Epiphany

Our readings for Epiphany Sunday are:

1. Isaiah 60: 1-6
2. Psalms 72: 1-2, 7-8, 10-11, 12-13
3. Ephesians 3: 2-3a, 5-6
4. Matthew 2: 1-12

1. It's better with all of us
• How would you define unity among God's people?
• Would that be limited to agreement on essential doctrines?
• Does unity just mean that we are all able to work together for God's Kingdom?
• How can we make that regathering of God's people happen in our midst today?
• Why does it matter?
2. Who are you calling rich?
• Do you feel fortunate?
• Do you think that your good fortune in any way obliges you to others?
• How do you see God tending the afflicted?
• Do you think ministries like Mother Theresa's and The Catholic Worker have made a permanent difference?
• Are those who are hungry, homeless, alone, ... the only "afflicted" in our midst?
• How can we make their lives better as opposed to just easier?
3. Revelation anyone?
• How is God revealing Himself/Herself today?
• Do you feel as though that revelation has been changing at all over the millennia?
• If you think that there have been changes, do you see those changes as merely matters of presentation or substance?
• To what extent is it possible/desirable to be inerrant in our interpretation of that revelation in the face of emerging knowledge and trends in such disciplines as psychology, anthropology, socialogy, ...? 
4. There's just something special here ...
• Imagine yourself one of the magi, seeing Jesus for the first time.  You look at his mother and father, and you immediately recognize them as peasants.  You've seen such all of your life.  You recognize the surroundings as the last option for a family, displaced from home, in the company of strangers, with no one to take them in, helpless, cold, no standing or apparent importance.  You've seen such over and over again.  And yet, you know this is the one, and you prostrate yourself.
• How did they know?
• What of their background prepared them for this moment?
• How can we be better prepared to see and recognize the Messiah, wherever and however He chooses to manifest Himself?

Preparation for Reconciliation:

1. In what ways am I shining for Jesus to those around me?
2. What am I willing to do to bring about true justice in the world?
3. How am I partaking of God's ongoing revelation?
4. How am I making Jesus more and more welcome in my life?

Somehow, This Isn't so Important Anymore

Each of us had carefully chosen our homage to bring.
For me, my people's myrrh was the signature of our tribe.
The essence of weeks of work from entire families back home.

I had wrapped the flask of myrrh carefully so that it would not spill,
Set the carafe in a nest of blankets in my saddle bags for transport,
And always made sure that I checked it each night and morning.

That flask had been on my mind for weeks, for miles beyond counting
As we slowly made our way to this strange outpost of the empire,
To present our homage to the newborn king.

And when I looked into his eyes, and he looked into mine,
I felt such acceptance, and gratitude,
And knew that he could see beyond the flask, the blankets, the caravan

And see into my depths, and see someone able to journey far
Leaving everything behind in order to find meaning
Without even a clear direction nor destination.

And he accepted far more than a mere gift of my home village,
But he accepted me.  And that has made all the difference.
I may have been a king before, but I left royalty.

Shalom!

Christmas Day

Our readings for the Nativity of our Lord (Mass during the day) are:

1. Isaiah 52: 7-10
2. Psalms 98: 1, 2-3, 3-4, 5-6
3. Hebrews 1: 1-6
4. John 1: 1-18

1. Peace can be hard to do
• Peace is a big part of this season, yet so much in our world offers us anything but peace during this time.  What brings peace to you?
• Is a godly peace just a temporary pause in the routine to catch our breath, or is there something transformative about it?
• What about Jesus makes Him the Prince of Peace?
2. Planting a victory garden
• As I understand it, victory gardens during WWII were hailed as every citizen's humble ability to support the war effort by growing crops for themselves on their own land and saving the food that they didn't have to buy for the war effort.  What sorts of things can we do, in our own capacity, to help the victory that Christ is working toward?
• We know how this is all going to end, so why does it matter what little contribution we can make?
• Where has Christ had some victories in your life lately?
3. We are all creative
• Do you feel that creation is pretty much a done deal, that God built all of this, wound it up, and then just turned it loose, or do you think that He's actively creating even as we speak?
• Do you think that any/each of us has an active role in that ongoing creation?
• Why do you think that matters?
4. You light up my life
• The phrase "bringing it to light" speaks of revealing something, good or bad, which previously was unknown.  Those who fear the light fear being open about who they really are, the deep struggles that they face, the demons that they wrestle with.
• How important is it to our various communities that we are transparent with each other?
• What can we do to earn each other's trust?
• If one of us falls, is confession the last word in the healing process, or is there more?

Preparation for Reconciliation:

1. Am I taking all of the things that put stress on me to God regularly?
2. Do I have the opportunity to praise and thank God for all that He has done for/in me?
3. What part of God's ongoing revelation am I playing?
4. How am I being a light to others?

The Hermit

"How did you find me here?" he asked.
I told the old man that I had heard rumors of a holy man in the woods.
Who had once been a village elder and had disappeared from view.
Who had lived a holy and generous life all his days, and was sorely missed.

He sighed deeply, looked off into the distance, and began in a low voice:
"At first it was fear.  I had become aware that so many of them depended on me,
Depended on me to show the way by my life, all I had to do was to be.
But then the questions started coming, questions that had every right to be asked.

I was afraid that I wouldn't have enough life in my answers to sustain the seekers,
So I told them to live with the questions, and come back to me.
And many of them did, many times with new questions, more urgent ones.
And I realized that they were getting closer to the heart of the matter in their lives.

And for the ones who seemed to have the capacity, I would invite them, again,
To live with the questions, and come back to me again.
And a few did, this time with foundation questions about existence, and meaning.
And I would simply invite them to sit with me, in the company of those questions.

And somehow, that simple acceptance of those questions, their legitimacy,
Gave some very courageous members of my village, strength to continue in their journey.
And they would return to me, telling me, and others, how our time together
Had meant so much to them, changed their lives, transformed them.

And gradually, more and more of the village came to venerate my presence
Felt that there was some sort of magic in my gaze,
When all I did was to invite them to be honest with themselves,
And not run away from the hard questions.

But no one believed me that it was that simple, and I became afraid.
Afraid that if I ever had a question that I wanted to run from,
That my one act of cowardice would rock the village, hurt those I loved,
And so I came out here where I could hurt no one.

But, you see, I'm dying now.
It's nothing that needs to be fixed really, it's just time.
But it's also time for me to give away one last gift.
To be grateful for the chance to share my life with my loved ones.

And to give away my death as well,
So that we can all grow together in this final chapter of my time here
And perhaps shed some light on the meaning of life along the way.
So if you don't mind, fetch my cane from the corner over there.  We'd best be going.

We have a long walk ahead of us.

Shalom!

4th Sunday of Advent

Our readings for the 4th Sunday of Advent are:

1. Micah 5: 1-4a
2. Psalms 80: 2-3, 15-16, 18-19
3. Hebrews 10: 5-10
4. Luke 1: 39-45

1. Peace on earth or the earth in pieces
• If you define peace to be freedom from worry, disquiet, a state of tranquility, it's hard to find anyone who's against that.  But peace to what end?
• If your outlook was peaceful, if you had the sort of faith in God that you could trust Him to accomplish all things in His own good time, what would such peace equip you to do?
• If you were so focused on God that you cared more about serving Him well than health or sickness, wealth or poverty, regard from others or disdain, what would you be doing differently?
• What's stopping you?
2. Grow where you're planted
• Do you feel as though you're right where you ought to be in life, or do you feel like a round peg in a square hole?
• Do you feel that your whole life has gradually led right to where you are right now, or do you feel as though you've jumped off the rails of destiny somewhere?
• As we prepare to welcome Jesus into the world, into our communities, our families, our hearts, where do you see that welcome taking you?
3. Where there's a will there's a way
• Do you feel that you've sacrificed a great deal in your life for God, do you feel that the blessings outweigh the sacrifices, or do you feel that following God is its own reward and it's faintly heretical to even ask the question?
• Do you feel that it's important that our will be in line with God's will before we do that will of God, or is it merely enough that we obey, regardless of the motive?
• What are some ways that you've found to "get on the same page" with God?
4. Leaping lizards Sandy!
• What do you think motivated Mary to go see her cousin Elizabeth?
• As their respective sons grew older, what do you think happened to the relationship between Mary & Elizabeth?
• Do you think that God can use friendships, family ties to get the work of the Kingdom done?
• What does that say about how we treat our relationships?

Preparation for Reconciliation:

1. How can I simplify my life and become more at peace?
2. What am I willing to endure to be where God formed me to be?
3. What have I done to know God's will?
4. When was the last time that I told anyone about a blessing in my life?

Thank you for putting skin on God

God bless all of you
God bless you for the hearty chuckle, the quick squeeze, the hugs, the tears,
God bless you for the courage to show your true self, to reveal what really matters to you,
God bless you for showing me the heart of God in ways that I can relate to.

Jesus discipled his friends, and doubtless today He would friend his disciples.
Jesus steals into our lives, our hearts on the wings of of flowers given,
Holding the hand of a dying loved one
Or wrapped up in a casserole delivered to someone grieving the lost of a spouse.

He shows me who He is by calling me to show others who He is.
Kind, generous, tender
His rays of love seek a way through the cracked and abused window of my life
If only I let him clean me, that I may more faithfully be who He created me to be.

In the meantime, squint a bit when you look at me
To see that there is some hint of Jesus looking at you
Out of my baby blue eyes.
And if you cannot see Him, tell me so, I can always use the help.

Shalom!

3rd Sunday of Advent

Our readings for the 3rd Sunday of Advent are:

1. Zephaniah 3: 14-18a
2. Isaiah 12: 2-3, 4, 5-6
3. Philippians 4: 4-7
4. Luke 3: 10-18

1. Rejoicing over me?
• Ignatius of Loyola had a profound sense of the gaze of God upon him, and began each time of prayer just making himself more in touch with and conscious of that gaze.
• When you see two young lovers gazing at each other, do you think that each brings about a change in the other with just that gaze?
• Why do you think that sometimes a look can convey more than words?
• If God were to try to convey His gaze at you in words, what would those words be?
• Do you think that those words change in response to what you do, how you behave, who you are becoming?
2. The messiah is among you
• You've probably heard this story, but I like it anyway.  Years ago a monastery was slowly coming apart.  Petty jealousies and meaningless squabbles were becoming more and more of an issue, and the abbot was near his wit's end trying to get the monks to rise above such pettiness.  Finally, he sought a wise old man rumored to be deep in the surrounding woods, found him and explained his plight.  The wise old man said, "you must go back to your monastery, and take one fellow monk into your confidence.  Tell them that the Messiah is among you, and tell them they they can tell no more than one person this great truth, and then it must never be brought up again in conversation.  That person that they tell may in their turn tell just one other person."  The abbot was credulous, but tried it.  Soon, all of the monks began to defer to one another, see each other's faults and foibles in a different, more charitable light, and they began to listen to each other more.  Soon they became known as a group with a strong charism for hospitality and love, and new novices were pledging to the monastery in record numbers.  But the abbot was worried that he had kindled all of this based on a lie.  So he went back to the old man and related all that had happened, and asked "what am I to do now?  I know the Messiah is not among us."  The old man said "how are you to know that?" and "does it really make a difference if He is not?"
• Is the God of our fathers among us?
• How is that God most evident?
• How can we be more aware of that Presence?
3. Perfect peace
• What does perfect peace mean?
• If someone told you that they were in perfect peace, regardless of the circumstances, what would you conclude?
• Does peace of mind even make sense in this day and age?
4. Next time I won't bother asking
• This is one of the few places where we are given specific direction about how to live.
• Do you think that God has specific direction like this for all of us?
• All in all, how does God direct your life?
• Do you wish He could be a little more direct?

Preparation for Reconciliation:

1. What do I really believe about God's love for me?
2. Am I willing to accept God's salvation in all of its abundance?
3. What am I anxious about today?
4. What am I willing to share with those in need?

Shalom!

2nd Sunday of Advent

Our readings for the 2nd Sunday of Advent are:

1. Baruch 5: 1-9
2. Psalms 126: 1-2, 2-3, 4-5, 6
3. Philippians 1: 4-6, 8-11
4. Luke 3: 1-6

1. Mercy me
• Do you feel a strong sense of God's mercy towards you?
• How important to you feel such a sense is in our relationship toward God?
• To cultivate that sense of God's mercy, should we pay more attention to God's action in our lives, or our actions towards God?
2. Story time
• My mother is fond of saying that before TV, families would sit together and recount family stories from the past.  I suspect that such tales helped the family establish an identity, and give everyone a sense of being rooted.
• What are the stories that you tell around the dinner table, or at family reunions?
• What are the stories of our faith, our community, our parish?
• Who should be telling those stories?
• Who should be hearing them?
3. Work in progress
• Have you ever felt "stalled" in your relationship with Jesus, as though you just could not get it out of first gear?
• What do you think those times mean?
• What did you do to get through those episodes?
• Are the something that you need to get through?
4. Is there a prophet in the house?
• Who do you see as the voices for justice in our world today?
• If injustice is going to happen regardless whether we speak up or not, isn't it just smarter to "lay low"?
• Whose business is it to speak up anyway?
• Can you have too many prophets?

Preparation for Reconciliation:

1. When was the last time I appreciated the mercy of God in my life?
2. When was the last time that I recounted a real blessing that God had given me to someone else?
3. Do I take stock of where I am on the journey?
4. Am I content to let others speak up for the oppressed around me?

Holy Waiting

Waiting for something to ripen properly is the hardest thing of all.
It takes great faith, and diligence.
But the danger is, that I'll not be able to pay proper attention
If I am in a frenzy all of the time,
And I'll miss the first, gentle appearance
Of the Christ in my life.

All because I couldn't wait for Him.

Shalom!

1st Sunday of Advent

Our readings for the 1st Sunday of Advent are:

1. Jeremiah 33: 14-16
2. Psalms 25: 4-5, 8-9, 10, 14
3. 1 Thessalonians 3: 12 - 4:2
4. Luke 21: 25-28, 34-36

1. Who doesn't want justice?
• How would you define justice?
• Why do you think that God is so concerned about everyone getting justice?
• If some of us are treated unjustly, is it possible for the rest of us to have true justice?
2. Highway to Heaven
• Sometimes, someone gets to know you, your patterns, your views so well, that they seem able to tell what you're thinking before a word comes out of your mouth.  Do you ever think that someone could get so close to God, know His ways so well, that they could anticipate how God is going to react in a given situation?
• So if that's not possible, are we left with seeking God's well out in all things, no matter how often we've been down that particular road with God?
• Doesn't that make us rather high maintenance?
• Most leaders appreciate some initiative in their subordinates.  Why not God?
3. Careful, someone may be watching
• Who are the examples of love in your life?
• Are they in any official capacity?
• How then does such a person exert an influence in other's lives?
• Where might you be exerting an influence in other's lives?
4. It's too late for broccoli
• How do you think that Jesus' children are going to "escape" the tribulations that are coming?
• What does "escape" really mean?
• Is that perhaps the ability to somehow find refuge before they start?
• Or maybe find some safe place to hide for the duration?
• What would you feel is a successful weathering of tribulations?
• Are we in those days now?  I have a friend who is convinced that the 2nd coming is just around the corner on account of the increasing political instability in the world.

Preparation for Reconciliation:

1. Am I willing to see marginalization wherever it might occur, or would I rather not know?
2. Do I trust God to reveal His desires for me in good time?
3. Is my life actively seeking to please God, or just avoid His anger?
4. What preparation am I making today for my own death, and the death of this age?

What if I'm Just Anxious by Nature?

Fear not, the very hairs on your head are numbered.
Well, that's not as comforting as you might think.
That number keeps getting smaller by the day.

I always felt as though Martha got the short end.
Tangible things, getting things done, items checked off,
That feels like accomplishment, that brings me joy.

All this talk of the old passing away, to be replaced with the new,
Just leaves me wondering if I'll need cardigan sweaters in heaven,
And worrying whether I'll remember to turn off the lights when I go.

I think Jesus gets good entertainment value out of me,
He watches me fret and worry over things that will be eclipsed,
And wants very much to comfort me, but knows even He has limits.

I only hope that I'm as understanding of those around me,
And give them space to cope in their own ways.
As we all make our way along on this pilgrimage of understanding.

I don't as much long for vast understanding of the cosmos.
Nor great theological revelations to dawn full throttle upon me.
I'd just like to understand who I am, how I'm best at being me,

Laugh all you want.
Jesus laughs with you.
Some day, if I live long enough, I'll join in too.

Shalom!

Christ the King

Our readings for Christ the King Sunday are:

1. Daniel 7: 13-14
2. Psalms 93: 1, 1-2, 5
3. Revelations 1: 5-8
4. John 18: 33b-37

1. Enduring is hard to do
• Kingdoms topple in the face of change.  That change can come from within or without, or both, but it will come.  Typically, that institution/nation/kingdom which cannot adapt to change is doomed.  Yet the kingdom of God is constant, eternal.  It's very constancy is its greatest strength.
• Why is that?
• What does that say about the institutions that we are a part of, that we support?
• What does that say about the amount of energy that we pour into those temporal institutions?
2. God's interior designer has it tough
• The throne room of rich and powerful kingdoms have symbols, mementos if you will, commemorating the greatness of the kingdom.  Perhaps the crowns of conquered kings, tribute from loyal vassals, palace guards resplendent in their polished armor.
• What do you think God's throne room looks like?
• If you were to design a church that would encourage the attendees to worship with full, conscious and active participation, how would you design it?
3. It's going to be too late for broccoli
• At the end of the world, Catholic doctrine tells us that we will all understand each other the way that God understands us.  Just maybe, when we really see why people acted the way that they did, what motivated them, what their dreams and passions were, we'll get a far clearer vision of who our creator is.  Maybe that's the ultimate revelation of God.
• Do you think that you'll be at all surprised when you see God's face?
• Is that bad?
• If it is, what can we do now, so that seeing God face to face is not so much a surprise?
4. The truth is out there, maybe way out there
• So, if those of us who belong to the truth are listening to God's voice, why are we hearing different things?
• Or are we?

Preparation for Reconciliation:

1. What of my life is going to endure into Eternity?
2. What am I doing to build my trust in God?
3. Given that I don't understand anyone the way that God does, how ought I to treat those around me?
4. What am I doing to bring about peace among God's children?

Bare Essentials

So much of the first half of life is spent gaining, acquiring, accumulating.
The second half, about shedding.

I don't think the shedding gets easier with time.
Each loss digs a bit deeper than before.

It's so unpredictable how it's going to occur for you.
Maybe your tennis game falters first, then your memory.

Or maybe your vision grows larger than your surroundings,
And you're no longer able to spend it all

On things that just don't matter anymore,
And suddenly, those around you, who thought they understood you,

Don't understand at all, and there you are, a living contradiction
Somehow transusbstantiated into someone new.

Beckoning, just by being there,
To follow the pilgrimage of humility into the uncharted waters of freedom.

And once you set foot to that path,
You gradually learn to embrace everyone, even the you that you left behind,

And you wake up one morning and realize,
With quiet intake of breath, that you cannot find your way back to who you were,

And with unbridled mirth you realize you don't care.
And you're able to embrace that too.

Shalom!

33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time

Our readings for the 33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time are:

1. Daniel 12: 1-3
2. Psalms 16, 5, 8, 9-10, 11
3. Hebrews 10: 11-14, 18
4. Mark 13: 24-32

1. It isn't easy being wise
• In our culture, wise men and women are often dismissed as cranks, someone who, for one reason or another, refuse to "fit in".  Sometimes the wise person is vindicated during their life time, more often, it's not until after they are gone that appreciation for their far-seeing begins to accumulate.
• What does that tell you about wisdom in general?
• Do you think that we are all called to be a Richard Rohr or a Matthew Kelly, Mother Theresa or Burnadette Farrel, or can we leave that sort of thing to those who seem to be called to dedicating their life to the pursuit of wisdom?
• Is there such a thing as too many wise men and women?
2. I somehow thought joy would be happier
• The joy of the Lord sounds like a simple enough thing, but I've heard it defined as a deep rejoicing in God, in spite of whatever trials we might be facing.  Come again?  You mean to tell me that if I had the joy of the Lord I could still be happy even if my fantasy football team is having a lousy season???
• Where do you think the joy of the Lord comes from?
• Is it pure gift, do we work at it, do we have to be open to it?
• How important is this joy?
• What does it mean that it's a fruit of the spirit?
3. Wash, rinse repeat, sin, confess repeat?
• For those of you too young to remember, shampoo bottles used to have directions that said "wash, rinse, repeat" on them.  Speculation was that someone who wasn't properly equipped mentally could end up spending a long time in the shower with an apparently infinite loop.  You know who you are, no need to confess.
• If Jesus' sacrifice was once for all, why is it that we keep sinning?
• Worse, if we're supposed to be victors in Christ, why is it that we often fall into the same sins over and over again?  For my part, I could use some more variety.
4. The more things change, the more they stay the same
• What will be different after Jesus comes again?
• What will still be the same?
• What does it really mean to be on a pilgrimage through life?
• How can we better remind ourselves and each other of what's really important?

Preparation for Reconciliation:

1. Am I willing to be misunderstood, or worse, dismissed for my values?
2. If God is all that I have to look forward to in eternity, is that enough for me?
3. How am I changing my habits to help me draw closer to God?
4. What am I doing to help me focus on the eternal?

My Days are Numbered, I Just Don't Know the Number

Sometimes, as a means of centering yourself, it helps to answer some questions:
If I knew that I was going to die tomorrow, what would I do today?
If I knew that I was going to die in a year, how would I live that year?
Such questions help sift the important from the not so important.

At my age, the occasional thought crosses my mind to ask about legacy.
What will I be leaving behind when I go, what continuity will there be?
Living on in the memory of loved ones is fine as far as it goes,
But something of more substance would certainly be nice as well.

But that question begs another, deeper question.
As a community, a people, a race, what is it that we want to leave behind?
If all of this is going to pass away, our monuments, our cities,
What of eternal value are we building today, that will be there in eternity?

For just as each of us is appointed to die
So too is this age that we are in, and all of the accessories that come with it.
I firmly believe that when we all gather in the heart of God,
All of us will completely understand ourselves and each other.

I think those memories are going to bring a lot of tears, a lot of consolation,
Discoveries like the fact that Uncle Jack used to whittle so much
Because it reminded him of time that he spent with a beloved grandfather
Will give us something to rejoice over and appreciate well into eternity.

From that vantage point, looking back on today, I'm going to venture
That kindness and mercy are probably the best way to live now
So that there are fewer regrets, self-recrimination later.
Because the memories of what we do today are going to be there a long long time.

Shalom!

32nd Week in Ordinary Time

Our readings for the 32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time are:

1. 1 Kings 17: 10-16
2. Psalms 146: 7,8-9, 9-10
3. Hebrews 9: 24-28
4. Mark 12: 38-44

1. Give that you may receive
• How has God supplied your needs during tough times?
• It's often difficult to tell our wants from our needs.  How have you made that distinction?
• Where do you think that our dreams/aspirations come from?
• How can God honor, even celebrate those dreams if we are giving ourselves away?
2. You new in town?
• Conflict has made refugees out of so many in our day and age.  People displaced are at a natural disadvantage because they have no support network.
• Displacement can happen from any sort of loss: a loved one, a job, the gradual loss of our health as we age, even something as natural as a good friend moving away can leave us feeling cut off.
• Do you know anyone who is displaced?
• How can we be better at being God's presence to them?
3. It's all in what it's not
• It's said that in eternity, all moments in time are equally accessible.  If that's true, then each celebration of Eucharist is an invitation into eternity as we enter into that eternal unbloody sacrifice, not to offer it over, as though the first time were not enough, but to bring ourselves back to that central reality of our faith.
• How might we become more Eucharistic in our daily lives?
• How might we better live a life that is, itself, a manifestation of God's continuing Presence?
4. Trust is so hard
• Jesus rejoiced in that widow's faith because she gave to God before she saw to her own needs.  Do you ever wonder how things turned out for her?
• How do we authentically celebrate the fact that everything that we have is of God, and belongs to Him before it ever comes into our hands, while we have these blessings, and after we give them away?
• What can we do to make that detachment from this earth easier?

Preparation for Reconciliation:

1. Am I willing to be bold in prayer about the desires that God has planted in my heart?
2. Am I sensitive to the displace around me?
3. How am I a tabernacle of Jesus here on earth?
4. How am I growing in trust to God?

Making sense of my cents

My husband Jacob was so good to me for so many years.

He worked so hard in his tailor shop to put bread on the table

Keep a roof over our heads, and yet so full of laughter.

The neighborhood children would come by the house,

And no one could tell whether it was for my cooking or his stories,

Either way, the house was always full of noise, and running feet.

We could never have children of our own, and yet,

Yet Jacob treasured me, treated me with loving kindness,

And opened his heart in other ways, along different paths.

I still miss you Jacob.  When you died, a big part of me died too.

But Yahweh has been my comfort, now as always.

Only now, there is so little else in my life, Yahweh stands out more than ever.

This temple was built by that oppressor Herod,

But I know that something of Solomon, Moses and Aaron are in these courts.

Even Herod cannot break the continuity of thousands of years of history.

God has been faithful to all of us, and especially to me all these years.

Soon I will be gathered to my ancestors, to you Jacob.

The only thing standing between me and starvation is here in my hand.

Two copper coins, enough for a loaf of barley bread, and then it's over.

It's not much to live on, but it's enough to give away.

To let God know that I trust Him with my life, all of it, past present, future.

I'll not blow a horn at my generosity, nor herald my gift.

My humble trust doesn't compare to these lavish offerings of the rich.

But it is all that I have to offer, all that's left of me in this old world.

Now I'm officially destitute, and yet I feel free.

Nothing separates me from God, everything I have, I'm wearing.

Lord, you have always befriended the widow and the orphan, tend me now.

Let me persevere until you call me home,

Let me keep my eyes ever on you.

And tell my dear Jacob that I'm coming soon.

Shalom!

All Saints Day

Our readings for the solemnity of All Saints Day are:

1. Revelation 7: 2-4, 9-14
2. Psalms 24: 1bc-2, 3-4ab, 5-6
3. 1 John 3: 1-3
4. Matthew 5: 1-12a

1. It won't be the end of the world ...
• Oftentimes, when something unwanted comes our way, we, or others try to set context and say "well, it's not like it's the end of the world..."
• Ultimately, what does it really mean to "survive" a stressful phase in our lives?  Is it just about "staying vertical", or is there more to it than that?
• What sort of comfort can there be in knowing how this is all going to end?
• When a loved one is going through a hard time, feels isolated because their hardship sets them apart from others, what consolation can we offer them that is genuine and helpful?
2. Open my eyes Lord
• We learn a great deal about another person, much of it subliminal, by watching their face as they face life.  If you were able to see God's face, what sort of emotions would play across that divine visage?
• Those who are lucky enough to have truly close friends, friends that they can be totally honest with, they have that other to ground them, to help them be true to themselves, and to help them be honest with themselves and others.  Do you feel that you have that relationship with anyone?
• Do you feel that you have that sort of relationship with God?
• How might you be better at revealing yourself to God?
• Is it worth the trouble, the risk?
3. Try to understand me
• It's not uncommon to feel a sense of isolation, even loss as one matures in faith and realizes how very different Jesus' values are from the world around us.  At that point, it often occurs to us to seek the company of others like us to relieve that isolation.
• How do we, as Christians, stay engaged with the world around us, minister to those in need, burn with compassion for those on the fringes of society, and yet not become distracted by all of the secondary things around us?
• How do we, as Christians, keep from developing a "fortress mentality" of we/they in which we erect barriers between us and those we are called to serve?
4. Some folks just can't be helped don't you know
• Fr. Greg Boyle has built Homeboy Industries for ministering to gang members in LA.  I was wearing one of their hats and a fellow parishioner saw that, asked me what it was about, and then remarked "Some of those people just can't be helped."
• Are all of us called to be peacemakers?
• In emergency medical conditions, the grim job of triage separates patients into those for whom no amount of the available care will help, those who urgently need care and can be helped, and those whose needs are less urgent and who will have to wait.  Is there a need for someone to conduct spiritual triage?
• How did you find your calling in this spiritual hospital?

Preparation for Reconciliation:

1. Am I willing to show the compassion of Jesus to others?
2. When God looks at me, what expression is He wearing?
3. Am I willing to be misunderstood for being a disciple of Christ?
4. Do I have the courage to show mercy today?

Connected in a whole new way

Traveling between Jerusalem and Jericho can be a treacherous journey.
The bandits know this stretch of the highway well, how the walls of the valley close in,
Giving you little room to flee should they ambush you here.

One defense is to get through that narrow neck of the road quickly,
So that you are not a target any longer than you need to be.
And that's when I saw him, there beside he road, bleeding.

I knew that I had to act quickly if I was going to be of any use at all.
Field training took over as I assessed his wounds and bound the worst quickly.
Others gradually got my attention as I staunched the most serious stabbings.

Mercifully, the poor man was unconscious.  I could only imagine the pain.
He seemed so light, so depleted when I hoisted him to the back of my mule
And we made our slow way into town to see what help I could get him.

The inn keeper took my money without comment.
I went on my way.
Upon returning, I was told that the man had recovered and went on his way.

I never heard his name, never had the chance to follow up with him.
But family and friends often tell me how foolish I was to help,
To put myself in danger for a stranger.

But for me, I'm changed.
I know that all of us are the same once you get past the surface.
All of us are loved and cherished.  Some of us are lucky enough to be the bearers of that love.

And I know that this new connection in my life
Is worth far more to me than the feeble community that I had before
And I am glad for the change in me, even when it feels a little lonely.

Shalom!

30th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Our readings for the 30th Sunday in Ordinary Time are:

1. Jeremiah 31: 7-9
2. Psalms 126: 1-2, 2-3, 4-5, 6
3. Hebrews 5: 1-6
4. Mark 10: 46-52

1. God, I wish that I could trust you
• Do you ever have trouble trusting God for good things?
• Is it that you're not sure whether God will deliver?
• Or is it that you're not sure that God's idea of "good" is going to match your own?
• What are the stories in your life that give you trust, or make it hard for you to trust God?
• Have you ever shared those with anyone?
2. God is good, all the time
• At Youth Day every year, some squad of youth will start a chant "God is good", and another bank of youth will sing out in reply "all the time!"
• The Jews had a strong sense of a connection to their ancestors in God's salvation history.  Who are your ancestors in salvation history?
• Do their stories inspire you today?
• Do you tell those stories aloud anymore?
• Why or why not?
3. Humility, so necessary, so difficult
• Why do you think that humility is so essential to service?
• Eric reminded us this morning that our first objective as ministers is hospitality.  How does humility make us more hospitable?
• When have you felt welcomed, treasured?
• What can we do to be more welcoming?
4. The big reveal
• We use this reading during the Scrutinies in Lent for the RCIA folks.  But there it's much longer, and covers the gradual conversion of Bartemaeus and the hardening of the hearts of the Pharisees who would not believe that Jesus had performed this healing on a Sabbath.
• Do you identify most with Bartemaeus, the crowd trying to shush him, Jesus Himself?
• Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem for the last time.  Why do you think He would stop to help a simple blind man when He know the importance of what He was about to do?
• Can others in need ever be a distraction for us?

Preparation for Reconciliation:

1. Have I talked to God about what I'll trust Him for and what I cannot?
2. Do I have the courage to hope for God's help?
3. What situations am I in that call for patience?
4. How sensitive to God's promptings about my plans am I?

That Cloak Has to be Here Somewhere

I wonder whatever happened to Bartimaeus' cloak.
I don't suppose that he went back to where he had been begging,
Looking around for it.  I can just see him at the Jericho lost and found:

"What does it look like sir?"
"I don't know.  I've never seen my cloak".
"I see, so you have no idea how we'll identify it."

Maybe someone picked it up as a keepsake.
Someone with vision, who realized how important this event was.
Someone planning to open a gift shop somewhere down the road.

Bartimaeus reminds me of Peter when Jesus walked on the water to them.
Both Bartimaeus and Peter were so impetuous,
They left the safety, the comfort, to be with Jesus.

I can identify with Peter, he lost focus on Jesus
And quickly got reminded of his circumstances.
Bartimaeus never lost sight of Jesus, never faltered.

Some would see Bartimaeus as a distraction for Jesus.
Jesus was on his way to His Passion.
He probably had His course all mapped out.

But He never lost track that He was here to heal to broken,
Bring peace to those estranged and far off.
Bartimeaus wasn't a distraction, he was Jesus' mission.

I pray for distractions like Jesus'
Focus like Bartemaeus'
Courage, even for a moment, like Peter's.

Shalom!

29th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Our readings for the 29th Sunday in Ordinary Time are:

1. Isaiah 53: 10-11
2. Psalms 33: 4-5, 18-19, 20, 22
3. Hebrews 4: 14-16
4. Mark 10: 35-45

1. Jesus, I'd like a raise
• If God were your employer, would you think Him generous, fair, capricious?
• If you were at prayer some day, and you got the distinct sense that God was calling you into something really new, something that was really going to test your generosity, would you think that fair of Him, after all that you've given already?
• What would be fair of God to ask of you?
• How likely is that?
2. Hoping for hope
• One theme in Ignatian spirituality is that God, contrary to popular belief, gave us our passions, our longings, and that they are often His way of directing us, and that it is a worthy prayer to ask God for the desire for His blessings, even the desire for the desire if need be.
• Would it be worthwhile to hope for hope, to achieve a place of trust in God?
• What difference would it be in your life if you had a deep trust in God?
• What would God have to do to earn such a trust?
• How is He doing?
3. A little sympathy would go a long way
• We hear that Jesus seeks to help us bear our burdens, that He is able to sympathize with us because of his stint here on earth, but do you think that Jesus sympathizes the way a good friend would, say over a long cup of coffee (or bottle of wine)?
• Have you ever tried to have one of those long intimate conversations with Jesus?
• What did He have to say in response?
4. The big reveal
• The disciples were in on a big secret.  This humble carpenter from Galilee was much more than he appeared, Israel was much more than just some Roman backwater, and they were eager for the rest of the world to know that.  James and John had dedicated their lives to this Messiah, and they thought that folks should appreciate the fact that they (and oh by the way, the rest of the disciples) had discerned the true nature of Jesus before anyone else had.
• Do you ever feel unappreciated, even invisible?
• Is it much comfort to think that you'll be rewarded in heaven?
• How important do you think humility is to the quality of our service?

Preparation for Reconciliation:

1. What am I holding back from God in my life?
2. Where do I look when I think of improving my life?
3. What sort of an example do I see in Jesus, great women and men of God, close friends who inspire me?
4. Do I feel that I have rights as a servant of God?

But, I get weekends off

Success is a hard thing to quantify anymore.
My dad used to dream of a brick house in the suburbs, a Buick, a wife, two kids, and a dog
(not necessarily in that order),
As a true mark of success.

Now, success is often measured in terms of a balance to life,
A well ordered relationship to every aspect of life,
So that no one thing takes complete control, or dominates the rest,
And there is a sort of creative tension between life's energies.

I once worked for a customer on a project for Boeing.
We were both very passionate about the success of this venture.
Each of us for different, but very complementary reasons.
At the end of one conversation he signed off with "you're doing God's work."

I remember being jolted by that statement,
As though anything at my day job could be described that way,
Particularly as I thought of the political jockeying that went on,
The way that we were trying to coopt competing groups.

But since then I've asked myself what it would be like,
To really be able to say "well dear, I had a great day."
"I did God's work."
"And now that I'm returned home, I'm primed to do more of God's work."

What might the benefits package be in that reality?
Would that work include time for recreation, enjoyment?
Would it have a retirement pension?
Would I get weekends off?

Shalom!

28th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Our readings for the 28th Sunday in Ordinary Time are:

1. Wisdom 7:7-11
2. Psalms 90: 12-13, 14-15, 16-17
3. Hebrews 4: 12-13
4. Mark 10: 17-30

1. Wisdom isn't very splashy
• One mark of a truly great athlete is that they make it look easy, seamless, flowing.  Is there anything in your life that works that way?
• How did you get to that point?
• Was it easy?
• How might that process of achieving that flowing execution be adapted to your prayer life?
2. My days are numbered, I just don't know what that number is!
• Have you ever been working towards a deadline and had no real idea of how you were going to get there at first?
• There's entire libraries of books on project management out there.  If you look at your eventual departure from this planet as the ultimate "deadline", what do you hope to have achieved by then?
• Is achievement what we are about as God's children?
• If not achievement, what then?
3. Good news
• Do you have friends who would be better off with Jesus in their lives?
• How do you think it might be possible to convey that message?
• What sort of a "community within the community" would you bring them to so that they could get that Presence of Jesus without being overwhelmed by sheer numbers?
• Do we need something like small faith communities for those of us who have been here awhile, and those just entering?
4. Freedom is never cheap
• No one wants to be shackled by things in our life, we all intrinsically want to be free to follow God's promptings.  But that can be hard at times.
• How do you keep from letting stuff, success, a job, home, possessions, associations, ... from dominating your life and choking your relationship with Jesus?
• Do you ever "take inventory" to see how that's going?

Preparation for Reconciliation:

1. When confronted by a decision in my life, is prayer the first thing that I think to do?
2. Am I willing to count on God to make something significant/meaningful of my life and not worry about what others think?
3. What am I doing in life to make sure that God's word is active within me?
4. Am I truly free to live life simply, or are there things that I cling to, no matter what?

Breaking down the altars

Back in the old days, worship was easy to identify.
You went to a shrine or temple to do it.
There were well identified times for it.
The practices were well known.

Now, it's so much more woven into things.
Worship of your job might be happening,
When you realize that you're not able to focus
On Little League because your reviewing a sales pitch in your mind.

Or you find that you're telling someone
About that new boat you bought
For the third time at the same party
And you wonder how you ever lived without it.

Maybe the esteem of your colleagues
Has a choke hold on you
Preventing you from speaking up
When justice demands.

Freedom costs dearly.
It's absolute.  One shackle, one chain,
And you're no longer free.
The master's calls drowned out in the din of things.

Living simply isn't simple.
It's not a decision made once and then never revisited,
For freedom is a living thing, and needs constant tending.
But that's the price for being who we were born to be.

Shalom!

27th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Our readings for the 27th Sunday in Ordinary Time are:

1. Genesis 2: 18-24
2. Psalms 128: 1-2, 3, 4-5, 6
3. Hebrews 2: 9-11
4. Mark 10: 2-16

1. Boning up on marriage
• One day, in the Garden of Eden, Eve looked at Adam and asked "dear, do you still love me?"  To which Adam replied "who else?"
• Do you think that God cares who we marry?
• If He/She cares, how is it that God guides us to that perfect someone?
• What do you think we're supposed to learn from this story of how Eve came to be, distinct from all of the other creatures, even Adam?
2. Justice for all
• In your life, do you feel that you've been able to enjoy the fruits of your labor?
• Do you think that you've enjoyed all of the fruits of your labor, or have you been only able to enjoy some of those fruits?
• Do you think that justice and fairness are one in the same?
• Why or why not?
3. Cosmos, the sequel
• Do you think that creation is over and done with, or is it still unfolding?
• What do you think God's role is in that continued unfolding?
• What do you think our role is?
• Does that make us co-creators with God? 
4. Getting institutionalized
• Do you think that marriage is a sacrament, an institution, or both and?
• What would that "and" be?
• Do you think that people who are not married benefit at all from marriage?
• What sort of responsibilities does that lay on those of us who are married?

Preparation for Reconciliation:

1. Am I grateful to God for all His gifts, even the ones that I've had for decades?
2. What am I doing to help others be fruitful in their lives?
3. Do I really trust that I am on God's mind all the time?
4. How am I supporting the health of the sacred relationships around me?

I Married Up

People ask me what I attribute 35 years of marriage to.
If I'm feeling flippant, I'll say: "marry early"
And, of course the corollary: "don't either of you die young."

In a more meditative mood, I might be heard to say:
"I married up and I know that."
Equally important is the fact that she hasn't figured that out yet.

Maybe it's because I've learned that she's always right,
And the only thing that differs from one time to the next,
Is how long it takes me to realize that she's right yet again.

Maybe it's just a matter of experience.
She knows that no matter how stressed I am by pressures on me,
I'll eventually find equilibrium, and my own humanity.

Maybe it's the sure knowledge that I'm my best around her,
And that she gives me courage to be my best
Even when it hurts.

Then again, maybe it's the grown realization
When we look deep into each other's eyes
We don't see the person that we married 35 years ago

But eternity emerging right before us.

Shalom!

26th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Our readings for the 26th Sunday in Ordinary Time are:

1. Numbers 11: 25-29
2. Psalms 19: 8, 10, 12-13, 14
3. James 5: 1-6
4. Mark 9: 38-43

1. Are you with us?
• Have you ever been on retreat, been to a particularly moving prayer service or some other "peak moment" and tried to share that with someone who had not been there?
• How can we include others who have not had the same experiences as we have?
• What place should shared lived events have in what makes us one?
2. Cleanse me
• Do you ever feel as though you'd like a full catalog of every sin, so that you could avoid all of them?
• No, or would you prefer that someone gave you a catalog of your every fault so that you knew what about needs to be worked on?
• Without those sorts of helps, how do you assess how your relationship with God is doing day by day?
3. What's important?
• One technique recommended by St. Ignatius for making a decision is to ask yourself how you would have wanted to make the pending decision when you look back on it from your deathbed.  The intent is to give you some objectivity, some distance from the immediate situation and review it from a broader context.
• The hard part is, once you step back into the day to day, you still have to face the immediate implications.
• So, how do you make decisions that will stand the test of time, and get you through today?
• Are you getting better at that process?
4. Being accountable
• Do you see yourself as a leader in any capacity?
• Can you think of anyone who looks to you as an example in one regard or another?
• What sort of responsibilities do you think that brings with it?
• What if you didn't ask for, and don't want those responsibilities of leadership?

Preparation for Reconciliation:

1. What am I doing to bring up the next generation of ministers to replace me?
2. Am I truly present to God in my prayer life?
3. Do I really know what's important in my life?
4. Can I find freedom in being a servant of others?

Mission Sunday

The missionary priest obviously loved the people whom he was serving back home.
His stories of them were earthy, intimate, warm and loving.

He didn't just want to share these stories with us, he wanted to share the people:
His friends, family, the fulfillment of his dreams, the reason that he is here.

And he wanted to share us with them as well.  Show that we cared, that we felt,
And that we could be generous even over thousands of miles of separation.

And I thought to myself how lucky we were to have someone like this
Out there showing the face of Christ to His flock.

And I wondered how he received his call, by what measured stages
He had made the trek to this tiny way station of humanity.

His influence is easy to pick out, the villagers who rely on him to speak truth to them
Easy to spot in a crowd, easy to reach out to and touch.

But for me, I wondered.
Who is looking at me for the face of Christ, who are they seeing?

Is the Christ that that I am showing kind and merciful,
Full of grace and generous with grace?

Or do they see a Christ of borders and boundaries,
A Christ of requirements and restrictions?

I hope to hear from them before Christ Himself lets me know.

Shalom!

25th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Our readings for the 25th Sunday in Ordinary Time are:

1. Wisdom 2: 12, 17-20
2. Psalms Psalms 54: 3-4, 5, 6-8
3. James 3: 15-4:3
4. Mark 9: 30-37

1. Taking care of things
• In Semitic cultures, shame is a prime motivator.  And it's not just fear of shame for one's own self, but the family, the entire village's name is at stake when one contemplates a shameful act, or a shameful outcome.
• I'm going to hazard a guess that perhaps the closest modern analog is success.  The more open minded of us are willing to define "success" in broader, more generous terms, but we still cling to a desire to succeed by some measure.
• My father grew up (during the depression) with the goal to own a brick house, be married, have two kids, a dog, and a Buick, not necessarily in that order.  What's your definition of success in life?
• What would you consider to be an abject failure in your life?
• If you no longer feared failure, how might you live differently?
• Would you be bolder, braver, holier?
2. God's name
• What are you happy about these days?
• How much of that would you credit to God's unfailing love for you?
• Do you think that God would appreciate some gratitude?
3. More than a passion fancy
• What are you passionate about?
• Do you think those strong feelings could be from God?
• To what extent are those passions evident in your life?
• If someone (like Matthew Kelly for instance) were to tell you that God delights in fulfilling your dreams because He gave you those dreams, what difference would that make? 
4. Receiving the marginalized
• John Flaherty used to try to comfort me by telling me that I'm a better liturgist and musician than he is an engineer.  I never had the heart to tell him that I'm an Information Technology guy, not really an engineer.  Sometimes differences like that just aren't the point.
• I think, in his own pithy way, John was trying to tell me to celebrate my own genius, my own talents, and not try to compare myself to others.
• And beyond that, move beyond the need for comparison with others to a place where one thing alone matters: drawing closer to God.
• Do you think that anything that really matters is not found in God?
• What do you think it takes before we really believe that in our hearts?
• How might we live differently if we really believed that?

Preparation for Reconciliation:

1. Am I willing to trust God to tell me what makes for success?
2. Do I recognize God's help and support every time that God gives that support?
3. Have I thanked God for my passions lately?
4. Do I desire true humility?

Finding Myself

The problem with dreams is two fold: they may be too small, or they may be inauthentic.

Too small a dream, too small a departure from the day to day, and you find yourself settling

For something that seemed like the ultimate, the very best that you could be, could manage.

The inauthentic dream, the dream that someone else has given you, will rot you from within

Because it takes too much courage to admit that you sold everything for an empty field

With no pearl of great price in it after all.  It's not the investment that hurts, its the embarrassment.

But the greatest fear is that pursuing your dreams, and falling short leave you with the question:

If I'm not a poet, a teacher, a prophet among my own, a ... then what, who am I?  What now?

And so we don't risk exposing our dreams to the light.  Better to brood on them, and risk nothing.

A coward dies a thousand deaths

A brave man dies but once

Freedom from fear is freedom indeed.

Leaving fear of freedom itself

As the last great frontier between who I am today

And who I was born to be.

Shalom!

24th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Our readings for the 24th Sunday in Ordinary Time are:

1. Isaiah 50: 4c-9a
2. Psalms 116: 1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 8-9
3. James 2: 14-18
4. Mark 8: 27-35

1. Disgrace is only skin deep
• In Semitic cultures, a man's beard is a deeply personal metaphor for his vitality, his strength, his very manhood.  To pluck it is not only painful, but a direct attack on his essence.
• What are some things in your life that you hold very personally?
• Your job,
• Your home,
• Your family?
• To what extent would you be able to trust those to God?
2. God is here, whether we see Him or not
• What are some sources of pain in your life:
• Insecurity
• People who don't/won't understand and appreciate you
• Stresses from more demands on you than you can easily meet?
• Why do you think that we experience such things?
• Are they all from God?
• How can we feel, really feel, God's presence in spite of such trials?
3. Mercy inoculations
• If we have a "Faith and Justice" committee at the parish, a group to feed the homeless, is that enough?  What more can God want of me?
• If I gave to the mission last year, what more can God want of me?
• If I took my Confirmation class to feed the homeless downtown, what more can God want of me?
4. Looking for success in all the wrong places
• Every mother wants to be proud of her son.  Do you think that Mary was proud of Jesus during His passion?
• I can see her at the hair-dressers getting ready for Ascension Thursday.  One of the other patrons says "So Mary, I hear that your son got killed by the Romans.  Such a pity.  It's happening all over.  My cousin Rachel's boy was a zealot and they made quick work of him, let me tell you, oy vey."
• Can you see Mary saying "my son, my boy, was scourged, half dragged, half prodded through town like some sorry freak show up to the place of execution where so many of our sons have died before him.  He was hung from a tree between two common criminals.  That hill, that hill was so lonely.  All of his disciples, all of them had disappeared, but John, me, and some of the women of his company.  His once beautiful face distorted by ripples of agony screaming through his body as he hung there, that face looked at me, and I knew that he was there for me, for us, for all of us, and I knew deep agony, and a deeper peace all at once.  And yes, I am proud, proud of my beautiful boy, the joy of my heart.  I mourn for Rachel's son, for all men and women chained unjustly, their dignity stripped from their flayed shoulders, their humanity drowned in pain and shame, and I pray that you will do the same.
• Mary probably had a tough time getting an appointment after that.
• So what is success, what does it look like?  Our world has all sorts of indicators, trappings of success.  What does a Christ-like success look like?

Preparation for Reconciliation:

1. Am I willing to trust God to tell me what makes for success?
2. Do I see myself as one of God's little ones, needing His protection, His support?
3. Is my community more just today than it was a year ago because of me?
4. How humble am I willing to be?

Shalom!

23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time

Our readings for the 23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time are:

1. Isaiah 35: 4-7a
2. Psalms 146: 6-7, 8-9, 9-10
3. James 2: 1-5
4. Mark Mark 7: 31-37

1. God arriving yet already here
• What do you need saving from in your life today?
• What sort of answers to your prayers has God given you?
• Has your prayer brought you any greater peace?
• Has your attitude regarding your circumstances changed?
• Has your heart quickened with new possibilities about how to respond?
• What sort of answers are you looking for?
• Is God cooperating?
2. Keeping faith
• What sort of a track record has God gotten in your life?
• Would you say that He's pretty dependable?  If so, what can you depend on Him for?
• How has that changed your attitude toward God over the years?
3. Having a heart for the down and out
• We instinctively feel drawn to the successful, healthy, self assured, but somehow Jesus always find Himself in the midst of the needy.
• Do you think it's because Jesus had more resources to give to others than we do?
• Or is it maybe that Jesus was intrinsically generous by nature?
• How can we become more generous?
• What are some of the dangers of that sort of generosity?
4. Bringing folks to Jesus
• When was the last time that you invited anyone to a Church gathering with you?
• Is it maybe because there isn't much there that would speak directly to felt needs of that person?
• Or maybe you're not sure of what sort of reception they would receive?
• Or maybe it's just hard to see yourself sharing that part of your life with them?
• What would have to change before you were more likely to bring others to Jesus?

Preparation for Reconciliation:

1. What am I doing to encourage the weak of heart in my circle of friends?
2. Is there anyone in my life that I could/should be comforting?
3. Am I willing to embrace those parts of myself that are not stunningly successful, rich in the ways of this world, or just unhealthy?
4. Am I willing to reach out to the voiceless?

I'm Sorry, We're Just Not That Group

I think that God scandalizes us for the entertainment value.

Years ago, when I was a youth,
We had a weekly prayer meeting.

Part of the program was testimony.
A chance for folks to share.

Once, two young men came
With smiles as big as all of outdoors

They prayed and sang with the best of them
And when testimony time came

Well, they both lit up
And told the greatness of God.

Drugs had a grip on them
Both of them feared for their lives.

But God had rescued them
Brought them back, healed their relationships

And now they were spreading the word
And looking for anyone who needed encouragement.

We all looked at each other
Wondering what to make of these folks.

Our typical concerns were of a different nature:
Which college am I going to go to,

Should I take that position in another state,
Or stay here where the potential seems less?

Life and death struggles seemed so distant to us,
Hitting bottom was only something we heard about.

Or maybe we had more in common
Than any of us really knew.

All I know is that we thanked them kindly,
And hoped that we would not be so disturbed again.

As to how that impacted our little group?
I think after that we screened new people better.

Shalom!

22nd week in Ordinary Time

Our readings for the 22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time are:

1. Deuteronomy 4: 1-2, 6-8
2. Psalms 15: 2-3, 3-4, 4-5
3. James 1: 17-18, 21b-22, 27
4. Mark 7: 1-8, 14-15, 21-23

1. What makes greatness?
• For those of you who don't know me, I'm late (emphasize that late) baby boomer generation.  My cultural heritage from my parents is that the U.S. is a great nation because it's the land of opportunity.  Moses was calling the Israelites to greatness of another sort.  How would you describe that greatness?
• Is a community able to achieve greatness if all of its members are merely "so so"?
• What would it take to make our parish community truly great, really unleash all of our potential, achieve true freedom and use that freedom well?
2. Fruits of justice
• How would you define corruption?
• Do you see any corruption around you?
• If we don't speak up about such things, most often because we're pretty sure that merely speaking up will get us nowhere, is that justice?
• Should we leave that "watch dog" role to the professionals, say the media or other groups who hold others accountable as part of their job description?
3. Being accountable
• No one likes a hypocrite.  In fact, it seems pretty evident that Jesus wasn't too fond of such folks either.  How do we avoid being hypocritical?
• Is there anyone in your life that you can think of who would have the courage to tell you that your actions don't match your words?
• Do you have the courage to do that for yourself?
• If you did have that sort of conversation with yourself, when in your day, week, month might there be time for that?
4. Immanent vs. transcendent
• How do you tell whether some belief or practice is truly of God, or just something that we, as a community have "fallen into"?
• Whose job is it to police that sort of thing anyway?
• Do you think that reform movements should occur in periodic spurts, or do you think that reformation needs to be an ongoing practice within a community?
• How would we foster that sort of mindset?

Preparation for Reconciliation:

1. Would my definition of success in life match up with Jesus'?
2. When I encounter someone who's "down and out", is my first impulse to find a way to help them, or ask where are the people who should be helping them?
3. When was the last time that I took inventory of my actions versus my values?
4. Do my actions spring from fear of missing something or an emerging freedom in Christ?

You can never be too careful

God, in His great mercy, has given us many things.
The patriarchs who inspire, our land to feed and clothe us,
Our great history to show us just who He is.
But most gracious of all, He has loved us through the Law.

Without the Law, we would be forever wondering what to do,
How to go about our lives, how to make sense of things.
To dishonor the Law, and hence God himself
By being inattentive in our obedience is a sacrilege against life itself.

But who can keep all of these instructions in front of them
Day in, day out, always remembering, always following.
So, rabbis through the years have built a fence around the Law,
To protect us from venturing too close to disobedience.

You start with something simple: Honor the Sabbath.
That means no work should occur on that holy day.
"What is work?" you ask.  Plowing a field is work,
But you have to be careful to not accidentally plow.

So, in deference to the greatness of God, and the Sabbath,
We are careful on the Sabbath not to push a stick before us,
Lest we leave behind a furrow that could be planted,
And thus we work on a holy day, and miss our rest.

You may say to me, but if there was no intention of work
Is it still a sin?  And I ask you, who can tell a man's heart?
Are we often not so devious that we delude even ourselves?
So, you tell me your intentions were pure.  Maybe yes, maybe no.

Better to not take chances with intangibles like intentions,
And stick instead to what we can see, hear, taste, touch and smell
And make sure that none of those actions strays toward disobedience
Lest we skirt ever closer to outright lawlessness.

This Jesus of yours claims to give you freedom
Tell me then, freedom from what, and freedom to what?
How has your freedom given you comfort when death draws near?
How has your freedom given you the resolve to do heroic things?

Tell me the answer to those questions
And I will tell you how we are different from one another.

Shalom!

21st Sunday in Ordinary Time

Our readings for the 21st Sunday in Ordinary Time are:

1. Joshua 24: 1-2a, 15-17, 18b
2. Psalms 34: 2-3, 16-17, 18-19, 20-21
3. Ephesians 5: 21-32
4. John 6: 60-69

1. Quo vadis?
• Why is it that you're following God?  Is it because you just don't know where else to go, or maybe you don't want to disappoint some saintly relative, force of habit, ...?
• Has that motivation for following God changed through the years?
• If you really think about it, are you following a person, or a set of guidelines, dogmas, prescriptions?
• Does it matter?
2. Taste and see (again)
• What is so good about God?  Is He sort of like the Wizard of Oz, characterized by the wonderful things he does, or is there something deeper?
• When was the last time that you started a conversation with "God has been so wonderful to me ..." or even "I'm so thankful to God for ...".
• Does that say more about the sort of people that you spend your time talking to, or your attitude towards God?
3. A new model of authority
• We are all pretty familiar with the notion of being in and under authority.  That model permeates just about every aspect of our lives.  Normally it's a hierarchy, or at worst (and believe me, matrix management can get rough) a network of sorts.  But what does it mean to be subordinate to each other?
• What if the other person is just completely wrong in their opinion of how things ought to be done?
• How does that square with the manifestly hierarchical nature of the leadership that we see in the Church today?
4. Jesus, you're killing me
• I'm willing to bet that Jesus had to pull on all of his Toastmaster's training to deliver this "bread of life" discourse that we've been reading the past few weeks in John.  No one knows whether it was really all one long speech, or whether John pulled it together from various teachings of Jesus, but regardless, Jesus had to have had butterflies in his stomach as He delivered these messages.
• Why do you think that Jesus had to tell the crowds this?  He could have just had a private chat with his disciples and let them try to help everyone else with the concept after He was gone.  Probably a good thing God never asked me to be the savior of the world, now that I think on it.
• Jesus comes across as harsh and demanding in this chapter.  My experience has always been that God is very gentle in His leading, always drawing me to that next step just outside my comfort zone.  How about you?
• What does that say to you about God and the way He leads us?

Preparation for Reconciliation:

1. When was the last time that I made a decision one way or the other because I'm a follower of Jesus?
2. When I think about my life in God, is there joy there?
3. Do I trust God to really work through the others in my life?
4. What am I looking for in my relationship to God?

Street Corner Preacher

You don't see them too often anymore,
But I remember as a child growing up,
The occasional street corner preacher,
Cradling their Bible in one hand,
While they tried to rouse passers by.

The message was pretty much the same.
Death, judgement, Hell to you all,
Unless you pay attention to God's love.
Repent now, while there's still time,
Trust in God to take care of you.

True words all, but spoken in a way
That misshapes the message,
Paints an angry, judgmental picture,
Of a God who ultimately wants
Wants a loving relationship with us.

Of course, trying to get people's attention
While preaching that message is a tough sell.
"Turn aside from the grasping, acquiring
That consumes you.  Let me tell you
About what really satisfies!"

Or maybe, our mythical preacher would say:
"I know you think that you know
Know the meaning of life.  But there's more.
Infinitely more.  Become indifferent to all this,
Then you can come and find what you've missed."

"All of this, all of it, was designed
To point beyond this world, this life, this universe
Show us the glory of the star maker,
Bedazzle us with the painter of butterflys.
But we've been led astray, come home."

Maybe I'll try that message from the local street corner.
And see how many stop to ask for a pamphlet.
But then, where would they go?
Where is the community to foster these seekers?
Where indeed.

Shalom!

20th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Our readings for the 20th Sunday in ordinary time are:

1. Proverbs 9: 1-6
2. Psalms 34: 2-3, 4-5, 6-7
3. Ephesians 5: 15-20
4. John 6: 51-58

1. Calling the simple
• Do you feel that wisdom is really something that God wants for each one of us?
• Do you feel that you're smart enough to be wise?
• How important is true wisdom in your life?
• If the local Junior College offered Wisdom 101, would you take it?
2. Taste and see
• How much of what we share as Catholics can really be expressed in words?
• How do you go about sharing the rest with someone that you care about?
• Do you think that we're going to get all the best of Catholic tradition (small "t" by the way) in one place, or do you think that we have to go afield a bit to experience the fullness of our faith?
• If you could take a close friend to just one event, one Liturgy, one talk, one concert ..., to try to convince them of the reality of Jesus Christ, what/where would that be?
• What does that say about our parish?
3. Living wisely
• How can we diminish our ignorance and increase in wisdom?
• Is that something best done alone, or in a small faith community, a parish, a Church?
• What would have to happen before such an opportunity was attractive to you?
4. Having true life
• Jesus' words regarding true life coming solely from Him implies that we're born into this world without that life.
• The tangible life that we are born into, breathing, thinking, feeling serves as a way to attain a deeper life, an eternal one.  What do you think the relationship is between that tangible, visible life, and the invisible one?  How does one sustain/support the other?
• What makes for a good death?

Preparation for Reconciliation:

1. What am I doing on a regular basis to grow in wisdom?
2. What is my community doing to be more welcoming, more appealing, even alluring to those in need?
3. What am I doing to find God's will for me?
4. Is the life of Jesus in me more radiant today than it was yesterday, a year ago, five years ago?

Seeker

Weather beaten like an old piece of siding on an abandoned building in Mojave,

Yet supple like a worn piece of leather,

The would be disciple walked slowly towards the humble house of the master.

Knowing that soon, he would finally meet the one who would show him wisdom,

He knew that he would never be the same,

And wanted to savor the last few moments of the only life he had ever known.

Gently he knocked at the old woman's door.

There was a pregnant pause, and when it was done she said "enter if you've the courage."

The seeker thought about that a moment, and decided that ignorance might masquerade as courage

In its blindness, ignorance knows not what it faces,

And so is able to plunge ahead, heedless of the dangers.

Knowing what he didn't know, the seeker realized all he could lose was his ignorance, and turned the handle.

Natural light drew pictures on the walls,

The master was sipping tea at her table and motioned him to sit before a second cup.

"Come, tell me what you have learned thus far." she said.

The seeker gratefully took a sip, felt the roundness of the cup between his cupped hands,

Noticed how the circle of the brim celebrated completeness completely,

And thought that moments like this one are almost painful in their ripeness, if only we notice it.

He turned to her and said, I have learned that I cannot see beyond the edge of my ignorance,

That my touch in the lives of others can only heal when I am at my most vulnerable.

That all of this, glorious as it is, is not infinite, not eternal, not God.

She could tell that her tea was cooling, so she took another sip to celebrate its warmth as it faded.

She turned so that she could take in his face, and the slowly changing patterns of sunlight.

And with a gaze focused on eternity she said: 

Then you have come a long way to arrive here.  One thing more you need.

God reveals divinity in everything that is given us.

The rock shouts of it in its ineffable rockness.  The kingfisher celebrates life in being a kingfisher.

All of these share the Presence of God precisely in being precisely who and what they were created to be.

Each has a message to share, a song to sing of God.

Learn to find God in all things, find all things in God, then you will learn how best to be who you were created to be.

Then you can join the rocks, the trees, the stars, the kingfisher and take your proper place in creation.

Shalom!

19th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Our readings for the 19th Sunday in Ordinary Time are:

1. 1 Kings 19: 4-8
2. Psalms 34: 2-3, 4-5, 6-7, 8-9
3. Ephesians 4:30-5:2
4. John 6: 41-51

1. If this is how you treat your friends ...
• It would be nice if, when bad things befall us, we could point to some stand that we took, some tough decision that we made that put us on a course that led to a tough outcome.
• In that circumstance, we could blame God for getting us into this position.
• We would be bummed by the circumstances (like Elijah getting threatened by the Jezebel and the priests of Baal), but at least feel virtuous.
• But I think sometimes, we follow God, don't do anything manifestly heroic, and still end up getting layed off, having a loved one die, taking a hit in the stock market.
• Does that sort of suffering have to mean anything?
• How can we share that suffering with others, without inflicting it on them?
2. Trust in God
• Have you ever had a time in life when you had to trust in God to get you through?
• How did that work out for you?  Did everything turn out well?
• Sometimes, we only see God's hand when looking back at something from a distance of time.  How long does that take?  Do we see God's providence all at once?
• Is there any guarantee that we'll always see God's hand in our lives ever?
3. Putting away my God-given right to be upset with you ...
• In a perfect world, everyone would be as reasonable as I am and see things my way.  What do we do in the meantime?
• Somehow, when I tell someone else that I forgive them for being wrong about something, the conversation never ends well.  Why is that?
• Disagreements within the Body of Christ are bound to come up, sometimes they can last a long time.  How do we deal with that in a healthy way?
4. Buddy, can you spare some Jesus?
• This is is the climax of the "bread of life" discourse in John.  Jesus started by feeding the 5000, and has steadily (relentlessly?) shifted their focus from the food that He just gave them to the bread of life.  So, what was the purpose of feeding them in the first place?
• If we believe that everything that we receive is from God, what then is the meaning of our contribution, our work (some would say toil) towards providing for ourselves and our loved ones?
• Is everything that we receive from God like the loaves and fishes, that is, is it the purpose of that provision to turn our hearts towards God, or is His provision for us more practical?
• When we feed the homeless, do they need to be preached to, or do our actions nourish them better than our words might?

Preparation for Reconciliation:

1. Have I "backed off" a difficult position or stance because I was afraid of what others would think or do?
2. When was the last time I spoke of my gratitude to God for something in my life?
3. Is my prayer life healthy enough that I can tell when I've grieved the Holy Spirit?
4. When I've been confused or doubtful, have I talked that out with anyone, or just murmured?

Waste of a Good Lunch

Jesus is so unpredictable.
One minute he's encouraging us (particularly the poor)
Then we get fed out of nowhere,
Then suddenly, bam, He starts in with this bread of life spiel.

Frankly, now that I think on it,
If I had stayed home I could have gotten wheat bread
Not as course,
Nothing sticking between my teeth.

And, I would not have had,
To try and figure out what all this talk
Is about Jesus being the bread of life.
There's a lesson here -

There's no free lunch.

Shalom!

18th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Our readings for 19th Sunday of Ordinary Time are:

1. Exodus 16: 2-4, 12-15
2. Psalms 78: 3-4, 23-24, 25, 54
3. Ephesians 4: 17, 20-24
4. John 6: 24-35

1. What is it?
• In the Exodus passage 16: 5-11 we read that the Israelites were not to store up any manna from one day to the next, that the manna was literally to be "their daily bread".  Do you think that God gave that to them daily because no one had invented 401K plans yet?
• These days, we have so many ways to hedge ourselves financially with various sorts of insurance.  Some would argue that insurance is intrinsically just gambling dressed up.  What do you think?
• Is there any limit to the trust that we are to put in God?
• How is that trust expressed?
2. Why is it?
• Did God send the Israelites manna in the desert because He was afraid for his servant Moses?
• Maybe it was to teach the Israelites to trust (too bad that everyone who ate the manna in the desert died out there)?
• He didn't want them distracted from the lessons that He wanted to teach them by their want.
• God's just naturally generous.
• What do you think?
3. Renewal
• A renewal is a re founding, a returning to something lost.  Often, that return is not to the same state that had been left behind, but a case of finding new expression for something old and forgotten.  What would you like to renew about your faith personally?
• Do you feel that your family could use some renewal?
• How about our parish?
• Where do we start?
4. The work of God
• One definition of work is "generative activity that builds, constructs, creates new things by combining existing ingredients in new ways for a stated purpose."  What are you working on these days?
• I'm sure I've used this story before, but here goes: "A visitor to Rome once noticed a building under construction.  Being new to the city, he walked up to one of the workers and asked them what they were doing.  The worker proudly said that he was chiseling fine granite blocks that would fit together perfectly to form the walls.  Informed, but unsatisfied, the visitor saw another worker, with drawings spread out in front of him.  This person was directing workers and was obviously in a position of authority.  The visitor put the same question to him.  The worker said that he was a foreman, directing the construction of an building that would stand for centuries, and be a silent witness to the genius of the architect, and the hard work of the builders.  More informed, and more frustrated, the visitor was just about to leave when he saw an old woman sweeping up the scraps of stone left over from the chiseling, and clearing away the dust from the construction.  He asked her what she was doing, and she slowly straightened up from her labors, got a far off look in her haggard face, and said 'I am building a cathedral.'"  Which of them knew best what they were working on?
• Some occupations are easy to see the hand of God in - certainly priests and religious, social workers, teachers, what about your profession?
• How did you get into the work that you're doing today?
• Is that a good enough reason to stay?

Preparation for Reconciliation:

1. What am I grumbling about today?
2. How has God provided for me in the past?
3. How do I keep my desires into their proper place, prevent them from becoming disordered?
4. Am I willing to receive abundance from God on God's terms, or mine?

This is no Picnic for me Either

Lord, me again.
Pretty much everything is done for the day.
The flocks have been brought in, camp is pitched, everyone is in their tent.
I thought it would be good for you and me to have a talk.

When I said that I wanted to help your children,
I don't remember getting any say in how that was going to pan out.
If you had bothered to ask, I might have told you that I'm a really good accountant.
There in Pharaoh's court they taught me how to keep track of resources, coming and going.

Instead, you asked me to get out of my comfort zone,
Get out in front of the mighty Pharaoh
And then, lead this cranky group of whiners through the desert,
To what?  My GPS is shot out here, I have no idea where we're going.

Just once,
I'd like to walk into a situation and feel as though I'm bringing something to the table.
Some part of my past, my makeup that will actually be of use.
Instead, you keep putting me into situations where I feel lost and adrift.

If this is some sort of punishment, I have to say you're being really thorough.
How will I know when you're done?
On the other hand, if you're trying to form me into someone else,
Would you mind telling me what that new Moses will look like, so I recognize him?

Thanks for the breeze just now, that is refreshing.
The stars look so close I feel as though I could touch them.
And, every once in awhile, I see families helping each other
As we make our way through this wasteland.

Help me to be more grateful,
Give me greater trust,
Help me to see everything that you give us, large and small,
And help me find fulfillment in this crazy job that you've given me.

Goodnight God.  Tomorrow's going to be a busy day, I can feel it.

Shalom!