November 26, 2017

Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe Ezekiel 34: 11-12, 15-17; 1 Corinthians 15: 20-26, 28; Matthew 25: 31-46 The feast of Christ the King…what comes to mind when I think of Jesus as King? The only ‘king’ concept I grew up with was a monarchy and this made me think of England. As I continued in school, I was taught there are many monarchies in the world. Google says there are 43 or 44 countries that have monarchs as the ceremonial or the real head of state. Seven of them (including Vatican City) is where absolute power is vested in a single person and the monarch is the head of state as well as the government. The others are Brunei, Swaziland, Saudi Arab, and Oman. Now Qatar is an absolute monarch, but the head of state and the head of the government are different persons. The UAE is a federal presidential elected monarch, which is a federation of seven absolute monarchies or the Emirates. There are 16 Commonwealth realms which treat Queen Elizabeth II as its monarch, Canada among them. There are 21 constitutional monarchies where the monarch is the head of state, but unlike in an absolute monarchy, not the only or even the main source of political power. This is vested in the head of the government who is elected by common citizens. This just distracts us from Jesus, Christ our King. I turn to today’s readings for clarification. The siege of Jerusalem started in 587 BC. In 605 BC Nebuchadnezzar II, the kings of Babylon defeated the Egyptian Pharaoh and then invaded Judah. To avoid the destruction of Jerusalem, its king, Jehoiakim changed his allegiances from Egypt to Babylon. This led to Babylon bringing great hardships upon the people. Many of them became captives and were led back to Babylon. Many others fled to other countries. Today, Ezekiel compares them to scattered sheep but the prophet also gives a great message of hope. He opens with these words, “Thus says the Lord God: I Myself will look after and tend My sheep.” David’s kingship has failed. He and his successors gradually did not serve God and now God is calling His scattered sheep home. God takes the initiative to bring them from their hiding places. He will not neglect them. At last they will be experiencing all the benefits they would have received had David’s royal house truly done their job…they took care of themselves and did not help the people: the poor, the injured, the sick, the weakened. The strong will no longer take advantage of the poor and weak. “The lost I will seek out….the injured I will bind up, the sick I will heal” Then Jesus was sent by the Father to tell us that each person is created in love, and led by the grace and help of the Spirit to love so that all can continue to be people of love, just as Jesus taught us and most especially showed us. This coming of Christ that Paul describes is brought out in plain, simple, complete uncompromising way in Jesus’ description of the final Judgment Day. Judgment Day. Jesus will separate the sheep (those who will be saved), from the goats (those who will be condemned). The seventh chapter of the Book of Daniel sets the scene in a vision he had in Babylon. The Son of Man is accompanied by His angels, and will carry out this final judgment while sitting on His throne and surrounded by all the nations. Scripture scholars debate as to the distinction between the sheep and the goats; the bottom line is that there are many theories, nothing positive. The ones who are chosen will inherit the kingdom. Why? Because they have successfully lived the Corporal works of mercy for Jesus. He is in each person. God is in each person. God is not some potentate who is uncaring. God is present in love in everyone. So when hungry and He was fed and thirsty and He was refreshed, and a stranger and He was welcomed, and naked and he was clothed, and ill and He was taken care of, and in prison and He was visited. Those saved were unaware that this was Jesus they were serving and caring for so they asked ‘Where did we see You?’ “Amen I say to you, whatever you did for one of the least brothers and sisters of mine, you did for Me.” Then the condemned are addressed, rejected and condemned. They want to know why? They thought they were good people. They cared for those they loved and some more. The reason for their condemnation is just the opposite of those declared as being saved. They did not carry out the Corporal works of Mercy for Jesus. In their own defense, they said they had no idea that it was Jesus they were avoiding. If they had known or if Jesus had told them it was He, certainly they would have helped. Jesus said, “Amen I say to you, what you did not do for one of these least ones, you did not do for Me.” THIS IS THE ABSOLUTE FINAL RULING OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, KING OF THE UNIVERSE! I’m remembering listening to a TV account immediately after the horror of the World Trade Towers on 9/11. A reporter was asking a fireman what it was like…’ hell’… why are you going back…’they’re still people there, I will go back as long as they’re still people there’ … Why? … ‘It’s what I have to do’… you might be killed. ‘But I might be able to help some one…and for that one, its worth it.’ IT IS AMAZING, but heroes seldom recognize themselves as heroes. It could be a pilot landing a plane safely, a person jumping in to save a child struggling in a pool, a quick reaction to rescue one who never saw danger coming. Heroes? Yes. Lovers? Yes. By my Baptismal promises, I have been asked, commissioned even to help others see God’s love in me. This tells them that God is love, loves them and has taught me to be love. It is countercultural today, so many live by ‘me first.’ Jesus is saying, ‘You did this….for Me.’ I fill in the blanks….when people say: ‘Thank you….I say, What did I do? You loved me when I was unloveable to myself…you gave me a smile that lifted me up…you complimented me and did I need it…you listened to me and no one else did that day…you just were so kind and loving, I don’t know what I would have done if you weren’t there.’ Fr. Basil Pennington, the Cistercian writer on Centering Prayer sums it up this way: “‘You did it to me.’ These five little words can be a true guide for our lives. Living them can transform us. Someday Jesus will say to you and to me: ‘You did it to me.’ How will we feel then? Which side will we be on at that moment? Will we lamely say: “Lord, if I had known…?’” So I reflect: • I look at my recent activity and see where I have seen the face of Christ in a sister or brother in need? • I see a person on the street corner with a sign needing help. Do I feel a tug in my heart? Do I put this person in a category which contains all sorts of unsavory people? • Do I respect the dignity of a person in need? • How do I make a good judgment without becoming judgmental? Sacred Space 2017 says: “This message is simple, Lord, You will judge me on my love of and service to others. You are there in the poor, the sick, the prisoners, the strangers. May I recognize Your face. Saint Matthew’s hearers struggled with what would happen to non-Jews, because they themselves were the Chosen People. Jesus says that with His coming into the world, everyone is a ‘chosen‘ person. Everyone is to be treated with limitless respect. Jesus is already present, but in disguise, in every person. What do I see when I see the needed? Do I focus on the hidden glory of others? How would I fare if human history were to be terminated today?

November 19, 2017

33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time A Proverbs 31: 10-13, 19-20, 30-31; 1 Thessalonians 5: 1-6; Matthew 25: 14-30 We can so easily take today’s readings and misinterpret them. When you read the readings before liturgy today, what did you think was the major theme? Or, after hearing these readings today, what did you think was the major theme? I’m sure that many wonderful sermons were heard in your churches today. The approach I’m taking may be similar or very different. Back to my original question, initially what did you feel was the theme? What comment did you feel you had to make when you heard each reading? If I told you that Scripture scholars agree that the readings talk about the giftedness of people, what would you say? Did you find yourself compelled to make a comment rather on each reading rather than seeing them from the giftedness of God? The first reading is from the Book of Proverbs which is an anthology of didactic poetry and a part of the ‘wisdom’ literature of the Old Testament. Its goal is to inform the young as well as continuing to help those desiring advanced training in wisdom. All of this is focused on the religious truth that God loves and gifts each person. Today’s reading focuses on the expectations and behavior of the ideal wife. Primarily she is to bring honor to her husband, (31:13) , taking and making clothes for the family (31:13) and continually to take care of the poor and needy (31:20). The author is describing the woman’s duties but from God’s perspective. St Anthony Messenger press explains it in a way that we can see the depth of ‘wisdom’: “On one level, the details here explore the tangible advantages the woman brings to her family. They have the protection of clothing suitable for every season, wool for warmth, and flax for comfort in the heat. The poor and the needy receive comfort from her generosity. Viewing the same attributes from a spiritual plane, this woman is Wisdom who clothes those close to her with knowledge of the Lord and meets the needs of people who recognize their reliance on God. External beauty can fade with time; inner beauty never fades and leads to lasting praise from all those who know her.” In using her unique gifts, she has touched others with her example, her care and her love. Gifts are to be used and they carry with them the beauty of their Source, God’s love. The Thessalonians were concerned about what would happen in the end-times. They really felt that Jesus’ return was imminent. The apostles and preachers were totally concerned with reminding people to repent and turn their lives over to the Lord. When Jesus came He would guide the living and the dead and their actions would decide their fate. This was all well and good but a number of the believers were dying as well as the early apostles, holy people and believers and Jesus had not come yet. When would this return come? Paul told them ‘when they least expect it’. So what were they to do? Paul said to be vigilant and faithful, caring and loving all so they would be ready when the Lord comes. So how well do I fit in with these instructions? Do I realize that today, I am one day closer to meeting the Lord? Do I act accordingly? Do I feel that I have plenty of time left? This is exactly what the Gospel in Matthew is helping me with: what to do now during the in-between times. I’m here living, when will my tomorrow with the Lord come? It’s not yet…when? I don’t know. Jesus’ parable describes a situation in which a person has left his possessions in the hands of three servants and departed on a journey of unknown duration. Each servant is given responsibilities according to their abilities. When the master comes back, he evaluates how well each servant lived up to the task: two did very well, the last one failed according to the master’s judgment. “You wicked, lazy servant!” This is certainly a devastating harsh evaluation with a fierce condemnation. Do we consider this too harsh? Am I viewing things as God does? Or am I viewing it the way that I want? The point of the parable: Jesus will come again. We don’t know when this will happen or really how it will happen. Jesus has promised that He will return in glory to establish a new heaven and a new earth. Until that time we are to be vigilant living with the awareness that God has gifted each person. What am I doing with these gifts? Am I using them so that I can have a good time and to be successful? Do I feel that these gifts have been given for the good of me? God doesn’t operate that way. It is not about me, it is about God and His plan and His creation. Each day, like the first two servants, we are called to use our gifts, to take risks to live in love. We are called to step out in faith knowing that our gifts have been given to further the growth of love in each person. Each person is to trust in God’s plan and in His gifts. God doesn’t give us gifts and talents for us to hide them or turn them into our own selfish plans. I am unique, each person is unique and these uniquenesses are intended so that the one needing them can be touched with God’s love. So whatever constitutes my gifts: from a smile, to helping hand, to money, education, talent, ad infinitum is not meaningless. Nothing is irrelevant with God. We must remember that God’s desire for every person is far greater than ours. God will do everything He can to bring the gospel to each person, everywhere, at all times ‘to the ends of the earth.’ Matthew, A devotional Commentary from World Library Publications states, “As we give of ourselves, we will see God’s power and glory revealed. Our active involvement in this life is truly an adventure, filled with opportunities to use all that God has given us and to see Him work wonders as we do. This is our high calling. Let us accept it with gratitude and joy.” Isn’t it amazing to reflect on just how much God loves me right now. The mystery of God is that He loves each person the same way. I can’t. But He does and He needs me even with the stumbling use of His gifts to bring His love to those He places in my life. So I reflect on: • What are the gifts that God has given to me? Did I discover new ones today? Did I use them? If they are useless, they would not have been given. • How do I make my gifts grow? When I use them do I give thanks to God? What holds me back from gratitude? • In which area of my life do I find it difficult to risk? Do I ever ask God for help? • Has fear, fear of rejection or ridicule ever kept me from discovering or using a gift or talent? • How do I deal with failure? How do I help others deal with failure? Sacred Space 2017 states: “What can I take from Your story, Lord? The talents with which I grew up are different from other people’s: more than some, fewer than others’. Am I to take risks with them? Try out different paths, with the danger of failing? If we have a readiness humbly to receive God’s grace, then God can bless us. People who prefer to rely on themselves will ultimately find themselves with very little. When we know that what we have is not ours, we allow God to give us more; if we get where we are purely by our own efforts, we do not get very far at all.

November 12, 2017

32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time A Wisdom 6: 12-16; 1 Thessalonians 4: 13-18; Matthew 25: 1-13 It’s an age old question: What would you do if you knew today was the last day of your life? What would you do if you knew you were going to see the Lord today? What would you do if today was your first day in heaven? We probably have thought of the first two and then quickly move on because we don’t want to think that our end is that close? We probably have never thought of the last question… why not? I think it was St. Pope John XXIII when asked what would he do if the Lord was in the next room…another version said what would you do if the Lord is coming within an hour…to both questions the Pope said, “Look busy!” How are we to live our life? Look to Jesus’ life and teaching and live accordingly. Don’t take any shortcuts…just know that each person has been created in love and graced continually in love and is asked to live each moment in love. So how are we doing? Every day is to be a day of love. Christ is always in our lives helping us to love, so living in His love is the way we are called to follow as His disciples. Each of the readings give us a different slant and help us witness God’s wisdom and grace. The Book of Wisdom, so frequently referring to Solomon as its author, urges each person to seek the Lord God above all else. The opening and closing chapters examine the many advantages enjoyed by people who realize they are created in love and who live love as best they know how. The middle chapters show how ‘wisdom’ is a special gift from God. This book was written during the mid-first century BC It attempts to answer the perennial question, why do the wicked prosper while the good suffer. The author encourages us to slow down, look at our lives and see how many ways we are touched by God’s love. Do I do that at the end of the day? Where did I see God? Where did I hear God? How did I witness God’s love? Was I touched by the people and their experiences who know God’s love is alive and well? Paul is writing to the Thessalonians: they are concerned that the believers and those who have witnessed Jesus are dying off. Paul is sharing about the imminent return of Jesus in the parousia (Second Coming). The community is noticing that membership has increased maybe feeling that the urgency of the end times is coming quickly. So the basic worry they had that if the end is in sight what are they to do? Some felt they could quit their jobs and sit at home and relax. Other felt they should be fasting and praying and watching the sky for the clouds to rollback. Paul realizes that he has to write another letter to tell them the he spoke of the Lord’s return being near, they needed to live in light of that but also live as if His coming was far off. With this in mind, Jesus gives the parable of the ten virgins with the message to each person to be vigilant. A look at the Jewish wedding ceremony at that time will help. Now Jewish weddings were often arranged by the parents of the bride and groom. Fidler on the Roof gave an interesting interpretation of these customs. Today the groom and his future wife see each other, begin dating, fall in love, the proposal followed for the plan for festivities. At the time of Jesus, when a boy was very young, his parents would begin to look for a girl for him to marry They would look for a family that they would want to be related. Then the two families would come together and work out the arrangements. This would include the boy learning a trade, and when he was good enough and could make a living, he would begin to construct his house. When everything was finished the man, by now maybe in his thirties, would get this friends together and they would have a wedding parade through town to go and get his bride. In the meantime the girl is learning to become a woman, a wife and a mother, She is sewing her wedding gown. Since she does not know what day or hour her groom might come for her, she must be ready for him at all times. Word did filter to each of them on the progress of the house and gown. It was not a good way to start a wedding if the bridegroom’s parade showed up at her house and she was not ready. Now the virgins were what we would call bridesmaids. At the wedding celebration they would perform a wedding dance around the bride and groom holding their torches and this dance symbolizing the light of their love and the bright future they had together. So how do we interpret Jesus’ parable? The bridegroom is obviously Christ. Even though the bride is not actually mentioned in this parable, here the bride represents the Church. And the church is made up of all those people, whether Jews or Gentiles, who have believed in Jesus and await His return. In the parable the foolish took their lamps and took no oil with them. The torches they carried were long sticks with one end wrapped with rags and strips of cloth which had been soaked in oil which could burn for fifteen minutes. That’s not a long time but to make the torch burn longer, they would repeatedly soak the strips of cloth in oil and would carry vessels of oil. Oil then represents salvation…what am I doing to prepare myself for the Lord and heaven? Todays parable is from Matthew 25: 1-13…In 18 more verses, Jesus gives the parable of how God judges at the end of time: “When the Son of man comes in His glory…before Him will be gathered all the nations and He will separate them one form the other…then He will say to those at His right hand, Come, O blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom….for I was hungry and you gave Me food, I was thirsty and You gave Me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed Me, I was naked and you clothed Me, I was sick and you visited Me, I was in prison and you came to Me….and when did we see You…when you did it one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.” And to those who did not respond or help or care or love…”And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.” I reflect on: • How do I ready myself to meet the Lord each and every day? • Jesus words remind me that when I am doing His work, I must be careful that I serve by washing others feet, not by asking them to wash mine. Do I live this way? • How do I tend the light of God that is inside me? How do I minister to those who do not see the light of God in themselves? • If the foolish really understood that they would not be let into the feast, would they have neglected to bring their oil? Why did they take for granted that they could get in, no matter what? • Am I prepared for my own death? What things might I still want to do? Sacred Space 2017 states: “Does Jesus have trouble waking me up when He arrives? I ask for the grace to be alert and responsive to the constant coming of God into my life. We are the light of the world, Jesus says. As I move among people today, I imagine that light radiates from me toward them, and from them to me. Does this change the atmosphere in which I live? I pray for all who have given up hope, for those for whom the waiting seemed too much to ask. Jesus suggests that there is a proper time to prepare. I look to the ‘oil and lamps’ of my life and ask God to replenish and restock my reserves”

November 5, 2017

31st Sunday in Ordinary Time A Malachi 1: 14 - 2: 2, 8-10; 1 Thessalonians 2: 7-9, 13; Matthew 23: 1-12 When people look at me what do they see? Do they see a person who is dedicated to the Lord? Do they see a person who is honest and is a good example of Jesus or one who just ‘talks’ a good game? Everyone likes to be praised and affirmed. Everyone feels renewed when they are complimented. I must continually remind myself that each person who comes to me was sent by God for help, and most especially to be loved. Each person is equal before God, do I treat them that way? The readings remind me today that I must practice what I preach. It is only with God’s grace and help that I am able to accomplish this. This is true of anyone in authority whether it be a parent, teacher, coach, manager, supervisor, any position that puts one in the position of being the leader or the ‘boss’. I am not called by God to be a hypocrite; no one is. I found some interesting definitions of hypocrite: "dictionary.com — a person who pretends to have virtues, morals or religious beliefs, principles, etc., that he or she does not actually possess, especially a person whose actions belie stated beliefs…. a person who feigns some desirable or publicly approved attitude, especially one whose private life, opinions or statements belie his or her public statements. Merriam-Webster - a person who puts on a false appearance of virtue or religion. Google - a person who indulges in hypocrisy…SYNONYMS: pretender, dissembler, deceiver, liar, pietist, sanctimonious person, plaster saint, informal phony, fraud, sham, fake. I have been made to feel inadequate my whole life by someone who turns out to be a total hypocrite.” I am a child of God who created me out of love and continues to love me so that others may know that they’re loved by God and special because on my words and actions. Am I living this? Malachi, true to his name which means ‘my messenger’, brings the word of God to the people following their return from the Babylon captivity 500 BC. The Temple and the rituals have been restored but the people have grown indifferent. Malachi reprimands the priests for abandoning their sacred duties. They weren’t even teaching and showing the people how God needs them to live. He tells the priests what they are supposed to do: give glory to God’s name, remind the people to the many, many ways that God is constantly present to them and guiding them. God is their Creator and Father; the Priests have the great privilege of blessing the people in God’s name. The people weren’t responding because the priests weren’t teaching and had “turned aside from the way, and have caused many to falter by your instruction…” In a verse that is missing (2:3) the prophet is very graphic in portraying God’s displeasure: “I will rebuke your offering; I will spread dung on your faces.” We are to listen to God’s teaching and live them. Jesus showed us this and lived this. We are all children of God and God shows no partiality. This is easy to say, but hard to live; I have favorites, everyone does. But God loves all. Paul is very thankful that the people of Thessalonica listened to him. They lived what Paul preached because of their deep love of God. They constantly put the Gospel into action. This is what God has called each person to do, to live His Gospel of love. In the Gospel Jesus is giving some rather sharp criticism of the leaders of the Pharisees. Not only was Jesus delivering these but also Matthew’s Jewish community was being taught wrongly by them about how to interpret the Torah. Jesus starts out by telling the Scribes and Pharisees that they sit on the chair of Moses meaning that they ARE the legitimate teaching authorities. The difficulty is what they are saying is totally different from how they are living. They preach one thing and practice another. Jesus called them ‘hypocrites’. They are just like actors without integrity. Jesus tells how certain practices and observances were only meant for the Scribes and Pharisees, but they inflicted them on the people who were incapable of handling these hard and heavy burdens. They also loved to walk around in public wearing the finest clothes and talking the seats of honor. At Jesus’ time the title of rabbi was just beginning to be used to designate an official teacher of the Torah. Jesus was against this saying that He was the only one deserving of this title. To be a follower of Jesus one must not strive after exaltation but after humility; we are nothing without God. We are blessed to be loved and cared for and have the obligation to do the same. Greatness is calculated in terms of service to others. Jesus is saying that these are exactly what the Scribes and Pharisees did not do. Pope Francis, like all popes before him, have been given the title of ‘servant of the servants of God.’ The bottom line truth is that the higher the position, the greater number of people to be served. This is my challenge. This is the challenge of anyone with authority. We may deserve respect because of our ‘position’ but all the more we lead by serving those in our care. In serving with love we show respect and honor them. This is what God does. Earlier in his gospel (Mathew 5:20), Matthew tells the disciples that the righteousness of the disciples must surpass that of the Pharisees or they wouldn’t enter the kingdom of heaven. Jesus has not condemned the Pharisees but their behavior. Which of us can truthfully say that our deeds match our words? That’s why we come to the Eucharist in all humility and confess our sins to God and to one another and ask for God’s forgiveness and mercy. Jesus is criticizing behavior and attitude and at the same time telling us to live what is at the heart of religion: love and compassion, justice and faith. When we practice what we preach, we will be the first to benefit. We will also set a good example for others. When I concentrate on inner goodness, I don’t have to shout about it, or even want to. I have begun to find the ‘pearl of great price.’ So I reflect on: • The real tragedy of the Pharisees wasn’t the fact that they had faults but they were blind to their faults. Do I regularly examine myself and how I am living? • Where am I lacking in charity, compassion, a sense of justice and a spirit of service? • How do my deeds match my words of faith? • To whom do I easily offer service and to whom do I begrudge it? How? Why? • Am I still a work in progress or am I OK? Sacred Space 2017 states Passages such as this one in St. Matthew have led to anti-Jewish sentiments, hatred, and persecution. But Jesus’ criticisms are valid for religious leaders anywhere who lose sight of the ideal of service to their people. I pray for our leaders, that they may never be distracted by human honor or forget whom it is they serve. Jesus, You gave the religious leaders of Your day a hard time. But how do you find me? Do I play games to make people think that I am important? How much do I value my public image? Do I misuse my authority? Help me instead to be a humble servant to the needy, just like You.”