Good News, Bad News

Mary and Joseph arrive at the temple as required for the ritual of purification. Met by Simeon who joyfully takes the Christ child in his arms and makes his joyful proclamation, they must have been overcome with emotion with the first words of Simeon. But his last words were the most powerful and most likely disconcerting. What mother would want to be told that their child will be the salvation and then in the same breath told that a sword would pierce their hear. We would call that an emotional roller coaster. As with other references, Mary and I am sure Joseph would hold this in their heart.

Many of us had been given both good news and bad news whether through medical issues, family tragedies, work, and other personal issues. How does a person prevail through this? For those who navigate through the pain and suffering, we see that faith seems to be the common denominator. Others seem to go the opposite way and are overcome with a myriad of mental and physical health issue.

As a person who was recently the recipient of disconcerting medical information concerning a recent MRI on my neck, I have to look no further than Mary. The uncertainty of those words from Simeon would shake any person, but her example through the next 32 years of Jesus life is definitely worth examining. Not knowing what my future holds and what the prognosis from the neurosurgeon will be as far as surgery and limitations on what was a life full of activity, especially endurance cycling which I have become an avid participant creates fear, anger, depression and a slew of other emotions. I am sure many of you can identify with these from your own personal experiences. It is easy to question, why me? Mary did the same, but in her unequaled faithfulness she allowed God to take over not knowing what where the impending birth of Jesus would take her.

The first step in recovery programs which is to recognize life's unmanageability with whatever addiction one has.  Soon the person realizes that it is not just the addiction, but life overall that is unmanageable without God. The founders of AA were definitely on to something. These very facets can be utilized by any person regardless of faith. My plans for the future allow me to relish in success and to live life at its fullest. I don't plan for life changing events nor do I like to think about them. Thus in a manner my life in every moment  becomes is unmanageable if I try to run it.

Taking the example of Mary and submitting to the power and wisdom of God is my best path.  Trying to Google every possible scenario of what the impending next steps are for my medical issues is not (and it seems that Google covers everything). I want to know if I can keep on cycling after what is quite likely surgery. What activities can I continue with? How long will I be out from work? How will this affect my family? The possibilities are endless. Reinhold Niebuhr in his famously composed Serenity Prayer  wrote,

"Living one day at a time, 
Enjoying one moment at a time, 
Accepting hardship as a pathway to peace"

I am sure Mary did the same cherishing every moment with Jesus. Even with the prophetic words of Simeon she endured and for some reason I cannot see her on Google trying to come up with solutions to all of the various messages and signs that were given to her. Imagine her Googling Simeon's proclamation and finding 3.3 million responses. Her response to Simeon and others was of faith.  I will try to do the same. 

Is Christmas Over? Taking Down the Decorations?

Out for a morning walk in the brisk air I came upon the scene of someone taking down their decorations.  This made me ponder on how many people will be doing the same without giving the action a thought.  Stores will be frantically selling their Christmas season inventory as well as the many people looking to redeem unwanted gifts.  Cities will send their work crews to take down Christmas decorations that so adorned the streets soon after Thanksgiving.  What is the rush? Is the season over?

If one were to read today's Mass readings it my be assumed that the season of joy is indeed over. Images of Stephen being stoned while forgiving his enemies and Jesus warning us to not worry about how we are to speak when being brought in front of leaders. But upon examination it is clear that the Holy Spirit is being referenced. For those of us not in a rush to take down the decorations especially the Nativity scenes that may be placed in our references, we are carrying the spirit.

The Christmas season is not over despite what our neighbors may think.  My family traditions holds that the Nativity scene is not taken down until the Epiphany.  The plastic kings in my front yard have not yet arrived at the makeshift stable with the Holy Family yet.  They will remain standing as my neighbors take down their flashing lights, Santas, and snow scenes. The Holy Spirit will endure.

On a personal level I am challenged to carry the message of Christ's arrival. For me this is not an option. I am challenged by what others may think about how I live as a Catholic. The teachings of the Church are under constant attack by media and society in general. The Christmas tree will endure as will the cross despite the challenges. The deeper question is will I? Will I be strengthened by the example of Stephen and the many martyrs that followed? This will only happen when I take the exhortation of  Paul in Philippians who states "I can do all things in Jesus Christ who strengthens me." Let the Christmas spirit live on.

Christmas Message

From the Bethlehem in the darkness of night
Came to us the Child of light
Bringing the message of peace to a world in need
And those shepherds were the first to know the Good News
Those seemingly insignificant spread the glorious message anew
Centuries later the words are still the same,
May joy, peace and the glory of God today reign

© Christian Miraglia 2016

Out of the Dark

Years ago singer Gloria Estefan suffered near  near injuries from an accident that put successful career on hold while she recovered. She spend months learning regaining her ability to walk and perform tasks that most of us take for granted. A few months later she penned the lyrics to the song "Coming out of the Dark."   Mid song the listener hears the following words:

Coming out of the dark, I finally see the light now
It's shining on me
Coming out of the dark I know the love that saved me
You're sharing with me

Although she doesn't necessarily reference faith as the reason to her recovery, after listening to the song one can surely make the connection.  During the next two days it is important for me to reflect on the concept of darkness as well as the idea of light that many theologians and some fellow Catholic bloggers have alluded to as well. 

I find myself longing for Christmas to be over;  not relishing the thought of going near malls, battling the mounting traffic problems, and building resentment of the secularization of Christmas.  This is my personal darkness. I just want all of this to be over so life as normal can carry on. 

The paradox of this darkness is recognizing these feelings. It is here that I truly am united with God, not hiding anything, stripped down of the facade of my humanity.  St John of the Cross stated, "The endurance of darkness is preparation of great light."  Pondering on this I find myself taking inventory of this Advent which was longer than previous ones. There have been times of darkness, whether mulling over buying gifts or dealing with stressful life situations. There have been moments of restrained anger in which I wanted to unleash a barrage on someone who did not conform to my ideals or drove erratically on the freeway. 

Somehow through all of this a light would show inside of me reminding me to be merciful. This spark of life was definitely not of my own. Today looking back, "I finally see the light" as  Estefan sings. It is shining on me and in me. Today being Christmas Eve, " I know the love that saved me." I welcome the light and I will try with the grace of God to truly carry the message of the Good News. 

Blessings to all and may the light of our Savior shine on you and your families. 

Don't You Forget About Me

Years ago the group Simple Minds released a song titled "Don't You Forget About Me" which became a hit by itself and as the theme song for the 80's classic "Breakfast Club." I think the song is appropriate for this time of year as we become overwhelmed with the thought of family visiting, what food to make, the presents we have not had time to purchase, and whole slew of other distractors.

The chorus in the song is quite simple (no pun intended) as it repeats Don't you, forget about me. Don't, don't, don't, don't, Don't you forget about me. So as I was watching television this morning and a commercial came on using the lines, it dawned on me that this indeed was a message that I need not forget about who this Christmas is about.

Another line in the song goes as follows: Will you stand above me? Look my way, never love me. A reminder that in the Christmas bustle there are those who we may not even see. The homeless, the small child, the person at work who we just don't want to talk to.

 "Will you recognize me? Call my name or walk on by, " the chorus continues.  Do I recognize that Jesus is in everyone that I come into contact with or is it easier to just move on as if they don't exist because I am in a hurry to the next store?

As this week proceeds I need to take a few moments to reflect on this. A few moments to spread the true meaning of Christmas and not forget about Jesus will serve others well.  And as I do the song will be playing in my head, "Don't, don't, don't, don't, don't you forget about me.

What if God spoke to you in a dream?

Today's Gospel passage provokes some profound questions. What if Joseph cast Mary out of his life, exposing her to public ridicule and possibly public stoning for the sin of adultery? What do couples married and unmarried do themselves when informed of an unexpected pregnancy? What if God spoke to me in a dream commanding me to take an action that seemed entirely inconsistent with reality?

I really don't want to know about the answer to the first question as it frightens me to ponder a world without our Savior. The second question can only be answered with alarming statistics of abortions, of live births and from evidence from those we know proceeded with pregnancies welcoming the will of God into their life-giving decision. We must continue to pray for all of those who face these decisions that God will send the Holy Spirit into their life so that the gift of life may be preserved as well as for those who have made the decision to end life.

The final question is equally profound. Throughout the Bible we encounter figures of whom God has spoken to and who carry out his will, some initially question these appearances and the message and others who take immediate action. If only discerning the voice of God was as easy, as my own head is full of thousands of voices each vying for my attention.

So what made it so clear for Joseph? From what little is known about him, he was honorable and a man of God. He was reassured not to be afraid in the dream and perhaps with that security it made it easier for him to make a decision. One can assume with a message in a dream that proclaims that his wife was to give birth to one who would save his people from their sins, that taking any other action then what was instructed would bring on severe consequences.

God does not have to speak to us in dreams although for me it might be helpful. I always think of the George Burns classic, "Oh God." The clear voice of God instructing the character to do this or that. For me God is more subtle, speaking through those around me, through Scripture and sometimes with a small but quiet voice reminding me about some action I am going take. I really don't want God to speak to me through dreams because I might be asked to make a life altering decision and I am comfortable with my life as it is. But as we know our plans are not God's plans. Just thinking of my own dreams, many of which were about personal success and glory, and of which remain unrealized helps me understand this. Taking the example of the modest poor couple who brought our Savior into the world I can open my heart to the will of God, through silence, prayer, and love.  Then perhaps I might hear that voice in a dream.

Of Family Trees and God's Plan

Years ago I begin to read the daily Mass readings. I was always perplexed as to why it was important to know about the lineage of Jesus.  I would casually skip through the first chapter of Matthew in a matter of seconds, not finding much to draw my attention. "Why do we have to read this?" I grumbled as I leaved past the page. I found the readings at Mass much the same as the lector would stroll through centuries of people of whom I found no importance. Yes I know that Jesus' father was Joseph and Joseph descended from the house of David and that it all started with Abraham, but why does anyone need to know about the rest?

I am quite sure that many of you have knowledge of your own family tree and may have invested considerable time and sometimes money to genealogical sites such as Ancestry.com or others with similar services. I take particular interest in my own family as well even though the tree seems to be fairly brief coming from a family of immigrants that came to the United States from Germany and Italy due to a lack of information. My wife's family tree originates from Spain, Mexico and Japan which makes my own children quite a mix of ethnic backgrounds. I find this interesting and when there is time I endeavor to pursue the task of building on both families trees.

This brings me back to Jesus's family tree. It wasn't until this very day that it dawned on me (literally as I reflected early this morning), the lineage of our Savior is just as important if not more than my own. Jesus is not just a name on paper and without the God's plan being carried out by the names of people such as Amminadab, Shealiel, Joram, and others whose names I find difficulty pronouncing, I would not be here.

Reflective reading of this passage reveals a lineage that is full of people who had difficulties, some of whom we can classify as deviants and others as saints. Moreover, Matthew is able to detail centuries of a family heritage which is quite extraordinary in itself since many of our own family trees come to a grinding halt after three to four generations. The point being that God does have a plan which in itself is not for us to see in full, but realizing that this one family whose bloodlines have brought our Savior into the world, whose Catholic heritage we owe to, and of words we can humbly reflect on brings a more attentive attitude to the many names mentioned. Just as I take pride in my own family background as well as I revel in the stories of my families past, so should I do so with the One who made this all possible.

Patience of a Desert Flower

Hardship and patience are themes that echo through today's Scripture readings. Both of these virtues are not ones most people demonstrate today. The message we receive through secular culture is to avoid hardship whether it be in the suffering of a debilitating disease, the care of those who are in need, and the trials and tribulations of daily life. Patience is a constant challenge as well as we send a text and want a immediate response not taking in consideration that the recipient just might be driving and not answering (imagine that) or be busy with other business. We seem to be much like the people of Jesus's day as the awaited the coming of a king that would redeem their long suffering in our impatience of desiring a quick fix to our problems.

The prophet Isaiah paints a picture of the desert coming to life in the first reading today. Living in Southern California this brings to mind the Anza Borrego Desert which comes to life from February to March with a dazzling display of blooming wildflowers that draw crowds from all over looking to take in the breath taking scenery. For those who are attracted to the annual event there is patient anticipation of the news of the first sets of blooms and updates that one can follow via the park's website. Today being Gaudete Sunday, we too wait for the glorious coming of our Lord. Much like those waiting for the first news of the desert coming alive with color, we are to consider the Good News of our Lord' nativity with joy.

In the  Epistle of James, we are encouraged to be patient much like a farmer waiting for the rains and his crops to mature. Our reward will come in time. For myself as an amateur gardener this theme resonates profoundly. The region which I live in is currently in the sixth year of a drought. The avocado tree which once provided at times two crops in a year now is in the second year of dormancy and lemon tree which although produces lemons, but of a diminished size. I await the rain as do the trees. The trees themselves seem to be going through their own hardship, visibly sick leaves and branches protruding from aged limbs. Other crops which I grow annually produce only half of what was normal, the plants dying off quickly. They need water as does my soul.

We are told to make our hearts firm, to be ready for the coming of the Lord is near. Do not complain about one another, so that you may not be judged (Jas 5:9). Last Saturday I attended an event given by Matthew Kelly, the founder of the Dynamic Catholic organization.  He issued multiple challenges to the audience, one of which I took upon myself.  The challenge was to use a Mass journal and write down whatever came to mind as you listened to the liturgy. From this would come a transformation if we truly reflected and prayed on it. I scribbled down that I wanted to see the good in others.  This week provided an array of events of which I found myself judging and at times using condemning language.  Ah,  the example of hardship. Could I not judge? What I did find is that I was immediately quite aware of my fault. Patiently and painfully I will carry on this challenge, allowing the Holy Spirit to continue to reveal to me that which I cannot see on my own.

My journey is through the desert of my own soul, listening to those who carry the message of love  in hope of finding the Lord.  Asking for the Holy Spirit to guide me in discerning the voices which battle for my attention, not focused on those as Jesus refers to as wearing fine clothes and living in palaces, but the simplicity of John the Baptist. It is there that the flowers will bloom in their glorious colors and bring joy.

Mary and Me: A reflection on a growing relationship with our Blessed Mother

As I have written in previous posts, I struggle with my relationship with Mary. Perhaps it is the idea that a person is without sin.  Maybe it is that Mary as presented just seems so far reaching, so clean for me. Yet I know about her appearances in Fatima and to Juan Diego in Mexico. I know of people who are very dedicated to the Rosary, reciting it daily. So what is the catch? Today being the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, brings me to further reflect on Mary.

The term "immaculate" is defined in multiple ways, but it is the first definition that stands out, "free from flaws."  Since I am personally so removed from that definition it is hard for me to grasp that anyone can fit that classification.  The very thought of this can bring despair as I reflect on how many times daily evil thoughts and actions that are not reflective of being Christian permeate my being.  However, I don't think God really want me to indulge in self-flagellation.  So where do I go? Where does a child go when they have a problem?

Nothing against fathers, but the child seeks their mothers who seem to have a special relationship with their children. They listen, they console, they nurture, and if possible they relay their concerns to the father. Interesting as we in our Catholic faith are taught that Mary intercedes for us to the Father. What better way to ask for help. A mother who is all understanding and also unblemished by sin can pray for me a struggling sinner. A mother born into poverty, who gave her all in order to raise the Son of God, and who watched the heart wrenching persecution of her only beloved son on the cross can even listen to my requests.

I was taught the Hail Mary at a young age and would recite it for years not thinking much about the words. Eventually I fell away from the prayer.  Later on in adulthood I resumed in praying with my children as they grew up, but like many parents, I stopped praying with my children once they reached their teen years.  With that the Hail Mary's stopped as well. Yet the Rosary on my nightstand would beckon me. Although I have picked it up a few times and actually said the Rosary, I have also used it as devotion to the Sacred Heart. Mary is calling me little by little. Knowing that she is the patroness of our nation brings me to further prayer as I view the chaos and turmoil that permeates our daily life. One step closer to a better relationship with Mary.

Calling all John the Baptists? Are you one?

Reflecting on the readings today, first I want to extend prayers to our brothers and sisters who have been affected by the wildfires in the Southeast. What words come to mind with the first line of today's Gospel, "John the Baptist appeared preaching in the desert of Judea and saying, "Repent for kingdom of heaven is at hand."  Knowing what follows with the vivid description of John, the words radical, simple, fiery, come to mind. John shook people up with his life of simplicity and his oratory. He was that feared fire in the wilderness. The intensity of his message brought many to him as they felt compelled to repent of their sinful way of life for fear of what might come.  Wildfires in themselves burn old growth and from that arises new life. John's message was direct as he scolded the Pharisees and Sadducees with the words, "Produce good fruit as evidence of your repentance."

Advent is a time when we  are directed from the pulpit to go to confession, to review our past, repent, change and prepare for the coming of our Savior. It can also be a time when we reflect on the today's Gospel reading about spreading the message.  Based on what we see in our world today, there is a need for many John the Baptists.  The strife, anger, violence, and total disregard for humanity that permeates the news cycle is alarming.  Where is that voice in the wilderness? Where are the people that are going to Jordan? Or perhaps better stated, where is that river? Is it the mall or preoccupation with the business of the secular Christmas season. One would think that based on world events churches would be full, busting at the seams, but we see otherwise. So the question begs, where is the voice, or better yet who is the voice? Could it be that we are asked to be that John? Scary proposition in thinking that we could be being asked to be that voice. Do I have the courage to proclaim that message, to live that life of simplicity?  Maybe.

Is my life being lived in a simple manner and people identify me as a Catholic in my actions? This in itself is worthy of me reflecting daily. Calling people to repent is not something I am to comfortable with.  Pope Benedict made reference to repentance in his Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation (no. 93) that "the idea of not using words necessarily but using a word that disrupts, which calls to conversion and open the way to an encounter with one through whom a new humanity flowers." I know that I can be stronger in standing up to the cultural relativism that permeates the world around me.

John was not afraid to call out what he viewed as wrong and obviously did not fear what might come of him because of his teachings. If I am reminded that my very faith is being attacked how does it matter if I people may not like me if I stand up for what is right, what is the Truth? Knowing how many of saints suffered persecution for their words and actions with their ultimate reward not being how they were viewed in their life, but with reward of eternal life, I can take solace. But not trying to carry out the message through my will, but praying for discernment on how this is to be done and making sure that I have repented for my own transgressions is my first step to this call. Then God willing can I be an example of John and carry the message.

Don't Hit the Snooze Bar

Have you ever wondered who invented the snooze bar on the alarm clock? The person must have struggled with awakening daily.  For many people this little protrusion on our clocks is a luxury as it adds just a little bit more sleep and we feel so much better. Or do we? Research has shown that the interrupted sleep by ways of the snooze bar actually does not benefit us as humans need longer periods of rest,  not those extra five minutes which sometimes double and triple for those who love to reach out and smack the bar down in order to gain some more rest.

Over the last week Jesus has admonished us in Luke's Gospel  not to sleep spiritually, but to awaken, persevere through persecutions, and clean house. John has revealed his interpretation of the end time in Revelations. It seems pretty clear that snoozing is not an option for us.  As humans it is natural to avoid any type of suffering, but we cannot delay what might come in the form of trials that we may have to endure.  Jesus warned the disciples not be taken by surprise like a trap (Lk) yesterday. That proverbial snooze button although convenient should not be a way of escape what faces us.

Darkness in itself brings on drowsiness and the same can be said of sinfulness.  It is quite easy to dismiss a sinful action as no big deal. Then comes another one and another. Soon the action is quite like that snooze bar, just push down on it and it will go away. Being trapped in sin is quite painful, just as awakening can be. However, Paul provides hope in his letter to the Romans in which he says, "Let us throw off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light."  For the spiritual sleeper that can be tantamount to throwing off the sheets and let the sun come in.  Open those shades, the Lord of the light is here.

The readings of today and the past week are a spiritual alarm clock. Many warnings about snoozing and the consequences are quite clear. The events of the past year seem to reaffirm the message of doom and gloom. Despite these signs that are evident in our lives, it is the beginning of Advent, a new year in the Church that provides hope. As Isaiah says,  "In the days to come the Lord's house shall be established as the highest mountain." (Isa) From those words of hope let us aspire to not snooze, but to throw off those sheets, leap out of bed,  and prepare for the coming of our Savior by praying for the strength to carry out His holy will this Advent.

And finally I leave you with this from Catholic singer-songwriter Ike Ndolo, who penned the song "Awake, O Sleeper," which I feel is quite appropriate for this day. The lyrics are as follows:

In the darkest times of life

When our lights refuse to shine
You are there, you are there

When we live without hope
You are there, you are there
Don't let your hearts be troubled
Don't let your hearts be troubled
Awake o sleeper
Arise from slumber
Christ is calling your name
In the midst of life's decay
When our lives become like graves
Rescue us, Rescue us
Don't let your hearts be troubled
Don't let your hearts be troubled
Awake o sleeper
Arise from slumber
Christ is calling your name
Awake o sleeper
Arise from slumber
Christ is calling your name
Awake, Arise
And follow the light
Awake, Arise
And follow the light
Awake, Arise
And follow the light
Awake, Arise
Christ is calling your name
Awake o sleeper
Arise from slumber
Christ is calling your name
Awake o sleeper
Arise from slumber
Christ is calling your name

Ike Ndolo 2009

The Gospel Truth

For many years I was a typical church attendee who could be found in the pews every Sunday. I listened to the readings, went through the motions during the liturgy of the Eucharist, and then left without taking much home.  I was the example that Jesus stated in Matthew 13:5 in reference to the seed that fell on stony ground.  Enlightened, but only temporarily because I was not willing to fully give myself to God. By the grace of God through a variety of life changing events my eyes were opened as well as my ears and my deference to moral relativism was exposed. Over half of my adult life was spent hearing, but not listening, so I have a lot of ground to make up.

Throughout this week we are told about how to prepare ourselves for the future. Jesus warns his disciples about the times to come and that there will be suffering. The word suffering is a reoccurring theme. But we are told to have faith. The various Psalms invoke Gods presence and help for those who follow the Lord. Today as I read the Scripture passages, I am pierced by how the relevant the Word is today. Paul alludes to the persecution that those who follow Christ will endure. There are many who despise the teachings of the Church. Those who are true to the teachings are seen as foolish, out of touch. "The Church itself is a tyranny" or "those Catholics need to get with the times," I have heard. For me the challenge is to stand up to the truths of the Church. I am surrounded my many who know my beliefs, but I am in many cases not willing to speak out when people openly condemn the Church.   Am I afraid of suffering or losing friendships? Yes. 

The intercessions for today in the Magnificat challenge me to pray for courage when our faith is challenged and not fall in the temptation of compromising my beliefs.  It further challenges me not to allow those who profess their Christian beliefs to neglect their duties.  Similarly the intercessions for Saturday which just happen to be on the Feast of St Josephat, who himself worked tirelessly to unite the Eastern and Western churches until his violent death, ask us to pray for unity for the Churches of East and West as well pray for courage during times of discouragement. I believe that there is no coincidence in the Word of God as it applies to our times. We have been warned about what happens to a society when it turns from God by both  Saint John Paul II and by Pope Francis. 

The first reading from Malachi issues a stark warning as well. We are reassuringly told at the end of the reading  that the Lord will shine upon those who fear him. Today's Gospel passage brings on a further challenge in standing up for what we believe. Jesus reassures us that even after all the turmoil and persecution we will be given wisdom to stand for what is right. We shall not need to think about what to say and that through perseverance you will secure your lives.(Lk 21:5-19)  Frightening yes. I see much truth to these passages. 

As I confront all of the past weeks events and think about the future I can become discouraged, anxious and fearful. However, I harken back to the Reinhold Niebuhr prayer that I learned years ago, that has comforted me in times of trial and tribulation "God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference. Living one day at a time; enjoying one moment at time; accepting hardships as a pathway to peace; taking as He did this sinful world as it is, not as I would have it; trusting that He will make all things right if I surrender to His will; that I may reasonably in this life and supremely happy with Him in the next." 

A Struggling Catholic's Lament

If there has ever been a trying time in our nation's history it is now.  As a history teacher with a deep understanding of the trends, this particular time is ever so challenging.  However, above all is my faith in God. This weeks readings and especially today's are a reminder for me that there is only one God. Putting my total faith in leaders and in people only brings me turmoil, anxiety and resentment.

Am I disturbed by the events of this week? For sure as I view the protests and the continued hate that from people who are unable to accept the outcome. Conversely in dealing with people who are directly affected by the political rhetoric that permeated the campaign I am confronted with their anxieties about the future on a daily basis. So I ask myself where is God in all of this? What message is being sent? Where are we going as a nation? I am also being asked by those that I am surrounded by what is next? The weight of the uncertain future has now become a thought in most of my down time.

It seems to me that this is the time that I as a faith believing Catholic must turn to God when overcome with these challenges. John states in his second letter today, "let us love one another." One of Mother Teresa's greatest quotes is  " If you judge people, you have no time to love them.”  It is also one that I heard at least three to four times on the radio while driving to work this week.  In my human frailty I have found myself in the position  to judge on numerous occasions.  And yes I failed. Scared, angry, and broken.  


I am reassured when I read today's response in Psalm 119, "Blessed are they who follow the law of the Lord" and again in Wednesday's Psalm 46, "God is our refuge and our strength, an ever present help in distress." I am reassured when I find the time to sincerely pray that God's will be done and reflect on all that is good. I am reassured that no matter how trying this time the teaching of our faith will prevail and that from this time will rise those who seek reconciliation and peace. God Bless America on this Veteran's day. 

Pursuing the Resurrection

The idea of the Resurrection is confounding for some. Trying to visualize the concept in the human sense brings many questions and doubt. Living out life with the goal life after death is equally as challenging for in doing so become afflicted and we suffer, but with the understanding that we will join others in the Resurrection.

The challenges of our day may not compare to that of the brothers and mother in Maccabees in the way that we are executed to appease an unbelieving leader and his audience, but we are confronted with decisions to live out our Catholic faith by our actions daily whether at work, home, or even the ballot box. It is difficult to live out this faith driven life. Decisions on what to watch on television, what music to listen to, engaging in the banter that permeates social media, and stances on Church teachings are made with the conscious reflection on what is means to be Catholic.

Challenged by those who do not understand our faith and view it as backwards or out of  touch with the times are many.  We find that there are those in the secular world who resemble the Sadducees with their theoretical questions and tests of moral relativism.  All the more reason to become more familiar with the teachings of the Church which have withstood centuries of challenges from the secular world.  Pursuing the Resurrection does not come without adversity. However, as Paul writes in Thessalonians, " the Lord is faithful; he will strengthen you and guard you from the evil one."
And it does seem like the evil one is everywhere.

Knowing that God is the god of the living should provide additional incentive to us as well. For some a keener sense of the word resurrection applies to their own life especially if they have overcome battles with addiction, disease, and personal hardship. With that new sense of life comes a realization that the resurrected Christ is indeed a part of them.  It is as stated in Deuteronomy 30 and I paraphrase "No longer must you pursue God in the sky or across the sea, but it is very near to you in your hearts and mouth, you must carry it out." With this in mind it is not for me to attempt to conjure up what the Resurrection will be like as in my limited capacity as human brings only futility. But what I can do is put my hope in the Risen Christ for life everlasting.

Climbing the tree of mercy

What can compare to God's mercy? As human beings it sometimes is difficult to comprehend. Today's Wisdom passage tells us that "Because you (God) has mercy on all,  because you can do all things. "  Again we are reminded in the Psalm response" The Lord is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and of great kindness." My struggle is accepting this.

As one who has fallen into the darkness of sin and will continue to fall how is it that God accepts me in my brokenness? In my lowest points of my life I was convinced that God did not care about my trials and tribulations.  What I failed to realize is that God always allows the freedom of choice and once I made the decision to follow Him that I would better understand the concept of mercy.  My journey to accepting God's mercy is comparable to that of Zacchaeus climbing the tree. Always feeling unworthy and short I was climbing a tree toward a better view of Jesus not knowing why I was climbing.  Sometimes I would slip and fall as the branches were weak and brittle. Downward I plunged but I always able to grasp another branch that prevented me from hitting a spiritual bottom. As it states again in Wisdom "But you spare all things, because they are your." Here was God's mercy, but yet I was unable to figure this out. Upward I climbed grabbing each branch until finally I was at the top of the tree where I could see clearly. Having a different insight, I allowed God into my being.  Yes, Jesus was going to stay at my house as well.

After many years the realization of God's infinite mercy is becoming more clear. I still question at times why He accepts me in my sinfulness. But through the workings of the Holy Spirit these faults are exposed which then allows me to bring them humbly before God in act of contrition.  My favorite prayer throughout the day continues to be the Jesus prayer.

However more challenging perhaps is why He allows the evil of others to prevail in our world.  I want to judge much like those in today's Gospel, but under different circumstances. Each of these people are climbing their own sycamore tree and as God allowed myself to make free choices, so then are they. Praying for them that they reach the proverbial top and find the gaze of God's mercy and as the psalmist states "The Lord lifts up those who are falling" can bring a sense of peace.

Persistence and Prayer in Turbulent Times

Eternal God, in whom mercy is endless, and the treasury of compassion inexhaustible, look kindly upon us and increase Your mercy upon us, that in difficult moments, we might not despair, not become despondent, but with great confidence, submit ourselves to Your holy will, which is Love and Mercy itself, Amen.  This prayer from the Divine Chaplet of Mercy as prayed by Saint Faustina is quite appropriate today.  I remember some months ago,  a fellow Catholic Blogger member asking that we pray this for our nation in midst of the political turmoil and the contentious election season. Since I can't remember who it was, I want to thank you for this prompting,  for this prayer pamphlet had been sitting on my bedside table for years without use.

Today as I reflected on the Old Testament reading from Exodus, I visualized a tired Moses as he tried to keep his hands up in order to spur on Joshua's troops as they battled with Amalek. Persistent in his efforts, he still needed the assistance of Aaron and Hur in order for his people to be victorious.  Again we hear in the Gospel of the woman who unceasingly badgered the judge for a righteous decision against an adversary.  Paul urges us in his letter to Timothy to be persistent whether it is convenient or inconvenient and again in Philippians 4:5-7 to offer all in prayer to God without anxiety.

I am sure we all have moments in our life in which the effort to put into prayer our petitions seemed beyond reach. The feelings that God was not listening to us, that He did not care, or just general malaise about the events surrounding us. I have encountered some very dark moments in my own life where I just screamed at God, "take this feeling or thorn in my side away, " over and over again.  None of my prayers seemed to be heard or were they? For myself I was looking for the quick fix or answer, not willing to subscribe to the idea of persistence.

Our society is full of quick fixes, but this in itself is contrary to the will of God. If I were given quick answers I would have no need for God after a while. I would as I had experienced in my self-centered world,  that if an answer came quickly it was of my own doing thus I create the image of myself as a knowing God. Many years of brokenness and anger toward God prevailed. But for a merciful God, I have learned some prayer requests are not always answered in my time.  Perhaps this is the lesson I needed. I needed assistance in making my requests known much like Moses who needed to rely on the help of Aaron and Hur or support from fellow Christians who are on the eternal journey.  I also needed and still need to be persistent much like the woman in today's Gospel even when it is not convenient. To the dismay of many in our world today, the Truth is in the Word of God which is life. I face daily challenges in this for it is easier to shrink and not proclaim the Gospel for fear of not being accepted. Prayer and faith as we are told today are the only answer for me, even when I find each and every day as our nation becomes increasingly divided as we approach the November election.

I am healed, now what?

For anyone who has suffered from an affliction whether it be mental, physical, or emotional the longing for freedom from the agony of the tribulation when encountered is gratefully appreciated.
The chains are broken and a new life begins, or does it? Is that person truly changed or do they  revert to the ways of the past?  Gratitude is key here. Accepting that God's role in life is key and be willing to acknowledge it is vital.  As Paul states in his letter to Timothy today, " If we persevere, we shall reign with him. But if we deny him, he will deny us." This being said I always wonder what happened to the nine lepers who did not return to Jesus after being healed. Did they accept their healing dismissively and return to a faithless life?

For those who have a new found freedom from an affliction and accept it as God's will there is a call to proclaim the Good News. For those who overcome a physical affliction or disease the realization there is no longer anymore pain brings on a sense of relief. However, those who overcome emotional or mental conditions such as addictions, the realization is gradual much like the leper who seems to realize that he is healed and that it is part of process. In our society of instant gratification many seek the spontaneous healing, thus not becoming grateful or even realizing a healing moment as they then move onto life as lived before. This process becomes a constant bouncing from one remedy to the next without realizing that the only healer is God himself.

For those of us who accept God's healing power, a gradual transformation takes place.   Notice that Namaan, in today's first reading,  was instructed to go into the waters not once, but seven times. Thus we persevere in our suffering. Perhaps the better word is faith. We try and try again putting our hope in God that we will be healed. Finally after plunging into healing waters as Namaan, our skin becomes white like a child. The sores or wounds of the past have been washed away.

Another thing to consider is that in both the first reading and Gospel those that are healed are outsiders. In our society today we have tendency to ostracize or be indifferent to those who fit the outside label. However, Jesus in his infinite grace heals the Samaritan who by his very existence is shunned by Jews and Namaan being an Assyrian is also an avowed enemy of the Jews of the time. Both men even though they are outsiders make it a priority to give God thanks for infinite mercy and healing grace that is bestowed upon them.

The process is not finished. Being dismissed as faithful servants, we are to become living examples of the life of Christ, to carry the message of healing. The word of God is not chained as Paul states. Therefore it becomes incumbent upon those to proclaim the freedom to fellow sufferers or if you may lepers, which pretty much includes all of us.  There lies the challenge, to carry the message and more importantly having the attitude of gratitude that God's healing gift is upon us daily.

Poverty: What can I do?

The number of times the word poor is utilized in Scripture is over 170 and passages referring to poverty number over 300.  Serving the poor and marginalized is a central theme to Jesus' ministry and a challenge to us who live in a nation of prosperity.  What does poverty look like?  I live in  a county whose homeless population is over 250,000, and the problem confronts me daily.  My daily challenge is what I do about it.

Years ago I was in the downtown area of large local city.  The area was known for its large homeless population who slept on the streets. A man approached me and asked me for a shirt as the weather was cold.  I wasn't prepared to to give the man my shirt even though I could have spared it as I was warmly dressed.  I told him I was unable to provide him with anything. It was also a  time during my life where I was not spiritually grounded and quite immersed in self-centeredness.  However, this image is permanently embedded in my memory.

For me today's Gospel reading challenges me to become more compassionate for those in need. I am reminded of the recent viral video recording of the young man who prayed over a homeless man on the streets of Baltimore. It is a challenge not to turn away from a individual on the streets with a sign asking for assistance, but greet them with a smile or to pray for them. I know the ongoing the debate about what action one should take when a person on the street asks for money.  It is a challenge for me not to judge what they might do with money that is given to them.  It is also a challenge for me to give when I can, even if it is a bottle of water, socks, or granola bar.

A pastor friend of mine helped me answer the question of what to give years ago.  He said if he was able to he would offer to take the person to a local eatery and buy them a meal.  If they refused he would be on his way, but would pray for the person.  More than anything else the issue of poverty and despair provides me an opportunity to be grateful for what I have and give when I am able to.

Poverty also is not just an issue of homelessness, it also spiritual.  How many times do I interact with someone in the spiritual dumps.  What can I do for them? A kind word, a listening ear, and invitation to share my faith are all actions that are consistent with the Gospel message.  I cannot escape the issue, it is daily challenge and how I react must be considered with today's warning in the Gospel as my life depends on it.

Of Slavery and Grace

The image of people worshipping a molten calf in Exodus is disturbing to us who live in the 21st Century, perhaps because it is something that was only done by people who were "uncivilized" or "godless."  Although we in our world do not worship as such, it is clear that many in our society have become slaves to the idols of money, social media, various addictions, and power. Pope Francis even warns those who are practicing of the faith of idolatry when we make shape our image of God to conform to our needs, our desires and comforts. As football season begins we hear some referring to football as religion as the favorite team becomes the center of life for hardcore fans with all of the fanfare, memorabilia, and life revolving around the games being played Saturday and Sunday. Don't get me wrong, I myself am a football fan, but it is not the center of my life. We  also hear of the prodigal son becoming consumed in a life of idolatry spending his inheritance on a life of dissipation.
All of these brings to mind the word slavery.  Not in the historical sense, but in the sense that a person becomes inextricably bonded to a vice or habit.  I have heard of countless homilies that warn of this. Many who have families are consumed by their own children's sporting activities, soccer, baseball, football, etc.  to the point where attending Mass is secondary. Those consumed by a culture of work that demands incessantly that everything must take a back seat to the job become slaves as well. Anyone familiar with addictions can readily identify to the idea of slavery as well as the addiction bonds them to the point where everything else becomes secondary; family, work, and most importantly God.  The person becomes a walking disconnection as nothing else matters but the habit or activity.

However, much like the prodigal son in today's Gospel there is hope. Longing for the better life, at the lowest point of existence, the son stands resolutely and makes his way back to his father.  Amends are made and the father who never lost hope celebrates his lost son coming home with a celebration. We hear of stories of recovery from those who have hit these rock bottoms of life to return to a normalcy. They have found that idolatry and slavery did not provide the fulfilling life once desired. Grace has prevailed. Many of them are welcome back to their own families in a new way of life. Perhaps there is a lesson to be learned here.  A careful examination of life just might reveal an issue that has consumed one's existence. In this Year of Mercy priests worldwide have been advocating the return to  the confessional as a step in the reconciliation process.  As one who avoided this process for years and who was overcome with guilt of my own brokenness and sinfulness when I did attend, I can attest to the experience of son in the Gospel.  It was not until I fully accepted the loving mercy of God did I feel the fulfillment of grace.

The paradox of this experience also presented a challenge of living out the rest of the Gospel passage. As I had and to this day experience God's grace of forgiveness, so to must I also extend this to others. Therein lies the challenge.

Number One and Football Season

It is the beginning of the college football season and as usual the talk is about rankings.  Who is number one? For those people who indulge in fantasy football rankings of players are paramount when drafting for a team as well. Following your favorite team or player becomes an obsession. Peoples life's revolve around when their respective teams play and streaming updates on their drafted fantasy players. When things go sour and team does not perform anger and disenchantment preside. In fantasy football you trade or release a player. However in today's Gospel Jesus makes it clear, we are to follow him as He is the one.  Everything else must take a back seat. We cannot attach ourselves to teams, money, work and especially family.  There are no trades when things don't seem to go our way.  Through thick and thin He is the One.

I always found this passage problematic, primarily as Jesus addressed the crowd saying, "If anyone comes to me without hating his father and mother, wife and children," etc. In my infantile spiritual life I was puzzled by this.  How could I possibly hate my family members and follow Jesus? Moreover the word hate itself is such a strong word. Looking at the context of this passage in its Semitic meaning, Jesus is saying commitment to God is to have primacy in one's life.  Family members are not be abandoned literally but to be released to the care of God. For anyone who has been a parent this can be a challenge.  We all want want is best for our children, but realizing that God's plan for them may not be our plan can be painful.  We become much like the architect  in the Gospel who does not plan properly.  When life takes unexpected turns and the plans we have for our children don't follow script our life seems to crumble.

Submitting to God's plan is not always easy as the cross that is to be carried can be overbearing and extremely heavy. Today's readings from the  Book of Wisdom challenges as well by asking us who can know God's counsel and reminds us that our minds can become overburden with earthly concerns. For myself this is a reminder that despite all challenges surrender to God's will is the remedy. Suffering may take place, but if this brings me closer to God it is worth it. Discernment through prayer in these formidable times set me on the straight path.

So no matter if the top college football team falls and others drop and rise in the national rankings, God's permanency as number one is constant. And for those who are seeking the top ranked fantasy player, there is none. The real player is Jesus and his ranking never drops as he will never drop a ball, fumble, miss a field goal, throw an errant pass or give up a touchdown.

Take the back seat

Humility is a word that seems to be overlooked in today's society especially in the world of Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.  Temptations to publicize our achievements and even works of charity abound.  I am always amazed at how many charitable sites give a person donating to their cause a chance to tweet or post about their action to their respective followers and the rest of the cyber world.  All this aside the struggle to be humble is quite real. The desire to be recognized for our accomplishments seems to be an ingrained human condition.  It is one that I as individual struggle with daily. Yet we read about the great saints and others who go quietly about their way serving without notice.

Sirach tells us to conduct our affairs with humility in the first reading today. Many of us are able to follow this advice fairly well during our daily interactions and activities, but then the temptation comes along where one is tempted to talk about others in order to project our identity. Thus we take the front seat, elevating ourselves above others.  Oh how this temptation looms strong.  In reading the meditation from today's Magnificat Fr. Cajetan Da Bergamo illustrates the struggle vividly. We strive for goodness and virtue with good intentions. We are making progress we think.  We then fall into the same trap we resolved to avoid.

For myself I this is the ever present reminder that I need the grace of God. Perhaps having the realization of these repetitive faulty actions brings us to God in act of contrition. Being humbled by the knowledge that I am not God and never will be is the first step of humility for myself. Oh how would I like to control my environment and the actions of others shaping them into my perfect sculpture of conformity. But not to be. Over and over again I fall from the so called elevated seat to the back row. As Paul states in Romans 7:19 "I do not do the good that I want, but the evil I do not want." And in Romans 7:24, "Miserable one that I am! Who will deliver me from this mortal body?"
Certainly not myself!

Only through the unfathomable grace of God can I survive for the guilt of repetitive sin and failure to resolve my faults on my own is daunting. Taking the back seat and acknowledging the powerlessness of my human condition is humbling, but this action brings me ever closer to the grace of the one who sent His only Son do die for my sins. Lord, Jesus Christ have mercy on me a sinner.

More on discipline

As I entered church for Mass today, I realized that much of today's Gospel passage correlates with the Olympics.  Athletes training for the ultimate reward, standing on the podium in front of the world after competing against the top participants in their respective event.  We see them on television or on the internet while participating, but do we really know their story. I watched an interview yesterday of the Gold Medal holder for the women's triathlon. I don't readily recall her name as I write this, but she talked of the sacrifice she made to become the medalist and of equal importance she mentioned her husband who was a professional cyclist who took up the slack at home in order for her to reach the pinnacle achievement.

As we are know only a few reach the heights of medaling in the games just as we are told about the few that are able to pass through the gate to heaven in the Gospel reading. This is not deny the hard work that many athletes put into training in order just to get to Olympics. Anyone who has trained for for any competition knows that there are sacrifices to be made both personal and physical. We all would like to be recognized on our areas of competition, but it requires training hours and hours of training. Even then one is not guaranteed success.

Having coached, played and watched sports for years I am quite familiar with over confidence.  In track runners are coached to run all the way through the finish line, not take for granted you have won just because you are in front.  In professional sports we hear of teams who don't take the underdog seriously only to lose the final game because of their brashness and presumption that they are going to win.

In order to reach the proverbial podium, disciplined and structured training must be at the center of our life. Sacrifices have to be made, those of worldly concerns, materialism, money, etc. One can never assume that just having label Christian is enough as well as attending Mass. The training must include a steady diet of true practice of forgiveness, compassion, prayer, attending reconciliation, and works of mercy. Just as the athlete follows a diet in order to attain success, we must as well attend to our spiritual diet. Each competition, in our case this could be the trials of life, serves to strengthen us. No athlete instantly makes it to the Olympics or for that matter any athlete does not make to the highest levels of their sport without trials, pain, and sacrifice. Perhaps we should as well endeavor to be like athletes training in order to attain our personal podium with our fellow travelers in heaven as our audience applauding our success.

The Rewards of Discipline

The past week's Gospel passages paint a stark picture of the consequences of following a worldly life.  Being thrown into the fire with the sounds of gnashing teeth, trying to pass through the eye of the needle,  and taking payment for work done in what seems unfair circumstances. Today we are presented with the image of being left at the door of heaven while assuming entry based on our own beliefs and way of life. It is a narrow gate that we must enter.

Let me paint another picture. Many of us have tried to enter a gate or door with bags in our hands, or carrying packages of luggage.  What becomes of the attempt? Bouncing of walls, sometimes falling, bruising ourselves as we try to squeeze through the gate. or door  I have such a gate that leads from the front to the back of my house. Taking our trash containers through the gate must be done carefully or a person ends up brushing against the stucco wall and sometimes scratching hands as the hands scrape against the wall drawing blood. It can be quite frustrating but with time you learn how to maneuver the containers to pass without incident.  The bags, luggage or in my case the garbage containers we carry through the gate is baggage that must be left behind if we are to follow the path to salvation. Leaving the baggage behind can be painful. Whether it be relationships that are no longer fruitful, addictions, habits that keep us in world of consumption, obsession with work and money, all of which have an ultimate price, our disconnection with God. Discipline gives us hope though.

Discipline is commonly thought of as a negative especially if we look at the Old English meaning which is mortification by scourging of oneself. I particularly gravitate towards the more intellectual derivative of the word, that from Latin, instruction and knowledge. The instruction in the various Gospel passages by Jesus and by Paul in his letters provides hope for those who follow the words of Christ, prophets, and New Testament writers. The larger question is how is this done in our secular world?  For many this is the challenge of discipline. Do I want to carve out time daily for prayer and reflection time or do I have to give up watching a television program, checking my social media accounts, e-mail or even five more minutes of work?  Over many years of wrong turns and mistakes I found that I needed discipline.  The time spent in spiritual reading, reflection and prayer allows me to disconnect from my worldly concerns and listen. It also has provided me a deeper knowledge of my Catholic faith which in itself is rich beyond comprehension.  The rewards of this allow me to live a life more peacefully than I ever thought possible. As Paul states in in Hebrews: 12:11 "all discipline seems a cause for not joy, but pain, yet later brings the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those trained by it."  Hardships by dropping the baggage as one tries to figure a way through the gate are part of the pain. Bloodied at times by the sacrifice of worldly ways can be disheartening, but the daily passage through the gate brings us closer to our eternal reward.

Fire

If you were born during the 1960's and even the 1970's you are able to remember a few songs that incorporated the word "fire" in it.  From the Door's Light My Fire, The Ohio Players Fire, James Taylor Fire and Rain, to Springsteen's I'm on Fire, and more recently Alicia Keys' hit This Girl is on Fire. These songs primarily detail the passions that people have for one another in some sense. Other songs deal with themes of fire such as one of my favorites, The Talking Heads Burning Down the House.  All great songs I might say and  I'm sure I could compose a playlist of plenty more. But is this fire good?

Fire for those of us living in the Western United States conjures up images of large scale destruction, forests going up in walls of flames, people hurriedly fleeing the approaching inferno, and massive mobilization of resources. And once the blaze is contained and eventually put out blackened hillsides and skeletons of structures are shown on the news as well as interviews with those who lost most of their possessions.

Let us take a look at what happens with the wildfire. Much of what is burned is old growth whether it be trees or brush. Some of the fires themsevles are actually termed firestorms as the heat and wind that is produced by them is beyond comprehension. After the fire the landscape may seem dead, but what is actually happening is a rebirth albeit slow.  Those people that are affected by the tragic loss of life and possessions find a way to carry on.  Eventually the hillsides are filled with fresh vegetation and slowly but surely seedlings can reappear on parched hillsides.

Jesus says to his disciples; "I have come to set the earth on fire." His passion for saving the world can only be describe as all consuming. He uses language that can be disturbing for many as households will be divided as well as families.  My take on this is that he actually us to discard all things that prevent us from being in union with him. Attachments to worldly possessions,  and even people bring a dependency that is unhealthy. Thus we are deterred from the fulfilling God's purpose for us.  That zeal  that we read about in the saints and those that serve the Lord with passion is the Holy Spirit that can be kindled in each of us.  We can be as those fires which begin as a small spark and be transformed.  People who speak of spiritual awakenings can relate to this as they have learned that they must dispose of all unnecessary attachments and truly depend on God for sustenance and life. As with the once charred hillside that suddenly burst with verdant grass,  a new life begins.  Yes, fire can be good.

Afraid of the Unexpected

By Alvesgaspar - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=43522641

Over the the last two days the Gospel passages deal with the theme of the unexpected. Little did Peter, James and John know that their journey to the top of the mountain with Jesus would expose them to Moses and Elijah as well as being overcome with the voice talking to them in the clouds. Caught in the unexpected they quite know what to do. Likewise we are warned of the impending coming of the master in today's Gospel, and the consequences of not being prepared.

So what should we make of this?  Perhaps understanding that traveling with Jesus requires a unwavering faith.  The master can arrive at any time therefore we should be ready.  For me this readiness means having an active prayer life which begins as soon as I awake and continues throughout the day with recognition that I am not in control of situations at work, home and other daily encounters, and surrendering the moments of difficulty and culminating with a nightly examen of my activities.  My hope is that I  will be ready, but not at a loss of words such as Peter, James and John.

This journey to preparedness has not been easy. There are moments which life seems to throw a curveball; family illnesses, deaths and conflict, financial challenges, work conflicts, the trials of parenthood, personal issues, all of which bring fear and uncertainty. None of these occasions was expected.  For myself each time I venture into the prediction game or draw a scenario out of how I would like a particular challenge to play out, I either make a mess of it, or after some reflection and prayer I allow the infinite graces of my Master into the situation. I guess this is type of preparedness even though I don't know the outcome.

Of course there are those unexpected moments that we don't have time to reflect, they just happen. It is in the time after that I must allow God into the situation as bad or good as it may seem.  For myself the current events in the world and in our nation bring out much trepidation and anxiety.  Where are we headed as a nation? Will I be financially secure to retire when I want to? What world will my adult children inherit? As a Boy Scout I remember the Scouts motto "Be prepared."  Faithfully I must also adhere to the Gospel message as well to face the daily challenges of this life as well as the afterlife. Be prepared.

You are anxious and worried about many things

How true are these words to us in our world of devices, instant news, and immediate gratification? Even in work we find ourselves consumed with multiple roles and then becoming disillusioned and upset when others don't seem to pick up the slack. There is no doubt that there are some who are leaders and some that are followers but keeping true to the Gospel passage today it is important to keep things in perspective. Why am I upset about the tasks that I have taken up? Am I doing these things in order to be recognized, to be elevated to a position of superiority, or am I truly serving the Lord?

In my daily life I find myself consumed at times with worries about money, work and household tasks, my children, and the general future of our nation and world. The necessity to immediately answer the e-mail or text takes precedent to carving out quiet time. What becomes of these anxieties?  Even those who are associated with the work of Lord and Christian charity find themselves overwhelmed with business of the day.  All of this brings discouragement which itself disconnects us from mercy of Lord.  "Why are they not doing something?" one may ask.  "Why don't they respond to my text, SnapChat, or e-mail quickly?" A better question is how much time have I spent with Lord today? Have I spent time as Mary at the Lord's feet listening?

The Potter's Wheel

As a child I was fortunate to have the experience of using a potter's wheel as my father taught ceramics at our local high school.  I looked forward to the time spent trying to form a cup or vase. There were a few simple rules about molding something from clay; keep the clay moist which meant occasionally splashing small bits of water on the mound spinning on electric wheel or dipping your hands in the water and then resuming the work on clay, don't increase the speed of the wheel too fast or the clay will fly off,  and clean up.  Other than that my father allowed my brother and myself with a watchful eye to experiment.

In today's reading we read about Jeremiah and the potters house.  From my limited experience on the potter's wheel I find some connections to the passage. Keeping the clay moist as an object is formed reminds me of the spiritual cleansing or Sacrament of Reconciliation that needs to take place as we journey to the Kingdom of heaven. Every now and then water needs to be splashed upon us in the form of God's infinite mercy for us to become the image God intended us to to be.  Increasing the speed of the wheel which forms a imperfect object or causes the clay to fly off correlates to the futile attempt to live life in today's world full of immediate gratification, materialism, rage,  and cultural relativism. We become disengaged with our truer sense of what is right and slide off the wheel into the depths of sin.  Fortunately God in his infinite mercy is there to pick us up and place us in the center of the wheel to begin the process of forming a object of beauty only if we allow Him to do so and place our life in his hands.

As the clay spins the potter takes the various tools to add grooves to the object and using his hands sometimes squeezing the clay an image begins to appear from the blob. The excess clay from the use of the tools is thus removed much like the bad fish in today's Gospel. Little by little the once blob of clay takes form.  Once finished it is fired and glazed.  As one can see God's work is never done with us as we are the proverbial piece of clay.

Even after we have made the conscious decision to give up our life to God, we need to be dusted off, cleaned, and shined as to become the true image of God's work in us.  Taking this in mind let us reflect not only us as the object that is being formed, but how we can through God's grace also assist in formation of others around us.

Passing by on the other side

The Gospel story of the Good Samaritan always strikes a chord with me.  It reveals my self-centeredness and lack of compassion which can be difficult to reconcile with. Years ago I was in a downtown area of a large city and was approached my a homeless man who was looking for an additional shirt to keep him warm from the elements which at the time were quite frigid. I was fully decked out in multiple layers of clothing and told the man I could not spare anything at the time. That in itself was not true as I had been blessed with a good job, adequate housing and clothing, but I proceeded on my business in the area not thinking anything of my actions.  However that image still haunts me today.

I was as the just like the priest and the Levite in the Gospel a passerby not willing to be a laborer for God's work.  In a world full of self-centeredness there seems to be a lack of compassion towards those less fortunate. However, there is a Good Samaritan in all of us.  Some people have a natural inclination to helping the needy, poor, and homeless.  They are as the State Farm commercial says "a good neighbor." If you struggle in this area try reading this book, Love, Skip, and Jump by Shelene Bryan.  It has helped me to to carry out the Gospel message of the Good Samaritan with a wealth of ideas.  Carrying a small care package in your car of socks, a bottle of water, hotel toiletries from recent trips and a granola bar was one that appealed to me.

But the struggle still goes on. There are endless numbers of homeless and ill people on the streets where I live. I can choose to look the other way when I am driving by or a quick prayer can be all that I offer. I believe that we are called to be a good neighbor.

We need mercy

In response to the tragic violence in Orlando this morning and violence that consumes our nation daily I am not writing but praying the Chaplet of Divine Mercy. Please join me. Divine Mercy Chaplet

Raising the dead

In today's zombie and vampire saturated television experience the seemingly dead seem to be running amok. Real life does not mirror these shows fortunately, or does it? In both the Book of Kings and the Gospel of Luke Elijah and Jesus raise a dead person to life. Imagine today if we saw a similar occurrence, how might we react? I find that because of my spiritual blindness that these occurrences might be happening around me daily, but because I tend to focus on the biblical description of dead coming to life I probably do not recognize a person that is spiritually dead coming to life.

How many people in my daily encounters have overcome some tragedy or affliction only to carry on and accomplish the extraordinary? Because our culture focuses more on the negative aspect of life, the news cycle is a constant hum of brokenness and vitriol, we tend to see or hear about these stories. "See! Your son is alive," Elijah states to the widow. What may seem to be dead by our perspective can come to life.

We can look to Paul's story in Galatians today and know that one of strongest persecutors of the early Church can be changed. Paul states on many occasions that he was dead and is now alive.  If Paul's life was resurrected, certainly those who we may see as having little hope or who have caused us great pain and suffering can have a life altering experience. We may not see Jesus, but know that the Holy Spirit is working through others to cause this change. Having the tendency to doubt is certainly part of our society as well. I find that through prayer for those that may have caused pain and suffering some of this doubt about a person's newly found life can be overcome. Remembering that all things are done in God's time not mine is important as well. "I believe, help me in my unbelief," cries out the centurion when he comes upon Jesus and pleas for his aid for his sick son. Likewise help me in my own unbelief that others can be changed.

No Longer Just a Story

We hear of the multiplication of the loaves and fish today as we celebrate the Solemnity of the Corpus Christi. It is story that we associate with the Eucharistic celebration during Mass as well as one that many of us remember from the picture bibles of our childhood. The people reclining on the grass, the baskets, the loaves, along with Jesus and the disciples in the colorful portrait.

However, I was prompted to reflect much deeper on this passage as our deacon in his always thought provoking discourse of scripture passages asked us to probe deeper into Luke's Gospel. He took us through the passage to the point where the disciples ask Jesus to send the crowd away.  Jesus replies "Give them some food yourselves." We all know what proceeds. Simply said the deacon's message was we are blessed with many loaves or talents and we are asked to feed others.  This insight had me thinking more profoundly.

The talents that I am given are not of my doing, but from the grace of God. However, I must rely on God to uncover these talents.  When I eat of the loaves I am united with my brothers and sisters in the body of Christ. If I am focused on my own needs, my own self-centeredness, I neglect the body of Christ or as Pope Francis states, "We are torn from him when we are disobedient." These talents are loaves which can be multiplied by actions of love and forgiveness. It is only a matter of me finding these through prayer and reflection. But what about the Blood of Christ?

The connection I see here is that I must make sacrifices to be able to love.  Of course none of my sacrifices are comparable to those who truly gave up their lives to carry out the Gospel message.  "Can you drink from my cup?"  Jesus ask in Mark earlier this week. Perhaps I can drink of the cup is some small way. It is carrying out the message of of serving, instead of being served, loving, instead of seeking to be loved that I become part of the Body of Christ. As a broken individual full of sin, I find that the St. Francis prayer is of great solace, thus I seek God to reveal the loaves so that I can feed the hungry, the suffering, the ill.

Recognizing the Holy Spirit

A whisper in my conscience guides me to take a action of love that which gives me great joy inside.  I would like to think that this is because I am such a nice person. Upon further reflection I realize that this is the Spirit working in me.  I ponder this.  So how long did it take for me to recognize the Spirit?  When is the Spirit working within the recesses of my soul?

A Google search takes me to look for how many books have been written on the Holy Spirit. "Encountering the Spirit,"  "Receiving the Spirit," and host of thousands of other books have been published on the topic.  All the titles seem intriguing, but I would rather look to today's readings for guidance. Paul writes in both the first letter to the Corinthians and late to the Romans about receiving the Spirit in which he talks of spiritual gifts being given in some manner to individuals and of being in the flesh and not being able to please God.

It took me many years to figure this out.  The idea that there are many types of service and that this service actually is understanding God's will and carrying it out was quite foreign to me. I was that person who was living in the flesh that St. Cyril states of , "it is quite natural for  people who have been absorbed by the things of this world to become entirely otherwordly in outlook." I can say I haven't reached this state but certainly understand the concept and try to live it out daily.  The struggles of the world can be all consuming, but it is with the grace of God, the manifestation of the Spirit that I receive reprieve. I am faced with the temptation to judge and condemn daily, to rage at the craziness of the events that seem to be the only focus of the media, and the temptation to carry out the myriad of other sins that reside in me.

Realizing that as Paul conveys so clearly "that if you live according to flesh, you will die, but if you live by Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live," my only source of life is not what I sometimes gravitate to, that of recognition and achievements, but recognizing when the Spirit is working in me.  This state of consciousness forces me out of myself, to see the burdens of others, to provide a helping hand, or at least pray for the wellbeing of those that are suffering.  It is movement within, not of my own doing, that  provides none other than true life. It is that small voice that questions an action that I am attempting to take.  Some might refer to this as our conscience. I however, prefer to recognize this as the Spirit working within me.

Left Standing

We have all been left standing speechless and in awe at one time or another in our lives.  As avid sports fan there are quite a few moments in my life where I have seen game ending shots, spectacular catches, monumental home runs, or indescribable goals.  Likewise we have snapshots of some world event that had left us speechless. What follows is usually a statement such as "Did you see that" or "I can't believe what I just saw." Imagine the disciples who had seen numerous miracles performed by Jesus and were foretold of his ascension to the Father? Stuck in moment in time, perhaps wanting to hold onto the moment for what they had experienced over the time they had been with Jesus was in itself was difficult to put into words.

What follows is the actions which are the beginning of the Church. The Advocate becomes real and no longer are the disciples still, but become men of action. Many of us have experienced the living Jesus in the form of our interactions with others and have carried the message of love, charity, and forgiveness to the ends of the earth. This is the Gospel message.

Likewise is the challenge. Being moved by the Spirit and taking action. Living in a secular society and talking of such experiences creates tension for those unfamiliar with the Gospel message.  I find this myself as I ponder how do I spread the Gospel? I have heard quite often the quote, "How does one know that you are Catholic?" Do my actions and or words mirror those of a person of God? Daily reflection indicates on some days yes and other days it seems the Spirit in me is quite absent as I am filled with resentment, anger and other defects of character.

Back to left standing. Many people have read or heard the quote attributed to St. Francis, "Preach the Gospel at all times. When necessary use words." Although these are not the exact words from the great saint, the quote is a reminder to me that I don't have to be overcome with the fear of actually preaching or quoting verses of the Bible (of which I am not proficient) in some teachable moment. It is my actions which can reveal the Holy Spirit alive in me. Actions of charity, compassion, forgiveness. Actions of a kind word to a suffering colleague, to a person in the pews at Mass on Sunday, or praying for a loved one that may have hurt me in some way.  No longer standing, but being moved by the Spirit. Blessings on this Ascension Day and Blessed Mother's Day for all those mothers who have moved us out of comfort zones by their examples of living out the Gospel message.

What is this peace thing?

I have often pondered over today's Gospel passage in which Jesus proclaims, "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give it to you." So what type of peace do we have in the world or better yet how does the world give us peace and how does that contrast with peace of Christ. If there is peace in the world it is hard to find amidst all the violence and vitriol that seems to flood the news cycle and social media circuit.

As my pastor said today "the peace that is proclaimed is not the absence of war." However, that is what we are lead to believe.  Perhaps that is why Jesus states, "not as the world gives us peace."
We are lead to believe that we can find peace in comfort and the transitory awards of  material things.  When we have these and financial security peace permeates our being or does it? Time and time again we see that people that "have it all" become emotional wrecks as they seek to fill themselves with the inescapable thirst for something fulfilling.  Many of us have had similar experiences as the drive to fulfill career and family responsibilities becomes all consuming. If we have this position we will be at peace or if we have this salary we will  no longer worry about financial insecurity.

On a global scale if one nation stops escalations does peace then exist?  Maybe between nations which in itself is good, but then action or words seems bring on tensions once again.  This peace is short lived. Treaties are signed, conflict arises, treaties are broken, war starts again. Differentiating between the Gospel version of peace and human peace is important.

So what does Jesus give us?  He promises us a place in his house where there are many rooms. In Revelations the new Jerusalem is radiating beyond any human description where God's people may rest.  Search on the web "To be at peace with oneself" and you will find any number of entries beginning with Buddhism, psychology, motivational websites and the list goes on to 189,000,000 more. If I can't be at peace with myself then knowing that Jesus is the only lasting peace that is reassuring. Going to Him with my troubles, anxieties, and tensions in prayer at any given time provides the inner peace.  Yes, it took many decades to figure this out, but I think I have the found the answer. May the peace of the Risen Christ be with you.

The Greatest Commandment and Most Difficult Commandment

"I give you a new commandment." For most of us this new commandment is the most difficult. "Love one another" resonates as I am driving on my daily commute enduring erratic driving and wanting to rage as I am frequently cut off by a speeding driver.  "Love on another" as a colleague takes an action that does not fit my expectations.  "Love one another" as I hear the constant barrage of acerbic comments in the current political season.  "Love one another" as I change the dial to listen to sports radio and the commentary is about the latest incident of a sports star.  "Love on another" as a family member makes a hurtful comment. "Love one another" as I hear the latest acts of violence globally and locally.

"If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love." Quite challenging in this day and age. Living in a cave devoid of human contact might seem easier.  However, that is not our calling.  We are called to experience life on life's terms as difficult as it might seem.  Perhaps we are called to spread the Gospel in ways we have not yet realized.  One can never know how an action of love can make a difference.

I think of today's reading from Acts as Paul and Barnabas  ventured into unknown territories to preach the Gospel.  How many times did they encounter rejection and yet persevered under the most challenging circumstances. Love another they did. "Behold, I make all things new," are the words we hear in the Book of Revelation. Forgiving, a word that is shunned in our society, is where a call to love begins for many.

My call to love today begins with those whom I encounter. It is a call to make a radical change in my actions and thoughts.  That change begins with surrendering my self-centered expectations and consider the words of the psalmist "Lord make me know your ways. Lord, teach me your paths."

The Doubt and Mercy Connection

Years ago I remember a homily given on this day by the abbot of the monastery where I attended Mass.  He said that he fittingly was named Thomas and then proceeded to give a beautiful homily on about the only disciple who recognized Jesus as both Lord and God.  As I contemplated this sermon I wondered what it would be like to make the connection as Thomas did especially after stating his unbelief to the others when he was told of the Resurrection. But there is something else here in the passage that can be easily overlooked, mercy.

Doubt in God and his infinite grade is something that is quite human as well as something that I struggle with daily.  The various tests and pains that are very much are part of daily life can be questioned as if God is out to wreak havoc with our plans.  I can doubt God's existence when the landscape is littered with inhumane acts, vitriol, and hate. But what if Jesus presented himself to me just as he did with Thomas?  Would I readily accept the invitation to touch the wounds which were incurred so that I may have everlasting life? Quite daunting. I am ill prepared for such an experience or have I been blinded by my self-centered humanity.

What I fail to realize is that Jesus is present daily.  He is the homeless man or woman at the exit off the freeway.  He is the person at work who is dealing with tasking situation in caring for an elderly parent. He is person in our family who is difficult.  We do not see Thomas being condemned for his unbelief by his peers nor do we see Jesus rejecting him.  Instead Jesus extends his hands of mercy so that he may believe. I feel that we are being asked to do the same. In the last line of the today's Gospel we are exhorted to believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that through this belief you may have life in his name. Doubt is overcome with faith through the Mercy of the Divine.