The Lord Upholds

~~~ Saint Elizabeth of Hungary ~~~

~~~ 2 Macabees 6:18-31 ~~~ Psalm 3 ~~~ Luke 19:1-10 ~~~

Stories of martyrdom were popular in the book of Macabees.
They were written to encourage the Jewish
people during times of persecution.

I cannot help but to recall the recent images of Christian people
today enduring similar persecution. 

It seems there is always one group in power
who takes pleasure in persecuting another group.

The driving force is always self serving.
God is pushed completely out of the picture.
Words may pretend to be acting on God's behalf,
but they are never truly aligned with God.

 ...the Son of Man has come to seek

and to save what was lost.

Jesus calls for Zacchaeus, a wealthy tax collector,
to come down from his perch in the tree.

Zacchaeus was curious about Jesus...
he wanted to get a good look at him for himself.

Imagine his shock when Jesus
invites himself to dinner that very evening.

The Lord upholds me.

Zacchaeus had been lurking around Jesus...
listening to his preaching from afar.
He finally gets up the nerve to climb high
 enough to at least see Jesus.

Zacchaeus comes to the realization
 that something is missing in his life.

There is something that all of his wealth cannot buy.

There is something more...Jesus holds the answer.

Jesus touches Zacchaeus deep within the core of his soul.
He vows to repent...to share his wealth with the poor.
He even promises to make retribution for those
 he has previously deceived.

Did you notice that it was not Jesus
who commanded Zacchaeus to repent?

Jesus simply said...
“Zacchaeus, come down quickly,
for today I must stay at your house.” 

How has this same spirit of God
moved you to repent for your sins?

The Lord upholds all those who come to him...
all who seek to see him.

Receive Jesus with joy into your heart...
all things will change.

The Lord upholds me.

Blessings to reform.
~~~Peace~~~

Levi's Dinner Party

~~~ Isaiah 58:9B-14 ~~~ Psalm 86 ~~~ Luke 5:27-32 ~~~

Jesus called Levi, the tax collector, to follow.

Jesus was an equal opportunity employer.

Levi was so excited about his new career...

 ...he gave a great banquet for him in his house,

and a large crowd of tax collectors

and others were at table with them.

Levi invited all of his friends who also just happened

 to be in the financial field.

So was this one of the first fund raiser events.

Did Levi see that if Jesus was to spread his message 

some additional funds might be necessary?

Jesus chose to place himself in the company

 of every kind of person imaginable.

He did not concern himself with a person's 

sinfulness social or economic status.

Jesus came for everyone.

Imagine for a minute if Jesus 

had only chosen fine upstanding members 

of the community for his followers.

Would the greatest of sinners given him any notice?

Jesus purposely went out of his way to encounter

 all aspects of the human condition. 

No one repulsed him... no one was rejected by him...

“Those who are healthy do not need a physician, 

but the sick do. I have not come to call the righteous 

to repentance but sinners.”

Today we believe in annual 

visits to our physician for our well-being.

Jesus was focused on the well-being of the soul.

We have many ways to maintain the health

 of our soul through the sacraments.

When Jesus walked among us

 he was the preview of all of the sacraments. 

Jesus restores and repairs all things;

those whom he called came to witness this first hand.

We are Blessed today because Jesus

is the Divine Physician

for the body and soul.

~~~Peace~~~

Bragging to God

~~~Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time~~~

 

~~~Sirach 35:12-14, 16-18~~~Psalm 34~~~2 Timothy 4:6-8, 16-18~~~Luke 18:9-14~~~

 

Two men went up to the temple to pray.
A Pharisee and a tax collector.
The Pharisee immediately begins telling God what great person he was...
thanking God that he was not like most other sinners.
Somehow he has labeled himself as better, superior.
He elaborates on the sins he perceives others to be guilty of committing...
greed, dishonesty, adultery...or even like this tax collector.
Without even really knowing the other man
he judges himself to be better.
He is plagued with his own self wonderment.

He waits no time in informing God of what he does;
to make himself worthy of being labeled a 'better' person.
I fast twice a week, and I pay tithes on my whole income.

As you have already figured out God is not impressed.
He is never impressed when we are boastful for our own indulgence. 

 

 

The tax collector presents a very different picture.
  ...the tax collector stood off at a distance
and would not even raise his eyes to heaven
but beat his breast and prayed,
'O God, be merciful to me a sinner.'

  

Jesus often does give us two views of the same situation. 

Notice we are told where the tax collector is standing.
He stands off at a distance...oops does that mean
I should not sit in the front of church anymore? I hope not. 

 

The tax collector is humbly approaching God in prayer.
The tax collector is admitting his sinfulness.
The tax collector is being honest with himself; he asks for
God to be merciful. 

He wants God to know that he is repentant for his sins against God.

These two men both come up to the temple,
 but with two very different attitudes.

One comes to brag on himself
the other comes with full disclosure of his sins. 

 

Usually when we start to brag about ourselves
we are headed for trouble. 

 

Have you heard the saying...
except for the grace of God, there go I?
That is not bragging because it is giving God the credit
 for all things good in your life. 

 

It is only because of the grace of God that we can
come before him in repentance. 

Blessings come from approaching
God with humble honesty.

 We do not need to impress God with our goodness
 at the expense of others.

The Tax Collector Hosts a Dinner for Jesus

~~~ Isaiah 58:9b-14 ~~~ Psalm 86 ~~~ Luke 5:27-32 ~~~

 

When the tax collector hears the call from Jesus to Follow him,

he immediately leaves his money table.

He walks away from his well paying job.

Later that same day he calls his friends together for a banquet in honor of Jesus.

Who knows this could have been equivalent to a political fund raiser

in today's environment.

 

"...leaving everything behind, he got up and followed him.
Then Levi gave a great banquet for him in his house,
and a large crowd of tax collectors
and others were at table with them..."

 

Little did the tax collector know that he was exposing his unsavory friends

 to the presence of a holy and righteous man...Jesus.

The Pharisees and the scribes were well aware that tax collectors

 were not considered to be among the holy.

They were not known for keeping the Jewish laws or rituals.

 

 

Jesus on the other hand accepted the invitation from the tax collector.

Jesus did not try to judge the intentions or the tax collector's friends.

 

Jesus had a stronger personality.

He could not be influenced by their potential corrupt ways.

Perhaps the presence of Jesus coupled with the conversion of the tax collector

 made an impact on these guests.

Perhaps they were affected for the better.

The Bible does not provide for us every detail of those who were influenced by Jesus.

 

All who come in contact with Jesus, however, leave as a changed person...

some more than others.

Some walked away from their former life immediately.

Some were changed in ways less obvious,

but all were changed.

 

We have the same situation.

We too are changed whenever we come into contact with Jesus...

especially through receiving the Eucharist in Communion.

 

Jesus came to earth for everyone...he does not discriminate. 

We have much to learn from just this one dinner.

 

Teach me your way, O Lord, that I may walk in your truth.

 

We follow Jesus because he is loving, kind, and

accepting of all who come to him.

Jesus was all inclusive;

 there were no private exclusive parties.

Lord, help me to be more loving of others and less judgmental.

I choose to be more aware of your presence today, Lord.

 

Living Words "Aha" Times

~~~ Hebrews 4:12-16 ~~~  Psalm 19 ~~~ Mark 2:13-17 ~~~

 

"The word of God is living and effective,
sharper than any two-edged sword,
penetrating even between soul and spirit,
joints and marrow,
and able to discern reflections and thoughts of the heart.
No creature is concealed from him,
but everything is naked and exposed to the eyes of him
to whom we must render an account..."

 

This passage from Paul's letter to the Hebrews gives us much food for thought.

Consider the word of God as something alive.

We know that our words have power.

Our words can tear down a person or build them up.

If our words can affect another human being it makes sense that God's words would be much more powerful.

God's word is living because the 'Word' became flesh.

 

God's word is effective because it delivers the undeniable truth about God himself.

God's word is sharper than a two-edged sword because it

penetrates into our soul.

Striking the human body with a sword would cause great damage to the flesh...penetrating the bone and marrow.

God's word cuts between the soul and the spirit.

God's word cuts into that which cannot be seen.

When the soul and spirit is touched by the living word of God

 there may not be any physical evidence.

No one may be able to tell the difference

until you begin to think and act differently.

 

I believe it is impossible to not be changed by the living word of God

IF

you truly let this living word rest in your soul and spirit.

 

Pray for God to give you those individual 'Aha' times where

you hear the words with new ears.

Where for the first time you can hear that God's words are meant for you

at this time on this exact day.

When this happens it is like getting a breath of fresh air.

It is like a veil has been pushed aside.

It is like lighting a candle inside your heart.

 

 

Every day someone is touched in a personal way by this living word of God.

If today you hear his voice prepare to have your soul and spirit

exposed and naked before the Lord.

 

Jesus was able to chose his disciples, even a local tax collector.

These individuals were able to hear and accept his invitation to

'follow' him because his words are spirit and life.

Jesus is the word made flesh.

His words of invitation penetrated into

the soul and spirit

and they responded affirmatively.

How have you responded to God's word?

Jesus...the Original EOE

Feast of Saint Matthew

 

~~~ Eph 4:1-7, 11-13 ~~~ Psalm 19 ~~~ Matt 9: 9-13 ~~~

 

We are familiar with Matthew's calling to come follow Jesus.

He was the tax collector...one of the least likely to be chosen by Jesus.

The Jews wanted nothing to do with the tax collectors

because of the way they made their money.

They were not looked upon a desirable people, but more as crooks.

 

We should keep in mind that Jesus was a Jew. He was brought up in a typical Jewish family. He was taought the Jewish prayers and customs.

There are many cases when Jesus purposely does something interpreted as contrary to his Jewish upbringing.

Choosing Matthew to join his inner circle would have been noticed as curious at best.

IT is ven more astounding that Matthew went on to become one of the four Evangelist.

 

As a tax collector, Matthew would have been well educated, fluent in Aramaic and Greek, and considerable acquired wealth.

Tax collectors were viewed as sinners by the other Jews.

 

It is not only remarkable that Jesus called Matthew,

but it is even more remarkable that he immediately left his post.

Matthew heard the call from Jesus, closed up shop,

packed up his collection ledgers, and became a disciple. 

 

Soon after joining Jesus' young group,

Matthew invites Jesus to his house for a feast.

As we know sharing a meal together was a sign of inclusion and welcoming.

This gesture of inclusion infuriated the Scribes and Pharisees,

criticizing him for eating with tax collectors and sinners.

Jesus was prompt to answer; he had come to eat with sinners.

 

"...I did not come to call the righteous but sinners."

 

 

Matthew's writings is the first of the four synoptic gospels.

Origen believes it actually was the first written gospel account.

Matthew is recognized as a Saint in the Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox,

Lutheran, and Anglican churches.

His relics are preserved in the Salerno Cathedral in Italy.

 

Today Paul tells the Ephesians and us...

 

"...(I) urge you to live in a manner worthy of the call you have received,
with all humility and gentleness, with patience,
bearing with one another through love,
striving to preserve the unity of the Spirit
through the bond of peace..."

 

Matthew immediately rises to his calling and leaves his career

working for the establishment.

Matthew may have had previous exposure to Jesus though friends

and family members.

 

Jesus may have been preparing Matthew to be called

in many subtle ways.

He may have been pre-conditioned

to embrace his calling before it came.

Of course he did have his free will

and his intelligence to assist his decision making.

 

Maybe Matthew had some doubts about this new guy (Jesus)

 and his strange ways of looking at the world.

Maybe Matthew was waiting to be called

 before giving up his job security.

I would imagine even back then job security was important.

 

Jesus carefully handpicked his twelve apostles so that they

were a cross representation of all of us.

He picked fisherman and a tax collector and made them equal in his ministry.

Jesus considered the talents and gifts of each person he called,

 thereby creating a balanced group of loyal followers.

 

 

Just as Peter could relate to those who were hard working fishermen,

Matthew could speak to the professionals

and those in positions of authority.

 

It is easy to see that Jesus valued diversity...

just look at who he associated with.

 

You know that old childhood phrase:

Tell me who your friends are and I will tell you who you are.

 

 Jesus and his friends did not fit into any prescribed category.

Jesus was then and always be all inclusive...

sinner or saint, rich or poor, fisherman or tax collector...

Jesus was the first equal opportunity employer.

 

That should make each of us feel really good about following Jesus.

No matter who you are, Jesus has a job for you.

Working for Jesus, you will have job security to last a lifetime

and then some.

Who can resist his offer?

Matthew lived in a manner worthy of his call...

Are You?

Brand New Day for You

Saint Maria Goretti, Pray for us!

~~~ Amos 8:4-6, 9-12 ~~~ Psalm 119 ~~~ Matthew 9: 9-13 ~~~

"...Yes, days are coming, says the Lord GOD,
when I will send famine upon the land:
Not a famine of bread, or thirst for water,
but for hearing the word of the LORD.

Then shall they wander from sea to sea
and rove from the north to the east
In search of the word of the LORD,
but they shall not find it."

A famine for hearing the word of the Lord would indeed be a catastrophic day.

And yet how many times have we heard but not listened to the word? More importantly how many times have we heard and willfully ignored the word?

How many times have we denied the word?

When we are without the word firmly planted in our heart we are lost.

There is nothing to really anchor us and so we are tossed about

like toys in the bathtub water.

What will happen next?

Which way will the tide carry us?

Will the waves cause us to capsize?

If the words of the Lord are an integral part of the fabric of who you are no one and nothing can take that away from you. Even if someone would come along and take away your Bible they could never take away what you have stored in your heart.

Tuck the words of the Lord into your heart let them be alive there...

feel them giving you life...they are the green pasture...the living water...

His words are essential to our ability to practice our faith.

"Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet", sings Amy Grant.

The words of the Lord contain all the advice you will ever need.

Matthew, a tax collector, when called to follow;

got up asked no questions and took his place at the side of Jesus.

"Those who are well do not need a physician, but the sick do.
Go and learn the meaning of the words,
I desire mercy, not sacrifice.I did not come to call the righteous but sinners."

Jesus was challenging his critics to study and notice what was changing since he came to town. He had a new attitude about how to treat other people.

He was reminding them to go back to the scripture they should have known.

"For it is love that I desire, not sacrifice, and knowledge of God rather than holocausts." Hosea 6:6

Jesus intended to model love above all else.

His mercy is greater than any sacrifice we could conceive.

There is nothing we could sacrifice that would equal the mercy

Jesus offers to each of us.

Jesus calls when you are living your life.

Did you notice Matthew was working?

Matthew may have been longing for a change

not knowing how to make it a reality.

Jesus makes the impossible possible.

Jesus showed Matthew a better way to make a life!

He never ceases to surprise us!

Why Wait? Return to the Lord, Now

~~~ Hosea 6: 1-6 ~~~ Psalm 51 ~~~ Luke 18: 9-14 ~~~

"Come, let us return to the Lord..."

"...he will raise us up, to live in his presence."

"...let us strive to know the Lord..."

"...it is love that I desire not sacrifice..."
(Hosea)

"My sacrifice, O God, is a contrite spirit; a heart contrite and humbled,
O God, you will not spurn."
(Psalm 51)

The Pharisee and the Tax Collector present themselves before the Lord in prayer.

The Pharisee projects his judgement of others out from his heart. The Pharisee presents the presumptuous prayer of how worthy his actions have made him. He even compares himself to the stranger he really knows nothing about.
The Tax Collector approaches his prayer from the position of repentance, humility, and unworthiness. He is honest in his prayer asking God for mercy. He admits to God how he has failed to live up to the expectations of God.

Why do we feel we have the right to judge another? How can we compare ourselves to someone we do not even know? Comparing self to another is only an attempt to make yourself feel better...a way to deny your own short comings.
Feelings of superiority have no place when you are in the presence of the Lord. You cannot fool God he is all knowing...So what is the point? It is only to build yourself up with falsities. How long can you keep up the facade?

Throughout scripture the Pharisees have been protrayed as just the type who are constantly comparing themselves to others in a more favorable light. They even try to campare themseles to being better than Jesus. For they knew not what they were doing; this pattern of thought had become their way of life.

What might be the message here for us? The message for me is to be more aware when those prideful thoughts of comparison rush into my heart. It is so easy to forget. I have no right to compare myself to another no matter what I think about them.

We can return to God as many times as needed. He will not enforce a limit until you take your last breath. Return to the Lord in humility and love so that you will be granted the joy of living in his eternal presence.

"...only say the word and my soul will be healed."

Living in God's Abundance

~~~ Isaiah 58: 9b-14 ~~~ Psalm 86 ~~~ Luke 5: 27:32 ~~~

The Lord is continuing to speak to us through the prophet Isaiah. The Lord says, okay now that you have taken off the sunglasses...put them away...leave them off, because I have more in store for you.

God says if you follow my ways I will bless you with such abundance you will be astounded. Your life will be drastically changed,

if you keep your eyes focused on my way.

If we keep our eyes focused on doing what God wants in our life we can share in this same abundance. In his presence the light of God will guide us and this same light coming forth from the sun will bring abundance to the land. The Lord is our light and our salvation, we know that now, but those listening to the prophet did not have the full spectrum of the divine light.

God in his wisdom appealed to what they were familiar with...the things they would want to see changed. He speaks about a plentiful supply of water with beautiful gardens. They were in the desert; water was a scarce commodity. Today it is hard for us to believe it, but water is in short supply in many areas of the world.

God will provide for those who follow him. When you do not have access to water it would be much more challenging to believe the message of a caring God. Globally, 1.2 million people live in areas today wiht inadequate water supply.

Just this past summer we got a little taste of what it would mean to have a serious shortage of water. The promise of water got everyone's attention. It meant not only beautiful gardens but more food and less disease. They could bathe, a luxury when you are on a desert hike for years and years.

God wants us to thirst for him. If you do not know what you are missing you will not long for it? If you do not know there is an alternative how can you reach for it? God is saying, I am the alternative, this is what you have been missing. God is the missing link. The psalmist says 'teach me your ways Lord.' We need to be taught about the better way. The way God wants us live.

Jesus calls the tax collector, Matthew, and says come with me; there is a better way. I will teach you how to live abundantly. I will show the meaning of true wealth without collecting people's wages.

This image reflects God's promise of the abundance of water.

This photo is of the POP Sanctuary during Lent 2010.

Following the way of God leads us to the path of abundance.

An abundance that can only come from God.

With each glass of water you drink,

let that be a reminder of God's generous presence in your life.

Living on the Edge

Mark 2: 13-27

Jesus calls the tax collector.

Jesus is walking along the sea...If you are walking along the sea you are at the edge of the water. Jesus was on the edge with his message too. He chose to preach a message of love, healing, and mercy. He chose to deliver this message to lepers, paralytics, prostitutes, and now tax collectors.
Tax collectors were not your most likely followers of Jesus. The tax collectors were considered by some to be in the the category of sinners.

Jesus was 'living on the edge'.

To live on the edge is an idiom which means to have a type of life in which

you are often involved in exciting or dangerous activities.

Jesus placed himself in exciting and dangerous situations throughout his public ministry. He was not fearful of confrontation. He was not concerned with what others thougth about his actions.

He was certainly aware as word spread to all of what he was saying and doing. He knew his personal safety was in jeopardy, but he kept calmly moving among the peoples. He was busy about his father's business....spreading love and compassion.

As Jesus walked along the edge of the sea he was able to see the solid land on one side and the fluid water on the other hand. On the edge he was part of both; he could see the contrast. He is always able to see the contrast between good and evil. He is able to see the contrast within a person's soul. He is able to see the contrast in what you say and in how you live your life.

He is able to see the contrast between what we appear to be and what we are really.

This can bring a certain amount of comfort...knowing that your intentions are clearly seen by God. Some choose to ignore or deny this quality about God.

We can live our life on the edge too...stand up for what you know to be truth...speak kindly of others...express appreciation for the small things in your life...love without boundaries.

I chose this image of a person walking on the beach in order to capture the contrast of land and sea.

This kaleidoscope image shows both edges along the hexagon and contrasting colors.