GOD of OPPORTUNITIES

There is a longing for God in our general absence from Mass.  We know this by the number of views all the live-streamed Masses are experiencing.  Your Pastors and parish priests have been experimenting, in very creative ways, to offer opportunities for us to remain spiritually connected, to God and as faith communities, during this time of social distancing and quarantine. 

The Gospel today speaks of God’s very creative and unexpected way of entering into human history, by the fulfillment of the prophesy of Isaiah. “The virgin shall be with child, and bear a son.” (Is 7:14) The Nation of Israel has long awaited, some with great expectation and anticipation this Messiah and Savior.  The announcement is made to Mary, a young betrothed teenager, by an angel, that she is that virgin.  Mary will be the gateway by which God will reverse Adam & Eve’s first sin, through the miraculous birth of His Incarnate Word, Emmanuel (God with us) whom the world will know as Jesus, the Son of Mary and the carpenter’s son.

I believe God remains active in our lives, in human history.  As bad as Covid 19 is or may get, this Lenten journey into the unknown wilderness, our absence from Mass, is creating a great longing and anticipation for our return to these sacred mysteries, this communal prayer, we call the Mass.  God is giving us opportunities, not punishment!

This is an opportunity to be less distracted by work & extracurricular, an opportunity to connect as family (our first community), an opportunity to delve deeper and more intimate with His Word (sacred scripture), and an opportunity to experience the many beautiful spiritual practices and prayers from the traditions of Mother Church. 

Like Mary, we may not understand the how or why of the things occurring around us in the world, but we can respond like her, in complete obedience and abandonment to God’s will.  As we await with great expectation and anticipation for our ability to gather, as a community, to give praise and worship around the table of His Word & Eucharist.

MTAKATIFU

In the Swahili version of the Hail Mary, the word "Holy," as in "Holy Mary," is mtakatifu.  Here, the Swahili language offers us an interesting and valid insight into the concept of Mary's holiness. Taka means "desire," while tifu refers to "obedience."  As a whole, the word mtakatifu means "one who desires to be obedient."  Mary is holy because she is fully obedient to the will of God.  She freely unites her will with God's so that it not only affirms her own good, but the good of all God's children as well. Mary, therefore, is truly a universal mother.

While the secular mind has difficulty with the concept of obedience, it has no difficulty in regarding loyalty as an important virtue.  Yet loyalty and obedience are very close to each other.  Loyalty requires a strong allegiance, if not obedience, to a group.  The loyal person must often make sacrifices on an individual level for the good of the group to which they belong.[1]

The central theme of the passage from Deuteronomy which is part of Moses’ first address to the Israelites about to enter the promised land, is obedience.  Obedience is the key to Israel’s maintaining right relationship with God.  Obedience is also the condition upon which the people will eventually receive the gift of land promised to them through the patriarchs.

Moses in his exhortation tells the people: Hear and observe the statutes and decrees which I am teaching you … teach them to you children and your children’s children. (cf. Dt 4:5-9) Someone counted the laws in the Book of Leviticus that the people must follow, 613 precepts.  Passing them on, much less keeping them, can be burdensome.

In his Sermon on the Mount, Jesus says: “Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets. I have come not to abolish but to fulfill.” (Mt 5:17) Jesus holds the law and the prophets together.  The question then becomes: What law is Jesus embracing and upholding? Is it all of the ordinances of the OT?  The answer lies in the understanding the primary commandment to love of God with one’s whole being. (Dt 6:1–4) and focusing on loving one’s neighbors as one’s self. (Lv 19:18) The living out of these two commandments is meant to establish and maintain right relationship with God and support the well-being for all peoples.[2]

The Coronavirus has led to the decision to close Disney! WOW, you don’t see that often. The virus has also been the cause for canceling all ministerial activities and the suspension of all liturgical celebrations (Mass) for an undetermined time period, all in an attempt to slow its spread.  No Mass is a significant sacrifice for the faithful.  We have a couple ways to obediently embrace these decisions: First complain about being denied the source and summit of our faith.  The other is “obedience”, in embracing this sacrifice, we can find ourselves in solidarity with the many places in the world and the United States that do not have the priests to celebrate Mass with any regularity.  This is very Lenten desert experience of obedience fully supports the well-being of all God’s people. This sojourn away from the community celebration can be viewed as an opportunity to return to the basics of family unity and prayer, a call to utilize the many other spiritual practices our faith has to offer (praying the Liturgy of the Hours, reading sacred scriptures using Lectio Divina; other spiritual readings, etc…) all in an effort to maintain our right relationship with God. 

We have been called to a Global Retreat in a sense.  Given an opportunity to withdraw from the many distractions of this world to refocus on the most important of commandments; love of God with all your being and loving your neighbor as yourself.  Like Mary we are called to mtakatifu (one who desires to be obedient).

---

[1] CERC, Catholic Education Resource Center. Obedience by Donald Demarco

[2] Weekday HomilyHelps. Homily Suggestion by Leota Roesch.

FAMILY!!!

I’m sure you've noticed that we have the most intense conflicts at home, within our family, with the people closest to us. Family conflicts bring us the most pain, make us suffer, and distress us.  Whether it’s another shouting match with a teenage child or a disagreement with your spouse, conflicts at home are the most challenging to face because it’s so easy to be held hostage by your own emotions.[1]

Family conflict holds center stage of the drama where a father favors one son. We witness the envy, the jealousy, of the other brothers and their plot to rid the family of this golden child, Joseph.  In the Gospel, after sharing the parable, Jesus asks, “What will the owner of the vineyard do to those tenants when he comes?”  (Mt After they answer, he implies that they resemble the tenants and the Kingdom of God is like the vineyard.[2]

A sobering thought came to me during my reflections.  We are the tenants and the Kingdom of God is the Earth.  I’m resisting the desire to break into the song, “We Are Family.”  Yet we are, all Christians, even further, humanity is the family of our Creator.

As such, we need to figure out a better way to resolve family conflicts.  Change doesn’t start with the other.  Change begins with us, from within us.  When we need to set ourselves free from negative emotions, negotiators suggest we metaphorically "go to the balcony", to look at the conflict with some detachment.  I know it’s easier said than done. Viewing the conflict from different perspectives allows us to detach ourselves and get some clarity. Clarity is important if you want to resolve conflict and avoid escalation.  So there are three perspectives we can take to assist us in entering a state of clarity.

From our own perspective, it requires us to achieve a higher degree of self-awareness. This is done by asking our self, “what’s really bothering us?” Often what has upset us may not be what we are in conflict about, but is a trigger for something deeper.

Viewing the situation from the other’s perspective is a fundamental step that requires us to have empathy and through empathy to widen our understanding of what’s really going on.  Put ourselves in the other’s shoes for a moment, helps suspend our judgment and to see the situation from the perspective of another.

Using a third party’s perspective allows us to put ourselves in the position of an observer viewing the situation.  Like sitting in a movie theater, watching the conflict projected on a screen as if it were a movie. What is it all about?  What are they seeing?  We can also invite Jesus in as the third person to discuss it with Him.

Conflict can always be an opportunity: for better communication, for a dialogue about problems that matter, for a more authentic relationship, for self-growth, for being Christ-like in the midst of challenges.

---

[1] Psychology Today. “3 Steps to Resolving Conflict Within Your Family” by Aldo Civico Ph.D. Posted: Jun 04, 2015.

[2] Weekday HomilyHelps. Homily Suggestion by Linus Mundy.

NO GOOD DEED GOES UNPUNISHED

As a parent, I find myself often telling my children that their benevolence will reap rewards.  When they act in caring and helpful ways, especially for those in need, they will feel good about themselves and others will appreciate it.[1]  Sadly, the phrase “No good deed goes unpunished” has become a cynical twist on this idea, meaning, sometimes good intentions and acts of kindness aren’t properly appreciated or, may mean, doing something kind will lead to expectations and demands for more help and benefits the recipient believes they deserve.[2]

The good deed Jeremiah has in mind is his prophetic ministry of bringing God’s word to the people.  He mentions specifically speaking to God on the people’s behalf and turning God’s wrath away from them.  In turn for his good deed, Jeremiah’s enemies feel free to remove him because this will not result in the loss of anything essential.  So, they plan to listen carefully to what Jeremiah says in order to use his words against him.[3]

Today’s Gospel is also a shocker for modern readers and listeners—or, sadly maybe it’s not.  Jesus declares to his closest, most loyal followers the third prediction of the things he will endure in Jerusalem.  He, “the Son of Man,” will be arrested.  Response from disciples: nothing.  He will be handed over to be mocked and scourged.  Response: nothing.  He will be put to death.  Response: nothing.  He will rise from the dead on the third day.  Response: Jesus, when all of this happens, “Command that these two sons of mine sit, one at your right and the other at your left, in your kingdom.” (Mt 20:21) On one hand this displays commendable faith; yet on the other hand, it shows a failure to understand the implications of establishing a kingdom through suffering, death, and resurrection.

What is most interesting in this telling: We hear no concern or empathy for Jesus good deed, the suffering he will soon face.  Rather, it’s as if the only response is, “Now what’s in it for me?”

What a dramatic way for Jesus to tell his followers—and us—this important message!  That our lives are to be lived for others.  It’s not about our own authority, reputation, or reward instead, it is about serving God and neighbor.  We are only five chapters away from the great “final judgment” scene where God’s ultimate question is not, “What did you do in your life to obtain success, power, and reputation?” but rather, “What did you do for others, especially the unsuccessful people, the powerless people, the people whose reputation is poor—or even worse, nonexistent?”[4]

---

[1] Huffpost, “No Good Deed Goes Unpunished” by Rabbi Jason Miller. Posted: May 13, 2016.

[2] Grammarist. “No good deed goes unpunished”

[3] Weekday HomilyHelps. Exegesis by Dr. Terrance Callan.

[4] Ibid. Homily Suggestion by Linus Mundy.

ONGOING CONVERSION

In 1970, Norma McCorvey, desiring to terminate her third pregnancy, filed a law suit under the pseudonym "Jane Roe," challenging Texas laws criminalizing abortion. The case eventually reached the U.S. Supreme Court as the now-famous Roe v. Wade.

Norma describes herself as being relatively ignorant of the facts of her own case.  She claims to not being aware of all the implications of abortion or even what the term itself meant.  Nor did she realize the process would end a human life.  In the end, she never did have an abortion but gave her baby up for adoption.

Around 1992, she began to work at abortion clinics, until in 1995, a pro-life group moved into the same building as the clinic.  This led to a series of encounters between Norma and pro-life activists.  It was the 7-year-old daughter of one of the pro-lifers, who in a  particular way affected Norma. Norma eventually started going to church and began to reject her past involvement with the pro-abortion movement.

Since her conversion, she has dedicated herself to pro-life work, starting her own ministry, "Roe No More," in 1997.  She continues to speak out against abortion and for life and in 1998, she became a Catholic convert working to overturn Roe v. Wade.[1]

What will God remember about Norma McCorvey when she passes from this life?

Today’s first reading celebrates the potential of conversion.  Ezekiel takes up the case first of a sinful person who repents and changes his life—and then of a virtuous person who turns from the path of righteousness.  He offers hope by emphasizing individual responsibility for choosing to make a personal commitment to abide in God’s law.  While there’s a warning, there is also the reminder God has nothing to gain from the death of the wicked. God rejoices when someone turns away from evil to do good.[2]

God does not want us to simply give lip service to what we believe. The rituals and words we participate in today must be real for us. The confiteor, prayers of intercession, the Eucharistic prayers and the Our Father, "forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us," all must challenge us to take the words of Mass and the Lord’s words seriously.  When we say, “I confess to you, my brothers and sisters,” or “Lord, I am not worthy,” we are making a choice to commit to and affirm our own continual conversion.

We are not called to simply listen without being changed.  We are obliged to do as St. Augustine advises: “…become what we have eaten.”  To illustrate the endless demands of such love, Jesus prohibits our making an acceptable offering to God while knowing that a brother or sister has anything against us.[3]  The priority is to be reconciled with one another and to rejoice over a sinner’s conversion.

---

[1] The Mystical Humanity of Christ Publishing. “Here are 10 of the Most Unexpected Catholic Conversion Stories” by Sara & Justin Kraft.

[2] Weekday HomilyHelps. Exegesis by Dr. Mary Ann Getty.

[3] Ibid. Homily Suggestion by Jeanne Hunt.

HOLDING A GRUDGE?

Despite your best efforts, it's impossible not to be hurt or disappointed, at some point in our life, by loved ones or societal norms we fail to see eye to eye on.  Often the most challenging aspect of getting hurt is letting go of any lingering resentment after we forgive the other.  Sometimes, we may find that we're holding a grudge — even if we're doing so unintentionally.

Knowing ourselves, in light of scripture, might give us a clue that we're holding a grudge, even if we don't think we are, and can help us figure out a way to move forward.

When we're holding a grudge, all sorts of things can cause us to get frustrated.  We can find ourselves taking advantage of any opportunity to let our voice to be heard, sometimes inappropriately.  Meaning, sometimes we might get upset over things that really aren't related to what we're actually upset about.[1]

The author of the Book of Jonah insists revealing on Jonah’s dislike of the Ninevites and his refusal to obey God for fear that the Ninevites might be more receptive to God’s message and call to repentance than his own people.  Jonah did his best to avoid delivering God’s message.  The consequence for his disobedience was a God sized timeout, in the belly of a whale.  God always wins.  We have a God of second chances.  He gives Jonah a second chance and He continually offers us second chances.  Jonah’s behavior gives us a real glimpse of our own weaknesses, Jonah didn’t want to give the people of Nineveh a second chance—even though God had given him one.  In this light, I had to ask myself, how am I at giving second chances.  How are you doing on giving others a second chance?

We all have our blind spots: We develop the habit of excusing our own mistakes and struggles, yet we often fall short of doing the same for someone else.  Mercy is the issue.  We struggle to follow in the Master’s example.  Mercy and compassion require a forgiving heart that lets go of resentment, that lets go of the lingering grudge.  Like Jonah, we are challenged to see beyond the sometimes-petty mistakes that offend us.  Taking a step back and reflecting on the big picture, recognizes our hurt is real and our struggle to get beyond it.  Could it be that God is doing something good when we endure these difficulties?  

Today’s Gospel helps us realize that Jesus expects us to pay attention to the light within us.  This light strengthens our resolve to be merciful and faithful as we attempt to live the Gospel values of forgiveness and mercy.  Being a light-bearer means taking that hard look ourselves, especially when we hold tight to an old grudge.[2]

---

[1] Insider “8 signs you're holding a grudge even if you don't think you are” by Lauren Schumacker. Posted April 14, 2019.

[2] Weekday HomilyHelps Homily Suggestion by Jeanne Hunt.

WILDERNESS WISDOM

[1]There are many different ways of approaching the holy season of Lent.  Some like to give up things, in a spirit of penance.  Others like to put a more positive spin on it, looking for ways to become a better person.[2]  The prophet Joel puts it this way: “…rend you hearts and not your garments.  Return to the Lord, your God, for he is gracious and merciful.” (Jl 2:13)

The Genesis reading relates how an original intimacy between humans and God was damaged by distrust.  The serpent’s question to the woman implies that God has placed an unreasonable limitation on the couple.  Knowing they would not physically die, the serpent tells a half-truth, suggesting that God does not have their best interest at heart.  But once the couple has eaten of the tree, they do experience death in the form of estrangement from God, the source of life.  Exile from the Garden symbolizes this rupture of the divine-human relationship, the devastating consequences of sin.[3]

I believe we can all look back on times when, in some ways at least, we were better than we are now.  Maybe I used to be more patient.  Maybe I used to be less wrapped up in myself and more attentive toward those around me.  Maybe I used to do my job or schooling with more energy and care.  Whatever it is, it’s a version of myself I’d like to get back to.

As I review the applications for men discerning the permanent diaconate there is a common ebb and flow from an experience of God through in their early years with family and grandparents, to a withdrawal from Church, for a variety of reasons or experiences, and then there is a return to Church because of an invitation to a retreat experience or due to a relationship with a special person that welcomes them back.  Or in the words we heard on Ash Wednesday, “Repent (turn back) and believe in the Gospel,” that renews their relationship with God and His Church.

Returning to the Lord may involve giving something up, it may be returning to some positive habits, like regular morning or evening prayer, or adding something new to the mix that is myself, yet beyond myself. 

The Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy tells us that Penance should be “internal and individual but also external and social.” (110)  Acts of penance, those acts and reflections in response to our sin, are not intended to burden us but to unburden us, to straighten our backs and allow us to receive the “gracious gift” God has in store for us.

The temptation of Jesus is not about our morality, our piety, or our doing battle with the devil.  It’s about claiming our identity as God’s people here in the wilderness, what we call our earthly sojourn, and soaking in Christ’s wisdom.  A wisdom that teaches that any concern for my own self-interest ought to be outmatched by the concern for my neighbor, for the stranger, for the widow and orphan, for the other.  It’s a wisdom that affirms ultimatums, pronouncements, and doctrinal litmus tests are nothing compared to caring for the sick, serving the poor, comforting the grieving, and speaking for the long-silenced.

This wilderness wisdom of Christ questions the worship of mammon, the lust for power, and the faith statement of winning at all cost.  It challenges when ivory towers become sacred, corporate ladders divine, and extreme wealth a divine right.  “The Lord your God, worship and Him alone. (Mt 4:10) You shall not put the Lord your God to the test. (Mt 4:7) One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that come from the mouth of God.” (Mt 4:4) The mouth of God.  The wisdom of Christ.  The rest of the Gospel will show Jesus, as Son of God, serving others rather than himself, even to the Cross, trusting and remaining faithful to the Father.

Welcome to Lent, a time of opportunity.  St. Paul tells us, “if by the transgression of the one, the many died, how much more did the grace of God and the gracious gift … of the one man, Jesus Christ, overflow for the many.” (Rom 5:15) Let’s enter this Lenten season saying with Jesus, “Away with you, Satan!” (Mt 4:10) Away with sin, so the gift of God alone fills our hearts and minds[4] moving us to acts of charity toward those most in need

---

[1] New American Bible, Saint Joseph Edition. © 1986.  Scriptures: Genesis 2:7-9; 3:1-7; Romans 5:12-19; Matthew 4:1-11.

[2] Sundays with Jesus by James DiGiacomo, SJ © 2007.
[3] Living the Word by John R. Barker, OFM and Karla J. Bellinger © 2019.

[4] The Word on the Street by John W. Martens © 2016.