The reflection for today is from a Mass with the students and teachers from the parish elementary school. The gospel for the school Mass is the same as the gospel reading from the recent 7th Sunday in Ordinary Time, the last part of the Sermon on the Mount. Continue reading
One of the hallmarks of Catholic theology is that is rarely falls into the dynamic of it must be this or be that. Most often the true Catholic expression is a “both-and” position. When that perspective carries out into the modern landscape of life in secular America is will inevitably face push back or rejection from a world that is increasingly this or that. There are two options and no middle ground. Sound familiar? A friend of mine was recently called a CHINO (Catholic in name only) because they expressed frustration with their political choices in that they wanted a candidate the was pro-life, fully pro-life, and a candidate that has a social agenda of charity and compassion. When my friend was telling me the story my thought was that we as Catholic Christians and not shaping the world, but the world is shaping us. Continue reading
Our gospel today is the second half of the account of Jesus in his hometown. Last Sunday Jesus read from the scroll of Isaiah promising there would come an anointed one filled with the Spirit who would heal, restore, set free, and declare a year acceptable to the Lord. Jesus proclaimed the Word and then simply told everyone. “Today this Scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing.” Talk about your “drop the mic” moment. Continue reading
What is the longest river in the world? Gotta’ be the Nile River, right? It flows 1,700 miles from Khartoum, Sudan to the Mediterranean Sea – and that is just where the White and Blue Niles meet. You can follow the White Nile south to Lake Victoria bordering Uganda… and then the arguments begin on what is the source of any river. Clearly rivers, streams, and the like flow into Lake Victoria – do you get to keep following the water flow? Even as recently as 2006 the geographers and cartographers were seeking the “headwaters of the Nile River.” The most recent claim is a muddy hole in Nyungwe Forest in southwest Rwanda. The forest area is spectacular, the muddy hole not so much. Personally, I would have taken Lake Victoria as the headwater. Think about it: a great lake giving greatness to the greatest river.
Not so fast! Brazil and Peru have put their cards on the table and claim that the Amazon, measured from its most distant, year-round source, is 87 miles longer than the Nile. Take that mud-hole originating river! Supporters of the Nile supremacy note that the measure includes tidal canals that are not always filled – and besides, the mighty Nile covers 2,400 miles as the crow flies while the Amazon inelegantly meanders over only 1,100 miles as the crow flies. And the arguments fly back and forth about which river is the greatest. As one side dismisses what they view as the feeble claims of their rivals, with a wave of the hand, they each employ the old pun: “Denial is the longest river in Africa.”
Denial lurks behind our gospel today. Jesus has forewarned his disciples three different times about the destiny awaiting him in Jerusalem where he will be betrayed, suffer, be crucified, and die. Each time the disciples are in denial about the fate that awaits their Lord; they are in denial about the suffering he will face. Jesus asks them, “Can you drink the cup that I drink or be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?” They boldly respond that they can – perhaps only revealing the denial in possession of them.
I think about Jesus’ response in this way: “Indeed, if you follow my way, you will indeed suffer … but don’t do it for the glory – besides that’s not mine to give. You had better pray for grace to be clear in your own mind why you are doing this because when it gets really difficult, that is what will sustain you.” It is that graced clarity that sheds light into the darkness of denial. It is that graced clarity that sustains you when it gets difficult to pick up and carry your own cross. That helps you “just do it” when you are asked to give it all away and follow the way of Christ. It is what allows you to persevere when you know that you will not be first, but will be dead last. It is the graced clarity that sustains when denial has emptied itself and you are faced with the road of self-sacrifice and suffering.
Why don’t we walk away? Why do we stay? Inner fortitude? Commitment? Obligation? Promise? All good things, admirable things. Obligation can only take us so far. Taken too far, obligation for obligation’s sake can erode love and leave bitterness – and leaves us with just the suffering. So often love and suffering come along for the same ride.
Why do we stay? Why visit your loved one suffering from Alzheimer – they don’t remember you any more – your visit will make no difference. Why reconcile with someone who has taken advantage of you in hurtful ways? I think the answer is that in all these situations there is an opportunity to love. It may bring suffering. It might entail some loss. But then it might be love rooted in a new, renewed relationship, a new footing. It will take energy and time. And the journey and destination will be marked with obstacles and challenges.
We stay because we trust that the journey will teach us how to love. Will lead us past the grandeur of Lake Victoria to the true source of the living water. There we will find the living font of love coming into the world. “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has similarly been tested in every way…. So let us confidently approach the throne of grace to receive mercy and to find grace for timely help.”
Mercy for the times we did not stay, but walked away. Grace for the journey to keep the darkness of denial at bay and to keep us on the way. Today at this way station of your journey, come to the throne of the Eucharist for that mercy and grace. Come and let your “Amen” be a prayer for the Grace that teaches us to truly love with clarity and purpose.
Ever been in a conversation with someone – usually not an easy conversation – when the other person, exasperated with you, the conversation, or whatever just blurts out, “You just don’t get it, do you?” ….and there it is… the end of the conversation. Just a few words, well delivered that can kill conversations or end relationships.
I suspect that along with exasperation, it can often be delivered with the characteristics that St. Paul warns us about: “all bitterness, fury, anger, shouting, reviling [and] malice must be removed from you.” We might well add to his list: “You just don’t get it, do you?” None of the above fulfills the proposal to “be kind to one another, compassionate, forgiving one another as God has forgiven you in Christ.” Continue reading
In Exodus 34, God describes himself as overflowing with khesed, or loyal love. Khesed is a rich Hebrew word describing a love overflowing with generosity and born out of commitment to relationship. Khesed is shown through actions and deep personal care for another person even when they don’t deserve it. In the Bible, no one shows more khesed than God – it’s core to who he is. God creates out of khesed. He protects his people from disaster because of his khesed. He makes them prosper because of khesed. He forgives them in a display of khesed. God continually extends his loyal love to his people, not because they deserve it but because his love is generous.
The Bible Project is a not-for-profit ministry which provides an amazing treasure trove of videos on the Word of God. This coming Sunday the Catholic Church celebrates “Word of God Sunday” – so, perhaps this would be an apropos time to support Bible Project with a donation!
17 In this is love brought to perfection among us, that we have confidence on the day of judgment because as he is, so are we in this world. 18 There is no fear in love, but perfect love drives out fear because fear has to do with punishment, and so one who fears is not yet perfect in love.
Verse 17 tells us how to have something everybody wants to have. And v.18 tells us how to get rid of something everybody wants to get rid of. We, of course, do not like to talk about fear. We do everything we can to be free from it. Yet fear is an essential part of human existence and, like it or not, some fear will accompany us, always and everywhere, until the end. Continue reading
The God revealed in Scripture doesn’t just love, he is love. As a triune God—Father, Son, and Spirit—he has always been and always will be an others-centered, self-giving, communal being. God so loved us, loved the world that he sent his only Son, Jesus, who fully embodies the love of God. That love was demonstrated most clearly when he gave his life on behalf of humanity. When people learn to trust Jesus’ love for them, they join in God’s community of life and love, and their very nature is transformed to live a life of love with him. In today’s video offering from the amazing folks at The Bible Project, you can explore the biblical meaning of love.
Yesterday’s psalm refrain was “The Lord is gracious and merciful; slow to anger, and of great kindness.” From that I asked the personal question, “Do you ever wonder if people think you are gracious, merciful, slow to anger and of great kindness?” Today’s gospel begins: “Jesus said to the crowds: To what shall I compare this generation?‘” In one sense, it is the same question just on a larger scale. And a complex question to even begin to form a response.
“I, John, looked and there was the Lamb standing on Mount Zion, and with him a hundred and forty-four thousand who had his name and his Father’s name written on their foreheads.” (Rev 14:1) And so begins today’s readings.
In her story “Revelation,” Flannery O’Connor tells a tale of a vision of salvation being encountered by the smug Mrs. Turpin. Her idea was that heaven was an exclusive banquet with just a few guests. The story had told of her unpleasant encounters with the “unsaved” (aka “not like me”) during the day. Later while sitting on her front porch at sunset, Mrs. Turpin is granted a vision from God. Despite all her self-assurances and beliefs, she was about to discover that God’s invitation is for more than just her and those she deems of sufficient moral character and behavior.
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