IS GOD DEAD?

Fifty years ago, Time magazine asked in a famous headline, "Is God Dead?"  The magazine wondered whether religion was relevant to modern life in the post-atomic age when communism was spreading and science was explaining more about our natural world than ever before.  

Well, we're still asking the same question.  But the response isn't limited to yes or no.  A chunk of the population born after the article was printed may respond to the provocative question of, "God who?"

The religiously unaffiliated, call "NONES," are growing significantly.  National Geographic published an article in April 2016 entitled, "The World's Newest Major Religion; No Religion."  49% of those identifying themselves as "nones" indicate a lack of belief led them to move away from religion.  Religion is simply irrelevant in their lives.

The question that comes to my mind is, how did Jesus become irrelevant?  While there are many factors, in part, I believe it is because of how we, professed Christians, respond to conflict.  Consider today's Scriptures and see if you recognize the pattern in today's society.  In Genesis Sara asks Abraham to expel the servant girl and her son to handle the conflict, which creates conflict for others.  In the Gospel reading the town's folk isolate and avoid the conflict with the demoniacs.  Yet, when God intervenes and Jesus speaks, with a word people are healed and at peace.

How can we make Jesus relevant in our conflicted world?

• We need to take a closer look inside ourselves, do we allow Jesus us to touch our lives, no matter how messy or complicated, to transforms us.  Pope Francis writes in The Joy of the Gospel, "How much good it does us when he once more touches our lives and impels us to share his new life!"
• Stop and pray, to deepen our relationship with Jesus.  Jesus invites us in the Eucharist to seek him, his wisdom, his Spirit.  Do we listen, especially when we are in chaos and distress?  Can we abandon ourselves to and joyfully live in his holy will and accept his peace?
• Communicate our gospel values and witness in positive terms.  Share what Jesus means to you, how your personal relationship with our Lord and Savior helps you through the conflicts of life, share his promise to be with us always and carries us when our human abilities fail.

No, God is NOT dead!  He lives and breaths in us.  He nourishes us with his real presence in the Eucharist.  All so we can engage our conflicted lives and world with his out poured love for us and all of human kind.

REMEMBER WHEN...?

For years, I drove my little red Ford Ranger, 10 years to be exact.  I loved that truck!  We shared over 100,000 miles together, traveling throughout Brevard County, representing Habitat for Humanity, Daily Bread and Holy Name of Jesus.  The truck became part of my very identity, like Silver was to the Lone Ranger and Natasha was to John Wayne.

When Judy and I moved to Winter Springs, I knew I was going to have to get a more practical vehicle for my new job responsibilities.  So I gave Ranger to my son, who needed a work truck.

A couple a months ago, I went to Home Depot to pick up some home improvement materials.  I was so focused on the material list and project I forgot where I parked my vehicle.  When I came out of the store and looked out over the parking lot, I a sinking feeling came over me, where's my truck?  Someone stole my truck!

After several laps around the parking lot I turned to return to the store to tell the manager, someone stole my truck and call the police.  As I got to the doors of the store it hit me.  I was looking for the wrong vehicle!  I no longer owned Ranger, I left her in Brevard County.

Often times, our life experiences reminds us that our memory is just not what it used to be.  As individuals we begin to forget birthdays, anniversaries, where we put our reading glasses, where we parked our car.  As a society often stuck in the daily grind of our lives or in the pursuit of success we may fail to remember those most in need within our community.

Scripture remembering is however, more than recalling a past event; it is about making the past event present.  Where become active participants of the past event as if it were the first time the event occurred.  God's remembering is a renewing of his covenant relationship;  God continuance in upholding His covenant relationship with His people, now and into the future, for all eternity.

When we forget, get to busy, or become to lax in keeping our part of the covenant relationship; God continues to uphold His part, He will literally pursue us so that when we are tempted, He gives us graces to resist the temptation.  When we are lost in sin, He gives us the grace of repentance and reconciliation.  When we fall into doubt about His very existence, he give us a sign of His ever loving presence.  The greatest sign God gives us to show he remembers us and His covenant relationship with us, is the Eucharist.

Every time we participate in the Eucharist we are remembering, in a very real way, making present that first paschal mystery, where God affirmed His covenant relationship and confirmed His eternal promise of salvation for the whole world.  Come and receive the goodness of a every remembering and loving God.

I MET AN ANGEL TODAY

[1]July 6, 2015, I remember the day well, it was the day I met an Angel.  At the time I was the Operations Director of the Daily Bread, Inc. in Melbourne, Florida.  The Development Director came in my office and said there was someone who wanted to make a donation that I had to meet.  The donor was a 7 year old Angel named Ella.  After greeting Ella she pulled out her change purse out and handed me 3 one dollar bills and some change that total $5.00.  As I talked with Ella and her grandmother it seems that Ella was on a Money Management System for Kids.  She was encouraged when she gets money, she must distribute the funds into jars labeled: "Save", "Give" and "Spend".

Today was her giving day.  Ella's grandmother shared that Ella prefers to walk around downtown Melbourne until she meets a person who seems to be in need and give the money directly.  This was a stressful program for grandmother, concerned for Ella's safety.  On this day they came across a person in need, but instead of him taking the money he suggested giving the money to Daily Bread instead.

Seems the man explained to Ella that he could take the $5.00 and get one meal, but if she gave the money to Daily Bread, they could feed 3 people for the same $5.00.  The man did not give his name and Ella's grandmother couldn't describe him well enough for us to identify him.  All we know is there was a needy man in town that sacrificed a guaranteed meal so that 3 others would be fed.

Today’s scripture reminds us that is God who is the real giver.  We are are simply the stewards of his great generosity.  It is God who can always provide us with what we need, like the bird that finds a nest, and the flower that adorn the fields.  It is God who gives generously so we in turn can be cheerful givers.  It is God who gives us energy when we feel to wiped out to continue, and it is God gives us strength to forgive, when conflict seems to be endless.

How do we receive these abundant graces?  By fixing our hearts on the One who gives them: our faithful, merciful and generous God.

Let's finish the day out repeating this Psalm 28:7, “The Lord is my strength and my shield, in whom my heart trusts.  I am helped, so my heart rejoices.”[2]  As God gives to us, let us give to others.

---

[1] New American Bible, Saint Joseph Edition. © 1986.  Scriptures: 2 Corinthians 9:6-11; Psalms 112:1-4, 9; Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18.

[2] The Word Among Us.  June 2017 Issue.