February 28, 2016

3rd Sunday of Lent C Exodus 3: 1-8, 13-15; 1 Corinthians 10: 1-6, 10-12; Luke 13: 1-9 So often I can pick up the Scriptures and just quickly breeze through them without asking myself any question. Obviously what happened during my first reading was that nothing unusual happened or it just doesn’t apply to me or ‘it’s just something from scripture, nothing too important.’ But then when I stop and reflect on the passage, examine the deeper meaning, I discover God does have a powerful message for me. So I look at today’s reading first from Exodus where Moses for the first time encountered God Remember his story: His parents were Hebrew slaves in Egypt building the roads, pyramids, etc. The Pharaoh wanted to reduce their number so he ordered the male babies born be put into the river to drown. Nice people. Is this any different than the attempt of Herod to rid himself of any Messiah rivals to his throne after the Magi came and asked where the newborn King would be born. ‘Well, I’m the King, I want this stopped, no messiah is going to take my power away from me.’ So the killing rampage began supposedly killing only a male child two and under. I don’t think Herod’s mercenary’s cared if the killed was a male or female. Back to Moses, he was put into a basket and ‘rescued’ by the Pharaoh’s daughter, then returned to the mother and later on back to the Pharaoh’s court. How much religious training did Moses get? How deep was his faith? In today’s scene he is a wanted criminal outlaw who faced the death penalty if he ever returned to Egypt. God appears and ‘introduces’ Himself to Moses. We get our first glimpse of Moses’ courage, his confusion, his willingness to trust in his God that he really doesn’t know that well or deeply. Now he is sent on this mission with the promise that God will protect him and care for him. Moses asked God His name, and gives His name which is so very hard to understand, if it is to be understood. THE main point is that God is there for the people and will lead them to safety and freedom. For us: God is always there; He is always with us; He cares that deeply about each of us. What has to happen to us for us to believe this? Do we need a burning bush or can we just look back into our lives and see how God has filled us with His love and surrounded us with people who love us. Look how God has brought us through so many catastrophes? We come to the Gospel and see a totally different Jesus. He is not performing any miracles nor is He preaching. He does make a comment on some recent events and then gives a parable that seems Ok but what is the message for me? We look at the Gospel which brings out the question we have all heard so often, ‘If God is a good God why does He allow suffering?’ Tragic accidents and mass murders in which innocent people are killed always raise questions about how God’s justice works and why these things happen. It so very easy to see in tragedies evidence of human sinfulness. Why do people hate? Why do people want to kill? Why do people feel they can have anything they want by any means? Why is their radical religious groups killing others and themselves for God? Why are evil people trying to take over the world? Why do the innocent suffer? Luke tells us that Pilate had gone after some Galileans killed them and mingled their blood in the temple sacrifices. Maybe we thought Pilate was a nice guy and was trying to free Jesus? And what about all the human sinfulness when there are no tragic events to point to…in our families, at work, school, neighborhoods among friends? The point is that Sin is a reality The point is that I am a sinner. The point is that every person sins and what does Jesus say about this? Jesus tells of a tower that collapsed and eighteen people were killed. The people at that time believed that this was because of a sin that each had committed. Jesus said a line that perhaps we overlooked or got buried in the gospel, “But I tell you, if you do not repent, you will all perish as they did!” The point that Jesus is making is that all humans are in need of repentance. God’s judgment ultimately will include all people. No one will be exempt. The parable doesn’t indicate that we have to be concerned with how God judges each person. What Jesus is telling us is that it’s not the case of how God lowers the bang on us… how the threat of God’s retribution comes. Divine retribution is never God’s final word. I remember a priest giving a retreat when I was in grammar school saying, “You are ALL going to hell” and when he finished this statement he was pointing at me. I thought well just don’t tell my mom. BUT Jesus is telling each of us today that there is always the hope of His mercy and His forgiveness. God is always consistent in His generosity with His mercy and forgiveness. This leads to many questions: Do I think that God can really forgive me? Are these sins of mine so horrid and I can’t even forgive me, how can God forgive me? Do I think that since I’m really basically good that I just can’t remember hurting anyone one so I guess I’m just not a sinner, is that right? So can God forgive: that’s what God does. Does He do it all the time…well do I ask for it? When I ask am I sorry? Am I as good as I think? How have I loved God today…the people in my life today…and how about myself? Was my love selfish or unselfish? Was it giving or using or manipulating? God loves all with His total love…all the time! Connections, The newsletter of ideas, resources and information for homilists and preachers gives a wonderful reflection. “Jesus’ parable of the fig tree reminds us of many ‘ta-dah’ moments in our lives: times when we lose our way, when we are hurting—or have hurt others; spaces in which we find ourselves alone and abandoned; chasms of despair and doubt and despair we fall into. But it is in such ‘ta-dah’ moments that we experience the grace of God in the understanding and support of compassionate family and friends, in the wisdom and guidance of selfless parents and teachers, in the strength and determination we discover within ourselves to carry on. Today’s curable of the fig tree has been called the ‘Gospel of the second chance.’ The life of God is always about starting over again, about re-creation, about growth and discovery about the grace to make things right We always live in the limitless hope and unconditional mercy of God who keeps giving us ‘ta-dah’ moments to rise from the ashes of sin and failings to rebuild and reform our lives.” So I reflect on: • Do I consider Lent a time to seriously prepare for the reception of the Sacrament of Reconciliation? • Do I reflect during Lent on the times I have experienced God’s kindness and mercy in my life? Do I ever share how God has touched me? • Who has looked to me for help in discerning God’s call? How have I affirmed that person’s hunger and struggle? • When has God given me a second chance? Sacred Space 2016 says: “Jesus often speaks of the need to repent. This means turning away from anything that is not of God. I ask to be brought more and more into the world of goodness and love, of light and truth. I want to be a genuine disciple.

February 21, 2016

Second Sunday of Lent C Genesis 15: 5-12, 17-18; Philippians 3: 17 - 4: 1; Luke 9: 28-36 I have found down through the years that I am confused with things around me…with events that are happening that just seem to be denying God…with the continued inhumanity that is witnessed by people who confess some sort of religious belief. I wonder about the role the Lord has for me to play and how I do this. Then…is this message from the Lord or is it from me? These are the thoughts that came to me as I read today’s readings but also some amazing insights came too. First in Genesis the verse that touched me was Abram asking God, “How am I to know…?” That is my question so often. Like others, it would be really nice if God would just tell me directly, ‘Do this…don’t do this…take this road…I want you to do this’,,, It would be so nice to know directly what I am to do but God doesn’t operate like that. I suppose it has to do with the ‘free will’ that Scripture and theologians say is a gift to each person from the Spirit. And today we hear that God makes two promises to Abram: the first that his descendants will be as numerous as the stars and next that Abram and his descendants will possess their own land. Abram put his faith in God for the first promise and asked for a sign for the second . How many times I ‘want a sign’ not to go through any discernment but I just want to get to it…let me know. In those times I can easily look back and reflect on where my faith was in all of this. Faith involves trust…was I trusting God? If I tend to want a sign, I guess I just don’t trust God. As Living the Word states, “To attest to God’s trustworthiness and to seal the covenant, God takes an oath (Genesis 15: 9-21).” Paul in writing to the Philippian community tells them that he and others are models of Christ. Am I modeling Christ? Do I continue on when life gets tough? Do I stop and complain or say ‘poor me’? Do I want more to be consoled than to be a consoler? So often people stop me to say ‘thanks’ … what does that ‘thanks’ mean? Well, in some way in what I said or in what I did or in what I am, touched them. So often I have to ask them ‘Why are you thanking me…what did I do?’ Their response all has to do with what Paul is talking about: How I am Modeling Jesus. I don’t see this. So often it is what I seem to be doing naturally: caring for others…listening to others…offering prayers…taking time with the hurting or confused. Yet this is part of what a model is…this is exactly what Jesus did…He showed others His love and His care for them because each person is important, valuable and special to God. Perhaps it is a way that God is helping me to be grateful, because He did the doing, I was just His instrument. Also my saying, ‘Oh yeah’ brings me back to more quiet time and reflection time with the Lord. The scene of the Transfiguration is a favorite. I have been honored to be on six pilgrimages to the Holy Land, just returning from my latest on February 4 and one of my favorite sites is Transfiguration Mountain. If you would ask me why I like it..well before this year I would — say a number of people shared with me how this place and touching the huge stone on top of this mountain that is now protected by glass made it so special. Or the time that I was above the clouds looking at a clear sky. Or another was celebrating mass at the barren, solemn church. Or another just being able to sit and be still and being absorbed in the holiness, simplicity and beauty of this site. Another would have been when snowcapped Mt. Hermon is visible to the north east some s35+ miles away. In fact many scholars feel that Mt. Hermon is the actual site of the Transfiguration; the site pilgrims go to is Mt. Tabor, referred to as Transfiguration Mountain. So what changed for me this year? Our guide once inside the barren Church explained the site and said to be sure to go next to the entrance on either side to see the tiny room/chapels, one in honor of Elijah and the other in honor of Moses. I had never even heard or seen these before. I visited these almost hidden chapels and each had a beautiful painting/mosaic in honor of these two great Old Testament figures. An interesting point to note is that both of their ‘deaths’ had unusual aspects. Moses was buried in a place only know by God (Deuteronomy 34: 5-12) and Elijah was talking with Elisha when a chariot of fire appeared with horses of fire and Elijah went up by a whirlwind to the Lord (2 Kings 2:11). Now in visiting these two ‘chapels’ and gazing on the fresco type paintings, the one for Moses had him with one hand raised, sitting on a rock and holding up a tablet of the Commandments. The one for Elijah had a man, both arms raised with a very confused but awe filled expression on his face. On his left was a rock with an unrecognizable form on it. On his right was the swirling wind, tornado type, but easily could be the ‘whirlwind’ that took Elijah up to heaven. I could not see any figure in the whirlwind. Could the sitting figure be Elisha watching Elijah being taken up to heaven — certainly. Could the form on the rock be Elijah’s mantel that had fallen from him as he rose — certainly. But my first impression was that it was Elijah who was sitting on the rock with the dazed look. I said well, even in the glorious moments, even the great ones do not have an understanding of what God is doing. I have spend some time with this painting/fresco and the reflections have been fruitful. It did not matter if the dazed person was Elijah or Elisha. What it left me with is that everything is about God. God is with us and cares for us. God leads us and helps us every inch of the way. God fills each person with the gifts to reach out to the people in their lives and the grace to touch them and to love them. God takes care of all the particulars, all that each person has to do is to be cooperative and ‘let God be God. I could spend many more hours in front of this painting, maybe someday God may make that happen. But this is the Church of the Transfiguration. The Church is about God touching each person through Jesus and the Spirit. It is about God and God’s total love. Living the Word gives a wonderful conclusion. “Today’s Gospel gives us a glimpse of the Resurrection we celebrate at the end of Lent. Jesus is transformed while at prayer. God visits Him through Moses and Elijah. In a cloud, and with a voice, ‘This is my chosen Son; listen to Him.’ He leaves the mountain transfigured and journeys to Jerusalem to His passion and death. Our journey, like His, is not easy, but we are not alone. Follow Jesus’ example Turn to God in prayer; voice your needs, frustrations, fears, dreams, and desires. Listen for God’s voice: ‘You are My daughter, My son. I am with you.’ Follow Paul’s advice to the Philippians to imitate Jesus.” So I reflect on: • Do I ever reflect that I am God’s beloved son or daughter? What is holding me back? Why am I afraid to spend time with this? God has called me…do I realize that? • What do I hope that God will change in me this Lent? How have I opened myself to God’s presence, grace and love? • One author translated this as “Jesus is my chosen one, my number one draft pick, listen to Him.’ Sacred Space 2016 says, “‘On the mountain’ the three apostles had a favored glimpse of Jesus’ prayer and glory. His prayer here is a conversation with Moses and Elijah. They talked about His Passion and death. This was a down-to-earth conversation about the shape of Jesus’ life. Is my prayer like that?”

February 14, 2016

Bulletin First Sunday in Lent

Deuteronomy 26: 4-10; Romans 10: 8-13; Luke 4: 1-13 We begin Lent again. What are our intentions this year? Perhaps Psalm 116:12 can help; it says, “How can I repay the Lord for all the good done for me?“ Can I occupy myself with more than just giving-up? Can I sit each day and reflect on the ways that I notice that God loves me? Can I review at the end of the day the people who have come into my life that day? Can I think of how they touched me? Can I recall God’s voice through them? Can I see what I could have done to be Jesus to them during our encounter time? Can I thank God for the gifts that I have noticed during the day…realizing that all gifts come from God? Sacred Space 2016 in the introduction for the First Week of Lent gives a wonderful help in a Lenten path to follow. It says: “Something to think and pray about each day this week: The Joyful Season The season of Lent has begun. Lent originally meant ‘springtime’, and so we can view it as a springtime for the spirit. It is a time also to spring clean the cave of our hearts! Whatever the variations in the practice of Lent over the last 2,000 years, the main issue is whether Lent helps me to become more aware of how I stand in relation to God and my neighbor. The ancient practices designed to achieve these goals were fasting, almsgiving, and prayer. The call to fast makes me focus on the affairs of the spirit rather than of the body. The call to almsgiving makes me more alert to my needy neighbor. The call to prayer nourishes my relationship with God, and especially with Jesus in His Passion. What about fasting? There are many little things I can perhaps do without. The point is that the shock to the system should lead to a deeper sense of what God may want of me! Jesus warns us against trying to attract notice when we fast or pray or give alms (Matthew 6). The simple act of washing off the ashes on Ash Wednesday is understood in some Christian circles as a reminder of Jesus’ admonition to look joyous. Lent is a ‘joyful season.’” As always, these Irish Jesuits who write Sacred Space suggest that we take time with each of the daily mass readings and reflect on how God is leading us in our journey. It’s a practice known as Lectio Divina or Divine Reading or Scripture Reading when a passage is read and then spent some time with in reflective questions. These writers tell us just to read and reread each scripture of each day. They tell us just to realize that at every moment, God is not only present to us but is waiting and listening for our call. Then today they suggest some reflective questions: • If God were trying to tell me something, would I know? • If God were reassuring me or challenging me, would I notice? Lord allow me to concentrate on You and not on my distractions and preoccupations. • How do I find myself today? Where am I with God? With others? Do I have something to be grateful for? Then I give thanks. Is there something I am sorry for? Then I ask forgiveness. • What is stirring in me as I pray? Am I consoled, troubled, left cold? I imagine Jesus Himself standing or sitting at my side and I share my feelings with Him. • I thank God for these few moments we have spent alone together and for any insights I may have been given concerning the text.” The first reading is from the book of Deuteronomy which has spent time in looking at the laws which Moses gave to the Israelites when he came down from Mount Sinai. It continues to remind the people of all that God has done for them…how God has chosen them and called them and how God has liberated them from Egypt. Look at all that God has done for them…look at all that God has done for me…what am I doing in return? God has trusted me and entrusted me with His love and care coupled with His tremendous array of gifts to be used in His service. Am I returning His gifts with care and devotion and sacrifice coupled with love? It’s so interesting to see that ‘God’ is what God is, not who God is. Moses today uses the title ‘Lord’ which shows a relationship of respect and submission. The Israelites understood this. Do I? Am I working daily on my relationship with my loving God? Paul says it so beautifully: “For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; the same Lord is Lord of all, enriching all who call upon Him. For ‘everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’” As Alice Camille in Exploring the Sunday Readings says today, “Faith gets personal very quickly where you “confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord.’” So I reflect with her on her questions from this: “How personal is your faith to you? Where does it become most intimate for you?” Today is Valentine’s Day, a day that has become such an affirming day of grateful love couples have for each other. It is also World Marriage Day which acknowledges the dedication of faithfulness, sacrifice and joy of family life. Love is personal….God is personal. Luke in the Gospel shows how Jesus was led into the desert. So often our lives are lived in a ‘desert’ type of area and/or temperament. We have the ‘winter’s desert’ in the bleakness of vegetation around us…and maybe the snow covering ‘new life’. We want to be freed from the bleakness and the gray drudgery around us. We look at our own lives and ask is there a desert in which I am now living? Is there something in my life which I have found myself coming face to face with as a result? Jesus was tempted as I am and as each person is. I can only resist temptation and overcome sin through His grace. Do I come to Him daily with this in mind? It really is through our temptations and sins that we realize our total dependence on God. St Augustine puts it succinctly when he says, “It is through temptation that we come to know ourselves. We cannot win our crown unless we overcome, and we cannot overcome unless we enter the contest, and there is no contest unless we have an enemy and the temptations he brings.” Our temptations never go away. They return so often when not expected. Jesus was even tempted on the cross: “If he is the Messiah, let him come down from the cross, and we will believe in him.” And Jesus has for me each day and each moment exactly what I need— His love and His grace! So I reflect on: • I look at some of the desolate places where I am tempted, like in my despair, sadness, and envy. What leads me into these places and what gets me out? • Do I say ‘the devil made me do it’ instead of looking at my own shortcomings or failures and sin? How do I address this? • How often do I call on God’s power? • Do I ever look at Lent as a boot camp for faithfulness…an oasis…a garden…a spiritual workout…a vacation with the Lord? Why not? Could any of these help? Sacred Space 2016 says: “In the wilderness Jesus did not engage the devil’s temptations. He simply quoted the Word of God in Scripture God’s Word has power, even over demons. Jesus’ experience teaches us that there is nothing wrong with being tempted; it’s how we react to the temptation that matters. A short prayer or a quote from God’s Word will help us let it go. For example: ‘Lead me not into temptation’ or ‘I must forgive, not once but seventy times.’”

February 7, 2016

5th Sunday in Ordinary Time C Isaiah 6: 1-8; 1 Corinthians 15P 1-11; Luke 5: 1-11 What do you think of yourself? Do you feel that you are a confident person? Do you have a good opinion of yourself? Do you hesitate as to which way to turn in life’s affairs? Do you berate yourself? Do you feel ‘if only I had the get up and go’ I would be a far better person? When you feel that you are caught up in that same sin or pattern of sin that has ‘dogged’ you for so long, do you cut yourself down or beat yourself up? Do you ever think, ‘well how can God forgive me’`when I just don’t seem to be making progress in the spiritual life? Do you feel that ‘your got up and go, got up and went?’ Do you ever feel that you are capable of being compared to the giants in Scriptures? Probably not! As far as the other questions above, I would say I’m definitely in agreement with those who tend too often not to have a good opinion of themselves. Where did this come from? I don’t know? But probably growing up during the ‘hell and brimstone' era of sermons added to my frustration with myself and my inability to be good or be better. We were taught to be confident in ourselves but the concept of being a sinner condemned to hell was far too prevalent. Did I realize that Jesus promised heaven to all who believe in Him? If I heard or read this promise it was put far into the background of my mind. I just didn’t ever feel I was worthy. Today we have three of the Scriptural giants sharing their stories: Isaiah, Paul and Peter. Instead of being giants in today’s passages they would probably say they were ‘wimps’ at best. Were they blessed by God, yes… did they realize that they were loved, I would say yes…but would they classify themselves as the worst of the worse, I would say so. Isaiah shares his prophetic call in the first reading. He describes a powerful vision of the high lofty throne of God surrounded by angels. His description echoes somewhat the Holy of Holies in the Temple where the people felt God dwelled. He thought that just in seeing this vision, he was condemned: “Woe is me, I am doomed! For I am a man of unclean lips, living among a people of unclean lips; yet my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts!” This belief came from Exodus 33:20 which alluded to the fact that if one saw the glory of God , it would lead to ones death. So he wasn’t filled with awe at this vision, he was convinced of his own doom forever. What did God do…He sent a seraphim to wipe clean Isaiah’s past and make him bold enough to embrace his call realizing that God had work for him to do. And God has work for me to do…every day and moment of my life. No matter how I feel about myself or where I am troubled within, God sees His gifts and graces in me and each person to be His person of love. The devil never wants me to feel that I’m worthy. But worthy has nothing to do with God’s call. In the early days of Paul’s life as it appears in the Acts of the Apostles, no one thought that he would be an apostle. It didn’t take long before the reality set in that he was adamant in his hatred and activity to eliminate any thought of Jesus as the messiah from this heretical group called Christians. He was in fact a Pharisee who were so often in total disagreement with Jesus. They were the main group plotting with the High Priests in eliminating Jesus and all thoughts of Him. So like Isaiah, God stepped in and brought a total life change — Paul became a zealous apostle. He shares today, that after the Resurrection Jesus made many appearances and “Last of all, as to one born abnormally, He appeared to me [For I am the least of the apostles, not fit to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace to me has not been ineffective.]” And people change. Each person has the potential to undergo a massive transformation that we could never imagine. For Christians it is the ‘grace’ of God, God’s help totally bringing us courage, confidence, dedication, enthusiasm, and a willingness to let go of our own fears and opinions to see in ourselves a person God created in His own image and has called to be Him. We come to Peter in the Gospel. I think that like Peter, I have a great knack to open my mouth and insert my foot. He was headstrong…he was a know-it-all…and Jesus today questioned his skill as a fisherman. Peter felt that if nighttime fishing produced nothing, certainly day time fishing would be horrible and a total waste of time. Yet for some reason Peter took this recommendation and followed it. Why? Luke doesn’t tells us, but Peter says, “…but at Your command I will lower the nets.” Everyone was shocked at the outcome, most of all Peter and “he fell at the knees of Jesus and said, ‘Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man.” And Jesus said , “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men.” Then after arriving back at shore they left everything and followed Jesus. So we see that in all the readings, the ‘giants’ all proclaim their sinfulness, and unworthiness. We do the same at each Eucharist when we say as the Precious Body and Blood of Jesus are raised up by the priest before Communion, “Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof, but only say the word and my soul shall be healed.” There is no doubt that no one is worthy…but it is not about our worthiness…it is about God’s love for each one of us. It is about being on God’s agenda and not our own. God needs me and each person to use the uniqueness that is ours to bring His message of care, forgiveness, compassion and love to each person. Alice Camille in Exploring the Sunday Readings shares these thoughts, “Peter took the recommendation as a command nonetheless. He pulled up anchor from the shallow water. He also lifted the anchor lodged in his sore muscles from last night’s shift, as well as the anchor suck deep in professional know-how and simple ego. Peter let go of the past altogether. As a result, Jesus became his whole future. Even if our boats are tiny, we tend to anchor them in a hundred different directions. We’re moored in our upbringing, our past achievements, our unresolved wounds. We’re moored in what we did well or badly, in pride and in shame. Jesus invites us to follow Him into the future. But first, we have to pull anchor from where we are now.” So I reflect on: • I think about the ways in my past that I have felt unworthy or unfit to be a follower of Jesus. Why do I feel that Jesus can’t change me? Why do I feel that all change must come from me? • I remember the times that God has picked me up from the ‘gutter’ or ‘dunghill’ and showed me I am loved, important and special to Him. • I look at the grace that God has showered upon me to bring me to where I am today. Am I grateful? Where could I have been if it wasn’t for God’s love? I express my gratitude now. • THIS WEDNESDAY, February 10th, is Ash Wednesday. I so easily can name my sinfulness but can I spend some time on God’s mercy and love? Sacred Space 2016 shares: “Peter recognized who Jesus was and realized that being close to Jesus would make demands on him. Jesus recognized who Peter was and saw the Peter had the capacity to respond to what He might ask of him. Jesus invited Peter to use his practiced skill in a new way for the good of the gospel. I lay my skills and talents before Jesus asking Him to show me how I might use them for God and others. God uses the ordinary experiences of life to draw people to Him. The gate of heaven is always open, to everyone. Why then should I ever become despondent about people — perhaps in my own family circle — who do not practice their religion?