April 28, 2013 5th Sunday of Easter

Bulletin April 28, 2013 5^th Sunday of Easter

Acts 14:21-27; Revelation 21:1-5; John 13:31-35
What a wonderful set of readings that keep reminding me that everything isn’t ‘fun and games’ that there is a lot of joy in being a follower of Jesus but that there is a powerful lot of pain, suffering and sorrows. Am I aware of this; or do I look for the ‘silver lining’? The proverbial ‘silver lining’ certainly is a less than perfect image of what heaven is; but to joyfully embrace my ‘sufferings’ as my entrance to heaven is not something naturally attractive to me and to people. These readings keep me on track with their powerful message.
St. Luke shares the encounter that Paul and Barnabas had with their disciples and the religious leaders of Lystra, Iconium and Antioch. “They strengthened the spirits of the disciples and exhorted them to persevere in the faith, saying, ‘It is necessary for us to undergo many hardships to enter the kingdom of God.’” How true that is, now the thought that comes to mind is, what does ‘hardships’ mean? Paul describes some of his trials in his second letter to the Corinthians 11:24-28, “Five times at the hands of the Jews, I received forty lashes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, I passed a night and a day on the deep; on frequent journeys, in dangers from rivers, dangers from robbers, dancers from my own race, dangers from Gentiles, dangers in the city, dangers in the wilderness, dangers at sea, dangers among false brothers; in toil and hardship, through many sleepless nights, through hunger and thirst, through frequent fastings, through cold and exposure. And apart from these things there is the daily pressure upon me for my anxiety for all the churches.” So why am I complaining? Is it because I am inconvenienced? Is it because I am too lazy to be what Jesus needs me to be? Did I expect in being a minister of the Gospel, everything would be rosy? Did I expect everyone wants to love as Jesus said? Did I expect the devil not to sow his seeds of corruption and evil?
John gives me direction in the vision that he had of the “a new heaven and a new earth.” He tells me that God doesn’t sit in heaven and watch the games people are playing on earth. He says, “Behold, God’s dwelling is with the human race. He will dwell with them and they will be His people and God Himself will always be with them as their God.” The reading ends with the note that all things are made new; the present tense of the word signifies that God’s new creative action is unfolding now. What do I have to be afraid of? Fear comes so often when I feel that the cause is hopeless and most especially that I am alone in carrying out the cause. But I’m never alone. God is always with me helping me, loving me, caring for me and leading me. It is with His help that I can be His person -- minister of faith and love to the people He places in my life. The aloneness is another ploy of the devil. So what am I to do?
John points this out so beautifully in the Gospel message when he shares the words of what happened after His Palm Sunday entry into Jerusalem. Some Greek Jews had come to Jerusalem for Passover and went to Jesus. He tells of His own imminent death, which they couldn’t understand and then says, “Amen, amen I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies it remains just a grain of wheat. But if it dies, it produces much fruit. Whoever loves his life loses it and whoever hates his life in this world will preserve it for eternal life.” So I have work to do. It’s not my vision of heaven that I am working for but God’s. It’s not my vision of how I get to heaven but how Jesus told me. It’s not going to be easy because there was no part of Jesus’ life that was easy. But I have to love because that is what God does to me; He just loves me. “This is how all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”
I have to see as God sees. This is God’s world and it can be an incredibly beautiful place if I see the world as God sees it. And God sees me and each person as the ‘changers’ of the world; the ‘role models’ of the world, the ones who show God’s love. If it doesn’t come from me to the people I’m with today then where will it come from? Only I am in these people’s world today; there is no one shadowing me to give love where I miss. It’s up to me to be Jesus’ hands, feet, mouth, ears and love today.

Fr. Anthony Kadavil puts it this way, “And so when John has God speaking about making all things new, it means right now --- in this time and place. So what exactly would we expect to be different? What need no longer be the same? What has passed away? Of often we (wrongly) convince ourselves that if we simply are faithful, if we do precisely what we are supposed to do, if we avoid engaging in ‘bad’ stuff, if we say our prayers and go to church on Sunday --- our lives will unfold as we have planned, as we desire, as we hope. And for most (or all) of us, that means that we expect that our lives will be relatively free of heartaches and disappointments. However, maybe that’s not what God wants to change the most. Maybe, just maybe, He want to change us more than anything, not simply the externals of our lives --- but you and me --- change our hearts, our minds, out attitudes, our priorities --- everything. Maybe He wants us to live just as He created us to live, as He had planned all along, as loving other-centered creatures --- in a sense, restored to our original luster and beauty.

‘Then I, John, saw a new heaven and a new earth.’”
So I reflect on:

• Have I accepted this job assignment from God?
  
• What part of me is holding myself back? Have I asked God for help in this area?
  
• What is the difference between the love two people feel for one another, and love of neighbor? What kind of commitment comes with each of these two loves?
  
• How do people know that I am a Christian?
  

Sacred Space offers some timely advice:

“I ask God for a greater desire to go where Jesus has gone, to live as He lived, to love as He loved. I realize the cost, but I know that it is only in giving glory to God that I can become the person God made me to be.

I imagine God looking on the world, with all its multitude of people who love and serve each other in so many different ways. I imagine all the Christian communities that gather to worship today and pray that they may be seen to be disciples of Jesus by the love they show. “

4th Sunday of Easter April 21, 2013

Bulletin 4^th Sunday of Easter April 21, 2013

Acts 13:14, 43-52; Revelation 7:9, 14-17; John 10:27-30
I think back to the difficulties I have had in my life. It seems that difficulties are always caused by people. Why is this so? I believe that it’s the gift of free-will with which God has blessed each person. But free will of itself doesn’t hurt or help people; it’s what I do and each person does with their free-will. I feel that it really comes down to the teachings of Jesus; do I follow them or do I think that they are an inconvenience? If I put all of Jesus teachings together and lived my life accordingly, I would be working on being a saint. But where does ‘Satan rear his ugly head’ as I say so often? Satan is the enemy of love…the enemy of God. There is no love in Satan and he works to spread this teaching by any form he can to get inside my head and my heart; in each person’s head and heart. This will happen up to the day of mine and each person’s death.
The Good News of the message of Jesus is that God is with each person, each day and every moment of each person’s life on earth. It doesn’t matter if the person is working on being a saint or going in the opposite direction. And God wants me and each person He ever created to be in heaven. That’s where the battle comes in…the ‘war’ with Satan -- the devil – the enemy --whatever name that is associated with this reality of evil.
What is God’s reaction? Paul says it in the first reading: “For so the Lord has commanded us, ‘I have made you a light to the Gentiles, that you may be an instrument of salvation to the ends of the earth.’” The first sentence today sets the tone, “On the Sabbath (Paul and Barnabas) entered the synagogue…many Jews and worshipers who were converts to Judaism followed Paul and Barnabas who spoke to them and urged them to remain faithful to the grace of God.” We have to remain faithful to God; obviously some wanted it their way which they felt was God’s way. What were they thinking; were they jealous; where they thinking why is Paul including the Gentiles (non-Jews)…doesn’t he know that it is only the Jews that God wants in heaven…all others are not chosen and certainly condemned. And Paul quotes the above verse from Isaiah which was affirmed by Jesus saying this is not true. God wants all people to be with Him in heaven and He provides grace for each person to get there.
The multitude in John’s vision in the second reading from Revelation shows the total international character of heaven. Everyone is included from every race, nation, people, tongue as the promise made to Abraham in Genesis 17:4 testifies: “My covenant with you is this: you are to become the father of a host of nations.” And Genesis continues, “On your part, you and your descendants after you must keep my covenant throughout the ages.” These are the conditions: the Ten Commandments and Jesus triple Law of Love. If I allow myself to let the Holy Spirit’s love flow through me and am open to the Spirit’s grace and help to be a person of love then I am on the path to heaven. In John’s vision it is because the “great multitude…wearing white robes and holding palm branches in their hands” have suffered and endured and have been proven authentic by Christ that they can stand before God and give glory and honor and praise and love day night without end. He continues “…God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.” So am I living according to the law of the Lord or the ‘law of myself’? Do I realize that each day and in every way I am to be the giver of love as best as I can? Or do I say ‘…well look what happened to me…it’s not fair…I’m going to get even and it’s ok.’ That’s me being full of myself and not full of any gift that God has given me or any of His love that comes to me.
The image of the Good Shepherd in John’s Gospel is such a warming and comforting passage for me to reflect on. Here, the sheep (me and all who will listen) hear the shepherd’s voice (Christ’s), recognize it and follow Christ. This image certainly implies intimate knowledge between Jesus and His followers. It also is so forceful in stating that what is needed is trust; it is this unquestioning trust on the part of the followers (sheep) that Jesus says that they will never perish and will be in heaven forever with Him.
‘Connections’ a periodical of ideas and resources for homilists says this, “In the midst of the ‘noise’ of our lives, in the clamor of the expectations made of us, in our mad dash to secure the lifestyles we want (or think we want) for ourselves and our families, the voice of Christ the Good Shepherd ‘speaks’ to us in the depths of our hearts, in the pull of our consciences, in the emptiness of our spirits. It is the voice we hear asking the questions we don’t want to confront, inviting us to places we’d rather no go, warning us of the dangers that lie ahead. To hear the voice of Christ demands that we come out of the soundproof isolation of our own interests and ‘listen’ deliberately and intentionally to the struggling, the poor, and those in crisis. To hear that voice in our ‘noisy’ lives is not easy; to ‘listen’ to His Word requires both attention and intention. But in responding to the voice of the Good Shepherd, we begin to live lives of purpose and meaning; we begin to mend the brokenness of our hearts, we begin to experience ‘resurrection’ in the everyday ‘deaths’ we suffer.”
There is so much to reflect on but the basis is am I living my life with heaven as the only aim? If not, what is interfering? God placed family and friends and people in my life to be helps not hindrances to my path to heaven. Am I paying more attention to them than to the Ten Commandments and Jesus triple Command of Love? So I ask:

• The age old question, what evidence could be produced today to prove that I am a Christian? What evidence might disprove that assumption?
  
• How do I describe my vocation today and where is it leading me?
  
• Does Jesus love me any less when I am weak and fail? Does Jesus love me more when I do what He asks? Why do I put limitations on Jesus’ love?
  

I like how Sacred Space puts all this in the positive; it says, “To hear the voice of Jesus is to be attuned to His Word. We pray in order to become more and more perfectly attuned to His word. … Jesus is drawn to those who hear Him—He brings the nourishing gift of eternal life. He draws His own life from the Father. To follow Him is to be drawn into the mystery of their life. This is what happens, in faith, at the heart of our prayer.”

3rd Sunday of Easter April 14, 2013

Bulletin: 3^rd Sunday of Easter April 14, 2013

Acts 5:27-32; Revelation 5:11-14; John 21:1-19
So what does it mean to follow Jesus? More importantly, what am I doing as a follower of Jesus? Do people in my life see Jesus in me all of the time or do I take ‘a vacation’ from the Lord? Today’s readings help me with this.
The Acts of the Apostles is the second volume of a two volume book written by St. Luke. He explains through the history of the chosen people and Jesus’ life, death and resurrection that the salvation promised in the Old Testament is now extended to the Gentiles, all people of all time. He gives an extensive account of the Church’s development from the resurrection of Jesus to Paul’s first Roman imprisonment where the book ends. Today’s reading gives me a stunning example of what I have to endure, really anyone, who has been called. In previous verses Peter and John healed a crippled man in Jesus’ name. Peter then gave an impressive sermon about the Risen Lord. Since all this happened in the Temple they were arrested and warned not to preach about Jesus again. Did they stop, no; they continued to preach and were thrown into jail again. In the middle of the night an angel released them and they went right back to preaching about Jesus. It wasn’t long until they were arrested a third time and this is where today’s reading comes in. Unfortunately a small part is left out of the reading and that’s where the two of them were scourged and then set free. And they were joyful to have suffered for the Lord. I look at my crosses in my ministry and in my own personal life and I see so often I’m a weakling. I’m afraid of being hurt or embarrassed or ridiculed or whatever. I look out for me and not for what the Lord is all about through me. Why do I do this? Is it anxiety, fear, anger maybe of what “I” have to do, or guilt? These are emotions that can be crippling and could form the basis for resentment, hatred even and loneliness. The apostles experienced these before saying YES and believing and TRUSTING in the Lord. Then as is easily seen, they become solid witnesses in faith to Jesus, the Father and the Spirit. They are free, they love, they realized all comes from God who has gifted them and needs them to be Jesus.
John explains in the gospel how even Jesus’ intimate companions didn’t recognize Him. Recognition comes through His actions, not through His words; another example for me. The great number of fish caught is a graphic example of how much God gives when asked; without Him, on my own; it’s just me and not God. After the meal Jesus cooked (again another reminder that I have to be a ‘servant’), Jesus directs His attention to Peter about the extent that he loves Jesus. How much do I love Jesus? I say it, I sing about it, I pray it, do I live it? Peter is upset, everyone is when challenged but Jesus’ insistence is His call to Peter to be involved in pastoral ministry. It is just like the call to me to use the gifts I have been blessed with to show Jesus, to be Jesus to each person in my life. This call is to each person. Peter is called to show compassion to those who have failed. As a shepherd, Jesus explains that Peter will suffer a fate similar to that which Jesus suffered. To what extent am I willing to suffer for the gospel?
In the passage from the Book of Revelation, John gives a beautiful view of heaven. This book explains what human history looks like from God’s point of view. If an angel was narrating the news tonight what would it tell me about the way things are going? Msgr. Chet Michael so often explains that all that we know is a ‘keyhole’ vision of God; we know less than 1% of all there is to know about God. So John is telling me that if all creation would be assembled and cry out to the Lord they would sing God’s praises. Wouldn’t that be so awesome? John says that it is happening. Now what am I doing to continue this joyous message of constantly praising God. So I ask myself how I praise God. Do I find this a regular part of my day? I have to constantly open my heart to Jesus so that I can be invigorated and strengthen by His love. When I do this I come to a newer experience of His care for me and my heart is filled with peace, joy and fulfillment. This is the hallmark of the Spirit. So why do I shy away from this? It all has to do with prayer…if I take time each day to be with God in prayer, I grow.

‘Faith Catholic’ explains it in this way, “Today’s readings remind us that giving thanks to God for the blessings He bestows upon us should be included as a part of our daily routine of prayer. Today’s Responsorial Psalm exhorts us to praise the Lord for He has rescued and saved us. This theme is also apparent in the second reading from the Book of Revelation which, through its majestic imagery, encourages us to join with the great host of creatures in both heaven and on earth in giving all proper glory, honor, praise and thanks to God.

Taking time to give thanks to God through prayer each day forms within us a deeper sense of gratitude. With hearts that are more open and responsive to experience more fully the depths of God’s love, we can pour ourselves out in love and service to others. Our goal should be to lead lives which give greater glory to God throughout the rest of this Easter season and every day thereafter.”
So I reflect on:

• Do I see that my call to be a follower of Jesus includes the call to witness, worship and watch out for the lowly and the least?
  
• One of the most essential things I need to be doing to have a heart that is open to Jesus and to the new and abundant life He wishes to give me is prayer. So why do I leave prayer as the least part of my day? Why isn’t it my whole day?
  
• Why was it important for Jesus to appear in His human form to the apostles after His resurrection? How did this affect the apostles’ understanding of Jesus’ ministry?
  
• What role does Jesus play in my faith life? How close is Jesus to me?
  

Sacred Space shares, “The disciples laboring all night and catching nothing is a little like what prayer can seem to us sometimes. Jesus encouraged them not to give up, to stay with the task. He knows there is benefit for me too, if I persevere.”

2nd Sunday of Easter -- Sunday of the Divine Mercy

2^nd Sunday of Easter -- Sunday of the Divine Mercy April 7, 2013

Acts 5:12-16; Revelation 1:9-11, 12-13, 17-19; John 20:19-31

Today is all about life in Christ and Christ helping me and each person to believe what He is all about. The last two sentences of the Gospel say this: “Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples that are not written in this book. But these are written that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that through this belief you may have life in His name.”
Luke starts out today’s reading from the Acts of the Apostles with: “Many signs and wonders were done among the people at the hands of the apostles.” I pause to reflect in my own life: how many signs and wonders has God shown me; how many times have I been touched by His presence, His miracles, His love, His gentleness, His leading me to be His witness? How many times has He ‘rescued me’ from the depths of where I have fallen? How many times have I doubted or been afraid and this never alienated God from me but made His pursuing of me even more awesome? There is no doubt that God is love. I’m a witness to this. Today’s reading is from the 5^th chapter of Acts. The 4^th chapter starts when Peter and John were taken into custody and questioned, then released. Again they were brought back in and given a severe lecture about not speaking about Jesus. Were they afraid? Did the sight of the ruling body of Israel and the soldiers deter them? No, this didn’t stop them. What does it tell me about me: do I back down when the ‘going gets tough’ or am I even stronger in being the person of Jesus? The apostles showed not fear but belief and trust.
The Book of Revelation was probably written sometime between 81 AD and 96 AD, during the reign of the Roman Emperor Domitian. Persecutions were happening all over for the believers. John says in today’s passage that he was in exile on a little island called Patmos as punishment for preaching Jesus. Was he afraid? He had lived through much, and was the last apostle still living; all the others had died cruel martyrdoms. John says how the Lord appeared to him and revealed that Jesus would never abandon those who were faithful. All those suffering for their faith in the Lord would be victorious in the end. Those words are no different for me than for the early believers. Sufferings come in all sizes; I can’t compare my sufferings to others, just realize that they are the way I bring myself closer to the Lord and my heavenly home. Am I afraid? Do I run or turn to the Lord? Do I make excuses and try to get out of ‘my persecution’ or do I prove my belief by trusting in the Lord’s words?
Three times in the Gospels, Thomas is mentioned as the ‘Twin’. I wonder why this is so? No mention is ever mentioned of the other twin; I wonder if it could be that since the name is not mentioned, I am the twin? Do I see in Thomas my life and my story? Somehow the label of ‘Doubting Thomas’ was attributed to him; scripture scholars maintain that he doesn’t deserve that title. For myself, I have had a lot of the ‘cloud of doubt’ in my spiritual life. Whenever I or anyone experiences the Dark Night, not knowing were God is or will He ever help, I wonder, better, worry, and am afraid. Thomas Merton wrote, “Faith means doubt. Faith is not the suppression of doubt. It is the overcoming of doubt, and you overcome doubt by going through it.” Thomas helps me. Jesus appeared to the ten in the upper room. They were afraid, did they immediately recognize Jesus or did it come gradually. The Greek word describing Thomas before he encountered the risen Lord is apistos which means unbeliever. Well the other disciples were unbelievers too until Jesus appeared and showed them His wounds. Now once they and Thomas experienced the risen Lord, they immediately became believers. The important point that John wants to make to me and to all is that it isn’t essential for me to have been there in that locked room and seen the Risen Jesus to have faith in Him. Centuries of believers have been witnesses to this. Countless people in my own life have shown me their belief. From the very first time that I distributed the Eucharist as a Deacon to this very day, I see the deep faith on the faces of people coming up to receive Communion. Some are afraid, some are worried, some are confused, some show a deep need, some show their love, so very many show their belief; what witnesses to the Faith! And Jesus told Thomas, “Blessed (a word which also means ‘fortunate’ or ‘happy’) are those who have not seen and have believed.”
I found much in the closing words of Fr. Anthony Kadavil’s sermon today: “We long to figure out and understand what this thing called ‘life’ means. We ache to know and have experiences of God or whatever we choose to call that which has brought about all of reality. We seek love and beauty and meaning. In a very real sense, we are all being lured by a God who wants nothing more than to have His creation be close to Him, to have all of us share in His life and His love. And so, as we leave this holy place today, let’s be sure to reflect on the gift of faith each of us has been blessed with. Let’s continue to search for God, continue to wonder about all the important things of life, continue to ask all the right questions. May we never see our doubts as a lack of faith. But in addition, let’s all leave this holy place with a greater respect for and appreciation of the faith journey of others, of those who don’t believe what we believe. May we always recognize that we are all pilgrims on a journey, a journey toward the same destination --- our loving God ---even if our paths don’ts always seem to overlap. The whole world is trying to believe without seeing. Let’s never forget that.” So I reflect on:

• Easter is not really a time for gifts as Christmas is but there are gifts given by the Lord: peace, forgiveness, healing, and hope. These free me from fear if I receive this as gift from my Maker.
  
• Am I giving signs and wonders of Jesus’ in my interaction with those in my life?
  
• Saints wrestled with doubt. Why do people of deep faith still have questions regarding their faith?
  
• I look at the people who show a deep faith in spite of trying times. Am I a faith example to others?
  

Sacred Space says, “Jesus always brings peace and reconciliation. Where is there lack of peace in my life? Who do I need to make peace with? Do I make space to experience God’s forgiveness and the gift of peace?”