hearing. Pulling them out brings in the sounds from our surroundings.  Upon closer reflection does one see that this miracle is twofold. Yes the man is cured from physical deafness, but also spiritually.

Many of us have had encounters with pain and suffering whether it be individually or those close to us.  We want immediate cures from these afflictions, but the question looms are we opened to what God has in store for us.  Are we really opened when asking for the suffering to be lifted?  One word resonates here - the word surrender. A word misunderstood for weakness by many, but within religious and recovery circles a word that simply means giving up the right to dictate what we want to God and letting Him do the rest.

Jesus instructs those watching his actions to not tell anyone, but I am sure that once we surrender to the will of God during difficulties and then have the burdens removed Jesus wants us to proclaim his power and goodness. We become like the today's first reading from Isaiah 35:4-7 in which the lame leap like a stag, the mute sing, the streams burst forth in the desert, etc. Let us be opened to the wonderful healing hand of Jesus in whatever difficulties we encounter, but let us then praise the Lord and recount his wonders (Psalm 9). "Ephphata!"