A Regular Joe: 2015

Sunday, December 27, 2015

WITH GREAT ANXIETY!

I enjoy listening to Stephen Ray, he get so excited about finding scriptural connections as he constantly engages scripture. As I reflected on scripture this week one work jumped out at me, "anxiety". Remember in the third week of advent, during our preparation time for the birth of Jesus, Paul exhorts the Philippians from, his prison cell to, “Have no anxiety at all, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, make you requests known to God.” (Phil 4:6) and in today’s gospel reading we hear Mary engage Jesus with, “Son, why have you done this to us? Your father and I have been looking for you with great anxiety.” (Lk 2:48) What happened to having no anxiety at all?

The truth is there is but one kind of story that will hold our attention and feed our anxieties more than a missing child. “Did she run away?” “Will they find her?” “Has he been kidnapped?” “Is he still alive?” The closer the family connection the greater the anxiety and with each passing day we fear the worst until suddenly one day the child turns up and is reunited with the parents, and millions of people who have been following the story breath a collective sigh of relief. Even with this seemingly happy ending, it may not be quite over; there are questions to be answered. That’s what Mary and Joseph went through for three long days, for no apparent reason, their son disappeared.[1]

Even if you are not married, or don’t have children of your own, you know raising a family brings with it all kinds of highs and lows. Children make their parents proud and disappoint them, make them laugh and cry, make them worry and remind them to lighten up. To bring them up right, you have to play seemingly conflicting roles. You must be both demanding and reasonable. You have to challenge them even as you affirm them. You must know when to keep a short leash, and when to let go. And you have to do it differently for each child!

Since the Annunciation, Mary understood the importance of her child, but her adoration must have been matched by a sense of fearful foreshadowing. Remember Simeon’s words, “Behold, this child is destined for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be contradicted and you yourself a sword will pierce so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.” (Lk 2:34-35) If she worried, it was not in vain. One of the most beautiful glimpses into Mary’s parenting can be found here in Luke, where we read, “…his mother treasured all these things in her heart.” (Lk 2:51) Yes, Mary is blessed among women, but that blessedness comes with a great burden of responsibility. And with all of that, Mary models to us a bit about parenting all children here. She shows us a bit about life in general, because Mary learned to treasure things. Even in those times when she was frustrated and angry with Jesus for disappearing and allowing her to think that the worst had happened to him, she treasured things.[2]

How do we treasure things? Camera phones, Facebook, Youtube. We plan special trips the Disneyland and dress our children up in cute outfits at the theme parks, then our memories will be even better! Don’t forget the scrapbooking. We need the acid-free paper, special scissors and particular albums to make sure that we treasure our moments properly. But as we buy the products that manufacture memories for our consumption, are we able to take delight in our children? Somehow Mary managed to treasure all of those things without a smartphone.

With a media that manufactures fear, we can become overwhelmed by worry and concern. With the marketing of memories, we can become more interested in what we do not have than what we have. And with the simple realities of parenting, we can become so preoccupied with the sleeplessness, messiness, and chaos that we forget to treasure things. But can we learn from Mary?

I can tell you this as the grandparent of a 21 month old grandson that I have learned to treasure so much more. I believe our daughter gets it as evidenced by her facebook post that reads, “You will never have this day with your children again. Tomorrow they’ll be a little older than they were today. This day is a gift. Just breathe, notice, study their faces and little feet. Pay attention. Relish the charms of the present. Enjoy today, it will be over before you know it.” Watching the messiness of my daughter’s family life helps me recall the memories of my own children’s upbringing. We had our share of sleeplessness, messiness and chaos; and I wouldn’t trade those treasured memories for anything in the world.

Jesus, Mary, and Joseph were not plaster saints; they were real people, going through the same highs and lows that we experience. They remind us that, no matter what happens in a family, wounds are never too deep to heal. Let me repeat this, no matter what happens in a family, wounds are never too deep to heal. There were probably some neighbors who thought Mary didn’t do such a good job as a parent. After all, her son was executed as a criminal. That’s how much they knew.[3]

New American Bible: 1 Samuel 1:20-22, 24-28; 1 John 3:1-2,21-24; Luke 2:41-52

Sunday, December 20, 2015

THE PRESENT OF PRESENCE

As the saying goes, “It’s the thought that counts” when it comes to giving out gifts. Right?! However, have you ever received a gift from your partner that made you want to say, “Seriously, what were you thinking?”

With Christmas a few days away and only a few opportunities left to go out and get something nice for your loved ones, I thought this would be a good time to discuss the 10 worst gifts a man can get his partner:

#10 Nothing. It doesn’t matter if she told you she wanted nothing, this is code talk for, “We’ve been together long enough, you should be able to figure out what I would like for Christmas

#9 Cash. Often my wife gives me a list, but then I catch her buying the these same things on my list for her. It makes sense just to give her a card with cash so she can get whatever she wants.

#8 Home Depot Gift Card. While there are some women who would love a HD Gift Card, the norm would suggest a question like; “who are you getting the gift for anyway?”

#7 Framed Picture of Yourself. This might smack a bit to narcissistic for her.

Now the next 5 items might also beg the question, “What are you trying to say?”

#6 Cooking Stuff.

#5 Gym Membership

#4 Weight Loss Plan/Book

#3 Weight Watchers Scale

#2 Personal Hygiene Supplies (i.e. wrinkle remover)

And the #1 worst gift a man can get his partner for Christmas is a vacuum cleaner.

There is no doubt this may have just made someone’s last minute Christmas rush to find just the right gift a little more stressful. As we celebrate the fourth Sunday of Advent it is human nature to be focused on the “presents”—the gifts of Christmas. Yet the Church, in her infinite wisdom, gives us a gospel to ponder and pray over that will grab our attention away from the shopping and remind us that indeed it is our “presence” that is much more important than the “presents” we will give and receive.

Mary’s visitation is not about her own pregnancy but rather reaching out to others, in this case her cousin, Elizabeth. Let’s put Mary’s gift of “presence” into perspective. It really is a well thought out gift! Mary knows her cousin, in her advanced age, is 6 months pregnant home with her husband who is also advanced in years and mute. Mary knows Elizabeth won’t be able to go to the market, to draw water, or look after the crops. Keep in mind: this is not a walk around the block for Mary! It is a 78 mile trek, by foot and donkey by a pregnant 14 year old. There is no mention in scripture of housewarming gifts in tow, food platers or wrapped baby gifts. Rather, Mary filled with the divine presence gives Elizabeth the gift of her “presence”. Her gift acknowledged first by a joyous leap of John the Baptist in his mother’s womb. “When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the infant leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit, cried out in a loud voice and said, “Most blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. And how does this happen to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me?” (Lk 1:41-42) Mary’s present of presence is an unexpected gift for Elizabeth.

It is interesting to note the importance given to this meeting, as it is the only time in the New Testament that there is a dialogue recorded between two women. This would be a good biblical trivial pursuit question at your Christmas family gathering.

In a few days we will celebrate the birth of Mary’s child: Jesus, the Son of God, the Son of Mary, born fully human and fully divine. Our Christmas present is the perfect presence of the Christ Child.

For the men out there, that may have to rethink their gifts, it’s easy to go online and order a present, or drop by the mall and pick up a gift—but the gift of ourselves, to make time to be with another, that’s a gift that many people long for but do not receive at Christmas. As I write this I’m thinking of people in nursing homes, hospitals, jails and the homeless that may be experiencing Christmas as another normal day of being rousted to move on. In my opinion, there is no greater gift that we can give than ourselves, our presence, our time. How do we find the courage and the strength to do this?

The answer lies in the reason we are gathered around the Eucharistic table. We come to this table with all our joys and sorrows to be nourished by the greatest gift Jesus gave us—his physical presence, his body and blood.[1]

The present of presence is so powerful that people, who do not regularly practice their faith, will make their annual pilgrimage with family to be in community with us and pack local churches. While this may create a parking lot nightmare and you may not get to sit in your self-designated pew. Please do not ask them to get out of your seat! Try a different approach, introduce yourself, welcome them, and find another seat on this special day, because these pilgrims are there to satisfy their hunger and thirst for this the greatest present the world has ever received, His holy and perfect presence.

In this Jubilee Year of Mercy your present of presence can begin with your prayers of mercy for the 5 people you choose as part of Project 5. To learn about Project 5 follow this youtube link: http://youtu.be/_6FzWrNFLgM

Scriptures: Micah 5:1-4a; Hebrews 10:5-10; Luke 1:39-45

Sunday, December 6, 2015

DEMANDING SEASONS

I believe there is a fundamental rhythm to every aspect of our life. In his book The Art of Exceptional Living, Jim Rohn uses the rhythm of the 4 seasons to explain 4 life lessons. Each season makes its demands of us. By becoming aware of them, learning them, and applying them in our own seasonal rhythm of life, there is no doubt these lessons will aid us in our Advent journey.

Handle the winters

Every year, winter comes. It always comes. We deal with it by preparing for it. Whether it’s changing our clothing, changing our way of life, or changing our location, we always get ready for winter; because we know it’s coming. The same applies to our life. Rough times WILL come. No life goes smoothly without a problem from beginning to end. Thus, we have to prepare for its demands physically and spiritually, so when it does come, we are not stuck in the cold without a coat. Be ready to handle the winters in life, to recognize the signs, so that in the midst of winter’s harsh demands we can “… stand erect, head raised … for your redemption is at hand.” (Lk 21:34)

Take advantage of the spring

Spring follows winter. It’s a time where opportunities arise. Flowers blossom and creatures come out of their hibernation. The same thing applies within our lives. After a challenging time, we will be faced with a great opportunity. It is our duty to take full advantage of the springs when they pop up. This is our moment to plant the seeds of greatness to come. We never see all the beauty that is life and nature on this planet decide not to awaken one year in the spring! It does because it’s meant to do so. Jesus’ great birth story doesn’t end in the tomb; it rises to new life, to a more intimate relationship with God and his human family. Let’s hold our own existence to that same standard. Make your springs the springboard to getting where you want to go, to who God created us to be.

Protect your summer

After planting our seeds in the spring, soon the summer will come. This is a time where we can reap the benefits of our crops. As well as being a time of joy and comfort, it’s also a time to be careful. Jim Rohn points out that “all good will be attacked”, the enemy of our salvation is a cunning master of deceit. If we are not careful, lulled into complacency of a job well done, our crops can either be stolen, destroyed, or spoiled. Therefore, we must do whatever it takes to protect our crops. I am confident of this, that the one who began a good work in you will complete it until the day of Christ Jesus.” (Phil 1:6) We can be confident that we “… are remembered by God.” (Bar 5:5) He will make lofty mountains low and fill age-old depths and gorges, leading us with mercy and justice. (Bar 5:7)

Take responsibility in the fall

As the autumn comes, the trees change color, lose their leaves, and the weather gets cooler. As we gear up for another winter, it is the best time to take full responsibility of what happened in the previous seasons, the good, the bad, and the ugly. This is the time where we can open ourselves to learning the lessons that the previous seasons taught us and put everything into perspective. They say that the fall is the time of the year where there is more depression than any other time. In part, this is due to people not taking such responsibilities nor learning from previous successes and/or mistakes. Only by doing so can we be ready once more to handle another winter that is coming, and plan for the following spring & summer.[1]

The season of Advent also has its demands. Advent says: “Wait.” It says, “Prepare.” It says, “Repent.” It says, “Convert.” Its patron saint isn’t the Baby Jesus—it’s John the Baptist. And today, he’s in a prison, a wretched hole in the ground, waiting for Jesus to come to his rescue. Just like you and me, sometimes: sitting in a hole of pain, suffering, anxiety, or worse, waiting for Jesus to come to our rescue. Today’s Gospel tells us that in the midst of the darkness and disorientation of our times a light will come, in a form we can understand, embrace and engage in a relationship of hope, where “all flesh shall see the salvation of God.” (Lk 3:6)

Let’s not allow the season of Advent to run its course without responding to its demands. Sure, we can ignore it, jump right to excitement of Christmas, if we want to. But we’ll miss the chance to do what Advent demands: quiet reflection, prayer, repentance, and conversion in anticipation of the Lord coming to our rescue.

I promise you: He will come![2]

Scriptures: Baruch 5:1-9; Philippians 1:4-6, 8-11; Luke 3:1-6

Sunday, November 29, 2015

DO OVER!

I remember as a kid playing backyard games with the neighbors and other local friends. Occasionally, one of us would screw our turn up horribly and you’d hear “Do Over!” Even as an adult we are not immune to this desire, as an adult it sounds like this, “Mulligan!” It is our way of expressing the desire to have another shot at it, to give ourselves another chance at being as good as we believe we are.

In their book, “Can I Get a Do Over?”, Rick Domeier and Max Davis tell the story of René Uzé who built his dream life from the ground up. He knew he was born to cut hair, and in high school he started doing so using his bedroom as a salon, first cutting the hair of his team mates, then the cheerleaders wanted him to cut their hair and then their parents became clients. Eventually, he owned one of the most successful high-end salons in New Orleans. Just as life seemed perfect, Hurricane Katrina hit. Literally everything René had worked for was lost. As he was putting his life back together, he was diagnosed with Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia. With fearlessness and ambition, René has defied his cancer and his doctor's expectations. He now owns two successful salons in the Baton Rouge, LA area where he relocated after Hurricane Katrina. Talk about a Do Over!

Well look around the sanctuary this morning. It looks, it sounds, it feels, it even smells like Advent. The wreaths, purple vestments, hymns, familiar biblical text. There’s enough snow dropping in the Northeast that they’re going to have to pull out the snow mobiles & horse drawn carriages. The Salvation Army bell ringers are out. Kids are counting the days until Christmas. Here we go…again.¹

But it doesn’t get any better. I’m not talking about our singing or the opportunities here to serve the church, you know what I mean—life, the world, the struggles, the suffering, the kingdom coming on earth as it is in heaven kind of thing. I’m talking about the big picture out there; ok maybe in here (in the heart)…it doesn’t get any better. Advent and this do-over thing!!

Each year many preachers and retreat masters will go to great lengths to try to explain the apocalyptic literature in the Bible, every Advent, every do-over. Yet when we stop to think about it, such apocalyptic consciousness is not just about biblical literature. Nor is it only in video games and fantasy novels. More than 6,800 American soldiers have been killed in Iraq and Afghanistan. More than 52,000 have been wounded. According to the US Census statistics, 46.7 million people live in poverty, 16 million of those were children. 1 in 5 children in the United States live in poverty, 2.2 billion in the world! Statistics of apocalyptic proportions. Words with apocalyptic connotations are everywhere. Words like rampage, surge, famine. Workplace, family, random violence, war on drugs, pandemic. Preachers don’t prime your apocalyptic imagination. The world already takes care of that. It’s never far from home either. Every time we gather as the Body of Christ, you know there is someone whose daily battle is beyond description. Someone who is living a story of endurance and perseverance, a family member struggling with addictions, someone labeled as a “surviving spouse”. Life and how when Advent comes around, yeah—it doesn’t seem to be getting any better.¹

In the Gospel we hear Jesus tells his disciples, “There will be signs … that will leave this world in dismay and perplexed...” (Lk 21:25) and to “beware that your hearts do not become drowsy … with the anxieties of life.” (Lk 21:34) To “be vigilant at all times and pray… (Lk 21:36).

When these signs appear, when life’s challenges happen, Jesus said, when that’s how it feels, when the Advent do-over just isn’t working … right then, stand up and raise your head, because redemption is drawing near. Your redemption. Your salvation. Your liberation. Your forgiveness. Your new life is drawing near. God is drawing near. Jesus is drawing near. Not just because the calendar marches on, not just because we’re on the clock, but because life happens.

The Real Presence of Christ is present here. Just as he promised, “I am here, this is my body broken for you, this is my blood shed for you.” Forgiveness, Liberation, Salvation, Redemption. Take and eat, drink my blood, “…stand erect and raise your heads for your redemption is at hand.” (Lk 21:28) The sacramental, apocalyptic promise of God.

In an unpredictable world, God assures us of his care. In the midst of our vulnerability, God comes as the most vulnerable of all, a new born child.² Can you imagine how individuals, congregations, and other communities might grow if we embraced this do-over time to clarifying and strengthening our ability to stand, head raised in the midst of our own vulnerabilities by the end of November next year?³ Neither can I, but it sounds worthy of our best “Do Over” effort.

References:

Scriptures: Jeremiah 33:14-16; 1Thessalonians 3:12-4:2; Luke 21:25-28, 34-36

Sunday, November 8, 2015

LETTING GO

A father takes his son into the forest, blindfolds him and leaves him alone. He is required to sit on a stump the whole night and not remove the blindfold until the rays of the morning sun shine through it. He cannot cry out for help to anyone. Once he survives the night, he is a MAN. He cannot tell the other boys of this experience, because each lad must come into manhood on his own. The boy is naturally terrified. He can hear all kinds of noises. Wild beasts must surely be all around him. Maybe even some human might do him harm. The wind blew the grass and earth, and shook his stump, but he sat stoically, never removing the blindfold. It would be the only way he could become a man! Finally, after a horrific night the sun appeared and he removed his blindfold. It was then that he discovered his father sitting on the stump next to him. He had been at watch the entire night, protecting his son from harm.

Although the author of the story was not shared, at my first reading it had the feel that it may be rooted in Native American spirituality. So it wasn’t hard for me on the first read to imagine not just the father but other braves stealthily surrounding the boy, which in turn brought back memories of my brothers and sisters in arms, these are the men and woman who have or are sitting on the stump to protect us, our communities, and country. Men and women who volunteer to protect and serve. Who, by God’s grace, find the courage to ignore the conventional wisdom to run from danger, but to run headlong into the fire fight, the burning building and other crisis situations with full knowledge of the potential cost of their very lives.

I’m going to ask for your partial participation in my homily today. Reach into your pockets or purses and take out two coins and simply hold them in your hands; I will come back to them later.

Today’s Gospel is broken into two sections. First we are introduced to the scribes, who are strutting around in their long robes, reciting long public prayers, sitting in places of honor, and taking advantage of widows. They fancy themselves as master teachers and future prophets. Then Jesus came on the scene, preaching against the conventional wisdom, he hung out with sinners and tax collectors, preached forgiveness and healing, even on the Sabbath. It is clear in today’s passage that the scribes were focused on themselves, their appearance, and their money. They’re focused on their own self-worth and desire for power, prestige and possessions.

In contrast, we have the figure of the widow in the first reading and the Gospel. “In a society in which males played the public role and in which women did not speak on their own behalf, the position of widow, particularly if her eldest son was not yet married, was one of extreme vulnerability.”¹“Often the act of the widows seems to be viewed simply as; those who have the least are often the most generous. Yet, their acts of generosity are in some sense acts of desperation.”² The widow in the first reading has given up! She is ready to die with her son of starvation. Hear her words, “Just now I was collecting a couple of sticks, to go in and prepare something for myself and my son; when we have eaten it, we shall die.” (1 Kgs 17:12) and in the Gospel Jesus himself makes note, “For they have all contributed from their surplus wealth, but she, from her poverty, has contributed all she had, her whole livelihood.” (Mk 12:44) They both have offered their “whole lives” and placed their trust in God, they have nothing else. This is the same offering the disciples made when the “left everything and followed Jesus,” (Lk 5:11) and the same way Jesus will offer his “whole life” to save us from our transgressions, for our eternal salvation.³

We shouldn’t read the Gospel’s denunciation of the scribes as only applying to religious leaders in Jesus’ day; it can be applied to any hierarchical organization, including churches, that places power and prestige over the well-being of people. It is in the widows emptying of all that she had, represented by the two coins, that Jesus praises her above the scribes who continue to cling to their own self-worth as being most important.

At times, do we find it rather easy to get very comfortable with our surroundings … to be in control … the have it our way? Society fueled by a barrage of advertising reinforces the so called conventional wisdom that blinds us not in fear, but to others needs as we sit complacently with our need to have and want more; to have the latest gadget, biggest car, newest iPhone and of course the finest clothes. The message Jesus gives us is we must let go … we must empty ourselves of our desire for worldly goods. We must trust that God is sitting on the stump, right next to us, to protect and provide for our safe journey, as we offer our whole life.

How do we begin this process of letting go? We turn to the two coins in order to move away from the desire of holding onto the material world, to be able to let go of our wants and desires, and to cease focusing on conventional wisdom in the popular culture. It is the two coins that the widow holds which represent the two great Commandments that Jesus gives us in the passage from Mark, which appear just before today’s Gospel. “You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength … and love your neighbor as yourself … there is no greater commandments.” (Mk 12:30-31)⁴

Our love needs to be focused on God and neighbor, We must let go and let God, work in us and through us.

References:

Scriptures: 1 Kings 17:10-16; Hebrews 9:24-28; Mark 12:38-44

Monday, September 28, 2015

DECIDE!!

Scriptures: Numbers 11:25-29; James 5:1-6; Mark 9:38-43, 45, 47-48

Some friends who went deer hunting separated into pairs for the day. That night one hunter came back alone, staggering under an eight point buck. “Where’s Harry?” asked another hunter. “Oh, he fainted a couple miles up the trail,” Harry’s partner answered. “And you left him lying there all alone and carried the deer back?” “A tough call,” said the hunter, “but I figure no one’s going to steal Harry.”

Now that story is cousin to the old exclamation, “If I told you once, I’ve told you a million times, not to exaggerate!”

It’s a hyperbole (hī-pûr′bə-lē), using extravagant language to get a point across. Consider today’s Gospel story. It suggests outrageous, terrible sounding things like plucking out eyes and cutting off arms to get to Heaven! But we have to recognize Jesus is using hyperbole here, severely exaggerated speech to make a point. How do we know this? How many people who read the bible literally do you know that are one eyed, one handed, and/or one footed? Obviously they are making some adjustments when they get to scripture versus like this.

Another key point to keep in mind when reading this Gospel passage includes knowing who is Jesus’ audience? His audience is specifically the 12 Apostles, the very ones called to a leadership of service. The last couple of weeks we heard Jesus passion predictions, trying to explain that he must be handed over, tortured and killed; yet the Apostles are arguing about who’s the greatest among them, who will sit at his right and at his left in the kingdom, and Peter’s exclamation of “God forbid!”, meaning that’s not the way we envisioned your Kingdom coming. Jesus’ teachings are leading to his bottom line: DECIDE! Make the radical decision to follow me.

When Billy Graham’s Crusade was travelling around the country he always gave the audience a final challenge: “Decide! Cut away anything that prevents you from a radical decision for Jesus Christ! Decide for Christ!”

Pope Francis’ message has been very similar on his trip to America. While the Pope has not used hyperboles to make his point, he has in is simple, humble and merciful way communicated his knowledge of the key social challenges facing us today; immigration, the family, and the poor that demand a faith response. He clearly by word and action communicated the Gospel values that challenge us as a nation and individuals to “Decide!” To discover those things that need to be cut off, plucked out so that we can not only say the right things but provide the proper actions to meet the challenges head on in accordance with the scriptural messages of today.

To help us understand what we are deciding, we’ll use a picture. This picture is called “The Light of the World” and hangs in St. Paul’s Cathedral in London. It depicts Jesus standing at a door knocking. Note that the door is overgrown with vines and there is not a door knob or handle on the outside of the door, meaning only someone from within can open or respond to the knock to allow Jesus entry.

Again, the Gospel message, it’s time for a radical decision. What decision, to open the door to Jesus once and for all. Yet not one door, but three: the door to the past, the door to the present and the door to the future.

First to open the door to the past is to realize that “what is done is done.” That is, what we did, the hurtful things, the heartbreaking things, the arrogant things, the unjust things—they’re done and we can’t undo them. The only way we can deal with past hurts and sins that haunt us is to open the door to Jesus. This tradition is called opening the door to forgiveness. To decide to open the door to Jesus Christ of the past is simply to go to Jesus and ask for forgiveness, and that’s it.

Secondly, we must decide to open the door to the present and ask ourselves, “What is going on in my life right now?” What needs to be cut off, plucked out? What needs to be put into perspective?

There is a story about a missionary in China. At the time he and a family—mother, father and two children—were under house arrest. They’d been living under house arrest somewhat comfortably for many years. One day a soldier came in and told them they may return to America, but they could take only two hundred pounds with them. Well they’d been there for years! So they broke out the scale and the family arguments began. We must have this vase, we must have the typewriter, it’s almost brand new, and we’ve got to take these books, and this and that. Well they finally got it right on the dot, 200 lbs. When the soldier returned and asked if they were ready to go, they responded yes. “Did you weigh everything?” They said yes. “Did you weigh the kids?” “No, we didn’t.” “Weigh the kids,” he said. And in a moment, off went the vase, the typewriter, and the books into the trash.

What are the things cluttering our lives, separating us, distracting us from right relationship with family, community, Jesus? Cut it off! Pluck it out!

Lastly is to choose to open the door to the future. This simply means to give yourself to Jesus. The Christ who said, “Come to me all of you who labor and are heavily burdened and I will refresh you.” (Mt 11:28) “How often I would gather you as a mother hen gathers her chicks but you would not.” (Mt 23:37 & Lk 13:34) This is the Jesus who says, “I am the Way and the Truth and the Life.” (Jn 14:6)

Decide! Decide what needs to be cut off and plucked out to open these doors. Open the door to your past, there is forgiveness. Open the door to the present to look at all the unnecessary and divisive things you have on the scales, and trash them, there is renewal, conversion, transformation. Open the door to the future, hand your very life over to Jesus, there is a promise.

On the other side of these doors stands the most unconditional Lover you’ll ever meet.

References:

Sick, and You Cared For Me Edited by Deacon Jim Knipper © 2014 “Whoever Is Not Against Us Is For Us” by Fr. William Bausch

Tuesday, August 11, 2015

NOURISHING BODY AND SPIRIT

18th Sunday of Ordinary Time (2015)
Scriptures: Exodus 16:2-4, 12-15; Ephesians 4:17, 20-24; John 6:24-35

For months Judy and I anxiously anticipated our trip to the “Defending the Faith” conference at Franciscan University in Steubenville, OH. It was an opportunity to hear from some of the greatest scripture scholars and spiritual writers of our time like Scott & Kimberly Hahn, Patrick Madrid, Matt Maher and so many others. It was an opportunity to get to know better our fellow parishioners that traveled with us and mingle with Catholic Christians from around the world. When we arrived in Steubenville the pace was fast and furious, a mistake in registration made matters a bit more stressful, than the torture of hours in a folding chair taking its toll on our butts, the hills and numerous stairs all over campus and elevation change, challenged us sea level flat landers considerably. Yep! The grumbling was in full force, despite the tremendous experiences, topics and powerful celebrations of Mass and Adoration that were feeding us.

Our grumblings were much like the Israelites on their journey to the Promise Land. Only a month into the journey, after being delivered of their slavery in Egypt, witnessing the power of God to deliver them from the Egyptian army at the Red Sea, they are grumbling against Moses, even desiring to return the Egypt where at least the they would have “died...as we sat by our fleshpots and ate our fill of bread!” (Ex 16:4).

One of my favorite sociology theories is Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. The basic concept says that humans have needs and there are basic needs that must be met in order for us to grow to the next level. The most basic need includes: air, water and food. Think about it; better yet let’s experiment with it. Go ahead and hold your breath as long as you can, what happens? Eventually your body will do one of two things automatically, create a great desire for air so you intake a voluntarily breath or, if you're stubborn enough to resist this desire for air, it will temporarily shut you down so that it can recover involuntarily. Consider the times you are hungry, how is your ability to focus? Did you have a good breakfast so you could get the most out of the Mass, this homily? Or did you skip breakfast and are sitting there with your stomach grumbling, “I hope his homily is short so that we can get to brunch/lunch/dinner? Odds are, if you are hungry, you are vulnerable to grumbling and focus challenged.

It was the Israelites need for food, physical food, that God used to reveal his saving power and it is the physical food that motivated the Jews to pursue Jesus in today's Gospel and Jesus knows it, “Amen, Amen I say to you, you are looking for me not because you saw signs but because you ate the loaves and were filled.” (Jn 6:26) What Jesus wants them to understand is that it wasn’t “man” providing their ancestors with their “daily bread” but God, His Father and Jesus is not only concerned for their bodily need for food, but also for their need for spiritual “food that endures for eternal life.” (Jn 6:27) It is at this point that the Jews ask for this spiritual food and Jesus announces, “I am the bread of life.” (Jn 6:35) Is this not the bread we are seeking? Why we come to Mass … To seek the bread and wine, the body and blood of our Lord and Savior. To eat that we may share in HIs eternal life?

What motivates us to come and receive the bread and wine? We’ve shared from this pulpit, several times, the statistics concerning the Catholics belief or lack thereof in transubstantiation (the bread and wine, transformed into the body and blood of Jesus) and the trend stating that Catholics are leaving the Church because they feel they are not being fed. “These people are hungry for spiritual food, they crave for it, but do not know how or where to get this substance.”[1] Many in the pews today are here to receive the food yet are challenged to understand the Mystery as they ask the same Israelite desert question from the first reading concerning the manna, “what is this”? (Ex 16:15)

St. Paul challenges the people of Ephesus that “their new life in Christ requires their abandonment of their ‘old-self’”[2] that the moral requirements of Christian membership require us to put on a “new-self”, “created in God’s way in righteousness and holiness of truth.” (Eph 4:24) In other words, St. Paul and St. John are telling us our faith has to move beyond our stomachs. Which begs us to ask the questions: Do you believe that Jesus is life? … Do you believe that Jesus is the bringer of abundant life? … Do you believe that Jesus is the true bread come down from heaven? Then our faith requires more of us than to come and receive the bread and wine! No longer can [we] live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of [our] minds.” (Eph 4:17)

Our faith and moral code keeps us on the path to the Kingdom of God, it is path that is often the narrow way that runs counter to today's societal norms, it’s littered with challenges and suffering. It is a path that does not know political party lines, it is a path that says if you are going to talk about or preach a strict moral code, you have to be living one. If you enter the debate concerning the sanctity of marriage then you have to be modeling the self-giving love that Jesus models for his bride, the Church. If you stand on the right to life platform, you must embrace every aspect of from conception to natural death. This is hard! It requires us to see through the eyes of Jesus, to be Jesus in the world, to have the courage to challenge the norms of society in such a way that the lost can find their way to Jesus, it requires us to walk with and eat with sinners so they can find the all merciful and loving God we crave. It calls us to believe in and have faith in the Bread of Life who comes down from heaven, that we might never hunger or thirst again.