PARABLE of the PENCIL

The Pencil Maker took the pencil aside, just before putting him into the box. There are 5 things you need to know, he told the pencil, before I send you out into the world. Always remember them and never forget, and you will become the best pencil you can be. 

One: You will be able to do many great things, but only if you allow yourself to be held in Someone's hand. 

Two: You will experience a painful sharpening from time to time, but you'll need it to become a better pencil. 

Three: You will be able to correct mistakes you will make. 

Four: The most important part of you will always be what's inside. 

Five: On every surface you are used on, you must leave your mark. No matter what the condition, you must continue to write. 

The pencil understood and promised to remember, and went into the box with purpose in its heart. 

Now replacing the place of the pencil with you; always remember these 5 things and never forget, and you will become the best person you can be. 

One: You will be able to do many great things, but only if you allow yourself to be held in God's hand, and allow other human beings to access you for the many gifts you possess. 

Two: You will experience a painful sharpening from time to time, by going through various problems, but you'll need it to become a stronger person. Jesus understands the pain.

Three: You will be able to correct mistakes you might make or grow through them. 

Four: The most important part of you will always be what's on the inside. 

Five: On every surface you walk, you must leave your mark. No matter what the situation, you must continue to serve God in everything. 

By understanding and remembering, let us proceed with our life on this earth having a meaningful purpose in our heart and a relationship with God daily. -- Author Unknown 

There is a Latin maxim that addresses the centrality of worship in the life, identity and mission of the Catholic Church; "Lex Orandi, Lex Credendi".  The phrase in Latin literally means the law of prayer, is the law of belief.   It is sometimes expanded to as, “Lex Orandi, Lex Credendi, Lex Vivendi”; as we Worship, so we Believe, so we Live.   The beauty of our liturgical worship is more than mere beauty. It is the foundation of our Catholic identity; expressing our highest purpose.  Our worship reveals what we truly believe and how we view ourselves in relationship to God, one another and the world into which we are sent to carry forward the redemptive mission of Jesus Christ.  The question for us is: Has our worship reached the depths of our interior life? 

Good worship, lived authentically, becomes a dynamic means of drawing the entire human community into the fullness of life in Jesus Christ.  May our Eucharistic worship, sharpen us to reveal our true inner faith and trust in God, in our everyday lives.

YOU’RE HIRED!

These words are music to the ears of anyone who has been or is unemployed.  Today, God wants to hire you: “You too go into my vineyard and I will give you what is just.” (Mt 20:7). No matter what “hour” of life you’re in, he is willing to hire you to go into the world to spread the good news of Jesus’ love.

Yet even with such a generous employer, how many of us actually want to be hired for the task?  It surfaces the contrast between “What I want to be” and “What I really am.”  In our own lives we often fall short, not measuring up to the saints.  Causing us to become discouraged, depressed, even despairing.  The Book of Judges chronicles the behavior of the tribes of Israel after entering Canaan: 1) they conquer; 2) they turn away from Yahweh; 3) they suffer persecution; 4) they turn back to Yahweh; 5) Yahweh chooses a judge to help them reconquer; 6) the judge dies; 7) they turn away from Yahweh, and the pattern begins anew.  Does this sound familiar?   It does of my spiritual life where I am challenged by the many ups and downs of life.  At times I am enjoying the highs of the promise land and at others parched life of the desert.

But what if, instead of thinking about all our failures, we consider our spiritual life as a relationship?  Instead of seeking perfection, we seek God!  Our spiritual life then is not characterized by prayers said or sins avoided, but by how we relate to God.  I know, I know, this is not the conventional way of talking about the spiritual life, because it makes room for our faults and failures that accompany us along the way.

Jesus’ parable about the vineyard owner and the wages paid to the workers may seem unfair, and yet it dramatically affirms that the world’s standards and those of God’s kingdom differ.  Divine generosity makes room for the brokenness within each of us.

Consistent failure frustrates us; consistent repentance delights the Lord.   Pope Francis says, “God never tires of forgiving.”  A spiritual life is healthy when measured by its openness to accepting God.   Formulas will fail; faith fosters growth.   The criteria imposed on spirituality, by some experts, are based on worldly standards; the kingdom of heaven looks at things differently.  Our God is a most tolerant and generous employer, who will reward all of our efforts. 

Let's resound loudly, Lord, I’ll take the job.  Nourished by this Eucharistic meal we will go forth with the confidence to let your Spirit guide us to those who are waiting to hear that you love and accept them where ever they’re at today.

FENCES OR BRIDGES

[1]Once upon a time two brothers, who lived on adjoining farms, fell into conflict. It was the first serious rift in 40 years of farming side by side, sharing machinery, and trading labor and goods without conflict. Then the long collaboration fell apart. It began with a small misunderstanding and it grew into a major difference that finally exploded into an exchange of bitter words, followed by weeks of silence.

One morning there was a knock on the older brother’s door. He opened it to find a man with a carpenter’s tool box. “I’m looking for a few days’ work,” he said. “Perhaps you would have a few small jobs here and there I could help with?” “Yes,” said the older brother. “I do have a job for you. Look across the creek at that farm. That’s my neighbor; in fact, it’s my younger brother. Last week there was a meadow between us and he took his bulldozer to the river levee and now there’s a creek between us. Well, he may have done this to spite me, but I’ll do him one better. See that pile of lumber by the barn? I want you to build me a fence—an 8-foot fence—so I won’t see his place or his face any more. The carpenter said, “I think I understand the situation. Show me the nails and the post-hole digger and I’ll be about to do a job that pleases you.”

The older brother had to go to town, so he helped the carpenter get the materials ready and then was off for the day. The carpenter worked hard all day measuring, sawing, nailing. About sunset when the famer returned, the carpenter had just finished his job. The farmer’s eyes opened wide, his jaw dropped. There was no fence there at all. It was a bridge—a bridge stretching from one side of the creek to the other. A fine piece of work, handrails and all—and the neighbor, his younger brother, was coming toward them, his arms outstretched—“You are quite a fellow to build this bridge after all I’ve said and done.” The two brothers stood at each end of the bridge, and then they met in the middle, taking each other’s hand. They turned to see the carpenter hoist his toolbox onto his shoulder. “No, wait!” I’ve a lot of other projects for you,” said the older brother. “I’d love to stay on,” the carpenter said, “but I have many more bridges to build.”

Once a family feud gets rolling it is extremely difficult to break it. Even the one who has the material to build the bridge in the relationship seems to have to work up to it. One reason we may be so hesitant to get back together is that inherent in injurer and injured reuniting is an understanding that reconciliation will grow to become the norm. Then where would we be?[2]

I love the thread of reconciliation and communal unity that weaves all our readings together this Sunday. In our first reading, Isaiah is reminding the Judean community of their covenant obligations; doing what is right and just is essential to their identity as God’s covenant partners. Justice, for humans and for God, means living in right relationship. The Jews had long understood their duty to live in right relationship with God by loving the Lords name, being his servants, observing the Sabbath, and holding to the covenant. What happens when live in right relationship with God? JOY! And what happens when others see you living with such joy? They say, “I don’t know what’s in their Kool Aid but I want some!” There is a natural attraction. What God is making clear to his people is that the burnt offerings and sacrifices, so important for worship among the Jews, is equally acceptable when offered by foreigners. So much so that Isaiah tells the Jews that foreigners who observe the covenant obligations can be like members of their own community.

Paul uses his own ministry to explain what he sees as a historical change of situation. A devote Jew himself, he knows that the Jewish people have long understood themselves as God’s chosen people, but his anguish is that most of his own kindred have not accepted the Messiah. So what does Paul do? “I glory in my ministry in order to make my race jealous and thus save some of them.” The Jews rejection has had a positive divine purpose. Their rejection becomes the bridge that brings God’s mercy to the Gentiles, and, for Paul, that his own people, out of jealousy would come to recognize Jesus as the Messiah, as they see the joy of the Gentiles reception.

Let us not be too naïve of the power of enculturation, which is the learned behaviors and norms of the society in which we live. Achieving communal happiness and inclusion is hard work. If you’ve been watching the news for the past two weeks you get the idea of just how hard it is for communal unity. In the gospel, Jesus and his disciples are surprised and somewhat frustrated by this Canaanite woman who approaches him so directly and persistently. This is another glimpse of Jesus’ humanity as he responds within the cultural norms that say he shouldn’t give this foreigner his attention, yet its Isaiah’s prophesy that says he should acknowledge this woman’s faith because she recognizes and address’ Jesus with a title rich in meaning for the Jews, “Lord, the Son of David.” She sees Jesus as the bridge to God’s salvation and mercy. Jesus may have come for the lost sheep of Israel but that didn’t mean to the exclusion of the Gentiles. Jesus’ love and compassion has no boundaries, it tears down fences build by human weaknesses.

As we prepare ourselves to cross the bridge to enter into the mystery of Jesus Passion, Death & Resurrection, in this Eucharistic feast, let us consider the feuds in our own lives, where we’ve allowed injury to create a wide creek to divide us. Have there been times when we did not challenge the boundaries or fence lines of fear, discrimination or hate? Jesus’ unfathomable mercy is available for all and as the master carpenter, he has given us all the materials and tools necessary to build and be fences or bridges. Which will you choose?

---

[1] New American Bible, Saint Joseph Edition. © 1986.  Scriptures: Isaiah 56:1, 6-8; Romans 11:13-15, 29-32; Matthew 15:21-28.

[2] Wrestling Year A, Connecting Sunday Readings with Lived Experience. © 2013. by Wesley White.  In Media Res, LLC, Onalaska, WI.

RECONCILED

During the mid 80's, while stationed in Newburg, NY I was in the process of re-appropriating my Catholic faith.  I'd been away for over 10 years in a spiritual desert.  At the same time I was doing a mid-career change from a construction force heavy equipment operator to a human relations adviser.  What I learned in the school was forming self-knowledge and conflict management & resolution skills. What struck me the most was the military's grievance procedures.  Try to resolve it yourself with the offending party, if that fails involve your direct supervisor, and if that does not resolve the situation report it to your commander.  Now that sounds very familiar!

Today’s Gospel Acclamation is a godly mission statement: “God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ and entreating us to the message of reconciliation.” (2 Cor 5:9) 

In today’s Gospel, Jesus gives us his strategic plan, the means by which we can bring about unity and reconciliation.  Whether intentional or otherwise, sin results in broken trust and fractured relationships.  Wisely, Jesus provides us with a protocol that honors and respects both the victim and the offender.   It allows the situation to remain private and handled on a one-to-one basis.  It is only when the offender is either unable or unwilling to accept responsibility for his or her actions that Jesus recommends inviting other involved parties into the unification process. The third step is to involve the Church—either those in authority or members of the body of Christ—to intercede. Lastly, Jesus recognizes that some people are unable, not ready or willing to take the necessary steps to reconcile with others. 

Jesus does not require us to remain actively involved/engaged with those who are harmful and abusive. If none of this works, then the offender is to be treated as a gentile or a tax collector, which means that he or she should be excommunicated from the Church.  The power to bind and loose, originally given only to Peter, is now extended to the disciples.   There always remains the hope that the excommunicated person will eventually repent and return to the community, which has the power to receive the offender back.

More often than not, we approach reconciliation backwards by first indiscreetly making public others’ offenses.  We talk more about the offenders than to them; often we would rather complain about their actions than seek true resolution.

When Christ died on the cross, He satisfied God’s judgment and made it possible for us to find peace and right relationship with God.   Reconciliations “concern for achieving unity involves the whole Church, faithful and clergy alike.” (CCC 822) It involves the exercise of God’s grace to forgive and invite back into right relationship. The result of Jesus’ sacrifice is that our relationship has changed, “No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you.” (Jn 15:15) 

As we approach this Eucharistic invitation to reconciliation for the entire human family.  May we take into this troubled world this gift we freely receive that is God's love, mercy and compassion to reconcile a hurting world.

57 CENTS

A little girl stood near a small church from which she had been turned away because it was 'too crowded.'  "I can't go to Sunday School," she sobbed to the pastor as he walked by.

Seeing her shabby, unkempt appearance, the pastor guessed the reason and taking her by the hand took her inside and found a place for her in the Sunday school class.   The child was so happy that they found room for her, and she went to bed that night thinking of the children who have no place to worship Jesus.

Some two years later, this child lay dead in one of the poor tenement buildings.  Her parents called for the kindhearted pastor who had befriended their daughter to handle the final arrangements.   As her poor little body was being moved, a worn and crumpled red purse was found which seemed to have been rummaged from some trash dump. Inside was found 57 cents and a note, scribbled in childish handwriting, which read: "This is to help build the little church bigger so more children can go to Sunday School." For two years she had saved for this offering of love.1

Moses, in his desert experience with the nation of Israel, learned first hand how we as human beings can be a fussy lot, a fearful lot.  How we have in our nature the propensity to pick and choose what we will do or not do; who gets and who doesn’t; who is accepted and who is rejected for whatever reasons.

In today’s gospel, Jesus really caught his disciples off guard by his engagement and even praise of the faith of an outsider, a pagan, I believe the term he used was “dog” who, according to the cultural norms of the time, was considered unclean.  It’s not the first time Jesus has praised the faith of an outsider.  In Matthew 8, there was the centurion, whose prayer we recite every Eucharist, “Lord I am not worthy to have you enter under my roof; only say the word…” (Mt 8:8, 10) and the hemorrhaging woman in Mark 5, who longed only to touch the tassel of his garment, “Daughter, your faith has saved you.” (Mk 5:34)

Jesus is showing his disciples and us that faith and trust are the keys to experiencing his power, that more than anything else it was their humble & persistent disposition the made all the difference.  Jesus welcomes anyone who comes to him with an open, humble, and willing heart.  He does not discriminate; his arms are wide open, eager to embrace all of us.

So what became of the little girl’s 57 cents?   The story of her seemingly little love offering, opened the hearts of a community and became the seed funds for the construction of Temple Baptist Church and Temple University, where there is plenty of room for children to worship Jesus.

May we take our cue from the faith & trust of the little girl and the disposition of the unnamed humble and persistent gentile woman.

1 http://storyoffaith.blogspot.com/2007/11/57-cents-church.html, Posted by O'Deen at 9:47 PM

WHO WAS THAT MASKED MAN?

Christians who breathed a sigh of relief when Constantine proclaimed Christianity the state religion, believed this would end the bloodshed and martyrdom. But it was all too short a time until they were facing persecution once more -- from others who claimed to be Christian.

When Christianity became the state religion, many people adopted it for political reasons. Others adopted it without truly understanding it. Under these circumstances heresy found fertile ground. One of the most powerful heresies was Arianism which claimed that Jesus was not God. The Arians were powerful people, including nobles, generals, emperors. They commanded armies and senates. True Christianity was in real danger of being stamped out once again.

Saint Eusebius lived in a time when bishops were elected by the people and local clergy. He was ordained a Lector and when the people of Vercelli saw how well he served their Church, they had no doubt about choosing him as bishop.

Pope Liberius also noticed his abilities and sent him on a mission to the Emperor Constantius to try to resolve the troubles between Arians and Catholics. Seeming to agree, Constantius convened a council in Milan in 355. The powerful Arians however weren't there to talk but to force their own will on the others. A horrified Eusebius watched as his worst fears were confirmed and the Arians made this peace council into a condemnation of Saint Athanasius, their chief opponent. Eusebius, unafraid of their power, slapped the Nicene Creed down on the table and demanded that everyone sign that before condemning Athanasius. The Nicene Creed, adopted by a council of the full Church, proclaims that Jesus is one in being with the Father -- directly contradicting the Arian teaching.1 Unfortunately, this heresy has never completely died out. There still are those who deny that Jesus is fully human and fully divine, the Word incarnate. They see and understand scripture as words in a book, a disputed book at that.

Moses experienced and understood what quality time with God and His Word does to a person. It transforms us, sometimes physically, to the point of glowing. I can remember when a re-appropriated my faith how I wanted to glow, literally. I wanted to be so intimate with God and his Word & Eucharist that I physically glowed. I’m still working on this level of intimacy. As I reflected on this a scripture passage kept coming to me, “For the word of God is alive and active.” (Heb 4:12) Jesus, once again speaking to us in parables, poses the following questions for us to ponder today: Where is our treasure? What do we truly value? Before we move on, we must understand what it is to “value” something. To value you something means that we are willing to live or die for the valued item. Jesus, fully human, valued us so much so that he offered himself completely, even unto death, death on a cross. This is what we enter into at the altar the paschal mystery of Jesus. Do our treasures line up with the treasures of the kingdom of heaven? And finally, when we dream of the most precious things we could possess, is the Word of God and the Eucharist among them?

1 http://www.catholic.org/saints. Copyright 2017 Catholic Online.