Category Archives: Musings

Order and Chaos

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The first readings from daily Mass for the first two days of this week are taken from Genesis, Chapter 1 into the opening verses of Genesis 2.  It is a familiar story to all from children to grandparents and everyone in between. Some Christians take it literally that in seven 24-hour periods, God created the world. Most Christians take it as an account of God’s role as the Creator of “all things visible and invisible” as the Creed says, or as Scripture proclaims: “All things came to be through him, and without him nothing came to be” (John 1:3).

Let me draw your attention to the creation account’s familiar opening verses: “In the beginning, when God created the heavens and the earth (lit. skies and the land) and the earth was without form or shape ( tohu wa’bohu; wilderness and wasteland | nothingness, no purpose or order) with darkness over the abyss (deep, symbolic for chaos) and a mighty wind (ruah, wind, Spirit, breath, presence) sweeping over the waters.”

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Hospitality

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The first reading today from the Letter to the Hebrews carries an oft quoted verse: “Do not neglect hospitality, for through it some have unknowingly entertained angels.” (Hebrews 13:2) All cultures have their own sense and operation of hospitality. I think most of us grew up is homes wherein hospitality was rarely taught but always on display. So, it is an interesting experience to live in a culture where the dynamics of hospitality are different. Such was my experience while living in Kenya.

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The Nash Equilibrium and Tariffs

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I suspect many of you have seen and remember the 2001 movie, A Beautiful Mind, starring Russel Crowe as the American John Nash. Nash won a Nobel Prize  in Economics for his game theory – popularly known as the Nash Equilibrium. There are initial conditions for the “game” but that is probably only of interest to folks familiar with game theory. The Nash Equilibrium basically says, e.g. you have three players in the game – let’s say Canada, Mexico, and the United States. If each player has chosen a strategy – an action plan based on what has happened so far in the game – and no one can increase one’s own expected payoff by changing one’s strategy while the other players keep theirs unchanged, then the current set of strategy choices constitutes a Nash equilibrium.

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How it is and will ever be

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A new President and Congress in the United States. A truce in Israel and Gaza. A new regime in Syria. War in Ukraine. Political alliances in Europe realigning. Balance of power, geopolitical landscape, nations rise and fall, tipping the scales. This is how it is and will always be in the kingdoms on earth.

Greece had Persia. Babylon had Egypt. Rome had Carthage. The Mongol Empire had the Holy Roman Empire. England, France, and Spain had each other. Japan had China. Germany took on the world – twice. In the aftermath, Russia had the United States. Nations v. transnational companies. And all the while these earthly kingdoms and all that attends – money, power, prestige, lands, wealth, culture, custom, language – they compete for the loyalty and fealty of the people of God.

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Generosity and Persistence

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In the traditional understanding of the parable of “The Sower and Seed,” the focus is often on the soil as a description of our hearts, of our openness to the word of God being sown into our lives. The soil/heart is described as a well-trod path, rocky ground, a bramble of thorns, or rich fertile soil. There is some insight there to be sure, but it does not necessarily give insight into a remedy.  Some have described it as “the soil under your feet”. All one must do is to look down, assess the conditions where you stand in life, and move. Move to the rich fertile soil – and yes, along the way you will have to deal with birds, the weeds and the scorching sun.

At least two things stand out for me about the Sower: generosity and persistence.

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An interesting Intersection

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Today is an interesting intersection of national events. President Trump’s return to the oval office after four years will begin today with his inauguration. The same day in which we celebrate Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. I have no doubt that pundits, journalists, and writers will have more complete and better insights than I. Both these historic events are joined at this interesting intersection by our gospel: the wisdom of new/old garments, wine and wineskins.

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A Love Letter

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Since Tuesday of this week (today is Friday), the first reading has been from the First Letter of John starting with the fourth chapter. John’s letters are sometimes a challenge to read and often presents challenges in listening as the letter seems to continually curl back on itself leaving you to wonder if the author is repeating for emphasis or making a new point. But then again sometimes the message is clear enough: “God is love, and whoever remains in love remains in God and God in him. If God so loved us, we also must love one another.”  Before moving ahead, perhaps a summary would be helpful.

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Passing By

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Today’s gospel (Mark 6:45-52) has some verses that have always, for me, lingered between odd and troubling: “When it was evening, the boat was far out on the sea and [Jesus] was alone on shore. Then he saw that they were tossed about while rowing, for the wind was against them. About the fourth watch of the night, he came toward them walking on the sea. He meant to pass by them.” (v.47-48) Previously in Mark 4, Jesus had calmed the storm at sea. This earlier event focused attention on the authority of Jesus’ word; here his whole person is involved as he walks across the rough water. On both occasions the disciples fail to understand who Jesus is and experience stark fear and amazement and yet “He meant to pass by them.” That’s the part that lingers between odd and troubling.

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The Fullness of Time

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What would you say if someone asks, can you prove that God exists? Can you provide an empirical, scientific or mathematical proof of the existence of God? St Thomas Aquinas understood that strict proofs in the empirical sense are not possible, he would point out that theological or philosophical arguments, while not strict “proofs,” point to important things. Here is another question: can you prove the existence of love? I’d be surprised if you can offer a consistent, repeatable, and full proof of love, but I have no doubt that you can offer experiences, insights, and examples of the incarnation of love in one’s life. Neither can I prove that God or love exists – all I can do is reflect upon the world that God created and see the argument for God and love in life itself.

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Coming into the World

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“When the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son, born of a woman” (Gal 4:4).

Today we celebrate the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God a part of the Octave of Christmas. We continue to celebrate the birth of God into the World. The Word come into the world, fully God, fully human – not on the great rolling thunder clouds with the heavenly hosts at full strength. Rather, Christ came into our lives at the end of a very human process: conception to birth – i.e., When the fullness of time had come… Continue reading →