Childish versus Child-like

Memorial of Saint Jerome, Doctor of the Church

~~~ Zechariah 8:1-8 ~~~ Psalm 102 ~~~ Luke 9:46-50 ~~~

 

Although the disciples did not reveal to Jesus

what they were arguing over, he knew.

The disciples were being childish instead of being child-like.

 

Jesus realized the intention of their hearts...

 

Jesus realizes that the disciples are confused about what is really important.

It will never be about which one of them deserves the most attention...

the best seat at the table...

They are to avoid competition among themselves.

They are to withhold judgment of others.

 

Children hold the key to much of what Jesus wants to teach us.

Children are the hope of the future.

Children represent new life; a life free of negativity.

 

The city shall be filled with boys and girls playing in its streets.

Look to the children; they emulate the kingdom of heaven.

The innocence and purity of a little child serves to remind

us of the goodness of God.

 

The children of your servants shall abide,
and their posterity shall continue in your presence.

 

Children carry forward for generations what has been given to them.

It is important for us to teach them well.

Children see no boundaries real or perceived.

Children reach out to others in need.

Children love unconditionally.

 

 

Every child comes into this world as a unique creation of God.

 

“Whoever receives this child in my name receives me,
and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me.
For the one who is least among all of you
is the one who is the greatest.”

Being in the presence of children

 is a reminder of how life was when we too were children.

It would indeed be a sad community when children were not present.

God is present in each of us, but his presence in a child is the most beautiful.

 

Just to gaze at a newborn is to gaze upon the face of God.

Children are a gift from God.

 

Blessings in being child-like as opposed to being childish.

Complacency...a Critical Condition

 

Twenty-sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time

~~Amos 6:1a, 4-7~~Psalm 146~~1 Timothy 6:11-16~~Luke 16:19-31~~

 

Complacency

...a feeling of being satisfied

with how things are and not wanting to make them better...

self satisfaction especially when accompanied by unawareness

of actual dangers or deficiencies. 

 

Woe to the complacent in Zion!

 

Today the readings give us a chilling picture

of what complacency can do to your soul.

The rich man was numbed by his in difference

to the others around him who were less fortunate...

even Lazarus lying at his front door.

 

The wealthy are lounging around on their comfy beds drinking wine

 and indulging themselves.

They are not a bit concerned about anyone or anything else.

 

Some years ago local Houston artists turned a building

scheduled to be demolished into a curious work of art.

They took the exterior frame work

and made it appear that the house had imploded into itself.

 

 

This is an idea of what happens to us when

we allow ourselves to become complacent.

We become turned in upon ourselves, focused only

on what matters to our pleasure.

 

 The rich man passed by Lazarus everyday

 but never noticed, much less cared to see how he could help him.

It was not until both men had dies that the rich man had his eyes opened.

The rich man is being tormented in the netherworld.

Now he can no longer be complacent because he the situation has turned.

 

 ...between us and you a great chasm is established
to prevent anyone from crossing who might wish to go
from our side to yours or from your side to ours.

 

The great chasm prevents those on either side from coming

 to the assistance of the other. 

Even if one has compassion the great chasm

makes it impossible to cross over. 

 

 We should be vigilant to not let complacency

take up residence in our hearts.

Complacency of the soul is equivalent to imploding into yourself.

Becoming single minded with your own needs

 at the exclusions of all others.

 

 Do not allow complacency to grab hold of your soul

and you will be Blessed.

Pay Attention

~~~ Zechariah 2:5-9, 14-15a ~~~ Re: Jeremiah 31:10 ~~~Luke 9:43b-45~~~

 

The Lord needed to tell the people to pay attention;

he was about to reveal his own death to them.

They could not grasp his meaning, but he wanted

 them to at least listen to the words.

If the words you hear have no way to connect to something heard before

you can have no comprehension.

 

“Pay attention to what I am telling you.
The Son of Man is to be handed over to men.”

 

Hearing the Lord speak of the Son of Man made very little sense

 to his audience. They had no prior knowledge of this Son.

 

I will turn their mourning into joy,
I will console and gladden them after their sorrows.

 

Today as we read these words of mourning, joy, consolation, and sorrow

we can relate. We experience these emotions in our lives.

They represent what it means to be human.

Life events may cause us to be mournful and filled with sorrow.

This is to be expected.

God is the one who makes it possible to once again experience joy.

God is the one who gives consolation...the one who takes our sorrow away.

 

 I will be for her an encircling wall of fire, says the LORD,
and I will be the glory in her midst.

 

Jerusalem has no wall of protection...it is vulnerable to the enemy.

God does not want his people to concern themselves

with this perceived weakness.

The Lord will protect with a ring of fire.

The Lord God himself has been with the Israelites for decades,

he would not abandon them now.

They are home where they belong. The temple

is where the glory of God will shine.

 

 

I am coming to dwell among you, says the LORD.

 

If God was coming to dwell in our community

 can you imagine how we would feel?

Initially there might be some who would doubt it was true.

Others would be beside themselves with excitement.

Others would immediately begin the list of what

needed to be done before his arrival.

 

The whole community would be buzzing with joy and excitement.

The truth is the Lord is here with us, but where has all the excitement gone?

How is it that we have become numb to his presence?

 

It is good that the church gives us this reminder today.

Pay attention to what I am telling you.

God is in our midst at every moment, but we tend to get

caught up in this world of distractions.

 

Blessings come to those who pay attention.

He gladdens and consoles the soul.

Take Courage...It's Personal

Memorial of Saint Vincent de Paul

 

~~~ Haggai 2:1-9 ~~~Psalm 43 ~~~ Luke 9:18-22 ~~~

 

...take courage...

For I am with you, says the LORD of hosts.

And my spirit continues in your midst;
do not fear!

 

It has been such a long time the Lord asks who is left

who remembers how it was.You know the good ole days.

Only a few remain; the governor, the high priest,

 and a remnant of people.

 

Not many were still alive who could remember the temple

when it was initially completed, only a remnant.

Remnant is an interesting word.

You usually hear this word used when referring to the last

bit left on a bolt of fabric.

Here it is used to describe the remaining small number of people left.

God tells them to take courage because he has never left them.

It does not matter to God how many people

were familiar with the temple.

He is about to make something even greater and more glorious.

Even in a remnant piece of fabric the pattern and the colors are visible.

 

...in this place I will give you peace,
says the LORD of hosts!

God will place a special peace in his house.

This peace is available to all who come into the temple.

This is true today...the spirit of God's peace remains in our churches.

 

I believe that each time we offer the Eucharistic celebration in the church

the remnant of God's peace lingers ever so slightly.

I try to be aware of this subtle, but yet real, presence

 of God's peace when I come into our church. 

 

 

We hear this gospel more than once throughout the liturgical cycle,

I think because we are being asked to look

 at our personal relationship with Jesus.

First Jesus asks about the people at large, the greater community. 

 

“Who do the crowds say that I am?”

 

We cannot be complacent with our faith just because

we belong to a 'crowd'.

The group consensus cannot replace our personal responsibility.

We cannot hide within our community of faith.

You cannot just give the rehearsed answer...

 

“But who do you say that I am?”

 

The only way to answer this question...the only way

you can answer this question

is if you have made a personal commitment.

You cannot say who someone is if you do not know them.

You must have some contact with someone

before you can say who they are.

The answer to this question must come from the heart.

A heart which has had a personal encounter with the Lord.

 

The crowds did not have the right answer...they were just guessing.

We can only know who God if we first believe he exists.

 

Blessings in how you speak about who Jesus is to you.

It's Personal!

How are You Building Up the Temple?

~~~ Haggai 1:1-8 ~~~ Psalm 149 ~~~ Luke 9:7-9 ~~~

 

Consider your ways!

Another translation says...Reflect on your experience!

 

God wants the people to build the temple,

but instead they have built their own houses and let themselves be distracted.

They have been giving their attention to all the wrong things....

eating, drinking, collecting their money.

 

All of their time spent has not brought them happiness

 or blessings from God.

They have found no pleasure even in their eating and drinking.

Their money brings them no return...nothing

is bringing them closer to the Lord.

 

God wants them to return to the work he commissioned them to do...

that of building up the temple where he can be glorified.

 

God tells the people they have lost sight of their task.

Once they return to the temple construction

 they will feel better about themselves.

They will know that they are completing what

God himself requested of them.

 

 

After killing John the Baptist,

Herod is haunted by what he is being told about Jesus.

 

John was the voice of wisdom, even for Herod.

Now he is restless and confused...he is more lost then ever before.

 

 “John I beheaded.
Who then is this about whom I hear such things?”

And he kept trying to see him.

Herod could not see who Jesus truly was:

his heart was closed to all new possibilities.

 

Everything leads back to the inner disposition of one's heart.

Where your heart is therein lies your treasure.

The people of the prophet Haggai have let their hearts

 loose sight of their calling.

 

They are mechanically focusing on the wrong things.

They are placing their attention on those things

that are not of God's design.

 

All that we say and do must be for the honor and glory of God.

Too often we fall short of that goal.

We get caught up in the importance of our own desires.

 

The time has come for us to examine our heart.

How do we spend most of our time?

 

Consider your ways!

 

God suggests we might want to step back

...take a fresh look at our heart.

When we are honest with ourselves

we may just discover how we too have been foolish.

 

Blessings come in examining

how we are to keep our heart connected

to the will of God.

Ask God to give you a new perspective...

a new viewpoint.

Mercy...Leave the Dust Behind

~~~ Ezra 9:5-9 ~~~ Response: Tobit 13:2  ~~~ Luke 9:1-6 ~~~

 

...mercy came to us from the LORD, our God,
who left us a remnant and gave us a stake in his holy place;
thus our God has brightened our eyes...

 

The mercy of God is extended freely to us.

Giving us passage to his heavenly home. We, like Ezra,

fall on our knees in thanksgiving for his mercy. 

Even though we are wrought with sinfulness our God

 brings us up from the depths.

How can we begin to express our thanks to the Lord?

 

We have been brought into the family of the Father.

We are loved and cared for as a child of the Father.

 

 

Now he sends us out just as the twelve apostles were sent out.

 

 “Take nothing for the journey,
neither walking stick, nor sack, nor food, nor money,
and let no one take a second tunic.

 

God wants us to rely solely on him.

We do not need to take anything else with us.

Especially we do not need to take any guilt

 or shame about our shortcomings.

 

God gives us all that we need, because we now share

 in his glory and power.

We are children of the light.

 

We must go out into the world doing the work of God.

Our attitude being, that God does work through his chosen ones.

He will take care of not only our physical needs, but also

 our emotional and spiritual needs.

 

...shake the dust from your feet...

 

As you go out to the people shake off all prejudice,

judgment, criticism, and doubt. 

 

If God is to use you for his greater honor and glory

you must rid your heart of all blockages.

Your heart must be free.

You must take nothing but his love out to the people.

 

Blessings come in freedom from all worldly things.

Free to concentrate on allowing God to be the center of our life.

Through his mercy we can leave all behind;

even the dust from our feet.

We are Part of the 'Family'

~~~ Ezra 6:7-8, 12b, 14-20 ~~~ Psalm 122 ~~~ Luke 8:19-21~~~

 

The house of the Lord was built in Jerusalem

for everyone to come and enter.

 

The children of Israel–priests, Levites,
and the other returned exiles–
celebrated the dedication of this house of God with joy.

 

When you first read the verses from the Gospel it appears

 that Jesus is rejecting his own family.

Instead he is expanding the concept of family

to a much broader view point.

The 'family' no longer consists only of  one's parents and siblings,

but includes the larger community of believers.

 

That day Jesus did not even let his immediate family

take him away from his greater task of spreading the word.

Instead he gathers his listeners into his family...

he creates a community.

He includes those who are believers into an intimate family group.

 

 

In order to a part in this greater family we must hear and act according.

Jesus calls us his children...he says he has adopted us to be his own.

 

The mother of Jesus and his brothers came to him
but were unable to join him because of the crowd.
He was told, “Your mother and your brothers are standing outside
and they wish to see you.”
He said to them in reply, “My mother and my brothers
are those who hear the word of God and act on it.”

Those who are adopted into a family are every bit deserving of being called

sister and brother as those who are biologically connected.

Jesus became one of us...he took on our human flesh and blood

so that we may be united with him.

We have been chosen to become part of the household of the Father.

 

Sometimes it is our parents and siblings who actually

object to our following Jesus.

They can ridicule and judge us for our beliefs.

Jesus is saying, my family is so much greater

than the definition you are accustomed to experiencing.

 

The Father sent Jesus and he invites us to hear and act accordingly

as one who is part of the family.

 

Perhaps Mary was longing to see her son.

Perhaps Mary missed not having him around the house every day.

Perhaps she was concerned for his safety and wanted

him to come home with her.

She traveled some distance to reach her son,

yet they did not arrive in time to get into the house.

I wonder how differently this scene may have unfolded

had Mary arrived earlier. Something to contemplate later.

 

As the light of the world, Jesus could not just stay in his hometown

he had to go out and shine the light for truth and justice

 to as many as he could reach.

 

Jesus was a visitor in this temple,

but yet he spoke out and people crowded around to hear his words.

He was not in his hometown of Nazareth.

 

Blessings come not just in hearing the message,

but in how well we act upon its content.

Carry the Light

 

~~~ Ezra 1:1-6 ~~~ Psalm 126 ~~~ Luke 8:16-18 ~~~

 

King Cyrus was given the task of building the temple in Jerusalem.

For the Jewish people this temple was the light on the hill.

There is always something reassuring

when light breaks through the darkness.

 

Darkness often makes us feel uneasy and apprehensive.

After a storm when the power may go out for days it is the darkness

of night that seems most haunting.

Flashlights and candles can only give light to where they are located.

If you leave one room you must carry the light with you.

 

There would be nothing rational about hiding a light.

The whole purpose of the light is to enable us to see in the dark.

 

Because of the position of the city of Jerusalem the lights

of the city could be seen in the distance.

It gave the people a sense of direction...a sense of hope.

 

Jerusalem was set apart as a holy city for all to come

and participate in its building up in any way they were able.

 

Jesus said to the crowd:
“No one who lights a lamp conceals it with a vessel
or sets it under a bed;
rather, he places it on a lampstand
so that those who enter may see the light.
For there is nothing hidden that will not become visible,
and nothing secret that will not be known and come to light.
Take care, then, how you hear.
To anyone who has, more will be given,
and from the one who has not,
even what he seems to have will be taken away.”

Today we need the light to guide us in the right direction.

We are traveling on a path that is much like an obstacle course at times.

You have a much greater chance of completing

 an obstacle course in the light than in the darkness.

 

In the darkness you cannot plan your strategy.

In the darkness you are surprised.

In the darkness you can loose your balance and fall in the pit.

 

In the light you are able to carefully plant your foot on stable ground.

In the light you are less likely to be surprised...

less likely to fall off the path...less likely to be

caught off guard and attacked.

 

In the light we can see more clearly.

We are called to be the light in our world today.

We live in a world plagued with relentless darkness...

from the family breakdown to social issues

 and violence in our neighborhoods.

 

Blessings come in having the courage to be the light

 for those who fear the darkness.

Who Can You Trust?

Twenty-fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time

 

~~Amos 8:4-7~~Psalm 113~~1 Timothy 2:1-8~~Luke 16:1-13~~

The person who is trustworthy in very small matters
is also trustworthy in great ones;
and the person who is dishonest in very small matters
is also dishonest in great ones.

Being trustworthy is not something you just announce to others.
Being trustworthy is something that you earn.
It is becoming increasingly difficult to find people today who are trustworthy.

Like so many other virtues, our society is stepping farther
and farther away from trustworthiness.

Who can you really trust?
It seems everyone is only looking out for themselves.

I think deep down inside we want to trust others
 until something happens and they prove themselves to be otherwise. Ugh!

We expect our doctors, teachers, ministers etc.
to be trustworthy and too many times we discover they fall short.

The thing about trust is that once you have lost trust
in someone it is very difficult to trust them in the future.

 

 

Dishonesty has been part of the human experience from the beginning.
 

 Even Adam and Eve did not want to tell God why they were hiding.
If we were not tainted with sin perhaps we could have been
 better at maintaining our honesty.

...We will diminish the ephah,
add to the shekel,
and fix our scales for cheating! 

 

There are so many ways we can be dishonest.

If we are to live in a manner worthy to our call
then being a trustworthy person
must be one of the virtues we take joy in practicing. 

I pray to always have the grace to be a trustworthy person.
It is important to be trustworthy in small things as well as the larger.
It is no easier to be honest in dealings with our family
than in dealing with the public. 

Trustworthiness is virtue of habit.
Get into the habit of being a trustworthy person
then it will come naturally.
Too bad Pinocchio was just a fairytale.

In God we trust is engraved on our coins as a good reminder...
especially when it comes to dealings with finances
we should endeavor to most trustworthy. 

 

Here is where money becomes evil when you couple
it with a person who is not trustworthy. 

 

 Blessings come in being trustworthy in big and small matters.

 There is never a good reason to not be trustworthy.

The Grace Factor

Feast of Saint Matthew, Apostle and evangelist

 

~~~ Ephesians 4:1-7, 11-13 ~~~ Psalm 19 ~~~ Matthew 9:9-13 ~~~

 

...live in a manner worthy of the call you have received...

Jesus invited his first twelve from different walks of life and occupations.
They were not all fishermen; Jesus wanted diversity.
He chooses Matthew called Levi, the tax collector.
Yesterday we looked at the issue of money and here
we see Jesus choosing a man who deals with money
every day....it is his  job.

Tax collectors were not known for their honesty.
They routinely took advantage of the people because they could.
They had a position of authority
and no one wanted to associate with the tax collectors.

As soon as Jesus calls out to Matthew to follow him,
 he leaves behind his love of money.
Somehow he knew following Jesus was the right thing for his future.
In accepting his call he began to change his life.
Following Jesus meant he began to live a life worthy of the call.
He had knowledge of money and finances but now
he could see something higher.
Now he would experience the better way to live life.
He would see, as he accompanied Jesus, how
to treat others with love and mercy.
 

But grace was given to each of us
according to the measure of Christ’s gift.

 

 Matthew was given grace by God, but first
he had to accept the invitation.
Jesus is always extending the invitation to us to follow him.
Some respond quickly as Matthew did
others take a little more time like Paul.
 

 

Jesus surrounded himself with people who had different gifts.
For some Jesus needed to assure them that he would provide
the necessary grace for them to realize their gifts.  

Those who knew Matthew were surprised when they saw him with Jesus.
Jesus dined and socialized with those who were considered
sinners and outcasts;
for this he was judged and criticized. 

 

 Jesus told his critics...
Go and learn the meaning of the words,
I desire mercy, not sacrifice.
I did not come to call the righteous but sinners.

 That would be us...Jesus came to call us, we are all sinners.

He calls us and redeems us making us able to live worthy of his call.
We are only worthy of his call if we humbly accept his abundant grace.

His grace is pouring down upon us, open your heart and let it overflow.
Never under estimate the power of his grace.

Jesus Blesses those he calls with his Grace.
It is only by this grace that we can
begin to live in a manner worthy of his call.

You are called. You are given grace.
Now it is up to you.
Will you live in a manner worthy of your call? 

Is Money the Root of All Evil?

 

~~~ 1 Timothy 6:2c-12 ~~~ Psalm 49 ~~~ Luke 8:1-3 ~~~

 

...the love of money is the root of all evils...

 

Love...Money...Evil

 

Money itself is not evil, but rather it is the attitude

of the one who has the money.

Is money what we value the most?

Is money really everything?

We do need a certain amount of money in order to live in this world.

 

There are some people who have more money

than they need and there are those

who barely get enough money to buy the necessities.

There are those individuals who are very generous

with their money, they give to charities.

There are some wealthy who even leave endowment funds.

 

The key word in the verse about money is the word love.

Love is a strong emotional word.

Does it really belong coupled with money?

 

Recently there have been many studies concerning

money and happiness with surprising results.

The overwhelming conclusion is that more money does not

translate to greater happiness.

Money is a tool.

Many times we just throw more money into a project

only to find that it fails any way.

 

Recently there have been huge power ball lottery winners.

I wonder if they are really that much happier or is it a means

 to just become a grand foolish person.

Does more money simply give us the permission

to spend more frivolously?

 

In reality you can be happy if you are poor

and you can be happy if you are wealthy.

The opposite is also true because it is not the money

 that determines a persons happiness.

 

It is true that the more money you have at your disposal

the more choices are set before you.

 

Jesus did not have money, but he did have many choices.

Three women accompanied Jesus and his apostles on their journeys.

These three women came from very different backgrounds.

I wonder how they came to be the three who traveled with Jesus?

These three named women...

Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out,
Joanna, the wife of Herod’s steward Chuza,
Susanna

coming from diverse backgrounds.

They came together for a common purpose...to serve Jesus and his twelve men.

These women served Jesus in the background.

They most likely told their friends

much about what they heard and saw

through the service of the Lord.

 

These three women represent the diversity

of even the women who followed Jesus.

From sinners to the well off; all can serve the Lord.

 

This is where the dilemma lies with having money.

Does money prevent one from serving the Lord?

Is it just too difficult to have the distraction of money.

When given the choice of serving God

or having money which does one choose?

The question remains;

is money really the root of all evil?

 

Blessings come through discerning

what is worth loving.

Money can certainly not be the end all for either happiness or evil,

but rather it is how we value our money.

Kissing His Feet

~~~ 1 Timothy 4:12-16 ~~~ Psalm 111 ~~~ Luke 7:36-50 ~~~

 

"Your faith has saved you; go in peace."

 

The gift of faith is a treasure we must never take for granted.

The woman with the alabaster jar of ointment

stood behind Jesus at his feet weeping.

She does not come face to face with Jesus.

She does not intend to disturb his meal.

She only wants to shower him with her affection

 by washing his feet with her tears.

 

Why is she crying you might ask? Is she repentant for her sinful life?

Does she recognize the immense compassion and goodness in Jesus?

Has she been one of his followers lurking in the crowds?

 

Why was she willing to take the risk of washing his feet

 in such a public place?

What did she have to gain by her actions?

She was exercising her faith, but was that apparent to her?

 

She uses her hair to wipe his feet.

She brought no clean cloth to wipe his feet.

She did bring her most prized possession...the ointment.

Do we bring the best that we have to Jesus?

 

Finally she humbled herself even more

by bending lower to kiss his feet.

This sinful woman anointed the feet of Jesus...the feet

that would be pierced by the soldier's nail.

 

This woman's actions speak to us of love, devotion, humility,

extravagance, tenderness, and faith.

She did not come to Jesus with her own agenda.

She did not come requesting his forgiveness.

She came out of respect for who she believed Jesus was...

a loving, holy man.

 

It was Jesus who saw into this woman's heart and soul.

It was Jesus who spoke

He said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”

 

Jesus recognized her demonstration of great love.

She publicly became intimate with Jesus through her actions.

She let her hair down, something rarely done

by a Jewish woman of that time.

Her long flowing hair obscured her face from casual onlookers.

Her long hair further caressed his feet.

 

This woman touched Jesus, not just with her hands, but with her lips.

She pressed her mouth to the lowliest part of his body.

She kissed the feet which carried him across the dirty ground.

 

 

Paul urges his followers...now including you and me....

...set an example for those who believe,
in speech, conduct, love, faith, and purity.

 

Paul goes on encouraging us to be diligent and absorbed

 in what we do with our life.

 

This woman who kneels at the feet of Jesus sets an example for us.

She was completely focused and yes absorbed

in tending to the feet of Jesus.

If you ever experience a foot massage

you can get a sense of what she did for Jesus.

 

This scene is so full of details that it is easy to see

with your heart just what takes place that day.

 

The Pharisee extended the invitation to Jesus to come to dinner;

we do not really know his motivation.

We could speculate that he wanted a closer look at this person, Jesus.

Perhaps he was looking for some explanation as to why

 this man was able to gather so many followers.

 

Blessings come in letting down your hair.

 Get down on your knees to love extravagantly.

Mysterious and Exquisite

~~~ 1 Timothy 3:14-16 ~~~ Psalm 111 ~~~ Luke 7:31-35 ~~~

 

God is mysterious and exquisite in all of his ways. 
 

Undeniably great is the mystery of devotion...

 

No matter where you turn
you are surrounded by the wondrous works of the Lord.
No matter how small or how great; we are part of the mystery.

Great are the works of the LORD,
exquisite in all their delights. 

 

All of creation gives testimony to the mystery of God.
All of creation gives testimony to just how exquisite God really is.

The human body itself is both mysterious and exquisite.
The more we learn about our body the more we believe there is to learn.
The more we learn about the universe the more we want to investigate.

It is precisely the mystery of God that motivates us
to desire more understanding.
It is his ability to create things that are exquisite
 that keeps us searching and longing for more.

What visual comes to your mind when you hear the word exquisite?

Is it the human body...a piece of diamond jewelry...a work of art...
is it a beaded bridal gown...a tropical island...
a brilliant sunset...the harmony of a symphonic orchestra...
The list could go on for pages.

When something is wonderful, great, marvelous,
fantastic, or amazing the single word we use is exquisite.  

The dictionary says to be exquisite means to be very finely done,
very beautiful or delicate, marked by flawless craftsmanship.
Exquisite also means very intense as in acute excruciating pain.

How great are the works of the Lord!

While God will always remain a mystery
he constantly provides us with examples of the exquisite.

How great is the mystery of our devotion to God...mysterious, yet he has
instilled within each of us an appreciation for the exquisite.

Great are the works of the LORD,
exquisite in all their delights. 

Typically in literature many clues
are included to help you solve the mystery.
God drenches us with exquisite clues,
but we will never solve the mystery of God.

We can receive our daily Blessings;
for he makes the power of his works known to us.
 

The Lord is exquisite in his majesty and glory.

Weeping Turned into Rejoicing

~~~ 1 Timothy 3:1-13 ~~~ Psalm 101 ~~~ Luke 7:11-17 ~~~

  

We are given another example of the power Jesus had over death.
He has compassion for this widow who is mourning the death of her only son.
The funeral procession is passing by Jesus.
 No one comes to ask Jesus to heal the son;
 it is too late he is already dead.

When the Lord saw her,
he was moved with pity for her and said to her,
“Do not weep.”

It is never too late for Jesus to work a miracle. 

Jesus was moved by this woman's sorrow.
She was already a widow and now she has lost her only son
 meaning she had no one to provide for her.
She was all alone and on her own. 

 

 

 The longer I reflect on the scene of the weeping woman at the funeral
of her son the more I wonder about Mary.

 It just might be that Jesus had a moment of compassion for this woman
while at the same time having a flash of what it would be like for his own mother.

 We have no evidence that Joseph was still alive when Jesus
was crucified. The written accounts do mention John but never Joseph.
Mary may have already been a widow and now
 she would no longer have her son to care for her.

 

 “Do not weep.”

 

These are difficult words to hear when you are grieving.
Jesus wants this woman to experience the truth that physical death is not the end. 

He restores life for all eternity. He is the source of life.
God the father is the giver of life and the one who receives your last breath. 

 

 Jesus healed the slave of a gentile and now he restores life to the dead son.
Touching death was to make oneself unclean as was written in the law.

Jesus defied all of the accepted rules of that time.

By becoming one of us he was able to understand
the grief of losing a loved one. 

In breathing life back into this only child
Jesus was demonstrating what life in him would be.
He broke the chains of death.
If we die in Christ we too will be raised up on the last day with him. 

“Do not weep.”

For in Christ we have life...not only our earthly life
as in the case of this widow's son,
but we life everlasting. 

Nothing can compare to the life we will experience in heaven.
There will be no more weeping but only rejoicing.

All of the losses we have experienced throughout
our life will be no more. 

Mary certainly experienced the loss of her son, Jesus,
as they laid his lifeless body in her arms,
but she also had the hope and belief that this death was only temporary. 

In Paul's letter to Timothy he lays out the guidelines
for being a good bishop and deacon.

There personal lives should reflect for the people their firm
belief in everlasting life in the Lord. 

 

My eyes are upon the faithful of the land,
that they may dwell with me.
He who walks in the way of integrity
shall be in my service. 

 

I invite you to pray for the clergy in our churches today,
that they may conduct their lives with the utmost integrity.
Please, Lord, protect our clergy from the snares of the 'Devil's trap'

Blessings come in holding strong our belief in eternal life with Christ.

 

 

 



Not Worthy, but Loved

Memorial of Saints Cornelius, Pope, and Cyprian, Bishop, Martyrs

 

~~~ 1 Timothy 2:1-8 ~~~ Psalm 28 ~~~ Luke 7:1-10 ~~~

 

Lord, do not trouble yourself,
for I am not worthy to have you enter under my roof.
Therefore, I did not consider myself worthy to come to you;
but say the word and let my servant be healed...

 

It is these very words spoken by the centurion centuries ago

that we echo during each Mass today.

Least we be confused we are both unworthy and worthy

at the same time.

 

We are unworthy because there is nothing we can do on our own

 to be worthy of all that God does for us.

We are worthy because God has chosen us...

called us each by name...created us wonderfully made.

We are worthy because God determined that we each had value.

God determined that we had worth.

Jesus validated God's intention of our worth by dying on the cross for us.

We do not determine our worth in the eyes of God...

he does that for us.

 

 

We may have the ability to make ourselves noteworthy...

We definitely can determine how trustworthy a person we are...

 

We are unworthy because we are flawed, imperfect, deficient in so many ways.

It is only through God that our deficiencies are made whole again.

 

Being made worthy by the word of God is about humility.

We cannot claim that we deserve anything from God.

He wants to be near to us...he wants us to become the living tabernacle...

he wants us to receive him body and blood into our very being...

he wants us to become one with him.

 

All we need do is accept his coming to us...his healing us...

his compassion extended toward us.

 

Jacob expresses this prayer to God for all that he has done for him.

I am unworthy of all the acts of kindness and faithfulness

that you have performed for your servant... Genesis 32:11

 

Worthy or unworthy God comes to us in the Eucharist.

Good comes to us in the silence of our hearts.

God comes to heal our soul to make us whole once again.

God comes to us to make us better today than we were yesterday.

 

You may not feel worthy, but the love God has for you is real.

Express your gratitude for his love today.

 

God says the word...so that you can then say...

I am worthy.

I am worthy because I am loved.

 

Blessings come from his words of everlasting love.

Lost and Found

Twenty-fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time

~~Exodus 32:7-11, 13-14 ~~Psalm 51~~1 Timothy 1:12-17~~Luke 15:1-32~~

 

Most of us have had the experience of losing something we valued.

The shepherd is missing one of his sheep.

The woman is missing one of her ten coins.

The father is missing one of his sons.

 

These loses are real and important to each of these individuals.

If they did not care they would never have experienced the anguish of loss.

The degree by which you miss something is connected

to the value it holds for you.

 

Sometimes what we are missing is not even visible.

Sometimes we are missing something that only the heart can value.

The sheep, the one coin, the young son, which of these is more valuable?

They are each valued in a special way to the shepherd,

the woman, and to the father.

 

When the shepherd finds the lost sheep he picks him up

drapes him around his shoulders and happily

carries him to the safety of the flock.

 

When the woman finds her lost coin she announces her good fortune

 to all of her friends and neighbors.

 

When the father sees his son returning

 in the distance he orders the fattest calf to be prepared.

Upon the arrival of his son he adorns him

with fine garments and the celebration begins.

 

 

There is no mystery as to who the return of the son represents;

each of us as children of God the Father.

 

...the grace of our Lord has been abundant...

 

Imagine there is a lost and found room in heaven.

When we have lost our way there is always hope

 that we will return to the Father.

It does not matter how long it takes for us to return

the Father will take us back with open arms.

 

Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.

 

When we sin it is as if we are the lost sheep.

When we sin we loose part of ourselves

until someone reveals the light of truth to us.

The woman lights her lamp and carefully searches

 her house until she finds the lost coin.

 

I pray that God will use me to light the lamp

to help someone find their way back to the Father.

 

When we sin it is never too late to repent...to return to the father's house.

Admitting that we are not worthy to be taken back is the attitude

 of repentance that makes the father love us even more.

 

Lord, I am not worthy but only say the word I will be healed...

Being healed is synonymous with being found.

Because you are valuable there will be rejoicing

 when you return to the Father.

 

Blessings come in returning to the Father no matter

how long you have been lost.

The Cross of Our Salvation

 Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross

 

~~~ Numbers 21:4b-9~~Psalm 78~~Philippians 2:6-11~~John 3:13-17~~~

Have you ever wondered what happened to the cross
upon which the body of Jesus was nailed?
Where did they put the cross stained with his holy blood?
Was it buried, burned, hidden, or used again at some future date?

Jewish tradition holds that the cross was hidden
somewhere near the site.
In 326 Saint Helena traveled to Jerusalem
to excavate the area searching for the true cross.
Three crosses were found
one presumably that upon which hung the body of Jesus.

 Constantine ordered the construction of churches
on the excavation site and on Mount Calvary.
These churches were dedicated on September 13 and 14, 335.
By the year 720 the feast of the cross had spread universally.

Christ Jesus, though he was in the form of God,
did not regard equality with God something to be grasped.
Rather, he emptied himself,
taking the form of a slave,
coming in human likeness;
and found human in appearance,
he humbled himself,
becoming obedient to death,
even death on a cross.

 

On the one hand it seems odd that we would have a special day
 set aside to reflect on the cross.
The cross itself consisted of two separate pieces of wood;
one perpendicular to the other.
The wood itself has no real significance,
 it becomes important to us because of who was hung
upon these two wooden beams.

The cross symbolizes an instrument of torture
an excruciatingly painful way to die.
  

 

God instructed Moses to lift up the serpent high upon his staff
 so that those bitten could gaze upon it and be healed.
So it is with the cross...Jesus was lifted up on the cross
 so that we may come in humility always to remember how he loved us.
...the Son of Man be lifted up,
so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.
 

 The crucifix is the most visual symbol of our salvation.
Without the crucifixion we might have forgotten the agony
 by which Jesus endured for our sake.
...for the sake of the whole world...

 

I invite you to spend time with the crucifix today.
Look with eyes of gratitude and praise for what was done for you
that day when Jesus hung upon the cross.

Without the cross we might not be able to appreciate
 our many blessings. 

Abundant Grace and Debris Removal

Memorial of Saint John Chrysostom, Bishop and Doctor of the Church

 

~~~ 1 Timothy 1:1-2, 12-14 ~~~ Psalm 16 ~~~ Luke 6:39-42 ~~~

 

I am grateful to him who has strengthened me...

 

Several times in the last five years I can confirm that it was only

because of God giving me strength;

 I have carried on from one day to the next day.

I am truly grateful for the many experiences he has brought

 me into and led me through.

Some have been life changing others are a work in progress.

It is in times of trials and heartaches that we need the strength from God.

 

When things are going well we may not be as cognizant

of even having strength,

much less being grateful for it coming from God.

 

Indeed, the grace of our Lord has been abundant,
along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.

 

 

 

It is the Lord who can counsel us.
It is the Lord who shows the path to life.

A blind person cannot lead the way.
If you are to be the leader you must be able to see where you are going. 

You cannot be the one who tells your friends
 their faults and sins when your own you overlook. 

It is easier to see someone else's faults.
It is easier to be critical of others.
It is easy to set higher standards for others
while excusing yourself.

Why do you notice the splinter in your brother’s eye,
but do not perceive the wooden beam in your own?
 

 Have you ever noticed that what bothers you the most in someone else
 is the very same thing you yourself struggle with every day.

 Or it is the same thing you deny is part of your list of faults.

I think back to the last supper, when Peter was so worried about
who was going to betray Jesus when in the end
 he too openly denied knowing Jesus.

Whether we are blind, trained, or riddled with splinters
it is the Lord was who reveals to us our faults and shortcomings.

 It is better for us to focus on our own faults
 before we begin to point out the faults of others.

Why is it that finding fault with others some how makes us feel better.
It seems a little arrogant. Or is it that we really
do not want to see our own faults?

 

 So we pretend they do not exist.
We actually get upset if someone notices the splinter in our eye.

 It is God who searches our heart. He knows our faults.
He knows everything about us.
 

He gives us the abundant grace to not only see our own wooden beams
but the strength to carefully remove them.
Blessings in God giving us the strength
to remove our own wooden beams.

What Size Do You Wear?

~~~ Colossians  3:12-17 ~~~ Psalm 150 ~~~ Luke 6:27-38 ~~~

 

Let the heavenly celebrations begin.

Saints Paul and Luke provide us the perfect recipe

for a life filled with unbelievable joy.

At first glance we are all excited...

 

Put on, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved,
heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience...

 

When life is great and things are going well it is easy

to be kind and helpful to others.

If only there was this body suit we could 'put on'...

perhaps we could purchase it in just our size from the religious bookstore or

better yet order it online from the privacy of our home.

 

Perhaps it would come splashed with colors representing

 the qualities of being God's chosen ones.

What if you could custom design it...pick out your own color for compassion,

kindness, humility, and the others?

 

The day finally arrives when your very own body suit arrives...

made just for you to fit perfectly.

At first you are so excited to wear your new garment.

You are so happy to be one of God's chosen ones.

 

Do to others as you would have them do to you.

 

Little be little the colors of your body suit begin to fade.

People come into your life challenging

your commitment to acting holy and beloved.

Their words and actions begin to irritate you.

You do not notice the colors of your beautiful suit are getting dimmer.

Then one day you decide not to 'put on' this body suit you once wore so happily.

 

love your enemies and do good to them

 

It becomes harder and harder to love those who are your enemies.

Soon you forget what it means to have compassion for others...

soon you begin to believe gentleness is for the weak.

You begin to believe that you are entitled to better treatment than others...

that you are better than those around you.

 

 

Then one day, by the grace of God,

 you find it in your heart to extend a kindness to one

of those irritating people in your life. 

Little by little you begin to remember that day when you first 'put on'

your new body suit.

Something glorious stirs in your heart.

 

Give and gifts will be given to you;
a good measure, packed together, shaken down, and overflowing,
will be poured into your lap.
For the measure with which you measure
will in return be measured out to you.”

You search in your closet and in the dresser drawers until you find it...

the beautiful body suit made just for you.

Even though it is faded you 'put it on' anyway.

You go about your day determined to treat others with love,

compassion, kindness, humility, kindness and patience.

 

You notice the change; the colors of your body suit

begin to revive themselves.

With each passing day as you treat others with heartfelt love

the colors return to their original intensity.

 

Of course this is just a fictional story I made up,

but it is so far from the truth?

I wonder.

Doing good for others encourages one to sing and dance with joy.

 

Let everything that breathes praise the Lord!

 

With gratitude in our hearts let us go forth today spreading the love of God.

Give it away freely; after all it was given to you freely.

 

'Put on' your body suit of brilliant colors and treat others well.

Do to others as you would have them do to you.

This will keep the colors vibrant and you heart will be filled with joy.

 

Blessings today in keeping your colors vibrant...

You were chosen by him for this task

to love beyond your comfort zone.

 

What size do you wear?

Twelve Years Later: God Bless America

~~~ Colossians 3:1-11 ~~~ Psalm 145 ~~~ Luke 6:20-26 ~~~

 

Christ is all and in all.

Today as we remember the events of twelve years ago it is fitting
to have these beautiful readings.
Everyone old enough has a very vivid memory of where they were
 and what they were doing when the news of the attacks
 on the Twin Towers was broadcast.
Today it is another opportunity to confirm in our lives
that Christ is all and in all.

Twelve years ago, some asked where was God.
Many more revealed stories
exactly how God had been with them that morning.
Today we remember the day we witnessed great evil
and the magnificent goodness within people.

  seek what is above,
Think of what is above, not of what is on earth.

Many who died that day made decisions surely motivated
by that which is beyond this earth...that which is of God...heavenly.
 

Put to death, then, the parts of you that are earthly
  put on the new self

The new self must be one of forgiveness and peace.
Anger and fury must be removed from our hearts otherwise
there can be no peace.
Peace must begin in my heart and in your heart.
If we are ever to have Peace in this world it begins in each of our hearts.

The new self Paul speaks of is about putting on Christ.
Adorning ourselves in body, mind, and spirit with goodness.
Jesus gave us the ultimate example of forgiveness.
It is a daily struggle to follow his example even in small things
much less in something as horrifying as 9/11.

He never pretended that it would be easy.
We must daily take up our cross and follow him.

Forgiven but not Forgotten. 

 

 

The words of the Beatitudes say it all...
 

Blessed are you who are poor 

 for the Kingdom of God is yours.
Blessed are you who are now hungry,
for you will be satisfied.
Blessed are you who are now weeping,
for you will laugh.
Blessed are you when people hate you,
and when they exclude and insult you,
and denounce your name as evil
on account of the Son of Man.
Rejoice and leap for joy on that day!
Behold, your reward will be great in heaven.

 

The word Beatitude means blessedness, grace.
Without grace we will not make progress toward our heavenly reward.
The Sermon on the Mount was the blueprint of our home in heaven.
The master designer carefully drew up these plans for us.

It is not easy to rejoice and leap for joy when you are hungry,
sad, or feeling rejected. 

But Jesus is telling us these things have a flip side.
They will be turned into satisfaction, laughter, and validation
because of the grace given to us through him.. 

 

So here we are twelve years later...
are we in a better place...
has our faith increased....
are we more willing to forgive?
How are you doing?
Is your heart in a better place today?

Blessings today in giving thanks for those who lives were sacrificed.
It was the realization for all of us just how destructive evil can become.
There is only one path to follow for healing and that is
the path of Peace and Forgiveness.

Put to death, then, the parts of you that are earthly
  put on the new self...

This is how we follow the heavenly path.
God Bless America...
and shed his grace down upon us.

Who Captivates You?

 

~~~ Colossians 2:6-15 ~~~ Psalm 145 ~~~ Luke 6:12-19 ~~~

 

 Its clear from the gospel today that Jesus chose ordinary men to follow him.
Ordinary, because they had no prerequisites to become his disciples.
He chose them based on their willingness to being open to his message.
 

See to it that no one captivate you with an empty, seductive philosophy...

 

Jesus did indeed captivate those he chose in the beginning,
but he still captivates today.
He wants to captivate us.

Captivate...to influence, to dominate, to attract
and hold by some special charm, beauty, art, trait or excellence.

Jesus was no traveling circus act. He was no magician.
Jesus did have the defining characteristics to captivate those around him.

What captivates you today?
All too often it is not beauty that captivates us but rather something shocking.

 Advertisers try to captivate us, enticing us to buy their product.
Editors try to captivate us with their flashy headlines.

 What is it about Jesus that captivates you?
...the horrific crucifixion...his unconditional love...
his mercy and forgiveness...What?

Whatever it takes to captivate an audience Jesus clearly possessed.

 

 

Everyone in the crowd sought to touch him
because power came forth from him and healed them all.

 

Jesus did not need to use gimmicks or bells and whistles to attract crowds of people.
Jesus held the attention of the people because he was different...
he brought him from heaven healing power.
His 'charm' came through his ability to see what your soul needed.
Jesus could tell where you needed to be healed...physically or spiritually.

Imagine standing with Jesus; just after being invited to follow him
...to be one of his apostles and now he is healing crowds of people.

These men continued to be captivated just being in the presence of Jesus,
witnessing how many people came to him...
gathered around him just to touch some part of him.

It captivates me even now just to reflect on this wondrous scene.
Today we see this acted out for celebrities and rock stars
who have no power to heal.

Jesus spent the night praying for those ordinary men
he had chosen to be his apostles.
Today we are the ordinary men and women Jesus is relying on...
can he captivate your heart?
What will it take in this day and time to be captivated by Jesus,
the son of a simple carpenter.

Blessings today in believing God does still captivate hearts.
He is calling you to respond.