A Regular Joe: 2018

Friday, December 28, 2018

HOLY INNOCENTS

Reflecting on today’s readings and feast day I thought I would check how many abortions occurred in the United States in 2018. I checked at 9:27 last night and the death toll was 1,079,726 and continues to rise. It is believed that approximately every 29 seconds there yet another innocent life lost.

This past October Judy and I participated in the 40 days of life prayer vigil outside a local abortion clinic. When we arrived, there was a group there, we weren’t sure it was our group, but we greeted each other with Christian kindness. Then one member of the group took up the microphone and began to chastise the women coming into the clinic. For a moment I thought about leaving thinking, how are we going to change hearts is we publicly condemn the women coming to the clinic? We finally figured out it was not our parish group, but I did take note of the expression on the women’s faces as they came into the clinic. Their faces were set like flint. Their minds made up and nothing we could say was going to change their minds. I realized then, we need to get to them sooner. I also witnessed their expressions as they drove away from the clinic. There was a sense of loss and sorrow, they know what they did and I would venture they felt some guilt for the loss of an innocent life.

Others innocents come into our lives through the television set and the computer screen: refugee children fleeing genocide, others dying of starvation, people risking their lives on flimsy rafts to cross the Mediterranean Sea, men, women, and children escaping corruption and violence as they struggle to cross our border into the land of the free. Their only mistake, being born in the wrong place at the wrong time. These are the Holy Innocents of our day, pursued by the Herods of our world. Modern media will not allow us to wall them out of our consciousness.

Long ago, the Child of Bethlehem was one of them. He came to save the world, but he had to get out of town to escape a power system that could not accept him. “Our ancestors were unwilling to obey him; instead, they pushed him aside and, in their hearts, turned back to Egypt.” (Act 7:39 NABRE) He was a threat to the movers and shakers. Eventually he would not hide from those who sought to annihilate him and what he stood for. Like an innocent lamb, he died as a criminal on a cross.

Innocents still face annihilation. Even before birth, they are hounded. And if they manage to get born, they are not welcomed. The sins against the Holy Innocents cry out to heaven. We must find ways to reverse the heartless cruelty—not by condemnation—but rather through our prayers, through formation of conscience by what and how we communicate our values for the dignity of all people from conception to natural death and through our merciful and compassionate actions. We must learn how to set today’s Innocents free from the snare, to bring the Christ Child back from exile in Egypt.

Friday, December 21, 2018

FIVE LOVE LANGUAGES

On the surface, the poetry in the book of Song of Songs expresses love between a man and woman; at a deeper level, it expresses the awesome love between God and humanity.Yet, for us, it is through our human interactions is the only way we can experience God’s love for now through what researchers call the Five Love Languages.

The first way to express love is to use of “WORDS OF AFFIRMATION” that build up. Solomon, author of ancient Hebrew Wisdom Literature, wrote, “Death and life are in the power of the tongue” (Prv 18:21). Unfortunately, many in our world have never learned or forgotten the tremendous power of verbally affirming each other.

Those we love require “QUALITY TIME”. By “quality time” I mean giving someone your undivided attention. Sitting on the couch watching television together, doesn’t count as quality time. Giving each other our undivided attention means talking with each other, going out to eat, and actually looking at each other while we talk. Time is a precious commodity often stolen away by the many demands on our lives. In our Gospel today, we hear that Mary went “in haste” (Lk 1:39) to be present to Elizabeth.

Almost everything ever written on the subject of love indicates that at the heart of love is the spirit of giving. All five love languages challenge us to give, but for some, “RECEIVING GIFTS”, visible symbols of love, speaks the loudest. You must be thinking of someone to give them a gift.

Jesus’ primary love language was “ACTS OF SERVICE”. His acts of service included healings & feedings, his presence, encouragement to repent, and his sharing message of hope, sharing the good news. His entire being was about serving the other, especially the lost, the outcast, and the forsaken.

We have long known that “PHYSICAL TOUCH” is a way of communicating love. Research projects in the area of child development have concluded babies who are held, stroked and kissed develop a healthier emotional life than those who are left for long periods of time without physical contact. Physical touch is a powerful way to communicate love, a hand shake, a hug, a simple kiss on the forehead or check, or a sign of peace in our liturgy all express a love of neighbor.[1]

From the Annunciation, to the Nativity, right up to the invitation to enter into Jesus’ passion, death and resurrection in this Eucharistic celebration; Luke wants his readers and us to recognize the Holy Spirit as the driving force in the lives of God’s faithful love for his people. He wants us to understand the Eucharist is God’s love language.

Friday, December 14, 2018

POSITIVE PEER PRESSURE

When we think about peer pressure, we might think about our adolescence years and remember Mom always asking if we'd jump off of a bridge just because everybody else was doing it. But adults experience peer pressure, too. It may not be as direct or intentional as the kind of peer pressure teenagers experience, but peer pressure in adulthood can be every bit as harmful.

If you've adopted values, beliefs, goals or hobbies based on what others in your peer group believe or do, you've experienced peer pressure, whether positive or negative.

Maybe you drink to excess on the weekends even though you don't enjoy it, because that's what your friends do or you work a lot of overtime to afford the kind of lifestyle of your siblings or friend, even though it’s a lifestyle that doesn't really excite you. Negative peer pressure leads us to behave in ways that contradict our true values.

On the other hand, maybe you quit smoking because your non-smoking friends were supportive, or maybe you returned to Church because so many of your peer group were excited about their parish life. Positive peer pressure leads us to make choices consistent with our inherent values.[1]

“Blessed the man who follows not the counsel of the wicked nor walks in the way of sinners, nor sits in the company of the insolent” (Ps 1:1). My parent used to tell me, be your own person, be careful who you hang around.

St. John of the Cross is a saint because his life was a heroic effort to live up to his name: “of the Cross.” The folly of the cross came to full realization in time. “Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me” (Mark 8:34) is the story of John’s life. The Paschal Mystery—through death to life—strongly marks John as reformer, mystic-poet, and theologian-priest. What if we would let Jesus be the source of the peer pressure we succumb too? We are called to be a source of positive peer pressure. Instigators of Joy, Love, Peace & Hope in an often struggling world.

The first reading says, “I, the LORD, your God, teach you what is for your good, and lead you on the way you should go.” (Is 48:17) If we let others determine the kind of person we should be, then we are not free to be the person God made us to be.

[1] Sylvia Brafman Mental Health Center Blog, “How To Deal With Peer Pressure as an Adult” http://www.mentalhealthcenter.org/how-to-deal-with-peer-pressure-as-an-adult/

Sunday, December 2, 2018

ARE WE DOING OUR BEST?

[1]Years ago, when stationed in Hawaii, I coached flag football for some years. I had the young kids just starting their football careers. They were of the age where they needed lots of very specific direction and a generous portion of encouragement. We were a good team winning often. We started every game reminding the players of their specific job and encouraged them to do their best. When the game ended, I always asked the kids, “did you do your best?” It seemed so easy to feel their best when they were winning. It was after first loss, a tearful loss I must say, that the real learning began. Much to the surprise of the on looking parents and sports director my after-game talk was the same, “Did you do your best?” Some would share how they felt they made mistakes and I’d ask them to describe the mistake. My last question was, “how do we get better?” We’d end with, “even if we lose the game, if we did our best, we can go forward with our heads held up, because we are learning to be a better player and teammate.”

You see in sports there are mini advents. As each game ends, we took the time to reflect on our performance, rededicate ourselves to make the necessary commitment to improve, trying to avoid the same mistakes, all in preparation for the beginning of the next game. Isn’t this what God is calling us to do as we begin the Advent season?

Our first reading is framed in the form of a prophesy for the material and spiritual renewal of the Jerusalem population devastated by the long siege by Babylon. For the Israelite nation the future seemed to be dark, the clouds heavy and rain pouring down upon them. Yet Jeremiah reminds them of God’s promise to “raise up for David a shoot; he shall do what is right and just … and Jerusalem shall dwell secure.” (Jer 33:15-16) Throughout the Book of Jeremiah the Nation of Israel is encouraged to give their best to God, to turn from vain idols, and walk with their heads held up having faith, hope and trust in God’s promises.

We find in St. Paul’s letter to the Thessalonians a formula for preparing ourselves to be a prophesy of hope for a very troubled world. Paul tells us to ask the Lord to make us “increase and abound in love for one another and all, [and to] strengthen our hearts to be blameless in holiness” (1 Thes 3:12). All too often we hear, “I won’t talk to or forgive so-and-so, until they apologize or agree to some other condition.” Paul desires a mature, fraternal love, open to everyone in the community. I use to tell the young players you may not like your teammate, but for the sake of the team you must respect them and learn to encourage each other. We win together and we lose together. For us, we might not like our neighbor, like the way they speak, their political ideology, or even how our neighbor on the street smells; yet for the sake of our salvation, we must respect them and lift them up as a fellow child of God. This is the finest preparation and guarantee to meet the Lord when he comes. Are we doing our best? Are we practicing what we have attained by our Baptism in Christ?

Let’s talk about the Lord’s coming. Jesus borrows images of the prophets, telling us there will be signs announcing his return. The key to his message is to “Beware that our hearts do not become drowsy from carousing and drunkenness and the anxieties of daily life.” (Lk 21:34) He is telling us in our preparation, as we are attentive to the signs, we must avoid getting drunk on the things of this passing world. He is telling us, You and I just might be the signs to which others look to see, “the Son of Man” (Lk 21:27) the hope of God’s promise.

Last week, in our celebration of Christ the King, Fr. Josh reminded us that in every Eucharist we get to see the King of Kings face-to-face. Every time we celebrate the Mass, we can experience an Advent, an ending yet a beginning. An opportunity to ask am I doing my best? An opportunity to acknowledge our mistakes, ours sins. An opportunity to recommit to doing better. And an opportunity to enter into the passion, death and resurrection of Jesus, to be strengthened by His body and blood so as we re-engage the world with our heads raised as we experience the Lord’s presence now. What do we hope for at Christmas but freedom from the chains of an obstinate character, the liberation of our life from attitudes and unhealthy activities that enslave us in the present? In doing our best we may still be apprehensive in the face of the announcement of God’s coming. Yet, in this unpredictable world, God assures us of his care. In our vulnerability, God comes as the most vulnerable of all, a newborn child.[2]

Wednesday, November 14, 2018

CIVIL & CHRISTIAN CITIZENSHIP

Several years ago, I was working on a project in a medium security prison. In those days, I had a very idealistic and unrealistic picture of what was happening in the prison. I thought “we” (the prison authorities and project leaders) were in charge. The prisoners knew the rules and complied with them enough to avoid punishment. What I came to see was there were two systems of authority in prison. The prisoners had a kind of government of their own inside those walls. A system of values, of what was right and wrong, their own authority structure and chain of command, and their own means of enforcement. “Obedience” to prison authorities within those prison walls was, at best, compliance. Whole-hearted cooperation was exceedingly rare.

I discovered over time that the military, business and even the church was not much different than the prison where there were functionally two authority structures. The official chain of command and policies, but also the unofficial chain of command and a different set of rules. Often the unofficial system proved to be more effective and efficient. People always complied with the official rules and policies, but the way to get things done was through the unofficial system. There was compliance, but little cooperation.

This dual-citizenship of sorts has a temptation to be compliant yet the ability to use either system to gain what a person most needed or selfishly wanted.

As Paul’s letter to Titus nears its end, he returns to the obligations of good citizenship urging their followers to proper obedience to civil authorities and the idea that Christians should “slander no one, to be peaceable, considerate, and exercising all graciousness toward everyone.” (Ti 3:1-2) These behaviors could well be stressed and repeated today in our country and culture.

The final section of the reading contains language used that is generally considered to be a preexisting baptismal hymn. The role of the Trinity is clear. Everything begins with the kindness and love of God, our Savior (the Father), and through Jesus, our Savior (the Son), the Holy Spirit is poured out on us in Baptism, the bath of rebirth to our true citizenship.

The Psalmist tell us God has “spread the table before [us] in the sight of [our] foes. (Ps 23:5) It is at this table that we learn to balance and reconcile the two authorities of our life, the civil and the sacred.

As Jesus’ journey to Jerusalem nears its end, once again it’s a Samaritan who shows the proper response for his healing, gratitude, as he returns to give thanks and praise to God. This healing story illustrates how Jesus reaches across society’s boundaries and walls to bring his message of healing and wholeness to those whose true citizenship is with Him and the communion of saints.

Sunday, October 28, 2018

I WANT TO SEE

[1]True story. A woman was on a bus with her three-year old daughter. The little girl saw a man eating out of a garbage can and was very distressed. She kept asking her mother “why this” and “why that.” A man sitting next to them in a wheelchair told the woman. “Miss, you have a very lovely and caring little girl there. And not only is she lovely, but she is very wise and very beautiful. She looks exactly like you.” The mother thanked him and then noticed, for the first time, that he was blind. As they got off, he said, “Goodbye ladies! Enjoy this beautiful day.” The man was physically blind, but in other ways he was very perceptive.[2]

Jesus’ journey to Jerusalem in Marks Gospel is situated between two stories in which Jesus restores sight to the blind. The first instance occurs in Bethsaida, where a blind man is brought to Jesus, who effects a gradual healing then sends him home (Mk 8:22-26). In today’s Gospel, the setting is Jericho, the last stop before Jesus ascends to Jerusalem, the place of his passion. Unlike the blind man of Bethsaida, Bartimaeus initiates the encounter. The crowd attempts to silence him, but he persistently calls out all the more.[3] This time Jesus said, “Call him” and so the people said to him, “Jesus is calling you.” (Mk 10:49) And here is the key exchange:

Jesus: “What do you want me to do for you?”
Bartimaeus: “Master, I want to see.”
Jesus: “Go your way, your faith has saved you.”
Bartimaeus: Gains his sight and followed Jesus on the way. (Mk 10:51-52)

Bartimaeus persistently called out “Jesus, son of David, have pity on me.” (Mk 10:47) This is much like the persistence of God that Jeremiah speaks of to the people in exile. God promises to lead them back, console them, and deliver them. These are the same promises God makes to us, and in Jesus, God begins to fulfill this promise. Jesus is calling us! Asking us, what do you want me to do for you?

Can we even hear his calling? The world we live in is constantly rebuking us, attempting to silence our pleadings with all its busyness and distractions. Blinding us to our real needs and the needs of others, those on the roadside begging to be heard. We convince ourselves into believing blindness is something that happens to other people, to the point that we fail to understand that the blind beggar persistently begging for attention, is us, or at least the parts of our own inner being that cry out for healing and attention, for presence and witness.

Think for a moment of the things in your life you regret, that you feel guilty about or ashamed of, when you wish you had acted differently. The times you’ve actually asked yourself, “How could I have done that?” … “Didn’t I see what I was doing?” … “I didn’t see that coming?” … “How could I have been so blind?”

There are people among us today walking around with 20/20 vision who are blind and less perceptive than the blind man on the bus in so many ways.

The good news is, these texts invite us to embrace our places of limitation, weakness, and vulnerability. They invite us to be more aware of our own inner being, to welcome the voices of need from the fringes of life, and to not let the harshness of our inner critic silence our deep cry for healing.

It is by God’s persistent love for us that we can be healed. His Word made flesh, Jesus, knows our human condition, we can take courage in hearing his calling us and asking, “What do you want me to do for you?” Be honest. Let your faith impel you to find strength in weakness, courage in opposition, and a voice when people seek to silence you. Be persistent! Jesus empowers all parts of us to ask for what we need, to not rely on victimization, nor to be silenced.

Jesus doesn’t make assumptions about what the blind man needs or wants, nor will he with us. As we enter into this event of sacrificial love, Jesus asks, what is your deepest desire. He yields to our inner sovereignty. He acknowledges the power to be healed exists within us already.

Do you want to see, do you really want to see? See the human suffering and need in the world, in the community, in the Church, and even within ourselves. Let us in obedience and faith come to Jesus, ask for what is truly needed, and follow him on the way.

Friday, October 26, 2018

THE LOWEST COMMON DENOMINATOR

School was often a challenge form me, I especially found myself challenged in math by fractions. For some reason I struggled with determining the lowest common denominator.

It seems Paul, in his writing to the Ephesians, is having a similar problem in trying to teach the Christian community in Ephesus to discover the lowest common denominator. The community in Ephesus had a very diverse population of Jews & Greeks, free & slave, women & men. Like most of us, as human beings, they found themselves challenged in seeing beyond their many differences and Paul is attempting to get them to focus on what they have in common. Paul points to the need for them to act with humility, patience, and gentleness, wrapping these virtues at heart as he encourages them to strive for peace. He reminds them that, as believers, they have in common: the “one body … one Spirit … one hope … one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father” (Eph 4:4-6).

Our time is not so different. Divisions exist within our community based on race, economic status, politics, issues concerning the right to life, the question of gender, and even marriage. The Church knows all too well these challenges.

Jesus reminds the crowds, and us, how we know how to read the signs to predict the weather, we know how to read the signs to tell us when to buy or sell in the stock market, yet we often misinterpret or miss all together the greatest sign, the lowest common denominator, God’s love in the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist. It is in our simple gifts of bread and wine, brought forth from the community, consecrated by the priest, and given back in communion that we are reminded that we are members of the one body, joined in communion with the one Spirit. We are clinging to the one hope in the one Lord. We are connected in one baptism and faith through which we believe we come face to face with the one God and Father.

When it’s all said and done we send you forth after this sacred meal, to go in peace, glorifying the Lord by your life. To utilize the lowest common denominator Jesus gave us that transcends all languages and cultures, “Love one another as I love you.” (Jn 15:12)

Wednesday, October 10, 2018

OUR DAILY BREAD

Twelve boys and their coach left their bikes, shoes and backpacks before wading into the Tham Luang cave. It was a sort of initiation for local young boys to enter the tunnel network, trying to go to the end of the tunnel, where they would write their names on the wall. They were planning to leave straight away, instead the Thai soccer team got trapped inside the partly-flooded cave by flash floods. They spent nine days alone in the cave, and became the center of a complicated rescue operation. [1]

Initiation rites have existed forever. Many of the initiation rites began with the legitimate purpose to enculturate a person seeking membership as native warriors, religious congregation, military unit, college fraternity and sports teams. Most seem to be harmless enough, yet sometimes these rituals crossed the line to simply hazing with occasional tragic outcomes. As the military attempted to rein in these rites/rituals many of the old timers said, “I had to do … everyone else should too!”

Hence Paul’s public challenge to Peter, “if you, though a Jew, are living like a Gentile and not like a Jew, how can you compel the Gentiles to live like Jews?” (Gal 2:14) Paul was seeking consistency in Peter’s exercise of the gospel, no matter who is present, especially in joining in table fellowship. There are two issues in play here, the first the Jewish-Christians from Rome expect the Gentile-Christians to meet all the Jewish initiation expectations, primarily circumcision. The other concern is Peter seems to be two-faced, meaning Peter when he is alone with the Gentile-Christians fully participates with the community, however when the Jewish-Christians are present he withdraws from the Gentiles gathered.

Relationship is important, whether between the circumcised and uncircumcised, disciple and the poor, God and his people. Jesus’ disciples noticed something in John’s disciple’s prayer life together, so they asked Jesus, “Lord, teach us to pray just as John taught his disciples.” (Lk 11:2) Within the Lord’s Prayer scripture scholars have long debated how to interpret the word “bread”. Are we asking for sustenance for the body or eucharist for the soul?

In the biblical tradition bread is not only a necessity for life, it is also a symbol of our relationship with God. From the manna of the Exodus to the bread in the Our Father, bread serves as a reminder that we stand before God like a client in need, and God is our patron. The late Michael Crosby, OFM Cap, noted that no matter how we translate the Greek word, it is the humble act of asking God for what we need that best captures Jesus’ intention.

Jesus urged his followers, “Ask and you shall receive.” (Lk 11:9; Jn 16:24) As we approach this Eucharistic sacrifice, we need to ask daily; our daily petition for bread keeps us humble, for by it we admit that our life and future rest in the hands of a generous and caring God. Our daily prayer for daily bread keeps us in our place, allowing God to be God.

[1] INSIDER. “The Thai soccer team got trapped in a cave because of an initiation ceremony gone wrong, according to one of the rescue divers” by Alexandra Ma, July 4, 2018. https://www.thisisinsider.com/thai-cave-team-got-trapped-during-initiation-ceremony-gone-wrong-diver-says-2018-7

Wednesday, October 3, 2018

KEEP YOUR EYE ON THE TARGET

Have you ever had the joy of driving by a well planted field? Don’t you just love how the crops seem to be running along side of your vehicle as you make your way down the road? When I was a teenage I use to work on a farm, I helped plant and harvest. One day I asked the old timer I was often partnered with how do you get the rows so straight? He replied, that simple son. All I do is line my tractor up on the field, pick a point at the end of the field and stay focused on my target. You don’t go longing backward, that end will take care of itself, just keep your eye on the target in front of you. The rest falls right into place. So all you have to do is follow my tracks and you won’t damage the seedlings or the crops when harvesting. Now, enough jawin’, get back to work.

Early in his ministry, Jesus had taken the initiative in choosing his disciples to follow him. Now as he and his disciples begin their final journey to Jerusalem, Jesus is approached by three other would-be followers.

The first would-be follower approaches Jesus, promising to follow him wherever he goes. Jesus’ response neither accepts nor refuses; instead, he presents to the would-be disciple the consequences of discipleship. “Foxes have dens and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to rest his head.” (Lk 9:58)

In the second encounter, Jesus takes the initiative, “Follow me.” (Lk 9:59) The follower hesitates with an excuse. Jesus puts aside the person’s excuse, of needing to go first and bury his father, giving proclamation of the kingdom of God absolute priority. “Let the dead bury the dead, you proclaim the kingdom of God.” (Lk 9:60)

The third person also asserts, “I will follow you.” (Lk 9:61) Jesus’ words for this potential disciple teaches his followers that we must be ready to give up all things immediately as we follow him on the way. “No one who sets a hand to the plow and looks to what is left behind is fit for the Kingdom of God.” (Lk 9:62)

As disciples ourselves, we must set our sight on God, this is why Jesus was lifted onto the tree, to help us remain focused on the target of hope in Him and salvation. If we are left only with our deeds, no matter how good they may be, we are left alone. This compared to God, who can move mountains, shake the earth, and command the sun, reveals that our human weakness is as limited as that of Job. Yet even in our limitedness and trials of life, we can hope for what God can and does do for us.

As disciples of Jesus, we can be certain our life will involve taking risks. Keeping our eye on the target, forward, not looking back at our sins and failings. When we focus on the target, enter into this Eucharistic sacrifice, we will find God is already present in all the places to which we are being sent.

Sunday, September 30, 2018

CUT IT OFF

[1]The week prior to the NFL season opener is called the cut-down week. Meaning NFL teams had loads of decisions to make to pare their rosters down from 90 to 53 players. The “position battles” to figure out who will start Week 1 have largely been settled by this time, barring an injury in practice. Owners and coaches had to make the decision which players they felt would be contributors. They looked at each position group to pick the two or three guys they felt deserved an opportunity, and the players understand just how important this opportunity is for them to get out there and show their best. Players unable or unwilling to give their best, or are a distraction to the team effort were cut. Some players cut were long-time veterans, some who thought they’re position was secure based on who they are.

In our readings today, we find both Joshua and John are objecting to those who were prophesying and driving out demons who were outside the parameters of their team. For Joshua, since Eldad and Medad were not present with the group, that a portion of Moses’ spirit was shared, they are viewed with jealousy, suggesting the belief that they should not be prophesying as this belongs to Moses and the select group present. John too, in his youthful enthusiasm seems to want to limit the circle of intimacy around Jesus. His motivation will be revealed later in the Gospel of Mark, when he will confess the aspirations of his heart, along with his brother requesting, “Grant that in your glory we may sit one at your right hand and the other to your left.” (Mk 10:38) Much like the players who thought their positions were secure because of who they were, yet cut from the team, John must have been stunned by the accurate aim of Jesus, who insinuated that for the health of his body, the Church, it might be suitable for John, the one who aspired to be Jesus’ right hand, be cut off. And the same would apply to those who aspire to be the eye of the Church, or the foot of the body of Christ.

Today’s Gospel is the neatest example of Jesus’ explicit teaching about what it means to form the body of the Church. To the degree that should one member of the body—hand, foot, eye—separate his or her function from the rest of the body, it disables the body. Said another way to say this is, if one member of the body sins, the whole body is affected. Moses’ and Jesus’ response to their young disciples, calls our attention to see the action of God’s Spirit. “Would that all the people of the Lord were prophets!” (Nm 11:29) As Christians baptized in the Trinitarian Rite (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) we are baptized priest, prophet and king. We have a responsibility to proclaim the good news of the Gospel, to be models of virtue in our everyday lives. The same self-giving virtue that Jesus modeled, even offering himself unto death, death on the cross. Jesus in his response to his disciple expands Moses’ response as he says, “For whoever is not against us is for us” (Mk 9:40) whether friend, foe, or us.

If someone does good rather than evil, manifesting the values of Jesus, see God’s Spirit there. Rash judgment or over-reaction, like that of the disciples, often blinds us to models of virtue, especially when someone doesn’t fit our expectations. Think about the picture of Muslims in the Middle East, who surrounded Christian churches to protect them. Think about the people who hid our Jewish sisters and brothers in an attempt to save them from the Holocaust. Think about the first responders from all faiths and no faith, who entered crumbling buildings on 9/11. These people embodied the ways of Jesus, whatever their faith, culture, or way of life. They manifested the Spirit of God, as Eldad and Medad did. They are with us, even if they are not members of our “camp.”

Inclusiveness, not exclusiveness, is the mark of Jesus’ followers.

If only all people of faith would clearly manifest the Spirit! If only more people were willing to be surprised by God’s presence in the world! St. James reminds us, we are called to respond to the cries of the least, the last, and the lost, to be as concerned for others as we are for ourselves. All too often, self-centeredness, dividing who’s in and who’s out too hastily, fear of change, or habitual sin can fill our hearts. Full, there is no room to see God anywhere. Make room. We must cut off whatever takes God’s place in our lives. Pluck out whatever distracts our ability to see God’s Spirit at work. Emptied, we must turn to God for eyes that see the Spirit, especially where we least expect.[2]

“For whoever is not against us is for us.”

Wednesday, September 26, 2018

ROAD TRIP

When Judy and I took our first road trip vacation together we had very different philosophies on planning the trip. I’m a bit more of an explorer that often likes to fly wherever the wind blows. I see an interesting path or road and I’m ready to blaze a new trail. Judy on the other hand is very structured. You plan for everything, EVERYTHING! Our first road trip was very interesting and challenging for me. She planned the packing for every possible situation that might occur, drive times were planned, hotels were booked along the planned route. When we reached a destination, activities had been planned in advance. Who, when, where and what were carefully choreographed. Then while we were in South Carolina heading North, I saw an interesting sign pointing to a less traveled road and my longing to be free disrupted the well-planned vacation. Trust me, I said, we’ll have a great time being free of the schedule.

“Jesus summoned the Twelve and gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases, ... Take nothing for the journey” (Lk 9:1-3). Trust in God’s providential care can be a challenge for many of us. Yet this is exactly what Jesus expecting and wanted his disciples to experience when sending them out to heal and preach. He was also sending them out so they could learn, experience and rely on God for all of their needs.

The psalmist asks for two things “put falsehood and lying far from me” and “provide me only with the food I need” (Prv 30:7-8). To experience the freedom of a trusting relationship, I am a firm believer in that we all would be far better off if truth and need are our focus. How much better would our relationships be with our brothers and sisters be, at home, at work, even in church if we put falsehood and lying far from us? How much better would our health be if we consumed only what we need? How much better would the world be if we all consumed only what was needed? Trusting in God’s care, the earth does produce enough to feed all his children, it is the distribution that causes the imbalance.

Trust completely in God, “Add nothing to his words, lest he reprove you, and you will be exposed as a deceiver.” (Prv 30:6) We are incapable to care for ourselves, strive as we may to be perfect like our Heavenly Father is perfect, we all carrying the burdensome baggage of our sinfulness and we can do nothing to save ourselves. We only trust in Jesus’ promise of his Father’s love, compassion, forgiveness, and mercy. The promise that He would always be with us.

The proof of this great love, rests here at the table of sacrifice. Each time we worship and approach this table, we become full participants in Jesus’ self-offering. Where he willingly endured suffering, he willingly took on the sin of the world, so that we would trust His Father to free us from our brokenness and draw all his children back to himself.

Sunday, September 23, 2018

WELCOME THE CHILD

[1]A baby changes everything — especially for a child who is used to getting mom and dad’s full attention. Introducing and raising siblings when each child expects to be center stage is one of the trickiest balancing acts a parent can pull off.

There is a story of a family who was bringing home their new born baby, when they got home they were greeted at the door by the baby’s 4-year-old brother who said, “I want to talk to my baby brother—alone.” This somewhat surprised the parents. But they let the 4-year-old in the nursery with the brother and they shut the door…but they put their ears to the door as they wondered what he was going to say. Looking into the crib the 4-year-old said: “Quick! Tell me who made you! Tell me where you came from! I’m beginning to forget.”

Do you remember those magical years where a child has not moved into that linear, left brain consciousness yet? It is an age where everything is still an enchanted universe… where it is still possible to believe in what you do not see. It is an age where one does not judge…one does not exclude…one does not care about race, creed, color, sexual orientation nor care about power, prestige or possessions. It is the age where it seems everything coheres and yet… we all seem to unlearn it in a way… we simply forget.

In today’s gospel we find Jesus taking the Twelve away from the crowd to speak to them of his pending Passion, Death and Resurrection. Not surprisingly, the Twelve have no idea what he is talking about and choose not to question him or at the very least do not want to discuss it.[2] Instead, we find the Twelve arguing about status, rank, and standing!

The disciples were arguing who was the greatest. The tax collectors were reaping their wealth and the Pharisees were determining who was in and who was out—all themes that are repeated today over 2,000 years later. Like the Twelve, we usually want to be on top, but Jesus calls us to be happy on the bottom. We want to be the boss, but he wants us to be the servant. We want to be grown-up and admired, but he tells us to be like children. We want to achieve a lot, but he says we need to receive a lot. We often want to determine who is worthy—but he says that all are called to this table. Indeed, it does seem that we continue to forget where we came from, who we were created to be, and what Jesus calls us to do.

In the book of James, we are introduced to the root of wickedness: “jealousy and selfish ambition.” (Jam 3:16) James draws upon the Wisdom traditions to contrast the earthy ways with those of the wise, which are “from above.” (Jam 3:17) Jesus upsets the Twelve’s expectations exhorting that the leader is the one among them who is “the servant of all.” (Mk 9:35) Saint John Paul II in his last Consistory issued a strong warning to the newly elected cardinals that their mission should be not to pursue careerism but to serve society’s most vulnerable, if need be, to the limit of martyrdom.

Jesus punctuates his teaching by taking a child (one without legal standing or status in the both Jewish and Greco-Roman society) and charges the disciples, “Whoever receives one child such as this in my name receives me; and whoever receives me, receives not me but the One who sent me” (Mk 9:37) and I believe this is why Jesus brings forth a child so many times![3] “Let the children come to me, and do not prevent them; for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” (Mt 19:14; Mk 10:14; Lk 18:16)

The “child” in today’s reading cannot model the kind of service Jesus is challenging the Twelve and us to model. To be “last of all” (Mk 9:35) is to be in the service of the “child.” This “child” represents all those who possess no social status or legal rights within society. This “child” is the immigrant and refugee seeking a better life for their family, hope for a better future. This “child” represents the most vulnerable people in our community and of society.

To welcome this “child” is indeed to welcome Jesus and the God he professes.[4]