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Posted by on Nov 16, 2025

When Scripture Gets Used as a Cudgel

When Scripture Gets Used as a Cudgel

The end of our Liturgical year grows close and we hear prophecies and warnings about how we are to live and how to prepare for the return of the Lord on the last day. Sometimes we read them and are reassured that our trials and sufferings will pass and the Lord will make everything right in the end. Sometimes, however, we read these scripture passages and apply them to social and political challenges we are facing in these particular times. When this happens, it’s all too easy for Scripture to get used as a cudgel, to judge and punish people  whose lives may be more challenging than our own and whose resources are more limited.

The second letter of St. Paul to the Thessalonians provides an example of this. People in the community were anxious for the second coming of Jesus. No one knew when that would be, but the expectation was that it would be soon – before the death of some who were currently living. Living as Christians in the city was not easy. There was a good deal of opposition and misunderstanding among the larger non-Christian community regarding what Christians believed and how they lived.

Making everything more challenging, visitors from other areas had come to the city as well, bringing predictions of the quickly approaching end of the world. If everything was going to end soon, then the most important thing was not to keep on earning a living and making sure everyone in the community had what they needed to live. The important thing in their view was to preach and try to bring more people to Christianity. Those whose ways might not be exactly what the new preachers envisioned were criticized by these newcomers. Some of the new visitors/preachers expected the community to provide food and drink to support them. They didn’t see any reason to get jobs themselves – they were focused on the coming of the end in a very short time!

St. Paul spoke out against this. “You know how one must imitate us. For we did not act in a disorderly way among you, nor did we eat food received free from anyone.” In fact, Paul worked as a tent maker wherever he went. It was his trade and he worked at it quietly to support himself while he spread the Good News and welcomed new Christians into a community of faith. Each person was expected to contribute to the community in some way. Not all would be able to work and bring in money. But all could contribute something and all shared what they had.

His words are all too often quoted out of context: “we instructed you that if anyone was unwilling to work, neither should that one eat.” These words are sometimes used today as justification for cutting food aid to families and children whose income is low, even when all adults are working. They are used to exclude people who are unable to work or unable to find work from receiving health care through the Medicaid program. They are used to justify exclusion from other social services as well. And most distressing of all, these acts are being presented as a justified action based on Christian teaching!

This is not what St. Paul was saying. It is not Christian teaching. St. Paul called on the community, especially those who had been refusing to share in the financial support of the community, to work quietly along with the others and earn the food they were eating. All are called to share the Good News and all contribute in their own way. (2 Th 3:7-12)

The really critical thing in all of this is the ancient scriptural imperative to care for those who need extra help in the community. The Lord sides with the poor, the outcast, immigrants, children, the sick, the elderly. If these folks can’t always support themselves, that’s OK. The community is responsible to help them. They do what they can. For some, such as children or the elderly, that something may be to study or to help care for the children while other adults are working. There are many ways to contribute to the common life of the community.

Jesus spoke of the end times as well. Visiting the great Temple in Jerusalem, filled with riches and offerings, he gave this prophecy: “All that you see here – the days will come when there will not be left a stone upon another stone that will not be thrown down.” This prophecy came to pass in 70 CE when the Romans destroyed the temple and forced the exile of most of the people of the land.

Both before and after the destruction of the temple, believers would be persecuted. Families would turn over their own members to the authorities. Some would be killed. Others would be tossed out of their religious communities.

It was not going to be a pretty thing for those who followed Jesus. Life would be tough.  “But not a hair on your head will be destroyed. By your perseverance you will secure your lives.” (Lk 21:5-19)

Life is more than just the physical experience of our day-to-day activities. It’s ever so much more. It’s life in the Kingdom of God, which starts here and now.

As the prophet Malachi noted in the final book of the Hebrew Scriptures, “The day is coming, blazing like an oven, when all the proud and all evildoers will be stubble, and the day that is coming will set them on fire…” A frightening thing indeed! Yet there is hope for those who follow and love the Lord. “There will arise the sun of justice with its healing rays.” (Mal 3:19-20a)

Moving through our lives in these difficult and uncertain times, we are called once again to work quietly for the Kingdom of God, caring for the vulnerable and gently speaking words of hope. No using Scripture as a cudgel. No excluding people whose income is low, or whose health is poor, or whose minds are not stable, or whose parents have not found high-paying work, or who had to leave their homes in search of safety and opportunity for themselves and their children!

The end of time is coming. The end of the world, not likely right away. Most of us will leave here quietly long before the world meets its end.

This week, may we remember to speak gently, to work humbly, to respect and love the Lord, that the sun of justice will rise on us each day and at the end of our days.

Readings for the Thirty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time – Cycle C

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Posted by on Nov 9, 2025

Temples – Literal and Symbolic – Signs of God’s Presence

Temples – Literal and Symbolic – Signs of God’s Presence

The temple, as a place of worship, has ancient roots. Temples are found in many ancient civilizations, serving as the place where the divine and human meet and interact. The divine being is believed to live in the temple and the people bring their hopes, dreams, and sacrifices to offer there, hoping always for the favor of the god. Yet, more than just physical buildings, temples – literal and symbolic – serve as signs of the presence of the divine among the people.

During the time of the Babylonian captivity, when the temple in Jerusalem had been destroyed and most of the people taken into exile, the prophet Ezekiel spoke of a vision he had received. An angel led him to the new temple. There he saw water flowing from under the threshold of the door which faced to the east. It flowed down the side of the mountain towards the south, into the dry lands along the Jordan River, including the Dead Sea and the lands continuing from there to the Red Sea. This area was known as the Arabah or Aravah, a word meaning dry lands.

The water flowing from the temple was fresh, pure water in which fish could thrive, orchards could grow, and all kinds of creatures could live. As the water from the temple entered the salty water of the dry lands, it also made those waters fresh again. (Ez 47:1-2, 8-9, 12)

The prophecy was fulfilled when the people of Israel returned to their home in Judea. The temple was rebuilt and remained on the holy mountain in Jerusalem until it was destroyed by the Romans in 70 C.E.  Jesus, his family, and his followers all worshiped at the temple in Jerusalem and offered sacrifices there.

On one occasion early in Jesus’ public life, he visited the temple in Jerusalem for Passover. Many animals were offered for sale there by merchants who purchased them to re-sell them to the faithful for sacrificial offerings. This wasn’t a time in which transactions all happened with pieces of paper or digital code. Coins and physical objects were exchanged. Animals were purchased and given to the priests for sacrifice to the Most High. Special coins had to be used for these transactions, so money-changers also had booths in the market areas of the outer parts of the temple. It was a noisy, smelly market-like area – not at all like what we associate with a place of worship.

Jesus was outraged by the way the temple had been transformed from a place of worship into what looked very much like any other marketplace, with sellers taking advantage of buyers whenever possible. He made of whip with cords and used it to chase them all out of the temple. “Take these out of here, and stop making my Father’s house a marketplace.”

Needless to say, those in charge confronted him. “What sign can you show us for doing this?” He replied, “Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up.” The authorities expressed a very valid skepticism at that: “This temple has been under construction for forty-six years, and you will raise it up in three days?”

The words used to express the idea of temple in Greek took different forms. One referred to the entire building. The other referred to the inner sanctuary, the place where the Most High was present. The word Jesus used to describe the temple of his life and body in St. John’s account of this event was the word for the inner sanctuary. The dwelling of the Most High within him could not be destroyed – it would be raised up again.

When Jesus rose from the dead on the third day, his followers remembered his words and believed the words of the Hebrew Scriptures, the prophecies that foretold his coming. (Jn 2:13-22)

Jesus’ human life became the new temple and from it, life-giving blessings would flow like the river from the temple foreseen by Ezekiel. His followers shared this good news with all they met.

St. Paul reminded the people of Corinth, “You are God’s building.” Paul laid the foundation of the Good News of Jesus, others continued the process, building on that foundation. A new community, a new temple in which the Spirit of God would dwell, arose on that foundation. He explained and promised, “you are the temple of God, … the Spirit of God dwells in you … the temple of God, which you are, is holy.” (1 Cor 3:9c-11, 16-17)

We are the descendants of those early followers of Jesus, called to be temples of God, the One who lives within us. The water that flows out from us to water the land takes the form of care for the poor, the vulnerable, immigrants, children, those who are sick or dying. The Beatitudes express beautifully the waters of loving care we are to send flowing into our own worlds.

Nevertheless, we are not simply symbolic or theoretical beings. We are humans, living in a very real world of very tangible buildings, roads, rivers, mountains, and so forth. We gather together in special places to share our faith and pray together. We’re all in this together, as children of God and the sisters and brothers of Jesus. We share the same Holy Spirit and we together eat the Bread of Life and drink the Cup of Salvation when we gather for Eucharist.

As early as the time of Emperor Constantine, when Christianity became legal in the Roman Empire, one church in Rome has been especially dedicated. Since 324, the Lateran Basilica has been the Cathedral of Rome. A basilica was a large, rectangular building, in which many different functions took place. It was a public area in the city near the forum and temple. The name Lateran comes from the name of the family on whose land it was built. The formal name of the church is Archbasilica of the Most Holy Savior and Saints John the Baptist and John the Evangelist at the Lateran.

The Lateran Basilica is the Pope’s cathedral in Rome. It is outside the walls of Vatican City. The Pope is the Bishop of Rome, as well as head of the Roman Catholic Church.

The Basilica was dedicated on November 9, 324. It has been repaired and rebuilt multiple times since then and is still in use. A temple – literal and symbolic – a sign of God’s presence among us.

As we celebrate the dedication of the Lateran Basilica today, we also celebrate that love, the waters of divine blessing, that flows from the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit through each of us out into our world today.

Readings for the Feast of the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica

 

 

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Posted by on Nov 1, 2025

A Great Multitude Which No One Could Count

A Great Multitude Which No One Could Count

The Feast of All Saints is upon us – a celebration of a love so vast it cannot be contained and overflows into all of creation, including humans of every nation, race, people and tongue. We celebrate the lives of all those who have opened their hearts to receive this overflowing love. In the Book of Revelation, St. John describes his vision of the gathering of all the Lord’s people. Those gathered form “a great multitude, which no on could count.” One hundred forty-four thousand of them – an expression of abundance based on the foundation of the twelve tribes of Israel.

Are we to take this vision literally, or is there something else going on here? If literal interpretation is selected, it’s not really a very hopeful passage! With a few billion humans alive today and countless others who have come before, one hundred forty-four thousand represents less than a drop in a bucket! So, no, this is not a message to be taken literally.

We live in a world filled with contradictions and uncertainty. Most people are doing their best to make the choice to be ethical, to do the right thing, to leave the world a better place than they found it. Most live and work in communities of family and friends, not expecting ever to make any significant contribution to human history. In fact, most have no interest whatsoever in becoming a famous ‘mover and shaker” in the world. Way too much work and not enough real fun along the way! Fame, maybe. But real, deep enjoyment of life in all its complexity? Not as easy to come by.

Those gathering around the throne of the Lamb are typically not the famous or those recognized as wise or powerful. They are described as a great multitude and are people who have plunged into the life of the Lord – “washed themselves in the blood of the Lamb.”

The Lamb of God – the one whose life is given as gift and sacrifice to bring all into that overflowing love from which all spring. And the blood? The life-giving, life-sustaining blood or life-force.

All who enter into this flowing love and allow it to flow through them as well become part of the great multitude gathered in the throne room.

The imagery is not one we often understand deeply in our worlds today. There are still monarchies and absolute rulers whose whims are law, but for those in Western or Western-influenced societies, with a voice in selection of who governs, this imagery is a bit strange. Lambs? Blood? Even the peoples whose faith experience began this way no longer relate to the image.

And yet, here it is again! A multitude gathering from all nations, races, tongues, and peoples to celebrate with the Lord of all. (Rev 7:2-4, 9-14)

How do we gather? St. John tells us we gather as the children of God – sons and daughters, brothers and sisters of Christ. Life here and now is not easy. We are still unrecognized by the world around us, but the day will come when this is revealed. The quiet lives of ordinary people who are channels of love to those around them, sharing what they themselves received from those of many generations before the, are all signs of the Lord’s kingdom. They are the multitude who come joyfully into the throne room of the Lamb. (1 Jn 3:1-3)

Is there a way to recognize them here and now? Well, yes, as a matter of fact, there is. St. Matthew passes on Jesus’ non-secret recipe:

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven”

“Blessed are they who mourn, for they shall be comforted,”

“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God”

Jesus gives us all a list of the kinds of people who will make up this great multitude. Peacemakers, meek folks, those clean of heart, those who hunger and thirst for righteousness (justice). These kinds of activities are not going to be welcomed in their societies. Yet these are the acts of love, the channels of that overflowing love from which all springs. The kingdom of heaven is theirs! (Matt 5:1-12a)

May our lives too be channels of love and lead to the Lord’s kingdom!

Readings for the Solemnity of All Saints – Cycle C

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Posted by on Oct 18, 2025

Keep Trying – Advice for life and prayer

Keep Trying – Advice for life and prayer

“If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again.”  We hear this saying so often as we grow up that we often stop paying attention to it. A roll of the eyes, a shake of the head, a shrug of shoulders – so many ways to tell the one who has spoken these words to us that we don’t really want to try any more. But “keep trying” is generally not bad advice. So many things we need to do or want to do require persistence. Babies have to keep trying to learn to sit up, to crawl, to stand, to walk. We have to practice to learn to speak. Just about everything about being a human being requires some sort of practice. Only a smile or a happy laugh seem to come naturally. They are among the most welcome things any of us ever give or receive.

Trying in an Ancient Conflict

In the years between the Exodus of the Israelites from Egypt and their entry into Palestine, there were forty years of traveling around the Sinai Peninsula and lands east of the Jordan River. There were already people living there and sometimes conflicts arose.

At one point, Amalek led an army against the Israelites. Moses recognized that Joshua was a natural leader in defense of the people against other warring groups, so he had Joshua choose the men who would join in battle against Amalek. Moses went to a hilltop nearby to pray for God’s help and support in the battle. He raised his arms over his head in prayer.

While Moses’ arms were raised, the battle went well for Israel. But he couldn’t keep his arms up in the air unsupported for very long. Whenever he lowered them to rest, the battle shifted and Amalek’s forces gained ground.

Fortunately, two other men were there with Moses. They found a rock on which he could sit and then each stood beside him, helping him hold his arms up in prayer. They did this for  hours, all day long, until at last the battle was won by Joshua and the Israelites. (Ex 17:8-13)

Moses had to keep trying, and his friends helped make that possible. It was a community activity.

A Widow Keeps Trying

Sometimes we wonder if our prayers are heard. In hard times, we may wonder if God cares or if we should keep trying. Jesus gave us a story to help us understand.

Widows in Jesus’ day were among the most vulnerable people. They had no real rights. Women’s identities were based on the men in their family. First their father, then their husband, and eventually, their sons. Once a woman was married, her father was no longer responsible for her. If her husband died and she had no adult sons, she was on her own. But there were no real jobs or careers for women, so poverty and insecurity were their lot.

So, here was Jesus’ story. A widow had a claim for justice and went to the local court to claim her rights. The judge at the court was not an honest man. He ruled against her and in favor of her opponent. She brought the case again, and again he ruled against her. This happened repeatedly. Finally, the judge had had enough. He decided the only way he was going to get this settled was to rule in her favor, lest she eventually find a way to hurt him.

Jesus pointed out that because she kept trying, she eventually prevailed in the case, even against an unjust judge. How much more likely, therefore, was it that God would hear the prayers of his people. God, the just one, would come to help those who call on him. (Lk 18:1-8)

Does this mean that whatever we ask for will be granted? Well … if it’s something that is good for us or for the community, then yes. If not, then something else may be God’s gift of a response to the prayer.

The important thing is to keep praying, to continue to trust that the Father cares and is looking out for us. Keep trying. Keep hoping. Keep loving.

A Worthy Goal

Jesus’ teachings about the importance of prayer and persistence were rooted in Hebrew tradition and Scripture. We Christians sometimes think of Scripture primarily in terms of the writings of the followers of Jesus. But for Jesus and his followers, Scripture was the tradition of the Hebrew people – the stories of how everything came to be as it is now, as well as the history of their nation. The Law, the teachings of the prophets, the wisdom learned through the ages – all were/are part of Scripture.

St. Paul reminded Timothy of the wisdom learned from the Scriptures. This wisdom is the basis for teaching, guiding, even reproving (scolding) those whose actions are not in line with the Father’s hopes and dreams for us.

Paul notes, “Remain faithful to what you have learned and believed, because you know from whom you learned it.”  Point 1 – The validity of sources of teaching and information from humans matters!

He adds, “… from infancy you have known the sacred Scriptures, which are capable of giving you wisdom for salvation…” Point 2 – Scripture becomes a source of wisdom for us from infancy.

Scripture, inspired by God over the centuries, provides the background truths that we now bring to our own ministry of teaching and witnessing to the Good News through our good works and care of others. (2 Tim 3:14-4:2)

What then are we to do with what we have heard and learned from our teachers (such as Paul) and Scripture? We are to “be persistent whether it is convenient or inconvenient” in sharing it with those we meet and with whom we interact.

Keep Trying – Convenient or Inconvenient

Today we too are called to be persistent in our prayer, in our actions, in sharing and living out what we have come to believe. God who is love calls each of us to love and care for all the rest of the people with whom we live. This isn’t just caring for our immediate family, our extended family, or those who share our ethnic, cultural, or national identity.

When our leaders fail to care for or target the vulnerable, we are called to speak out.

When access to housing, education, nutrition, healthcare, safety is restricted to only certain groups of people in our communities, we are called to speak out.

When those with lower incomes are treated with less care or consideration in public places or in businesses or schools, we are called to speak out.

When those whose names sound strange or foreign to us and so we treat them with scorn or dismiss them as illegals, therefore criminals and not worthy of common courtesy or legal human rights, we are called to speak out.

The Psalmist cries out to us in the voice of the poor and the oppressed, “I lift up my eyes toward the mountains; whence shall help come to me? My help is from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.” (Ps 121:1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 7-8)

This week, may we be ones who speak and act on behalf of the poor and the oppressed. May we be among those who count on the help of the Lord and share the gifts we have been given for the good of all.

Keep trying – in life, in faith, and with confidence that the Lord hears the cry of the poor and comes to their aid.

Readings for the Twenty-Ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time

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Posted by on Sep 28, 2025

Whom Do I Choose to See?

Whom Do I Choose to See?

Man sleeping on the streetWhen we leave our homes and go out into the wider world, we encounter a lot of other people, unless we live as hermits alone on a mountain somewhere. People are all over the place – in some locations more densely than others. In response to this density, we often learn to be selective regarding whom we choose to see. Whom do I choose to see?

The ability to feel comfortable and safe varies from person to person and situation to situation. Our sensitivity to the emotional “vibes” of others around us can also vary, but most of us have at least some ability to sense when another person is happy, sad, tense, etc. We call that quality empathy and value it as a positive feature.

Those living in cities have more frequent contact with other people than those living out in the countryside or in small towns. Nevertheless, our ability to befriend and enter into deep relationships with those around us is not unlimited, so we develop smaller circles of friends and family. Those outside these select circles remain basically unseen and unheard. We go about our lives, blithely unaware of the struggles and joys of those whose opportunities and struggles differ from our own. This is true both of those with more wealth and those with less.

Lest we think this reality is something new and unique to the times in which we live, we have the witness of ancient prophets to enlighten us.

The prophet Amos, in the years before Assyria conquered the northern kingdom of Israel, warned those with wealth and power in no uncertain terms that their focus on their own comfort and enjoyment of the good things of life was not acceptable to the Lord. It was totally contrary to the Lord’s demands through the centuries that the needs of the poor and vulnerable members of their communities must be seen and addressed. Their lack of willingness to see the needs of others or even to choose to see those others was fundamentally unacceptable. “Woe to the complacent in Zion! … they shall be the first to go into exile…”

As Amos warned, the enemies to the north eventually invaded and destroyed the homes and comfort of those who had looked only to their own wealth and pleasure. More than just the loss of wealth and privilege, these people were taken into exile far from home and forced into labor for the conquerors. They lost everything. What a hard way to learn about the importance of seeing the hardship of the lives of the poor and doing something to help! The words of Amos warning of the Lord’s displeasure with them must have rung woefully in their ears as they were taken away in chains. (Amos 6:1a, 4-7)

The Lord Sees

Jesus too warned of the dangers of an exclusive focus on the enjoyment of one’s own wealth in life. The wealthy man in his story didn’t notice the presence of a poor, ragged, beggar outside his door. The beggar, named Lazarus in the story, was just part of the scenery. How he got there, where he had come from, who he was, what he might have become in other situations – none of these questions entered the mind of the rich man. He didn’t even see Lazarus. Lazarus was as much a part of the scene as the building across the street, the trees down the road, or a shepherd out in the field nearby. He was not noticed. His plight did not matter. If he did notice, the rich man would have assumed it was the fault of Lazarus or his parents that he was now a beggar on the streets.

But the Lord did see Lazarus. He also saw the rich man. And the Lord noticed. The Lord chose to see. The Lord can’t help but see.

When the rich man died, according to the story, he was surprised to see Lazarus being comforted by Abraham, father of the rich man’s own people. Lazarus was experiencing love, acceptance, consolation, all good things. And the rich man was in torment. He wished for something as simple as a drop of water to quench his thirst, but none was forthcoming. So, he asked Abraham for help. “Send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water to cool my tongue…” He saw Lazarus, but only still as someone who could do something for him personally.

For better or worse, it was impossible for Lazarus to help the rich man. Not that Lazarus would have refused to do so. Quite likely, Lazarus would have given comfort and a drop or more of water to the rich man. As a general rule, folks who have little give much more help to each other than they receive from those with much. But the boundaries that had been set by the rich man in his life were now the reality in which he had to remain.

The rich man still had one hope – maybe Lazarus could help his wealthy brothers to avoid the same suffering after their deaths by returning to warn them of the consequences of not seeing the suffering of others among the living. But Abraham sadly noted that the prophets had spoken of this very issue for centuries, only to be ignored by those with wealth and power. They would not change, they would not be persuaded “even if someone should rise from the dead.” (Lk 16:19-31)

Whom do I choose to see? How am I as a follower of Jesus to walk among the people in the world around me?

Timothy – Pursuing Righteousness

St. Paul reminded his friend and disciple Timothy what it means to follow Jesus. Paul addressed Timothy as a “man of God,” a term used in Hebrew scriptures to refer to Moses and the other prophets. Timothy (and the rest of us) are to “pursue righteousness, devotion, faith, love, patience, and gentleness.” These are all qualities that are a necessary part of life in the Lord’s kingdom. They are to be the signs and trademarks of our relationship with those we meet in our daily lives. They are prophetic signs for our world. (1 Tim 6:11-16)

Whom do I choose to see? The original question remains.

Do I open my eyes to see the person sitting on the sidewalk asking for a handout? Do I smile at the person stocking the shelves at the grocery store? Do I notice and respect the privacy of the child who is very shy and hides behind a parent? Do I smile at the parent, expressing with my smile my understanding and acceptance of them and their child?

The Vision of Peace and Justice

We live in a world filled with strife. Wealth and power, as so often happens, is increasingly concentrated in the hands of a few individuals and families. They are used by people seduced by power to force their will on others. They are a weapon that allows prosecution and persecution of those who oppose them. When wealth and power get concentrated, the needs of those who have limited access to either get trampled. Wars begin as one nation tries to subjugate another. Those seeking more wealth and power take advantage of the conflicts to line their pockets. And basic human rights and needs are trampled as being of little or no importance!

Again the words of Amos ring out. “Woe to the complacent…”

The Lord’s demand that the needs of all people be addressed has not gone away. Saving money on a regional or national level by taking away access to food, education, shelter, healthcare, pathways to asylum and legal status, and the basic freedoms of speech, assembly, religion, voting, and so forth does not turn a people into a nation blessed by the Lord. No ethnic, racial, or national group has an exclusive call on the Lord’s favor. No level of financial success is needed before the Lord cares. Only those who are open to all and provide hope and the help needed for all people to live with dignity and safety meet the call of the Lord.

Whom do I choose to see? It’s a personal challenge. Each of us will meet the Lord, “live and in person,” when the end of our days comes.  Whom will we find already there, embraced by Abraham, embraced by the Lord when that moment comes? Will we be among those who, unburdened by the weight of wealth to which we have clung, can race joyfully into those loving arms? Will we find welcome from those among the vulnerable poor whom we have chosen to see and reach out to help? Who will be there to welcome us?

May this week bring peace, joy, and an increasing openness and courage to see as the Lord sees and then act on behalf of his dearly loved sisters and brothers here and now.

Readings for the Twenty-sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time – Cycle C

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Posted by on Sep 14, 2025

He Humbled Himself – God Greatly Exalted Him

He Humbled Himself – God Greatly Exalted Him

Wooden crucifix by José Rafael Aragón (ca. 1795-1862)One afternoon, when I was in high school, my teacher handed out a surprise test. We were told to read the instructions and complete it, then turn it in and we could leave. This was not the regular thing, but not unheard of to be allowed to leave the room once an exam had been completed. Little did any of us expect to be humbled by the experience.

We all started reading and completing the exam. The first line of the instructions said to read through all the questions before beginning. Sure, sure. What a waste of time, right?

Most of us just started working on the questions, beginning with number one and working our way down the page. At one point, we were instructed to say a word out loud, and one by one, we did.

Eventually, I got to the end of the test, on the back of the page, and was embarrassed to read the final entry. “Now that you have read the entire test first, put your name on the first page and go home.”

I don’t remember if any of my classmates had actually followed the instructions, read the entire two pages, put their name on the page and left early. A couple of people had left before I got to that last entry, and I was a bit surprised. But it never occurred to me that the first instruction might actually be important to follow exactly!

It’s a silly example, but all too often, we don’t pay attention to the details of what we are asked to do. We jump in, assuming we’re smart enough or talented enough to do whatever has been asked, but we don’t stop to think that maybe there’s a better way to accomplish the same goal. We are proud of our abilities and forget our limitations. Humility does not come naturally to us.

On September 14, we celebrate The Exaltation of the Holy Cross. This is an ancient feast and important enough to take the place of the regular Sunday liturgical readings. This year, we won’t be hearing the readings for the Twenty-fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time! Instead, we will hear of a love so deep that this humble love shines forth in glory as the Lord enters into creation and transforms all.

Wisdom from an Ancient Hymn

St. Paul quotes a hymn in his letter to the Philippians that was sung in the early Church, celebrating the coming of Jesus, the Christ, into our world. “Christ Jesus, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God something to be grasped.”

These words were composed very early in the lives of the Christian community. Hundreds of years of reflection on the wonder of the Incarnation have followed the initial dawning of understanding of this amazing reality. God has come to be a human named Jesus, subject to all the limitations of human life. He did not hold onto the powers and privileges of being God. Instead, he accepted humbly all the limitations of human existence, including condemnation as a criminal to death on a cross.

St. Paul reminds his readers, including those of us hearing his words today, of the response of God to this self-humbling of Jesus. “God greatly exalted him and bestowed on him the name which is above every name…” (Remember, the word name means more than just what one is called – it refers to power.)

In Jesus, the Word of God, humbled himself. He, as a member of the Trinity, did not have to become one of us. But because he did it wholeheartedly and faithfully to his last breath, Jesus has been raised up and is recognized as Lord. In the process, our understanding of God is enhanced! “Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Phil 2:6-11)

Serpents in the Desert

The image of something raised up on a pole or cross is found early in the Hebrew Scriptures too. While the Israelites were traveling in the desert after the Exodus, there was a need for food to feed such a large group. The Lord sent manna each morning for them to collect for breakfast and birds in the evening for them to have for dinner. But after a few years, it began to be a bit boring to eat the same old thing every day. After all, how many ways can you prepare the manna to eat?

They complained to Moses about being in the desert and what God was providing for them. “We are disgusted with the wretched food!”

Hummm. Not necessarily a good idea to insult the one providing your meals, but what bad thing could happen?

Fortunately for the people, God is not vengeful. Things could have gotten really bad. Instead, they only got a little bad – unless you happened to be one of the folks bitten by the cobra-like serpents they ran into as they traveled! Some of those who were bitten died and the people came racing to Moses, apologizing for having complained about him and the Lord’s care for them.

The Lord had Moses make a bronze model of the serpent and hang it on a pole, so that any who had been bitten could be healed by looking at it. This Moses did and those who were bitten were healed.

The serpent on the pole was both a reminder of the wrongdoing of the people and a source for healing. The source of punishment was transformed into a source for reconciliation with a God who could also be humble and forgiving with his people. (Num 21:4b-9)

A visitor in the night

Early in his public life, a Pharisee named Nicodemus visited Jesus one night. Nicodemus had some questions for him, specifically about how and by what authority he was preaching and healing. As their conversation continued, Jesus spoke of the perspective of one who has “come down from heaven, the Son of Man.” (This is John’s Gospel, in which Jesus is more aware of his unique connection to the Father and it shows in his conversations.) He reminded Nicodemus of the time Moses “lifted up the serpent in the desert” and commented that the Son of Man would also have to be lifted up in order for all who believe in him to have eternal life.

Jesus’ next words are ones of amazing promise. “God so loved the world that he gave his only son … so that those who believe in him … might have eternal life.” God didn’t send Jesus to condemn humanity. God came himself in Jesus to bring life to all. God is humble enough to do what is needed to reach each of us, because God loves us so deeply. (Jn 3:13-17)

And so?

We humans will continue to bumble our way through life – often failing to recognize in our pride the simpler reality of mutual help and the need we all have for love and forgiveness along the way. But God doesn’t forget and keeps coming around, hoping we will remember the next time and ask for help when we need it and also humbly offer help and forgiveness to others when we can.

God so loved the world that he humbled himself to save us, to re-establish the original bond formed in creation. Now we are called each day to live that reconciliation and the connection we have with God, each other, and all of creation.

Readings for the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross – Cycle C

 

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Posted by on Aug 17, 2025

Division

Division

My initial response to today’s Gospel reading is to resist it.  I find it very difficult to think of Jesus as a divisive person.  It is much easier for me to regard him as a healer of human relationships.  I have seen too many fragmented families and felt their pain.  When fathers and sons cannot even be civil to one another, it is very sad.  And when mothers and daughters stop speaking to each other, it is heartbreaking.  How can we believe that Jesus is the source of such division?

In most cases, it is clear that he is not.  Something else is ripping the family apart.  My sense is that, if given the chance, Jesus would heal the alienation in such a home.  And I am sure that he is not pleased with the division of the people involved.  A little three-year-old girl, who could not yet pronounce her “r” sounds, said to a friend, “My mommy and daddy ah sepawated.”  Do you think our Lord caused that?  Do you think he is pleased with that?  Not a chance in the world.  I have no doubt that he weeps with that child.

Still the words of today’s Reading cannot be denied.  Jesus clearly said: “Do you think I have come to establish peace on earth?  I assure you the contrary is true.  I have come for division.” (Lk 12:49-53)

What then, is the meaning of these strange words about division?

It is obvious that Jesus did not get along with everybody.  He did not walk around with a smile plastered on his face, spreading the good will everywhere.  Otherwise, how did he manage to get himself crucified?  Why did he tell his disciples that the world would hate them, just as it had hated him?

He was often in conflict.  And almost always, the dividing line was the sacredness of human person.  The people of his own home town wanted to kill him.  What was the source of that conflict?  It was his insistence that God cared for Gentiles just as he did for Jews.  He often clashed with the Pharisees about healing on the Sabbath.  The issue that drove them apart was his conviction that helping people was more important than keeping the law.  He came to the rescue of a woman who had been caught in adultery.  The guardians of public morality were ready to stone her to death.  Again, the issue was keeping the law or helping people.  And he always came down on the side of helping people.

Jesus resisted abuse of others with all the intensity of his soul.  He even died for it.  Robert Louis Stevenson put it like this: “It is our cheek that we are to turn.  But when another’s face is struck, perhaps a bit of the lion would become us best.”

You and I have no right to stand by and watch the strong trample on the weak.  We are to take a stand, even if the abuser is a member of our own family.  People have done that.  And it has driven a wedge between them and the ones they love.  A young man was making a determined effort to live out his Christian faith.  His father was a member of the Ku Klux Klan.  The son confronted him and said: “What you are doing is wrong.  And I must resist it.”  His father ordered him out of the house and never spoke to him again.

Something like that is what Jesus had in mind, when he said, “I have come for division.”  The sacredness of the human person is the only issue I can conceive of where it is wrong to compromise.

In closing, it is easy to talk of “Jesus meek and mild,” and to portray the infant in the crib as lovable, and the Crucified One as forgiving.  It is easy to criticize and oppose evildoers on the other side of the world, people like Hitler and Saddam Hussein.  It is by no means so easy to take a stand on moral issues right at home which divide our society.  But we cannot avoid the cutting edge of the gospel or the commitment that goes along with our baptism.  We cannot accept, nor should we live by, a cushioned Christianity, a velvet cross, a vertical expression of faith concerned only with “God and myself.”  Nor can we exclude those neighbors we don’t like.  Christian life and witness is difficult.  In fact, it would be impossible without the example of Jesus, and the grace of God.

Lord, give us the courage to follow you – even though it causes us to struggle – even though it causes us to be persecuted – even though, sometimes, it sets us in opposition to our families and friends and society – let us never forget that there is actually one thing worse than evil itself, and that is indifference to evil.  Amen.

Fr. Ron Shirley
August 17, 2025

Readings for the Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time – Cycle C

 

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Posted by on Aug 17, 2025

One More Time With Feeling

One More Time With Feeling

Activities that require a certain amount of skill to complete successfully typically also require much practice before they are successfully mastered. I’m thinking of things like learning to catch a baseball, or ride a bicycle or a horse, or skate across a frozen pond in the winter. Sometimes the attempt is successful and all are happy and excited. Sometimes the attempt is not. Then several outcomes are possible. One is that the person trying to learn a new skill simply gives up and doesn’t try again. There are times when that might be a good option, especially if the activity in question is very dangerous and could end with a serious injury or death. But most skills or activities don’t fall into that category.

Another possible outcome is for the individual to get back up right away and try again. One expression in such cases is to “get back on the horse.” We like to see this determination when the skill is one that will help the individual or community in the future. It’s how most of what we learn as we grow up happens.

But then there is the in-between situation. The skill is hard or is an activity that doesn’t come naturally to the individual. Others are watching and may laugh at one’s failure. The individual has seriously tried to master the skill (arithmetic anyone?), but it doesn’t come easily. It’s a skill one can go through life without ever mastering. So many reasons not to keep trying.

This is where “One more time with feeling” comes into the picture. If those around us, or those teaching us, or simply those who care about us can encourage another attempt, or as many as it takes, we are more likely to succeed eventually.

I suspect God looks at us often, and with a resigned shake of the head, thinks, “Well, one more time with feeling …” and sends someone once again to remind us all of what our calling is. How many times do we need to be reminded to care for the poor, the little ones, those who have to leave their homes to find safety or a way to support their children? How many times will a messenger need to be sent to remind the leaders of the community of the importance of working for the common good rather than personal power and wealth?

In the time of Jeremiah, before the conquest of Jerusalem and exile of the community in Babylon, the authorities were angry that he, Jeremiah, refused to remain silent as they looked to their own interests rather than those of the community and their common relationship with the Lord. They were so angry that they convinced the King to let them get rid of this troublemaker. He was thrown into a cistern, a place like a well where water was stored in time of rain and used in drier times. Fortunately, there was only mud in the bottom, but that was small consolation to Jeremiah as he prepared to spend the last days of his life being deprived of food and water, sitting or standing in the mud!

Fortunately for Jeremiah, a man who was not from Israel but was an official of the court interceded for him with the king. The man’s name was Ebed-melech and he was from Cush. We don’t know today where Cush was, whether in Africa or Mesopotamia. It doesn’t really matter. He had the courage to speak to the king and ask permission to rescue Jeremiah from the cistern. (Jer 38:4-6, 8-10)

Jeremiah didn’t stop speaking the Lord’s word after his rescue. He continued to warn all who would listen that the Lord was not happy with the way they were acting. Eventually the Babylonians did come. Jerusalem fell. The temple was destroyed. The leaders who survived and much of the population were taken to exile in Babylon.

“One more time with feeling … and they didn’t listen again! Drat! … Well, maybe next time,” says the Lord.

When Jesus first began teaching, not a lot of people knew about him and the amount of controversy surrounding his words and message was relatively limited. However, as he continued teaching during the three years between his baptism in the Jordan and his crucifixion, the controversy grew much louder and stronger. This was especially true as he began teaching that so many things considered to be wise or expected and acceptable in social interactions were actually foolish in God’s eyes. For example, he told of the farmer who had a hugely successful harvest, tore down his barns and built bigger ones so he would have food for years to come. Unfortunately, it was all a waste, because he died that night!

Another time he told of the servant whose master was away and had left him in charge of the household and business/farm. The servant who did what he was expected to do would be rewarded. The one who abused those below him in authority or disobeyed the master’s orders knowingly would be seriously punished. And then the surprise – the one who didn’t know what the master wanted and as a result did the wrong thing, would receive a lesser punishment.

With all of these surprising, unexpected teachings, his followers could be excused for wondering how a person sent by God could cause such conflict among those who heard his words!

Jesus didn’t sidestep the question. “I have come to set the earth on fire… Do you think I have come to establish peace on the earth? No, I tell you but rather division.” (Lk 12:49-53)

Wait, what? Isn’t he supposed to be the Prince of Peace?

But Jesus wasn’t here to tell us all that the way things were being done as a general rule was the way God had intended them to be from all eternity. He came as the Father’s “One more time with feeling” outreach to all of us. Would we get the message this time? Would we have the courage and compassion to listen and act? Would we set the world on fire with love? Would we share the good news of love through our actions rather than just our words?

Jesus was no gullible fool. He knew he faced great opposition and would pay a high price for his integrity in proclaiming the will of the Father. He didn’t want to have to do it. But he was resolved to carry on with the mission. One more time with feeling – Who would respond and join him on the journey?

As it turned out, after the Resurrection, those who had been his friends continued to be his friends. When the Spirit came upon them, they moved forth bravely, carrying the message to those they met in their daily lives – God wants us to love and take care of each other. The poor must be helped. Those from other lands must be welcomed and helped to make a home among us. All people are loved by God, not just one nation or group. People need the basics of food, shelter, clothing, schooling, health care.

In the early years, it was not easy. Followers of Jesus and The Way were tossed out of their worship communities. They were arrested and punished. Some were killed. Many left their homes and traveled to other areas where they could be safer.

This history has continued through the ages, even to the present days. In our own lifetimes, men and women have paid the ultimate price for their lives of witness and service to the Gospel. Those who give their lives are known as martyrs – a word that means witnesses.

The author of the Letter to the Hebrews reminded his readers of this. He spoke of a great “cloud of witnesses” who surround us all. Those who have gone before us. Those who speak out today and encourage the rest of us to act with courage. Jesus is our leader and our model, giving his own life as witness. We have not yet been called to give everything including our lives in witness. Still, God is counting on us to be the ones today who speak out – One more time with feeling. (Heb 12:1-4)

Feed the poor, especially the children and their families. Teach the children. Make sure homes are available for everyone. Help people get healthcare. Welcome immigrants and those who seek asylum. Respect the legal rights and human dignity of all people.

These are the works of the Lord. These are the things he hopes we will eventually understand and put in place, so the kingdom of love and peace can come into being in our world.

May we listen with open hearts and ears to the Lord’s voice this week and keep trying.

“OK, you fell down this time, but get up and try again. One more time with feeling now!”

Readings for the Twentieth Sunday of Ordinary Time – Cycle C

 

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Posted by on Jul 13, 2025

Hidden in your Hearts

Hidden in your Hearts

Children’s songs are passed down from generation to generation, sometimes with slightly different words, but with essentially the same tune and ideas. One such song is “Goin’ on a Lion Hunt.” I learned it as a Brownie Scout and we sang it through the years around campfires or in troop gatherings. It was always fun to act out the words as in the song we came up to a tree and had to “go around it” or a creek or a field and had to “go through it.” Of course, when we finally found the lion, we were far from prepared for the sight and had to repeat all of the motions in reverse as fast as we could until we arrived safely at home!

Quest stories are a feature of most cultures. A person is presented with a challenge and must go forth, away from all that is familiar, in search of the answer to the question, or a treatment for an illness or enchantment, or their true calling in life. Sometimes the quest includes other persons of about the same age. Sometimes, the hero must go alone, seeking advice from those met along the way, including spirits and animal friends. Trials abound, traps for the unwary, surprise sources of inspiration, and eventually, the goal of attaining the wisdom or prize of the quest.

Many of my favorite stories have been those of quests, especially those that include young people and some historical or mythological characters as well. It’s fun to learn about other cultures or historical events through the eyes of observers who are witnesses or participants in them.

Sometimes we think a quest must also be necessary to figure out God’s will for us. What are we to do? What does God want of us? Where will we find the answers? Surely something important enough to please a divine being must be big and elusive!

Yet shortly before his death, Moses spoke to the Israelites, descendants of those who had been enslaved in Egypt and freed through Passover. “If only you would heed the voice of the Lord, your God, and keep his commandments and statutes that are written in this book of the law…” It sounds like these commandments must be something difficult to find. But no, the command “is not too mysterious and remote for you.” It’s not up in the sky or across the river. It’s not like going Lion hunting – through many dangers and challenges.

“It is something very near to you, already in your mouths and in your hearts; you have only to carry it out.” (Deut 30:10-14)

Already in our hearts? How can that be? What are the commands that can be in our hearts?

The Law states very clearly what is expected. “You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your being, with all your strength, and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.”

OK, but what does that mean in terms of actions? A scholar of the law asked Jesus that exact question one day. “Who is my neighbor?”

Jesus didn’t send him on a quest to find the answer to the question, though in a novel he might have done so. Instead, he told the man a story.

“A man fell victim to robbers…” The poor man was stripped of his clothing, beaten, and left half dead by the side of the road. We’ve heard the story many times. A priest saw him and moved to walk on the other side of the road. A Levite, a person who could assist with sacrifices in the Temple, also crossed the road to avoid contact with the injured man. Only a man from a stigmatized group, a Samaritan, stopped to help the injured man.

The Samaritan was “moved by compassion” and stopped to offer first aid and care. He took the man to an inn, carrying him on his own animal. He had to continue on his journey the next day, but he paid the innkeeper to continue to care for the wounded man, promising to pay any additional cost of the care when he returned.

Jesus asked the scholar, “Which of these three, in your opinion, was neighbor to the robbers’ victim?” When the scholar answered, “The one who treated him with mercy,” Jesus confirmed his observation. “Go and do likewise,” he said. (Lk 10:25-37)

Compassion, mercy, kindness, forgiveness, gentleness. All are signs of obedience to the commands of the Law. They are shared among all people.

Jesus, “the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation” through whom all was created, who holds all things together, tells the young man, “Go and do likewise.”

Each of us is included in that command. “Go and do likewise.”

We are born into a family, a culture, a nation, and we learn the ways of those who raise us. Some of those ways may not exactly be loving or welcoming of differences among peoples. Some may be hostile to ways of being that are not acceptable to “our people.” Some are fearful of outside influences and seek to remain “pure” in beliefs and actions. Some are afraid of change.

In a way, we each have a quest on which we embark as we grow up. We learn the ways and expectations of our families and peers with our mothers’ milk, and we take them as absolute truth when we are very small. As we grow, we learn of other peoples and other ways. We seek to find the right way to live as human beings.

In our quest, Moses told the people, we are not to think it necessary to go up to the sky to find the Lord’s command, nor are we to think we must cross the sea to find it. It is already near to us, “already in your mouths and in your hearts.”

Jesus too tells us that the place to look is within our hearts – to look for mercy and kindness and compassion that reaches out to those in need, those who are not from our own group, those who may be from other countries or ways of living. We each have gifts from the Father that are to be used for others. Part of our quest is to identify those gifts. One way to do it is by serving others. Opportunities open up, walls fall down as we approach, a smile opens the door to a heart.

Jesus is “the head of the body, the church … in him all the fullness was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile all things…” (Col 1:15-20)

Following his instructions, may we too go out this week and serve our fellow travelers on the way with gentle, compassionate, acceptance and understanding. We’ll meet some amazing people and have some wonderful adventures along the way.

Readings for the Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time – Cycle C

 

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Posted by on Jun 8, 2025

Lord Send Out Your Spirit

Lord Send Out Your Spirit

Living beside the ocean, one becomes intimately aware of seasonal changes in its mood and the shifting weather patterns that accompany those moods. In late spring and summertime, the ocean is mostly rather calm. Sometimes there’s better surf than others and people come from other areas to go surfing, happily riding the waves, but the ocean is quiet. We don’t hear the waves crashing on the shore or the winds raging across the water and over the land. As fall approaches, we hear the sea lions and birds returning from their summer journeys chatting away happily, but the ocean is still mostly quiet.

But in the winter, it’s a different story. The waves begin to crash on the shore with little warning. We hear them a block or more away. The crashing can continue for a day or two before the storm arrives at the shore, its raging far out in the ocean awakening the waves. When we hear the waves begin crashing onto the rocks and cliffs along the shore, we know it’s time to be sure things that can blow away in a storm are put away or safely secured outside. The strong winds will follow and rain will pelt down until the storm has raced on to the east, bringing water to the land once again.

The winter storms have passed now and spring has brought flowers and drying fields. (It’s coastal California here and grass is green in the winter and dry in summer.) Easter season has reached its end and Pentecost has arrived.

Pentecost is a festival with ancient roots. It was a day of celebration long before Jesus’ time. Fifty days after the Sabbath of Passover, the gift of the Law to Israel, handed to Moses by the Lord, is celebrated. The official name of the festival is Shavuot, the Feast of Weeks.  It is traditionally the wheat harvest festival. The name Pentecost simply means fifty.

Like Easter, Pentecost has a Vigil celebration. In the vigil, the readings trace salvation history from very early times. Beginning when all people spoke the same language, the story of the Tower of Babel is told, explaining how it came to be that we no longer understand each other’s words. Then comes the story of the gift of the Law, given by God to Moses, accompanied by thunder, lightning, clouds, smoke, earthquakes and the sound of the trumpet. The readings that follow recount the promises and examples of results of the Lord’s sharing of the Spirit, bringing life to dry bones, promising that the people would see visions and prophesy when the Lord poured forth his Spirit on the world.

Wind, fire, clouds, smoke – the coming of the Lord is a big deal. Like the waves crashing on the shore before the winter storms arrive.

Fifty days after the sabbath following Passover, the disciples were still a group of very frightened people. They remained in hiding in the Upper Room, fearing for their lives if it were known they were followers of Jesus. They had seen the Risen Lord, but who would ever believe it! And the Roman authorities and the leaders of their own people would not be happy to hear that the problem of Jesus had not gone away with his execution…

But Jesus had promised more than once to send the Spirit, the Advocate, who would remind them of all he had taught them. This Spirit would take them even farther forward in their understanding of the Father and his love for all people and all of creation. It was too much for them to understand before the Resurrection.

On the morning of Pentecost, the promise was fulfilled. “Suddenly there came from the sky a noise like a strong driving wind, and it filled the entire house… There appeared to them tongues as of fire, which parted and came to rest on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in different tongues, as the Spirit enabled them to proclaim.”

Wind, fire, power from on high. And the ancient division from Babel was overturned. Their words could be understood by all who heard them. “We hear them speaking in our own tongues of the mighty acts of God.” (Acts 2:1-11)

We all share in this life, this anointing with the Spirit of God. Through our baptism, we enter into the community of the children of God. In Confirmation, we receive the grace to begin speaking more clearly the Lord’s presence and word through our lives and our words.

As a community, we share the Good News with our world. God loves each and every person, totally and without reservation. Creation is good and worthy of our loving care. Those with special needs are to be loved and receive the extra care they may need. Strangers must be welcomed, because they too are our sisters and brothers, children of God.

Through the Spirit, the Holy Breath of God, the barriers among peoples are broken down. Barriers of language are vanquished. Differences among our cultures or our physical appearance no longer matter. Our infinitely creative Father likes diversity! We are all equal in God’s sight and love. We are all included in the great big hug God offers to his children.

As Pentecost comes this year, may our ears be opened to hear the Lord’s voice calling us to welcome all we meet, all who come seeking opportunity, all who are ready to offer their own gifts from God. Those gifts take many shapes and forms. The child who will never mature to adulthood may offer a simple, beautiful appreciation of the present moment that the rest of us miss in our hurry to do the next thing on our list. The older person who depends on others for help has stories to tell that remind us of other times and places filled with love. The delight of the newcomer who finds safety and acceptance and opportunity in a new land is to be treasured and appreciated.

We never know where or when we will meet the Lord. So, this week, let’s be open to meeting him in each person we meet. Let’s reach out with a smile or a kind word. Let’s offer patience and humor when delays arise. Let’s live as if God really loves us and we know it. Because, tell you a secret, he does! Just as the waves on the shore carry news of what’s going on farther out to sea, the smiles and little kindnesses tell the story of the love of God.

Lord, send out your Spirit. Fill the hearts of your faithful and renew the face of the earth!

Readings for Pentecost – Cycle C

 

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Posted by on May 10, 2025

My Sheep Hear My Voice

My Sheep Hear My Voice

My grandparents lived in Idaho, about three hours away from where I grew up. We often visited them. One of their neighbors had several daughters and the two families had become close friends over the years. One of those daughters was about my age, and we spent many happy hours playing together.

As it happened, her grandparents lived in Ketchum, a town near Sun Valley, Idaho. The family had homesteaded there years before the resort became a tourist destination. When they invited us all to come visit, we loaded up our tent trailer, piled into the car, and headed off on a new exploration and adventure! (My folks loved to travel.)

We camped beside a small river and explored the area, including visiting a mine the family owned that had never really produced valuable minerals but had to be “worked” every year to maintain title to it. Dad found a beautiful big chunk of agate that he carried back down the mountain on the saddle of the horse he was riding! It still sits proudly in the garden at home.

Never ones to go back home the same way we had ventured out, we continued south through the Sawtooth Mountains into the high open plains of central Idaho. As we passed through, we saw a shepherd with his flock, traveling on foot across the dry lands. He had a wagon and his dogs and a very large flock, who moved at a very leisurely pace as they grazed happily. It was a big, open land. I’m sure there were plenty of predators who would happily have munched on his lambs and sheep. But he and the dogs were there, guiding them, keeping them from straying into danger, and helping them grow and thrive.

This experience often comes back to me as I hear the words of Scripture about sheep and shepherds and the One who is our shepherd.

The ancient Israelites, like the man we watched on that trip, were shepherds. They traveled with their flocks from Ur of the Chaldees, northwest into areas now part of Turkey (known today as Türkiye), then south into the land of Caanan, and even into Egypt and lands east of the Jordan River. Their religion and experience of the divine were shaped by their experience as shepherds who traveled with their sheep. Even as they settled into the land of Israel, built villages and cities, and had a Temple and royalty, their faith was expressed in terms of what they had experienced as traveling shepherds.

It is not surprising, then, that Jesus and his early followers would use the image of sheep and shepherds to describe the relationship of the divine with humanity. Jesus described the qualities of a good shepherd in his teachings. He spoke of himself as a shepherd. “My sheep hear my voice; I know them, and they follow me… No one can take them out of my hand.” (Jn 10:27-30)

The Psalmist sings, “Know that the Lord is God; he made us, his we are; his people, the flock he tends … his kindness endures forever, and his faithfulness, to all generations.” This hymn has passed down through the generations. Jesus would have sung it. We sing it today. (Ps 100:1-2, 3, 5)

After the Resurrection, when it had become evident that salvation was not only for the Jews, Paul and Barnabas traveled through ancient lands that are now part of western Türkiye. They always visited the local synagogue to worship with their fellow Jews. As visitors, they would have been welcomed and conversations would strike up about who they were, from where they had come, the purpose of their travels, etc. They didn’t have an Internet to use to find out what was going on the world, or to learn about other lands. They had travelers – visitors from other lands – who would tell them of the great world around them.

What a story Paul and Barnabas had to tell. The Messiah had come. He had been rejected by the authorities and even crucified by the Romans, but that was not the end of the story! He had risen from the dead and shared the Spirit of the Most High with all of his followers. We, Paul and Barnabas, are coming to visit you to share this amazing, good news.

It was an engaging story, told by men who were staking their lives on its truth, and sharing it with people who lived far from their homeland. Many people wanted to hear more. They visited with Paul and Barnabas during the week and came in large groups to the synagogue the next week to hear more.

Now, we look at the story and might be critical of the leaders of the community for their actions in arguing forcefully and passionately against Paul and Barnabas. But we must not judge them too harshly. This was not the kind of messiah anyone had expected. People can so easily be manipulated, especially in hard times or when living under foreign occupation.

Paul and Barnabas were not deterred by the angry response of the authorities. They answered boldly, sharing their experience and the truth they had come to believe and to share. Furthermore, they let all know that this good news was not just for the Jews, the historical inheritors of the promise. The Holy One welcomes all. “So the Lord has commanded us, ‘I have made you a light to the Gentiles, that you may be an instrument of salvation to the ends of the earth.’”

The message was happily received by the non-Jewish residents of these cities. It was not well-received by the leaders of the community or the city. Paul and Barnabas were expelled from the territory and moved on, “filled with joy and the Holy Spirit.” (Acts 13:14, 43-52)

Later, as the community of believers were faced with the reality of persecution by major world powers, including Roman emperors, the image of the Lamb who had been sacrificed for all became a source of hope. The lambs sacrificed in the earliest days of Jewish history, the lambs whose blood marked the homes of the Israelites at the time of the Passover, the lamb eaten every year in remembrance of that gift of life and freedom, the lambs sacrificed at the temple through the time of Jesus, and the Lamb of God who gave his body and blood to his friends the night before he died – all of these examples of lambs giving their lives for the survival of others became a great source of hope for a community in peril because of their faithfulness to the Way of the Lamb.

In the vision of John in the Book of Revelation, the great multitude of people from all peoples and lands, faithful to the word they had received, stand before the throne of God. And “the Lamb who is in the center of the throne will shepherd them and lead them to springs of life-giving water, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.” (Rev 7:9, 14b-17)

The image of shepherd, from ancient times, portrays the role and calling of the one who is to lead the community. Not a king. Not a prince (or princess). Not a patriarch lording it over a family or community. A shepherd – one who cares for the sheep and the lambs, through thick and thin.

We are at a turning point in the history of our Roman Catholic Christian community again. Pope Francis has returned to the Lord. He spoke of the importance of shepherds who smell like their sheep. The importance of accompanying the poor and the marginalized. The rights of migrants and the imprisoned. And so many, many more examples.

We now have a new Pope, Leo XIV. This man too has a history of working with those who are powerless, opening doors to influence in the community for women and other lay people,  reminding those in authority of their responsibility to work for the good of all people equally, and speaking of the importance of setting up structures to protect humanity from the potentially run-away power of new digital technologies, including artificial intelligence (AI).

It’s a new day, a new era for our community and our world. A new shepherd has been selected. The clothing he wears, the symbolic items he carries, the places he travels, even the foods he eats will be watched and discussed. Some will love what he says. Others will react angrily. Some will simply yawn and go about their lives.

Nevertheless, as the next days and years play out, we have a shepherd who will lead and care for the community. Some days will be hot and dusty, as were those we saw as children in that high desert land of Idaho. Others will be stormy and not always well sheltered from the elements.

This week, let’s pray for Pope Leo as he moves into this new leadership role. Let’s do our best to help by being kind and patient with each other. Let’s continue to reach out to help the poor, the immigrants, those being swept up unjustly in deportation raids, those who are in need of healthcare or specialized services, those whose lives are turned upside down by drought, floods, winds, or cold.

We are the sheep of the Lord. Do we hear his voice?

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Posted by on Apr 6, 2025

“See, I Am Doing Something New”

“See, I Am Doing Something New”

“Unprecedented!” “New and improved!” “Today and today only!” “Once in a lifetime chance…”

We hear these kinds of exclamations and invitations routinely in our lives. Print, digital, audio, even word-of-mouth sources invite us, even seduce us, to look at products and ideas whose promoters typically hope to profit in some way by coaxing us to endorse or purchase them. Part of becoming an adult is to learn that these invitations are generally not all they claim to be. Very few things are totally new or available only once in a lifetime.

Still, when we hear the Lord say, “See, I am doing something new!” we should probably pay  attention!

Isaiah, speaking in the Lord’s name, begins his instruction with a reminder of the defeat of the Egyptian army at the crossing of the Red Sea. Then comes the surprising statement, “Remember not the events of the past…” Why not? Because, “I am doing something new!”

What is this new action? New paths are opening in the desert, rivers are flowing in the desert wastelands for the people and animals who live in or pass through them. This is happening now, pay attention. I am doing it for you, a people I have chosen to be my own.

Rivers in the desert? Pathways opening? A way is being prepared for the people to return home to their ancestral lands. As this happens, new ways of living and being open up. Transformations occur. Those who hear the Lord’s words here are not the same as those who found themselves taken into exile in another land. Something new is happening. It’s time for praise of the One who has cared for them while in exile and now opens new possibilities for them. (Is 43:16-21)

Jesus too brought a new approach in his interactions with those who came to him. St. John tells us about the time some of the religious authorities tried to trap him with an “either or” type of situation. They brought a woman before him, probably quite disheveled and frightened. She and a man had been caught in the act of adultery. Only the woman had been brought to Jesus, though both had broken the Law. Those who dragged her before Jesus for judgement asked him what they should do, since the Law called for her to be stoned to death.

If he said to follow the Law’s instructions, he would be judging her and condemning her for her actions. If he said she should be forgiven, he could be accused of disregarding the Law and thereby breaking it himself. It was a no-win situation.

Jesus responded by doing “something new.” He didn’t respond. He simply bent down and began writing something on the ground. The accusers persisted. Finally, he gave them his response. “Let the one among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” Wow! That put everybody on the spot. Who would or could claim to be without any history of breaking the Law, of not always choosing the right way, of sinning?

One by one the accusers walked away. Finally, only Jesus and the woman remained. He asked, “Has no one condemned you?” She responded, “No one, sir.” Jesus didn’t condemn her either, but he instructed her to begin anew and leave behind the life that led her to sin.

“See, I am doing something new…” Not condemnation but instead, second chances. (Jn 8:1-11)

Many years later, St. Paul, writing to the Philippians, reflected on his spiritual journey, “I consider everything as a loss because of the supreme good of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.” Paul left behind a life of security and honor. He was respected by his peers and entrusted with responsibility to arrest and punish those who were followers of the way of Jesus. And then he met the risen Lord and all changed. Power, prestige, security – all were gone. But in their place, he received the gift of faith in Christ and a righteousness that comes only from God. He lived a life that included a lot of physical pain, rejection, and suffering. But he received them as a way of sharing in the life of Jesus and the hope of resurrection from the dead. All that he had known and lived before was gone, like trash. Now his life was directed to something new – the new way of life and hope opened by Jesus, calling him forward toward God’s calling. (Phil 3:8-14)

Two thousand years later, we too are invited to notice the Lord’s statement. “See, I am doing something new.” This statement applies to each of us in our lives today as well, because it is timeless. Remember, there’s no time in eternity. God’s present has no beginning and no end. Only the Now.

What is it that we are to see now? What is this new thing the Lord is doing? How are paths being opened in the wilderness? Where are new rivers flowing in the desert? Which of us is hearing the Lord’s voice refusing to condemn us? What have we left behind to follow our Lord and share in the promise of the resurrection?

Look around. What do we see? Uncertainty, fear, worry, hopelessness, distrust of strangers? Do we also see people offering support and a helping hand for low income people, the sick, the very young or the old, those with mental or physical illness that makes earning a living impossible, those who come seeking refuge? Are they, are we, setting up programs to provide options and opportunity – working for the common good?

When institutions begin to break down or when they are dismantled before our very eyes, how do we reach out and help those in need? How do we live with hope that leads us ever onward?

One step at a time. One person at a time. The drop of water falling into a pond sends out rings of energy that continue through the entire body of water. Each time one of us refuses to condemn another, offers a smile, a word of encouragement, a helping hand, a listening heart, the energy of love will radiate outward like that drop in the puddle.

These days are not unprecedented, but they are certainly a new experience in the lifetimes of most of us. How we respond in community and outreach in support of those we meet will matter. The Lord is continuing to do “something new.” That Something New is not a return to judgementalism, condemnation of those whose lives are different or frightening, or exclusion of newcomers. The Something New is to continue being welcoming and supportive of others as the Lord is welcoming. It will require us to listen to each other with open hearts and ears, hearing the hopes and fears that so often keep us separated from those whom we don’t know or haven’t yet met. It is making paths through the wilderness of fear and exclusion so that people can travel forward together, returning to a land of shared humanity. It is making rivers of the waters of love and acceptance flow in our communities.

As we enter into these last two weeks of Lent, may our ears be open to hear the Lord’s invitation to enter into this new way he is opening. May we hold on to love and to hope. May we reach out in love and service to those who are hurting or frightened. May we continue to trust in the Lord’s love for each of us. May we know hope and peace and share them in joyful service with all we meet.

Readings for the Fifth Sunday of Lent – Cycle C

 

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Posted by on Mar 23, 2025

May I Ask Who’s Calling?

May I Ask Who’s Calling?

Long ago, in the olden days when I was a girl, and the dinosaurs were really, really big, if the telephone would ring, there was no way to know who was calling. Call-waiting didn’t exist. No caller ID was available. Only one telephone per household was the general rule. Some households didn’t have phones at all.

In those days, if a caller asked to speak with a particular person in the household or business, the correct and expected response was, “May I ask who’s calling?” or “Who may I say is calling?” The caller would normally respond with a name and the person who answered would respond, “I will tell him/her (them).”

I thought of this when reflecting on the reading from the book of Exodus. As you will recall, Moses had grown up in Egypt, under the protection of one of Pharaoh’s family, though he was an Israelite boy who should have been killed shortly after his birth. As a young man, he had killed a man who was abusing an Israelite slave and had to flee the country. He ended up in the land of Midian, married to the daughter of a priest of the land, and became a simple shepherd.

One day, as he was tending the sheep, he saw an amazing sight. A bush was burning. Bushes burn in dry lands, usually pretty quickly, with potentially disastrous results. This bush, however, was not a danger to the surrounding landscape. The bush was not burning up. It was not being consumed by the flames. It was just sitting there burning.

Moses went closer and a voice came from the bush, calling his name, “Moses! Moses!” Moses responded, “Here I am.” As he prepared to come closer to the bush, the voice told him to wait, to remove his sandals first. This ground was holy, because the God of the fathers of Moses’ people was present there. “The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, the God of Jacob.”

Moses hid his face, knowing that to see God would be dangerous. But the Lord told him why he had come. “I have witnessed the affliction of my people in Egypt and have heard their cry of complaint… Therefore, I have come down to rescue them…”

Wait! What? Rescue the Hebrew people from Egypt? OK. How? On whose orders?

So, Moses wondered, “when I go to the Israelites and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,” what do I tell them your name is? (Name in this context refers to power and authority as well as what a person is called.) This is a pretty bold thing to say to God, but the bush was burning and a voice coming from it, so it’s all pretty unusual anyway. “God replied, “I am who am.” But you can simply tell them, “I AM sent me to you.” (Ex 3:1-8a, 13-15)

“Who may I say is calling?”

“I Am … The Lord, the God of your fathers.” He “has sent me to you.”

We remember the story yet today and tell it each year. Our Jewish sisters and brothers also remember it and celebrate the Exodus and all that led to it at Passover. Muslims too revere Moses and remember his encounter with the Lord and all that resulted.

As the Hebrew people went out into the desert on their way to the Promised Land, many surprises awaited them. It was a hard time, with shortage of food and water at times and a longing to return to stability and order, even if that meant hard, forced labor in Egypt. They grumbled. They complained. They despaired and created a Golden Calf to worship. They doubted God’s promises. It took forty years in the desert before their children and grandchildren were allowed to enter the land from which their ancestors had come during the time of the great famine in the days of Jacob and Joseph. The Lord was with them, but earlier, they were not ready as a people to enter the new land and way of living.

St. Paul, in his first letter to the people of Corinth, spoke of those years in the desert. Although all had traveled with the cloud to guide them, crossed through the sea together, eaten the same food from heaven, and received water to drink from the stone, they still grumbled and disobeyed. Their journey and its delays and the consequences of their disbelief and disobedience are an example to us of how NOT to behave. We have seen the coming of the savior. The end times are upon us. The kingdom is here and coming ever more fully into being. Like the Hebrews, when we hear the Lord calling, we must answer. Who’s calling? The Lord, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, the God of Jacob. We are children of Abraham too. We are also to listen to his call and respond. (1 Cor 10:1-6, 10-12)

Sometimes we think that Israel, including the northern area known as Galilee, was a peaceful place in the time of Jesus. After all, the Romans had conquered the area. There were no more wars with neighboring countries. Sure, there were soldiers everywhere who could make unreasonable demands and act like bullies, but there was no war going on…

In reality, rebellions occurred. A group of people in Galilee had rebelled and been killed by Pilate, the Roman official who governed the area. When people told Jesus about this, he responded that it is important to realize that suffering such as that experienced by those killed on Pilate’s orders was not because they were great sinners. Everyone sins. The critical thing is to repent, to recognize that we as humans are not perfect. We all mess up. We all make wrong choices. We all sin.

Jesus told a story about a fig tree. This tree had grown in an orchard and been expected to bear fruit when it reached maturity. But the tree produced no fruit. The owner of the orchard noticed that the tree was old enough, but there were no figs. After three years of fruitless harvest times, the owner told the gardener to cut it down, presumably so another tree could be planted and grow in its place to produce fruit.

But the gardener cared about the tree and begged for a second chance for it. “Sir, leave it for this year also, and I shall cultivate the ground around it and fertilize it; it may bear fruit in the future.” However, this would not go on forever. If the tree remained barren in the coming year, “you can cut it down.” Lk 13:1-9)

In the Gospel of Luke, the story ends there. We don’t hear what happened to the tree. Jesus didn’t tell us, but rather, left us to ponder what that might mean for us, especially in light of his reminders that bad things happen to everyone, whether as consequences of their actions or not. The important thing is to try each time we fail to change our behavior and do better the next time around.

“Who may I say is calling?”

Is ours a strong, demanding, vengeful god who delights in punishing sinners? The Psalmist provides the answer in Psalm 103. “Merciful and gracious is the Lord, slow to anger and abounding in kindness.” “He pardons all your iniquities, heals all your ills.” “The Lord secures justice and the rights of all the oppressed.” (Ps 103: 1-2, 3-4, 6-7, 8, 11)

Who is calling you today? Who is calling me?

This same God, the merciful, the kind, the protector of the “little ones” who need extra care, the one who sends help in time of trial, this God is the one who came to Moses in the burning bush. This God is the one who heard the cries of the poor and sent a messenger to rescue them. This God is the one who gives the fig tree and the sinner another chance. This God is the one who expects those who have blessings of security, power, education, health, and the respect of the peoples of the world to behave with kindness and compassion, sharing the gifts we have received. This God does not condemn those whose ways of living, whose customs, whose sense of themselves are different from those of the dominant culture or the culture of ancient peoples who first met him.

As a people, we must today ask ourselves, if the Lord calls and asks for you or for me, will we respond quickly and faithfully. Will we speak out against abuses of the poor, the immigrant, those whose lands have been invaded by neighbors who wish to control them? Will we work for justice? Will we remember those who work hard but still cannot afford health care or education without help from the larger community? Will we demand that those who wield power in our governments follow the laws that have governed us for two hundred fifty years?

God does not come from the heavens with avenging angels on thunderous clouds. But when peoples and individuals do not remember the source of the gifts received, the freedoms offered, and the importance of sharing them freely, the consequences will fall heavily on all.

I pray that as we enter the third week of Lent, we listen deeply and carefully to the warnings of our ancestors. When the answer to the question, “Who may I say is calling?” is, “The Lord our God,” may we be open to receive his presence and become channels of his love to everyone we meet and with whom we share this beautiful world.

Readings for the Third Sunday of Lent – Cycle C

 

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Posted by on Mar 2, 2025

From the Fullness of the Heart

From the Fullness of the Heart

“Think before you speak!”  “You have two ears and one mouth.” “Listen carefully before speaking.” “Out of the mouths of babes …” “Stop, look, and listen.”

We have many expressions that describe the relationship between our thoughts and our words, between what we perceive and the objective reality of what is happening around us. When we blurt out our first response to something unexpected, we often discover that our reaction does not take into account the total reality of the situation. There can be many factors we haven’t noticed that played a part in the way the situation developed and reached its climax.

Wisdom lies in quieting the inner and outer tongues that speak our thoughts, often before we have time to consider them carefully. “Think first, then speak,” is advice well suited to the complexity of our personal and public lives.

Around 200 years before the birth of Jesus, a man named Jesus, ben Eleazar, ben Sirach collected wisdom sayings from his community. Wisdom tales are told around the world, passing on to younger members of the family or village the traditions and common-sense approaches to the challenges of life we have come to understand. We still tell these stories ourselves, because they offer practical examples for dealing with complex realities. For example, “a watched pot never boils” reminds us to be patient as things work their way to a conclusion for which we have every reason to hope. Ben Sirach’s words are remembered today, though their fullest meanings are not always clear to us.

The first verse we hear today speaks of a sieve being shaken, which results in the appearance of husks. This is paired with a reminder that our faults too appear when we speak. What do our words have to do with grain and husks? Not something most of us would suggest, but something obvious in his times. There were no “combines” in those days, the big harvesters which could cut the grain, thresh it, and separate the grains from the chaff as they moved through the fields. In those days, oxen walked across the cut grain, breaking up the heads of wheat or other crops after they had been cut and placed together for threshing. The grain would fall out on the threshing floor. Later, everything on the floor would be scooped up and run through a sieve to separate out the grain from the chaff and excrement of the animals used for threshing the crop. When the time came to complete the harvest, the grain, chaff, and anything else on the threshing floor would be tossed into the air using a sieve. This allowed the smaller grains to pass through and keep the waste from contaminating the harvest.  In many places even today, grain is threshed and prepared for use in this same basic way. Ben Sirach reminds us that “… one’s faults (appear) when one speaks.”

Ben Sirach notes that trees bear fruit when they receive the proper care and offers an important piece of advice for us today too. “Praise no one before he speaks, for it is then that people are tested.”  In other words, “don’t judge a book by its cover.” (Sir 27:4-7)

Jesus offers similar advice as he finishes the Sermon on the Plain. He points out that when “the blind are leading the blind,” both can land in a pit. Through a series of examples, he cautions against judging others, lest we fail to notice our own weakness and sinfulness as we point out that of others. Those who are good will bear good fruit. Their goodness will become apparent through their choices and their actions. “A good person out of the store of goodness in his heart produces good…” When the heart is filled with negative emotions, a different scenario emerges and we see evil spreading. Words matter and reflect the beauty or ugliness of the heart when they are spoken. “… From the fullness of the heart, the mouth speaks.” (Lk 6:39-45)

As we move through life, we find times that are discouraging and hard to get through. Sometimes it seems that evil will triumph. We may feel like everything we try will end in failure. “Life is hard and then you die,” goes the saying today. People in ancient times experienced the same thing. St. Paul explains that a time will come in which the pattern of death and failure will end. “Death is swallowed up in victory. Where, O death, is your victory! Where … is your sting?” We have gained the upper hand, the victory, through Jesus. Our response of loving service will not be in vain. (1 Cor 15:54-58)

We are living through a time of great turmoil today. Wars are raging. Leaders of countries are meeting, but not always peacefully or respectfully. The fate of nations is hanging in a balance that is not at all certain to end well for anyone. In our personal lives, we are called to make choices and offer a hand or an ear to others we meet.

As we move forward, holding on with all our might to hope in the Lord’s help in the great work of protecting the vulnerable, caring for the young, the very  old, and those who can’t care for themselves, seeking justice for those who face persecution or discrimination, safeguarding the vision of hope and liberty for all which we received from our parents and grandparents, may we remember the wisdom from of old. Wait and hear that what people say or do is wise and just before following their lead or obeying their commands. Be sensitive to our own faults before condemning others. In what ways do we try to correct in others the faults of which we ourselves are more guilty?

May our words be kind and merciful, flowing from a heart that has known forgiveness and acceptance. From the fullness of this experience of being loved and forgiven, may our mouths speak to those we meet each day.

Readings for the Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time – Cycle C

 

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Posted by on Feb 23, 2025

The Weight of a Snowflake

The Weight of a Snowflake

Each year a conference takes place in Southern California, for the Archdiocese of Los Angeles which is attended by people from all over the country and the world. Formally known as the Los Angeles Religious Education Congress, most folks simply call it LA Congress. This program first started in 1956 in Los Angeles, but quickly grew large enough that it was moved to Anaheim. This year was no exception. Blessedly, the organizers have taken advantage of today’s technology and live streaming has brought the arena sessions to those of us who can’t be there in person.

One of my favorite speakers each year is the Rev. Terry Hershey. Terry writes a regular column, “Sabbath Moment.” His great insight and mission is to share the importance of taking time for reflection and stillness in our busy lives. This year he shared a story near the end of his presentation that expressed a vision of hope for these very difficult times in which we live today.

It seems there was a small bird, a coalmouse or coal tit, that was talking with a dove. Somehow the subject of the weight of a snowflake came up. The dove said that snowflakes were so light that they really make no difference at all in the world. The coalmouse boldly told the dove that in fact the weight of a snowflake matters. One afternoon, the coalmouse had nothing better to do, so he sat on the branch of a tree and began to count the snowflakes that were falling. Finally, the total reached 3,741,952 snowflakes that had fallen on the branch where the coalmouse was sitting. And then, one more snowflake fell on the branch – number 3,741,953. When that snowflake landed on the branch, the branch broke. That last snowflake was too much for the branch. It was too heavy.

There are times when everything going on in the world around seems too much to bear. Everything seems to be crashing. People are losing their livelihoods. Institutions are being broken down. No one knows when it will end. Where will it all end? Has anything like this ever happened before?

In point of fact, turmoil, upheaval, pain, suffering, fear, dismay – so much can and has happened so quickly and more than once in the history of the world. Like one snowflake on the branch of a tree, all can come crashing down.

Long, long ago, when Saul was king of Israel and Samuel was the Lord’s prophet, Saul ceased to follow the will of the Lord. He began to look out for himself and his cronies first, rather than caring for the people he had been selected to lead and care for. David had been anointed by Samuel to be the next king of Israel. Saul was not happy about this and took an army of 3,000 men out to find and kill David.

One night, while Saul and his men were sleeping, David and a few of his men entered the camp. They found Saul and some of his men in a tent. David’s friend offered to use Saul’s spear to kill the sleeping king, but David refused the offer. “Do not harm him, for who can lay hands on the Lord’s anointed and remain unpunished?”  David and his men left the camp, taking Saul’s spear and water jug with them. From a far hill, David called out to Saul and his army, “Here is the king’s spear. … Today the Lord delivered you into my grasp, I would not harm the Lord’s anointed.” (1 Sam 26:2, 7-9, 12-13, 22-23)

Eventually David became king, but it took many years before peace returned to the land.

Jesus lived in a time when his nation had been conquered and people were very aware of who their enemies were. In his teaching, he clearly stated a series of rules for living that were contrary to what humans typically do. “Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. … Do to others as you would have them do to you. … Love your enemies and do good to them.”

These words of Jesus are not what we hear every day. But they are the fundamental ground rules for our lives as followers of Jesus. He promises, “Forgive and you will be forgiven. … the measure with which you measure will in return be measured out to you.” (Lk 6:27-38)

These words speak deeply to anyone who will hear. They offer hope for a future in which we together offer love and help to those who are in need, to those who seek a safe place to live, to those whose bodies don’t reflect their sense of who they are in the depths of their being, to those who simply need a place to call home and a family to love them.

St. Paul spoke of the first Adam and the last Adam. The first “became a living being, the last Adam a life-giving spirit.” Jesus is the last Adam in this teaching. He brought the earthly and heavenly realms together, so that “as we have borne the image of the earthly one, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly one.” (1 Cor 15:45-49)

Terry told another story right after the story of the coalmouse. This story was of a boy on an ocean beach. A bunch of sea stars (aka, starfish) had been washed up onto the beach. The boy was picking them up, one at a time, and tossing them back into the water, so they wouldn’t die on the beach. An old man asked the boy what he was doing and explained to the boy that there were lots of starfish in the ocean. It wouldn’t make a huge difference overall if these on the beach didn’t make it back into the water. The boy picked up another sea star and tossed it into the water, saying, “It made a difference for that one.”

Today we are called to live in hope in the face of upheaval and injustice. We are to act with love and respect both for those whom we seek to help and those who are responsible for causing great harm to others. The weight of one snowflake can cause a branch to break. One action can lead to healing the heart of another person. One action can stop a chain of harm from continuing. One starfish thrown back into the ocean makes a difference.  One snowflake of mercy and compassion, when joined with others, can lead to healing of a nation and a world.

What starfish will we be called to help this week? When will the snowflake of our refusal to go along with orders to harm others begin to bear fruit in changing those orders? How will our light shine into the darkness and give hope?

We live in hope.

Readings for the Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time – Cycle C

 

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