Morality and Relativisim, Being Relative, or Relational?

RELATIVISM?  BEING RELATIVE?  or... RELATIONAL ?

There is much being said in the Catholic Church and society on the issues of Relativism.  Specifically in the context of morality and moral teaching this is a passionate issue.    Relativism,  according to Wikipedia,  "is the concept that points of view have no absolute truth or validity, having only relative, subjective value according to differences in perception and consideration."   This can be a conflict-fraught perception especially when applied to the moral teachings of the church.  It is a danger many Christians feel must be battled, especially when applied to issues such as birth control, abortion, homosexuality or other struggles mired in conflict.  It is considered a part of the cause as to why many people are leaving what they perceive as "organized religion" for the allegedly freer paths of "spirituality".   It essentially denies any validity or possibility of absolute truth being an unchanging value upon which society, families or individuals can base their lives.
The fruits of this popular concept are evident in the assumed subjective freedom of our western culture.  Yet in many ways the attempted denial of truth and values has not brought freedom but a culture where anxiety, fear, strife, discord are pandemic.

But when relativism is rejected it results, very often, in very real issues, knowledge, people, being rejected as well.  While the words "reject the sin, not the sinner" are glibly said it is a practice rarely seen. 

Discussions seeking to bring the Gospel, the message and place of the Church into a relative place for those alienated are often quickly dismissed as being an embrace of the evils of relativism.  As a result many in the Church fail to understand or care when the teachings, the message, worship or liturgy steeped in traditions of years gone by not only alienates but turns people away.  It also tends to fuel rejection when morals and values are arbitrarily chosen.  Two men kissing is seen as a serious offense by many who would then embrace  greed or the quick use of guns and violence.  If anything it is often seen to be a badge of heroic faith and virtue of NOT to giving way to the evil of the times.

As a result many souls are floundering in the wake of these two conflicting courses.  Many families, many people are finding their relationships with each other and with God being torn apart by these two perceptions.  Can there be an alternative?

In the Gospel Jesus frequently was caught between the forces of this ancient conflict.  In the temptation in the wilderness Christ Himself wrestled with Satan, evil and interpretation when, repeatedly the enemy challenged doesn't it say?????  God will give his angels to watch over you???
Later Jesus would face the conflicts of divorce, adultery, judgment of others, greed.  Yet as Christ responded He gave the Church, His followers a better way.  He brings us to realize it is about much more than just intellectual moral absolutes, traditions and teachings.   It is about much more than one religious group's interpretations of Scripture or moral values.  It IS about NOT being relativistic, one way or the other but about relating.  Jesus made clear He is the way the TRUTH and the life.  He makes clear that we all are invited to GROW in our relationship, with Him, with the TRUTH and that HE, the Truth will lead us into freedom of spirit and soul.  And lest we rush to presume we, only, have and know this way and truth HE makes clear he is the shepherd of many diverse flocks.  Christ also made clear, we do not have all the answers.  The  Church has often rushed to the role of Guardians of Truth while forgetting God has given us the Holy Spirit to LEAD us into the truth.  The understanding of the church and world, centuries ago, was very concrete about the world being flat....until the eternal journey of truth was remembered.  (John 14:1-12, John 8;32, 38 & 10:16, John 16)
Christ was not focused on philosophical applications and labyrinths as He related to people.  He accepted souls, where they were and from there, led and leads the willing into the truth, the embrace of His arms that sets us free.  An embrace profoundly needed, relevant and true.

Lent ~ Discoveries of Prayer

  Mass Readings Second Sunday of Lent

Second Sunday of Lent
16 March 2014
Homily ~ Cyber Version

Lent ~ Discoveries of Prayer

How many of us, during the day or before coming into the church checked to see if there was any emails or text messages that perhaps we were expecting?   We are a people who have come to expect others to be messaging us, in some shape or form.

Now, how many of us, during the week, or perhaps coming to Mass, walking into the church expect to hear from God?  Maybe we think God is too busy.   Maybe we think God has no need or great desire to speak to me.  Or perhaps we are afraid of what God may ask or speak about.  Are we afraid of those discoveries to be made in prayer.

God does long to speak to our hearts and lives.   Christ, present in the readings of Scripture this day clearly expresses accounts and examples of how, this powerful season of Lent, we can grow in discoveries of prayer, of God, of ourselves.

Prayer ~ Talking to God:  For many we understand prayer as “saying our prayers”, i.e., talking to God.  With faith and blessing we say the rosary, the Our Father, or the Stations of the Cross.  We tell God of our needs and hopefully our thanksgivings.  In our    Gospel reading we see Peter, James and John taken by our Lord, to the Mount of Transfiguration.  There Peter seems to understand this is a time and place for prayer.  And he starts talking, a lot.  Our Heavenly Father, hearing Peter’s chatter, interrupts.   This brings us to ask..does God need to interrupt our prayers to get a word in edgewise?  It shows us what we miss by failing to listen, by not watching...Him.  How often do we come to a moment, time or place of prayer, rattle off what our intentions are and then rush on without really looking to God or hearing a reply?

Prayer ~ Watching & Listening:  We are, as disciples of Christ are called to follow Him.  To watch and listen, to His way, His Will,  His purposes.  We see this relationship illustrated in the roles acted out in such dramas as Downtown Abbey.  The footmen, the butler, ladies maids are all and always attentive to their masters.  They tend to their tasks often with no verbal direction from their lord and his household.   They watch and they listen.   Sadly in our prayer life we miss this grace, profoundly and often tragically.
In our Old Testament reading we witness God speaking to Abram, telling him to follow His guidance to the promised land.  In that era of primitive faith Abram knew how, knew to..watch and listen for God.  Times have changed. God has not.  As it was in Abram’s day, as it was that day on the Mount of Transfiguration, God yearns for our attention.  And it is in that faith, the listening in the silence that we learn to hear God speaking, in the Scriptures, in creation, in and through the fullness of His Eucharistic Body and His Body of we we are.

Prayer ~ Responding to God:  It is as we seek to watch and listen, as we share our hearts  of hope or wounds that Jesus calls us to respond to Him.   God the Father, speaking in the cloud clearly spoke to the disciples, “Listen To Him”. The first words Jesus spoke after that command were simple and clear:  “Rise and do not be afraid”.  As God called the early disciples to rise from their fears, as God called Abram to rise from his earthly securities so God calls each of us, to rise, from our fears and follow Him to discover the promises of His Kingdom,  this season of Lent and for all eternity.
It is in our watching and listening that the response of our lives becomes the real Amen.

Discovery, Design, Destiny

From: www.facebook.com/pilgrimpathways

Cyber-version of homily for Second Sunday of Ordinary Time

19 January 2014

Mass Readings 2nd Sunday of Ordinary Time:

http://usccb.org/bible/readings/011914.cfm

DISCOVERY,  DESTINY,   DESIGN

Have you ever thought you knew someone and then discovered there was far more there 
than you may have first thought.  Or, perhaps even more important, have you ever thought you knew, you understood yourself?  And then  (with either delight or dismay, you discovered, again, there was far more “you” than you had realized?

Our Bible readings, this start of Ordinary Time, all share insights and experiences where this process of discovery is taking place.  And it is in the ordinary, not just the extra-ordinary times and places of life these discoveries occur.   We can learn that we all are created for this very journey of life.  It is a journey of DISCOVERY as we learn we each are DESIGNED by our Creator-Savior for a DESTINY of God’s will and purpose.

This discovery process is illustrated in our Old Testament reading and the Gospel.  In the book of Isaiah we observe the prophet, as he listens to God in his heart, discovers that he was planned by God.  Even in his mother’s womb God well knew the hopes, paths and destiny for which this human soul was made.  Isaiah is not an exception.  Careful listening to God and hearing of His word will show that each soul is designed by God for a life of fulfillment, blessing and yes, trials.  Isaiah reminds us that as we pray the refrain from our Psalm, “Here I am Lord; I come to do your will” that we discover that with God nothing in our life is wasted or that we are a mistake in His eyes.  We discover that our own very distinct heart is called to love God, and others, as no other soul can.

It is in our Gospel we see the process of discovery as John the Baptist, in obedience baptizing Jesus, grows in his discovery of who is this Christ.  John the Baptist had “known” Jesus at least to some degree.  From the pre-natal encounter when Mary came to Elizabeth after the Annunciation, to probable encounters at the large family gatherings John and Jesus must have known each other to some degree even as cousins.  But it would not be until that destined day in the river Jordan that John truly discovered whom his cousin truly is, and, in that process discover and understand his own design, his own destiny more clearly.
Both of these events help us understand the message of St. Paul  we read in his letter to the Corinthian faithful, to all the faithful.  He writes, how, by the will of God, we have been sanctified, that is set apart IN Christ Jesus, called to be holy.  Christians these many years later are often tempted to place this sanctification to some time after death, to those saints with which we pray.  But Paul is writing, not in a future tense nor to a group of people known for their apparent sanctity.  The faithful in the city of Corinth were, a flock fraught with human failure, ignorance, failing and sin.  Although they faithfully loved their Savior and God they were deeply flawed.   But that did not diminish or negate their design or destiny IN CHRIST.  St Paul (himself profoundly human) was very clear they were set apart, designed by and  for God there in the midst of their very human ordinary lives.  They were created to proclaim, by lives of the forgiven and mercy-filled, the exquisite beauty of holiness found in Christ and His Kingdom.  

It is in that same letter Paul wrote ( I Corinthians 13) , it is in the life of the prophet Isaiah and in John the Baptist we Discover another aspect of our Destiny for which we are Designed.  We are created, redeemed, set apart, to discover and share the boundless power and beauty of love. 

As we begin another year, as we enter into the ordinary times of life may we journey with the hope and anticipation that regardless of what may lie ahead, that in Christ we may Discover our Design and grow in the Destiny of His holy love.

The Leper

Cosimo Rosselli The Healing of the Leper (detail, Cappella Sistina, Vatican, 1481-82

The Leper
Lk. 5:12-16

Known only as the ‘the leper’,
outcast within the town.

With eyes from his marred face,
he watched all those around.

He saw the men at work,
strong, with muscles bold.

He saw the mothers back holding,
their children, with stares so cold.

He saw the friends, the lovers,
their smiles, their warm embrace,

and watching them to touch,
made within his heart to ache.

Known only as the leper,
outcast within the town,

touched only by the scorn,
where fear and hate abound,

his leper’s wealth abundant,
his lonely tears surround.

Until the day He came.
Jesus was in the town.

And when his eyes did see Him,
from his face marred and scared,

he fell, the hated leper,
before Him,  to hope, he dared.

Faith’s desperate plea escaped him,
for cleansing did he make.

At least, for words, of mercy
within his heart to place.

Amazed saw he then,
Love’s hand for him to reach...

Amazed. then in awe,
His touch, His cleansing, His peace.

Then within his heart
the words he longed to hear,

I will, be clean, and go.
 Love’s healing touch to show.

Persevering Prayer

Bible Readings for Mass 29th Sunday of Ordinary Time:  { Ex. 17:8-13; Ps. 121:1-8;
II Tim. 3:14-4:2; Lk. 18:1-8
Mass Readings

 Homily 29th Sunday of Ordinary Time  ~ 20 October 2013

Persevering Prayer

Power.   The struggles for power have flooded the news.  Whether we look to the politicians in Washington, striking workers and management, or even within families and relationships, these struggle are seen.   The grasping for power is seen as essential if we are to live with the intent of being in charge, being in control.  Our culture is obsessed with this struggle.  IF we stay in touch (especially through the pretense  of electronic media),  IF we keep on top of the information and knowledge we need..then we will have the power, we will be in charge of our lives.  
Sadly this  struggle for power is pursued on the shifting, sandy myths of the world.   Sadly our pursuit of power often neglects the most power-filled practice provided to humanity.
Our Bible readings speak directly to this struggle  as God calls us to …..prayer,  more specifically, 

Persevering Prayer.

Persevere in Prayer through Conflict:   Our shared story of Moses in the Old Testament today clearly illustrates this reality.  God had called the Israelites to the Promised Land.  Then, as now, Satan's intent was to deter and to rob God's faithful from that promise.  This battle is at the heart of the challenges of prayer.  WHY is it so difficult?   Why  is it so hard to to come to Mass and then to truly enter into the prayer as opposed to just warming a pew?  Why is it so hard to go to Adoration?  Pray the Rosary?  Pray the Stations of the Cross?  Or to, in the most simple sense…to pray with perseverance?  As Moses and the Israelites encountered, seeking the Kingdom of God is a battle.   St. Paul, millennia later, would remind us : "we wrestle not against flesh and blood but against spiritual; wickedness in high places".  Persevering prayer is a call to battle.  But it is only through the battle we come to victory.  As Winston Churchill once said: " if you are going  through hell, keep going".   We must not stop praying.  We must allow God to send us His help of His Spirit, His angels and saints that we may persevere.

Persevere in Prayer through the Weariness.  Our wine country is very popular for racing.  Walking, running, bicycling all are disciplines popularly pursued through the hills and valleys of our land.  The winners, those completing their race, must persevere.    Why is this concept so difficult for those seeking God in prayer?    Truth be told,  prayer is often wearisome.  It is, especially when real prayer is being done, WORK.   This is complicated by the extra stuff we bring with us in prayer.  We love ours distractions.  The cyber-electronic  obsession of many has not neglected prayer.  A quick Google of "prayer Apps"  brought….44,500,000 Apps in less than 20 seconds.  Now some are possibly helpful.  But are any of them necessary?   Going back to the racers we see on our roadways, what would we think if we saw someone in a race carrying loads of baggage?  We would think they are not to keen to finish the win.  Yet how often do we come to a time of prayer burdened with trinkets and stuff in hand and soul, that distract us from the goal of persevering in prayer.  The extra baggage only hastens the weariness that can deter us from completing the race.  Let us allow the Holy Spirit to lift from our hearts and hands anything that hinders us in our prayers.

Persevere to God.  Jesus in the Gospel spoke of the woman who was frankly pestering the unjust judge until he responded to her plea.  He closes the parable with a question.  When the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on earth?    When Christ comes in glory, or, when Christ calls us to the ultimate realization that we are not in control, and calls us home will He find faith in our hearts?   God is not seeking a scoreboard of success.  God is looking to see who prays the most rosaries or attends Mass most often.  God is not looking to see how much Bible we have read or memorized.  Those are all very good things to do.  But we must remember...God is looking for …you.  If we come to Him wounded, weary, scarred from conflict He will embrace us with His healing, cleansing grace.  If we come having foolishly followed the prodigal, He will again hear and help us return to His feast.  If only we could see it isn't about power or control.  It isn't about the conflict or our weariness.  It is about the majestic joy and love as we enter into His Presence. 

And though we realize it so late we understand that in persevering into His Presence we enter the most powerful and peaceful place in Heaven and earth.

Repentance ~ A Verb of Life

[A cyber-version of my homily for the 24th Sunday of Ordinary Time]

Bible Readings:  http://usccb.org/bible/readings/091413.cfm

Repentance  ~ A Verb of Life

In our society today there is an intense obsession for placing blame.  From politics to health care, from our relationships and even the practicing of faith the desire to point fingers of blame dictate behavior, policy and life itself.  While it is important to understand the causes of issues and problems that understanding is not helped or developed when our conclusions are infected with this pervasive virus of the soul.  To embrace the fervor for blame, while popular, is not an embrace from God.  To foster blame is to foster judgment and condemnation.    To find blame is powerfully contrasted in our Bible readings this 24the Sunday of Ordinary Time.  Our readings share another verb but it is a verb of life, the choice of repentance.

It is unfortunate that when the word  repentance is shared many people will quickly sense a strong resistance and aversion to the concept.  Repentance has a conflicted and, at times, unpleasant reputation.  Straight away let us establish what repentance is not.  Repentance is not the harsh penances practiced (often with great pride) by individuals and groups throughout the church throughout the ages.  Self-inflicted beatings, cruel depravations of self and others of care, food and solace is, again not repentance.  Nor is repentance just about sin.  Say the word and many (Christians and unbelievers) will automatically focus upon a vast array of sins of which repentance may be needed.  Strangely, though the focus often stays on the sins or the sinner.  That is not repentance.  Nor is repentance the avoidance of what some may judge to be sin (food, music, people) or the practice of perceptions of holiness, (spiritual postures and practices and appearances).  Then what is repentance?

To understand real, healthy repentance we do well to go to the roots of the word.  The word repentance is from Old French and Latin.  Repentance is  a verb of life it is simply is an intensive action of regret and being sorry.  It is a realization of a wrong course of life or action and a real (intensive)  change of heart and direction.   God would call us all to be a people of  repentance, a people of life.  Our Bible readings help us understand what that means.  We are also profoundly blessed on this September 15th (our Vigil Mass for tomorrow) to be celebrating the Feast of the Triumph of the Cross; for it is at the Cross we discover the majestic truth, the joy and power,  we find the Place, the Practice and The Person of repentance.  

The Place of Repentance is discovered as we journey on our way of the Cross.   Through the course of our life we each will face times of failure, not just in doing that which is harmful but in not doing what brings us life.  It is in our places of  struggle, heartache or woundedness that we can (if we resist the temptation to just blame) chose to enter into the path of repentance.  It may be a profound realization that we are headed in a wrong direction and we must quickly get off the off ramp and turn around, or it may be a simple adjustment of attitude and vision.  It is a paradox of faith that the power of life bringing repentance is found at a place known for death, the place of the Cross.  Yet countless believers, starting with the repentant thief on the cross next to Jesus discovered that even when circumstances have us confined the place of repentance, the Cross is a place of freedom, healing and life.  For the Prodigal Son the Place of Repentance, started at the pig sty of personal poverty and worth.  But it encompassed a journey of intense, practiced steps…home.

The Place of Repentance teaches us, daily, the Practice of Repentance. There is profound power and joy that comes when one not only say but BE sorry.  Perhaps those seeds of sorrow for sin or failure may seem very small but when planted in faith and nurtured in humble love they can grow to lives of great beauty and strength.  This practice, as we have seen, isn't just about saying set prayers.  It isn't about the condemnation of self.  It is about the turning away from destructive practices, words, longings,  to those that bring life, discovery and hope.  A good measure of the strength of our repentance is the growth of peace, the realization of God's love and the sense of the joy of Heaven shared by the angels when a sinner repents. The practice of real repentance will bring a growing dawning of the Light of God's mercy as we turn our backs on whatever practices or places of darkness we may have known.  It is as we journey the places of repentance, growing in a faith-filled true practice,  that we come to discover that real repentance is about a Person.   The Prodigal in our Gospel had a long and arduous journey home, although his weak faith may have brought fears it was deep inside he longed to return home to his father. 

Real Repentance brings us to the Cross, it is there that our practices are freed from those things that cripple and deter us in our journey.  It is at the Cross we are freed to start practicing our lives for which we are created. And, it is at the Cross we discover we are destined to know the  Person, Jesus Christ and the  loving embrace of God.  Repentance is most clearly about a person discovering the forgiveness, mercy and love  God has for us.  The Prodigal son was fearful and humbly planned on living in his father's estate as a servant.  Little did he realize for how long his father had been waiting, searching the horizon for his son's return.    From the place of repentance and the faithful practices we then encounter and discover, as did the thief on the cross the embracing words of mercy of the Savior…"Today, you will be with in Paradise".  We would do well to leave our focus upon sins and sinners and focus on the scene as Jesus brought the fallen, yet repentant thief into the loving embrace of our Heavenly Father.  

God calls us to be a people of repentance.  He calls to turn away from blaming, fear, hate and judgement.  He calls us away from sin.  He calls us each to realize we are all prodigals and that our Heavenly Father longs for us.  He calls us to a life of Heavenly joy as we share in our deeds and words the practices of real repentance.  He calls us to both know and share the mercy-filled embrace of the Savior as He brings us to our Heavenly Father.  True repentance is, simply realizing God, in love is calling us.

Religion & War

Mt. 5:9  "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. "

The United States is possibly once again on the threshold of another war, this even as the longest war in our history continues on.  As a Catholic, Christian, and clergy I hear and read of many who fault all things religious and love to claim that religion is the cause of war.

YES! there have been wars and conflicts, violence and evils done in the name of any religion a person may examine, none would be exempt.  But to say religion is the cause of war expresses profound ignorance of the history of war in the world.  Even those conflicts said to be "religious", if looked at honestly, show that religion is often used as an excuse for...politics and greed.    This claim faulting religion as the cause of war ignores the role of peace, healing and mercy exercised by diverse religions in conflicts over the ages.  The actual percentage of true wars of religion is quite small.  Wars where religion is used by sides is higher.

So, what are some real causes of war?

~ Politics, power struggles among people and leaders.
~ Resources, Oil, food, water, slaves are commodities for which people have gone to war.
~ Greed.  Oil fields, watersheds, fertile lands and commercial crossroads have long been places sought, coveted and killed for, sadly sometimes in the name of religion.
~ Ignorance fueling fear.  People have long been manipulated to violence by leaders capitalizing on ignorance to fuel fear.
~ Loss of awareness of the sacredness of all life.  Hearts in conflict can lead to communities and lands in conflict.  Life no longer recognized as sacred is very easy to destroy and use for others greed.
~ Misplaced faith.  We all believe.  Some believe 'might makes right'.  Some believe that their faith equals their politics.  Some believe in themselves.  And some believe in God,  in many diverse ways.

There will be those who say that war is inevitable.   There will be those who say that waging peace is cowardly.  It takes great courage to be a peace maker.  It takes faith in something, Someone, greater than ourselves to pray for peace.   Prayer and making peace is hard work.   But it is blessed by God.

Pope Francis has asked that we Catholics, and anyone wanting peace to pray for peace in Syria and the Mid East.  May we turn to the Prince of Peace and follow in courage & love.

James 4:
1.  What causes wars, and what causes fightings among you? Is it not your passions that are at war in your members?
2. You desire and do not have; so you kill. And you covet and cannot obtain; so you fight and wage war. You do not have, because you do not ask. 
3. You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions. 
&

3:18: And the harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace. 

Notions & Seeing Jesus

Bible Readings for the 20th Sunday of Ordinary Time:

http://usccb.org/bible/readings/081813.cfm

[Cyber-version of my homily for 18 August 2013]

I grew up in the time of the old 5 & 10 stores.  These were awesome places for a kid that lived up to their being known as Variety Stores.  From paint to school supplies, fabric and patterns for  mom’s sewing and, my favorites the goldfish and little green pet turtles and usually a lunch counter if you had a notion for a bite to eat.  These stores were  known for their “notions”.  People would go and especially look for those “notions” (sewing, craft, projects) that they needed or wanted. Notions are good, provided they don’t clutter or posses our lives, our souls.

Our Bible readings this 20th Sunday of Ordinary Time reminded me of how we cherish our notions, especially those of soul and spirit.  Our readings also challenge us to face the conflicts and divisions our notions can bring and the One who can lead us free to know and discover not the stuff of this world but the One who fills our greatest longings.

Jesus loves to challenge our notions.   Those things, concepts, the stuff of life, whether it be materialism, or stuff of soul and spirit that clutters our ability to...live... to see Christ in our daily lives.  

In the Gospel reading we share one of the more intense and troubling messages of Christ.  “ I come to ignite a fire on earth!” {Powerful words for a retired Fire fighter and investigator to hear].  I come, not to bring peace but divisions.  How does this reconcile with His repeated invitations to peace?  How does this fit with His prayers before His Passion that we be one as He and the Father are one?  It doesn’t conflict.  It actually challenges us to realize that in our notions (material or spiritual) we will not find peace.  When the fire of His Holy Love threatens our false possessions we often struggle and fight. Are we going to follow Him or cling to our stuff?

Notions were in many ways the core of the problem in the Old Testament story we heard of Jeremiah being cast into the cistern by his enemies.  As a prophet of God Jeremiah had challenged the deeply rooted notions of idolatry held by many of the people of Israel.  His message and life was upsetting the politics of power in the country.  Jeremiah found, in his faith, love, his obedience to God that he was literally cast down into the pit and left to die.   But God had not left him.  As the Psalm proclaimed He heard his call in the depths of conflict and raised him up out of the pit to serve and follow the Lord again.  

As Christ expresses in our Gospel we see in the story of Jeremiah.  When we, when those in our lives, find our treasured notions challenged division and conflict will occur.

For some it may be a literal hoarding of stuff that can in the most tragic sense fill rooms, houses, and hearts that crowd out the real treasures of our life.  Often people can become so secure in their insecurities that to let go of those treasured fears and hurts can only be done with the grace of God and loving help of family and friends.

But we also hoard and hide the notions of soul and spirit.  Our country, our Church, our families as well, are struggling with divisions and strife as people cling to their notions of being Democrat or Republican, liberal or conservative.  The fear some have, in their spirituality, that worship or liturgy, or their "non-religious spirituality" must be precise and performed according to their understanding (either liberal or conservative, religious or spiritual, orthodox or progressive..how we love the notions of our labels!) and preferences is cause for growing conflict in places God longs to be places of true worship and faith, in our hearts.  But the love of Christ can lift us from the bondages of our divisions.

The epistle this day reminds us of two very essential aspects of our Catholic faith.  In our Communion of the Saints we remember we are being cheered on, encouraged by our Heavenly companions.  The angels and saints, those who have lived through and conquered with Christ all the notions and stuff of this world help us to know the call of His love the fire and beauty of His holiness that we are called to share.  More precisely they help us to focus, not on the stuff, the notions we think are so important but to look to Jesus.  

With our eyes of faith touched by His nail pierced hands we can grow in our vision of seeing Him.  We can start to see Him more clearly in the Eucharist, yes.  But Jesus will not be confined there.  We can start to see Christ in the poor and afflicted, as our Pope Francis calls us to do.  We can learn to see Christ, in His Body, the Living Eucharist, the People of God. We ca start to see Christ in our family, friends...ourselves. And it is as we see Him our hearts will burn with the fire of His love.

Let us let go our cluttered notions and look to Jesus, in His Eucharistic Presence, Christ's glory in Creation and His Presence in each other.  

The Body & Blood of Christ ~ Unveiled

The Feast of the Body & Blood of Christ ~ 2 June 2013

  Mass Readings: Feast of the Body & Blood of Christ

This past Holy Thursday, we all watched as our new Pope, Francis went to celebrate the Feast of the Lord's Supper at a prison in Rome.  If that was not enough to get our attention he then, in the very special part of that liturgy went on to wash the feet of twelve people in remembrance of our Lord washing the disciples feet.  The  problem, for some, was that besides not celebrating this holy and special Mass in the normal place he was washing the feet of prisoners, women even Moslems.  What on earth was Pope Francis thinking? 

The Feast of the Body and Blood of Christ is rooted in the Mass of the Lord's Supper.  It is a time that we can renew our faith in the Real Presence of Christ, in the Blessed Sacrament.  It is a time when we can renew our faith that tells us when we receive Holy Communion  that the Sacred Host, the Sacred Cup share with us Christ's true Body & Blood as He stated so clearly in the Gospel (John 6).  

Sadly, this most Real Presence and Blessed Sacrament is veiled for many.  Pope Francis was showing us it is time to remove the veil.

The need for holy veils is important.  We all, like Moses are not yet able to fully look upon the awesome beauty, grandeur and love of God's Presence.  Our Lord , in His mercy veils us and yet reveals to us, as we allow, the promise of His Presence.  We need to grow in the mercy, redemption and holy love of God to be able to grow in our  ability to see and know God.

But we cannot allow these holy veils to be replaced by the veils of the world.  There is so much God wants to share with us.  Jesus seeks us to come to Him.  In our second reading we read:  "This is my Body, broken for YOU".  But the veils of the world seek to hide Christ.

The veils of faith-less human reason, empty tradition and worldly distraction all blind us from knowing His Presence among us.  In the Gospel, at the feeding of the multitudes the disciples initially were blinded to Emmanuel, God with them, working in their midst.  As they struggled with the impossible needs of the crowd and their insufficient resources they could not see what God was doing.  But, they persevered in faith, obeyed in love and soon  had abundant reason to know God was working and with them.

So it is with us today.  It is often much more easy and comfortable to look at the elevated Sacred Host with only our human understanding.  Or perhaps we believe He is truly present but it is so much more comfortable to keep Him, if not veiled but at least safe in the Monstrance.

But as Pope Francis led us to see on Holy Thursday it is time for Jesus to be unveiled in our Mass, in Adoration and especially in our hearts and lives.  As the Pope washed the feet of those seen as so unworthy he was showing us what the author C.S. Lewis once wrote:  "Next to the Blessed Sacrament itself, your neighbor is the holiest object presented to our senses".

The sacred Body and Blood of Christ consecrated at Mass, the Sacred Host adored in prayerful adoration were never intended by God to be static, isolated places and times.  The longing of the spear-pierced Sacred Heart of Jesus is that we receive Him and become what He redeemed us to be living and holy tabernacles for His Presence.  It is through the Body and Blood of Christ, as we are healed through His sacred wounds we are freed to become those sons and daughters of God created in His sacred image.

It is through the Body and Blood of Christ, removed of worldly veils, that we both see, share and become the Body of Christ He redeemed us to be.

St. Paschal Baylon ~ 17 May

"Meditate well on this: Seek God above all things. It is right for you to seek God before and above everything else, because the majesty of God wishes you to receive what you ask for. This will also make you more ready to serve God and will enable you to love him more perfectly" (St. Paschal).

The 17th of May is the feast day of St. Paschal Baylon.  Some have said he is not a "real" saint because his feast day is not in the Roman Missal.  It is a valid point that helps us realize that many canonized saints feast days are not in the Missal (the reasons being the very number of saints, their relative importance (local or universally known) and also their time of canonization.  Numerous saint, recently canonized, are not included simply because of timing of revisions of this book).  These practical matters also contain an important lesson, a lesson especially taught through the life of St. Paschal Baylon.

Hidden saints:  The graces of these hidden saints are many.  St. Baylon lived a profoundly humble and blessed life.  He was a lay Franciscan in Spain.  He had limited education and served mostly in his monastery as porter, cook, gardner or beggar.  He was most known for his deep love for Christ in the Blessed Sacrament and spent as much time as possible in prayer before God.  This passionate love for Jesus opened doors of humble love and wisdom that many came to seek from God's humble servant.  His simple faith, growing from his rustic poverty as a shepherd, enabled him to know and share powerful blessings not embellished or entrapped in politics, wealth or pride.

The apostle Saint Paul reminds us that all the baptized, seeking to follow our Lord are, in Biblical fact....saints.  That we may not yet fully realize this truth in no way negates it.  That we may stumble in our journey of faith would often indicate we follow a path well trod as we seek the Crucified and His way of Crucified Love.   As we better know those who have gone on before us, such as St. Paschal Baylon, as we listen to their lives and words we are reminded of our need to live well a life of prayer, "to seek God above all things..to serve and love him more perfectly" and to know He who longs to hear and answer our prayers.

Cross + Roads ~ Problems & Presence

                                                Cross + Roads ~ Problems & Presence

Our Bible readings (  Mass Readings second Sunday of Lent ) this Second Sunday of Lent bring us to the heart of this season of renewal.  They bring us to God's gift to us, the gift of repentance.  This grace often has negative connotations.  But if we allow the light of Scripture to show us the way we experience that repentance is a gift and grace we all need.  We grow in this grace as we grow through the realities of the journey of life as we experience PROBLEMS, we can grow in REPENTANCE that leads us to His PRESENCE.

PROBLEMS:  Our world seems flooded with problems.  Economic upheaval, violence, even in the Church the media (and some Catholics) would see the retirement of Pope Benedict XVI as a huge problem.  And in our own lives, health, budgets, family, workplace issues all offer an abundant menu of problems on which to feed.  Scriptures today, from the story of Moses and the Burning Bush through to the Gospel speak of problems to illustrate a reality of human life, a reality we all share.  We have problems.
Some are problems such as Moses encountered as he went about, minding his own business, a bush that was burning, but... not burning up...and in the bush an angel of the Lord was speaking, calling Him.  This wasn't a bad thing per se...but it was a huge problem for Moses.  He couldn't get his head around what he was experiencing.  He couldn't solve this problem with his understanding.
In the Gospel Jesus is challenged by the people with the news events of the day.  Accidents, tragedies, real problems for the victims. Those questioning Christ were doing what seems a favorite human pastime...seeking who was at fault, who was to blame.
St. Paul in his writing to the church at Corinth, a church beset with problems, reminds us of these challenges, and the solution by the example of those who had followed God before.
But Jesus responds to those challenging Him with both the solution and a greater challenge...REPENTANCE.

REPENTANCE:  In the Gospel the word "repent" is from the Greek word:  "metanoeo"  which means to literally "change ones mind".  It is as we journey through life we are given crossroads, places, times where we have opportunity to change our minds, change the direction we are headed.  The season of Lent is given us to grow in this grace, this gift.  Repentance is not meant to be confined to Lent alone.  It is a grace we are to be strong in throughout all our journey.
Repentance doesn't just mean "turning away from sin".  It means turning away from something, some activity to something better...turning to God, His plan for our lives.
Moses was not sinning by caring for his father-in-laws sheep.  He was doing a necessary and good work.   But God had something more important.  From leading sheep God was calling Moses to leads His people to the promised land.  Moses changed his direction, his mind, from caring for sheep to doing what God was leading him to do.. and to be.
Jesus in the dialogue with those challenging Him used those real problems to remind us all we are called to be a people of repentance.  We are called to turn away from whatever hinders us from following Him.  This may mean letting go of events in the past, or struggles with people in our lives.  In repentance God may not free us from those circumstances as we would want.  He may not free us from all memory or awareness of our own brokenness.  He will call us simply follow Him.  In the parable of the barren fig tree we are given an insight into repentance.  The gardener asked that he be able to break up the ground and fertilize the barren tree.  So it is with repentance.  It is as we allow God to break up the soil of our soil and to, with the problems, the failings, the sins of which we repent God will then use them, as it were, for compost by which to help us grow fruitful for Him.
This work of real  repentance will bring us to grow in God's Presence.

PRESENCE:  It is as we seek and allow the Holy Spirit, God's angels and saints, His Holy Word to leads us we are brought to turn away, to let go, of all the stuff and stumblings of our lives and to turn to grow in His Presence.
Moses grew from the burning bush experience to follow and grow in the Presence of God.  He did not do so perfectly.  He had other opportunities to repent, to turn at the crossroads of life.
Jesus calls us in the Gospel to let the Holy Spirit lead us to examine our souls, our lives and to seek to grow in what is better, the mercy and will of God.  The Psalm would remind us of the depth and scope of that mercy we are called to know.  We experience His mercy in the sacrament of reconciliation, in the acts of repentance we share with others in our life and with our God.  As Jesus did with those wanting to focus on the problems of others so He does with us.  He calls us not to focus on others but on Him and our relationship with Him
He calls us to His Presence to know and grow in Him and from which to share with others the way of the Cross to the Presence of He who conquered evil, sin and death, the greatest of all problems.



[Cyber-version of homily for the Second Sunday of Lent]

The King is Coming ~ 1st Sunday of Advent

Here is the cyber version of my homily for this 1st Sunday of Advent

As a deacon it is the responsibility of a servant to herald the King’s coming.  And it is the responsibility of all believers, all servants of the King of Kings to herald  Christ’s coming.  

This first Sunday of  Advent we see the familiar focus of our Liturgy sharing that message, Christ the King is Coming!  The first weeks of this season especially seek to help us focus on the return of Christ as our readings proclaim.  

But this message of the second coming of Jesus is fraught with challenges.  Intense and dramatic teachings abound on our Lord’s return, especially amongst  our Protestant brothers and sisters.  Scoffers delight at the promise of Christ’s return yet often while embracing various popular concepts such as the Mayan calendar conflicting messages.

All these teachings are often set against the intense realities of the actual events of the times in which we live.  Violence, disasters, moral turmoil all fit with the warnings shared by Christ Himself and His prophets.  All this brings us to wonder what is happening?  what is the follower of Christ to do?  Is Jesus returning soon?  How are we to live?  These questions bring us  to examine our Expectations, our Boxes our Paths.

Expectations ~ In our Bible readings this day we hear from Jeremiah the prophet, Paul the Apostle and Christ Himself all sharing expectations of the coming of  Christ, Son of David, Son of man.  The signs of the times, the prophetic beacons that God gives to help us prepare to stand before Him are diverse, many and mysterious.  Perhaps it is due to their mystery and diverse expressions that God’s people have often spent lifetimes seeking to sort them all out.  The early Christian’s of Paul’s times had absolute faith that Jesus would return in their lifetime.  Yet, in the fullest sense, they were mistaken.  The same dilemma  were experienced by many Jews when Jesus ministered in His earthly ministry.  The Messiah had come...yet He did not match THEIR expectations and was missed.  These millenia later we would do well to realize they failed to know Him at His coming because their expectations of God were confined in a box too small for God.

Boxes ~ The Jews of Jesus’s time, the early Christians, and Christians hence have all struggled to fit their expectations of Christ’s coming into the boxes of our understanding.  It may be  our futile efforts to grasp the times of God and squeeze He who is beyond time into our finite schedules of when, how, where..He comes. that distract and confuse us.  Or perhaps it may be our boxes of prayer by which we expect God to work.  Or maybe it is simply the boxes of day to day cares of work, finances, health or family that prevent us from knowing His grace in ways unexpected.  Perhaps it is simply the boxes of understanding that Christ will come again, yes, at the end of time or at the end of our individual time that makes us miss His coming in the stranger, neighbor,  or loved one in need.   It is as we allow Him, with hands nail-pierced, to free us from those distractions and burdens and to walk the path to fullness of His Presence.

Paths ~ Our Psalm today gives us prayerful insight into the solution to the limitations of our expectations and boxes.  It is as we seek the pathS of the King we will come to meet Him at His coming.  Our understanding is essential.  Our expectations are crucial as we seek the Kingdom of God to come.  But it is not solely an understanding of the mind  it is a relationship of the soul with God that then enables our minds to understand and see beyond what we may be seen.  It is vital to note that the Psalmist prays...”show me your pathS...All the pathS of the LORD are kindness and constancy.”  We must allow God to lead us, to lead others, by the paths  of His choosing.  And St. Paul broadens our vision of the paths of God when those early Christians were admonished to abound in love for each other and FOR ALL by which we grow in the holiness God calls us to share.  This brings us to one other point.  Christ, the King is coming. Yes He is coming in the fullness of His glory.  Yes, should He tarry, we will come  stand before Him at the end of our time.  But, if we listen and watch He will, as promised, come again in the poor, the neighbor, the co-worker that crosses our path.  

Wherever, whenever   God chooses, when the Son of Man comes, may we, His servants stand before Him alert and in love.

Compromise ~ With Promise

"Compromise".  It is interesting that for so many people it is a word and concept fraught with fear and negativity.  The ancient conflicts in the Mid-east, our own political strife, relationship discord, economic angst all are opportunities for compromise yet most people fear taking those steps toward finding a compromised solution.
Many people perceive it as a weakness to be avoided at all costs.  Many people are most secure in their perception that life issues are very precise and clear, black and white.  It has been said that with both God and nature there is no compromise.
I for one see both God and creation a bit differently.  Yes there is black, white, darkness and light.  But....there is also gray.  Our Lord who gives us the bright clarity of a sunny day, the inky darkness of a moonless night also gives us the  times and places of fog shrouded faith.  Indeed there are issues, times, places where  clarity is sharp and unarguable..to us.  Yet perhaps we need to remember that not everyone is where we are on all issues.  What may be pristine in clarity to us may be a cloud-shrouded path for others.
Perhaps the issue of compromise can be looked at in another way.  If we were to take the word, literally to the roots, we can share a fresh understanding.  Com=With & Promise = Promise.   On most issues can we look to find a common value, understanding on which to start a place of "sharing the promise"?

Even God, pristine in the total beauty of full holiness found the way of compromise.  In His holy, pure love God came to us, became man and walked the path of compromise, the path of fearless, conquering love.  We know it now as the Way of the Cross.  It leads to the place of compromise, the Cross.

I, for one, am eternally grateful God "shared the promise" of holiness and love to find me.

The Stained Glass Cross

The Stained Glass Cross 

Shards of glass, 

In rainbows shades, 

Shards of glass,

By God made. 

Holy hues of faith and hope. 

Vibrant hues of life and growth. 

Quiet darks of sorrows known. 

Crushed and broken by hammers strong. 

Shards there be, with cutting edge. 

Oft avoided with painful dread. 

Other pieces gently worn, 

In sands of time, by waters borne. 

By angels gathered, shards, aplenty.

Brought together in mercies many, 

Placed in His hands holy pierced. 

And so melded by Love’s Spirit, 

Then carried by the holy Dove, 

The shards were made a cross grow. 

 But others aghast,

 sought and fought, 

some shards to cast, 

out from the cross. 

 Their hue, their cast, 

 they held best, 

Did not fit the mold,

they felt blessed. 

So, nail-pierced hands, 

 in sadness wrought, 

From those other hands, 

 the tiny molds of fear

 and hate they brought. 

 That others differ in journeys made, 

And perhaps their differing loves portray

 Realms of my Kingdom to be framed. 

To cast them away you may try, 

Yet to my Sacred Heart they fly. 

 So the stained glass cross is being made. 

Windows aglow in holy shades. 

 Windows into His Kingdom's love portrayed.

 That together, His Holy love we seek,

 Free in Truth, to reach and speak, 

His love and light to shine and share, 

Within and to all who dare

 Peace and love's light to know.

 [Picture: East Apse Window St. James Cathedral, Seattle, WA}

FEAR LESS

FEAR LESS. That is a concept that is rarely heard in our world today. Economic woes, global conflicts, ceaseless health warnings, climate change and of course the ceaseless rabid fear mongering in some political circles can cause even the strongest of hearts to despair. The use of anti-anxiety and anti-depression medications is higher than any other sort of medications. The epidemic of alcohol and substance abuse also testifies to the struggle of humans to face their fears. A most prevalent and basic of fears, that of being alone or not belonging, is pandemic even with (or because of) the vast array of ways to cyber-relate. FEAR LESS. Is this even realistic? Aren't the multitude of worries we face real and to be....feared? Is it not at least naive or even irrational not to be afraid? FEAR LESS. Although the access to the tsunami of frightening information (much of which is false) is much worse in our information addicted world the reality of fears has always been a part of humanity. Facing wild beasts, plagues and murdering hoards was often a daily genuine reality in ancient times. The very real threats of nuclear war in the Cold War or of homelessness and hunger during the Great Depression again were deeply real fears for those generations. FEAR LESS. But another quality is just as accessible today as it was in times past. The capacity to FEAR LESS, i.e., to exercise COURAGE is a choice we all can make, daily. Will we listen too and share uncertain rumors and fears or will we seek to share...courage? Will we actually seek to learn about and face our fears or will we cower behind flimsy walls of ignorance? Dare we to discover that the monsters we fear may actually become friends that can help us grow when seen in the light of courage? FEAR LESS. Daily, what could happen if instead of seeking to instill fear we sought to build up courage, in our self, our family, our community and world? What would happen if we purposefully, daily invested in courage? "So we know and believe the love God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. In this is love perfected with us, that we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because as he is so are we in this world. THERE IS NO FEAR IN LOVE, BUT PERFECT LOVE CASTS OUT FEAR. For fear has to do with punishment, and he who fears is not perfected in love. We love, because he first loved us. If any one says, "I love God," and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen. And this commandment we have from him, that he who loves God should love his brother also." ~ I John 4:16-21 Remember we cannot exercise courage except when facing our fears. FEAR LESS.

Doing...Being...Trusting

18th Sunday of Ordinary Time ~ From the Gospel [John 6:28-29]: "What must we do, to be doing the works of God?" Jesus answered them, "This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent." People are consumed with their work. We identify our SELF by our work. "I am a teacher", I am a student. I am...unemployed". So much of our identity and our self perceptions, our self-worth is built upon the sometimes insecure sands of our work and accomplishments. We strive to follow a path that will fulfill our plans, hopes and expectations. In the Gospel reading this Sunday we observe those who were seeking Jesus presenting Him with a vital question: "What must we DO, to be doing the works of God?" Perhaps to better understand our Lord's response we might distill the question into six words: WHAT MUST WE DO...TO BE?" The question of our being is one that is central to our existence, to our identity. What must I be doing? What am I to...BE? At 60 plus years old I confess I still wonder and dream what I will be..when I grow up! The answer to our being isn't found in our work, ethnicity or culture. It isn't found in our genealogy or environment. All those facets and more help form who we are but they are just that, facets of the gem that is our soul. To know what we must "DO...TO BE" we need to heed the response of Jesus. "This is the work of God, to BELIEVE in Him and whom He has sent." Our present day obsession with self will find this difficult. Are we not to believe in self? Is not all the universe at my beck and call? Hardly. If the extent of our faith is our self it is a faith of infinite ...smallness. Christ makes the path very clear..TO BE we are called to BELIEVE in God, in Him. It is from the simplicity of this relationship that God then can lead us on the path of BEING the person He created. As God leads over the bridges of His making, through the mountains and valleys of His purpose we not only work the will of God we discover His work, daily in our lives. It is important to realize this is profoundly a relationship of FAITH, rooted in LOVE. We may not know the way or purpose. But we can trust that God does. And, we discover, as we follow faith we live out our being, our purpose, In God. "WHAT MUST WE DO...TO BE?" In believing in God we discover we are His. We discover we are created to be God's creation and children of faith lived courageously in Love with God alive in His eternal hope. God, may my words, my works, my being proclaim my trust and love in you. May my being be yours.

Am I a Tomb or Temple?

Easter Reflections 2012

As I have been making candles this week I have been pondering the message of Christ's cross and resurrection. The beauty of our Sunday liturgy and the Holy Triduum helps us focus on His passion, death and conquest of sin and death. I was especially meditating upon our Lord's words shortly before He left the upper room and went to Gethsemane.

"Love one another as I have loved you"...by this shall all men know you are my followers, by the love you have one for another...this is my commandment, that you love one another, that your joy may be full." [John13-15].

But as I observe how the church, how Christians are known today it seems we are most known for..our politics, or our focus upon issues instead of Christ. While we can blame the media for much of this there are sad reasons why we are known, not for God's love and His joy in our lives but for being judgmental and at times hateful. This brings me to ask, Am I a tomb or a temple?

We are called to bear the Risen Christ in our body, in our life. Our words, our actions should be proclaiming the hope and joy of our risen Lord. Yet so often Jesus can become buried in the tombs of our doubts, distractions and fears. We become so focused on our moral priorities and politics, upon issues, that we lose the light of His love, that indeed leads us ALL from sin to forgiveness. We lose sight of...Christ. We become so hung-up on politics and problems that the promise of God's mercy becomes buried in judgment and fear.

For myself, Lord, please forgive the times I have buried you in doubts and fears, when I have focused on issues, in my life and others and not allowed you to reign as the King of Holy Love. Please, Jesus, help me, not be a tomb, but a temple of your mercy.

Two Arms

Our world is increasingly torn with strife and hatred. Politics, culture wars, even in the church, the right and the left are seemingly intent on the others demise. Perhaps it may help to remember we are designed with two arms...

Two Arms
March 2012

Two arms there were,
that were sure,
their arm alone,
was strong and pure.

Arm the right,
knew the way.
And strove and carried
right to make.

Arm the left too was strong
and with skill and power
fought alone,
good and truth to grow and own.

Arm the left and arm the right
hated the other
with all their might.
They hit and held the other arm,
and did all they could to rid and harm.

For they knew,
the arm opposed,
must be fought
or at least controlled.

To tolerate the other,
with respect to hold,
To listen or to learn,
Left them truly cold.

Then one day the two arms,
realized in dismay,
that they were lost
and they grew afraid.

Afraid and in their ignorance,
the other they did blame,
for bringing them to a place
of cold and darkening shame,
For failure...
each would not claim.

While the cold,
the dark greater grew.
the two arms longed
a light, some warmth,
their dying hopes to brew.

Then in the darkness
each arm did find
an unlit candle and
some dry pine.

With arm the right some matches dwelt.
While arm the left some kindling felt.
But alone the arms did long and fight
a fire warm to quell the night.

Finally in weary fear,
for the dark and cold
they could not bear,
Arm the right and arm the left,
together with their different gifts
a fire bold did they make.

And in the shelter of the fire warm
the arms embraced and soon learned,
they were joined, they were one.
And although opposed
they shared the one
heart and hope
and strength to claim.

So arm the right and arm the left
discovered together
how to reach
and how to rest.
And what the other really did do best.

They helped to let loose
the hate the other held.
And with the other did they find
together the good they could meld.



I am reminded of a place where arms of conflict wrought hate and fear yet were conquered by the arms of love.

1st Week of Advent: Know ~ Hope

A prayer for this 1st week of Advent:

Heavenly Father as we seek Christ the King, your Son, our Savior, we ask you,
to help us to be ready
for His coming.
Forgive us our failings.
Our world is deeply wounded and struggling
and this is seen
in many wounded and struggling souls.
Holy Love,
help us to cherish all life,
to nurture our life choices
by sharing your compassion.
Help us comfort the wounded and anxious.
May our words bring hope,
our deeds, healing.
May we live and share faith,
in your mercy,
and, together,
Know Hope,
as we discover the beauty of Your Truth, Jesus.
Holy King, Holy Love, come!
Amen.

Being Thankful

It is the day before Thanksgiving. Here in Northern California, as I look out the window of my candle shop I see the heavy grey clouds thickening from the west as a storm approaches. As the rain comes I realize how much for which I have to be thankful. The work of Dolorosa slowly grows. Family, loved ones are well, even as some are now gone and missed. Our Lord, in His love, brings the rain to both nourish and cleanse.
Yet as I observe the news I sense little thanksgiving in our world. The economic pressures are being daily confronted by most. The political atmosphere in the country is seemingly as acrimonious and divisive as it was prior to the Civil War. Instead of thanks we see the obsession to blame. Hate and the bitter intolerance for anyone not in agreement is pandemic. Humanity is battered by storms of destructive visions and words. How our human-caused storms differ from those God brings into creation. Yet, if we but stop and allow God to lift us out of our selves there is always ...hope. There is always cause for being thankful.
So...
This holiday season what would happen if instead of...
passionate divisive intolerance we share,
a shared compassion for life in all creation and each other.
Instead of blaming and casting stones of destruction,
we take responsibility and build bridges of hope.
Instead of wallowing in the stye of entitlement attitudes,
we resurrect our noble gifts of service for God and others.
Instead of obsessing with Occupying and Getting
we seek simply healing and nourishing and giving.
Instead of stressing to judge and condemn,
we seek to love as He loved.
Instead of choking on the bitter gruel of resentments,
We feast on ...being Thankful.