Last week in the gospel Jesus gave the disciples instructions on the basic evangelical mission: “As you go, make this proclamation: ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’” This week’s gospel gives us some basic operating guidelines: “…what you hear whispered, proclaim on the housetops.” There is the whole message of the Kingdom of God breaking into the world in the person of Jesus Christ and we should shout it out from the rooftops. Continue reading
“At the sight of the crowds, Jesus’ heart was moved with pity for them.” “Moved with pity” …not exactly the way I think it should be translated into present day American English. Miriam Webster says that pity is (1) a: sympathetic sorrow for one suffering, distressed, or unhappy b: capacity to feel pity 2: something to be regretted, e.g. it’s a pity you can’t go. There is something soft and passive about the way we understand “pity” in our modern milieu. Not exactly a clarion call for action. Yet that is exactly Jesus’ immediate reaction. Continue reading
Years ago, while a Franciscan novice, my fellow friars and I attended a gathering of all the Franciscan novices, men and women, who lived in the Eastern United States. During our week-long gathering, each group was responsible for leading morning or evening prayer, or animating the Eucharistic celebration. One morning, a group of Franciscan sisters was responsible for morning prayer. Just before we were to begin, the leader of prayer explained that we would not be using the traditional words associated with the sign of the Cross. Rather, we would say “In the Name of the Creator, the Redeemer, and the Sanctifier.” She explained this was a way to remove the gender bias from the opening of prayer and so to make all feel welcomed. Continue reading
This past Monday one of the readings for daily Mass was from Acts of the Apostles. I described St. Paul’s encounter with two men who had received the baptism of John of the Baptist, were apparently part of the Christian community in Ephesus, but had never heard of nor received the Holy Spirit. Paul baptized them and laid hands upon them that they might receive the Holy Spirit. From then the two men went about using their gifts given by the Spirit. Continue reading
The story is told that Leonardo da Vinci worked away on a large canvas in his studio. For a while he worked at it – choosing the subject, planning the perspective, sketching the outline, applying the colors, with his own inimitable genius. Then suddenly he stopped working on it. Summoning one of his talented students, the master invited him to complete the work. The horrified student protested that he was both unworthy and unable to complete the great painting which his master had begun. But da Vinci replied: “Will not what I have done inspire you to do your best?” Continue reading
I will not leave you orphans… (John 14:18)
It is estimated that in our time, there are more than 130 million children without parents. One aid agency reports that every day ~6,000 children end the day as orphans. In sub-Saharan Africa there are some 20 million children who became orphans because of armed conflict and disease. In Kenya there are about 700,00 orphans and 2.6 million children who have lost one parent. Continue reading
“I came so that they might have life and have it more abundantly.” So, what do you make of the verse? What generally stands out in the hearing and imagination is “the abundant life.” What does it look like? If we don’t have an idea of what it looks like, how will we know when we have it? Continue reading
There are so many things we hope for – things great and small. Just saying the phrase, “I hope that…” It’s optimistic, positive, buoyant, and upbeat. But perhaps the three saddest words in our lives, words that we hear in today’s gospel, are. “We had hoped….” For these travelers, it is “we had hoped he was the one to redeem Israel.” “We had hoped,” but those hopes were dashed upon the wood of the cross and buried in a tomb. Now they are walking away from the rumors of Resurrection in a slow descent into despair. For years, the power of God had seemed so close. The disciples saw the miracles, heard the preaching, saw Lazarus emerge from the tomb, and so much more. Now those hopes lay buried in the tomb. “We had hoped…” Continue reading
There were so many times in Jesus’ ministry that he told his disciples that on the third day he would be raised from death. Today is the third day. The day when the world changed forever. When His best overcame our worst. When He broke the chains of death and now we are free.
Today is that third day when our hearts are healed, our lives rescued, and we can rejoice with Alleluias. Rejoice, I say again, rejoice! It is the third day! Can I get an “Amen?” Continue reading
I think it is very possible to drift through life, or at least parts of your life. Looking back into my life, I certainly find that to be true. Over the years listening to people chatting with me on the sidewalks, in the office, in the confessional and more – it seems to be quite common. Maybe it is during a time when there are too many things that you are trying to juggle. Or during a time when one thing occupies a huge amount of your attention and energy. Or maybe it is just a part of your life that is in cruise control so to speak – maybe like Tesla’s autopilot. Your attention is just elsewhere.
My dad used to say that the main thing is making sure that the main thing remains the main thing. Continue reading
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