Looking for God We have just passed the winter solstice, the shortest day of the year. We will now enjoy a little more light each day. Christmas itself is a feast of lights. Trees are brought into homes and made radiant with brilliant lights; yards are also illumined. In other ways too, our lives are aglow with light. Often families are reunited; bonds of love and friendship are strengthened, and memories are brought to birth. These events of grace truly light up our lives. The readings for today speak of two kinds of light. Isaiah promises a light full of hope. Jerusalem went through destruction and forced migration and is now in desperate need of rebuilding—a situation that has repeated itself down through the ages, even to our own day. The prophet proclaims that the darkness of despair has been lifted, and a new day of restoration has dawned. At last, the light has come! In the Gospel, the magi are led to the child by the light of a star. Whether this was an actual celestial phenomenon, as the narrative suggests, or a metaphor for some other kind of enlightenment, it was by divine guidance that they found the child. The children’s version of the Gospel story is well known to most, but the adult version contains the real challenge. It maintains that God, not the social or political structures of the day, is the source of our light. It teaches that openness and humility are necessary if we wish to read correctly the “signs of the times.” It insists that when we discover the “promised one,” we must be willing to offer him all that we have. The light has come, and we are invited to live in it. How have we responded to the invitation?
Mary, Mother of God Is it over yet? Are the carols gone from the air waves? Have the stores dismantled their decorations? Has Christmas been put away to make room for Valentine’s Day? It always happens so fast. We waited and waited for Christmas, and then it came and went in a flash. But it did not happen like that for Mary; and we cannot afford to let it happen like that for us. She kept all these things, reflecting on them in her heart—and so must we. All who heard the shepherds were amazed at the story they had to tell. It was Mary who kept turning the events over and over in her mind, trying to plumb the depths of their meaning. From the moment of the angel’s unbelievable declaration, she realized that for the rest of her days she would be living with mystery. And so she kept all these things in her heart. Mary had a unique relationship with the Blessed Trinity as daughter of the Father, mother of the Son, and spouse of the Holy Spirit. Her feelings are beautifully expressed in the Magnificat, which she spoke during her visit to her cousin Elizabeth. Here she is filled with joy as the recipient of God’s love and also of an awesome responsibility For this today we say a special Thanks to her. The Son is so often a reflection of the mother as the woman in the Gospel so clearly realised. He is the one who will rout the “proud in heart” but will “fill the hungry with good things”. We are, at the same time, among those who are hungry and who are called on to feed others spiritually, emotionally and materially according to need. The first day of the New Year is traditionally a day to pray for peace. This year, peace is much more than a seasonal theme. It might conjure up the faces of frightened children dressed in foreign garb, or that of a daughter or son in uniform. We beg God to look upon us kindly and give us peace. Here again, Mary may well serve as our model. She considered deeply the events of her life. So must we, if peace is to take root in our day and take flesh in our lives. Let us pray: Lead us from death to life, from falsehood to truth, from despair to hope, from fear to trust lead us from hate to love, from war to peace; let peace fill our hearts ,let peace fill our world ,let peace fill our universe.
In the Beginning Was the Word At Christmas we turn our attention to an only Son and a young life. Our gospel today brings us up a bit short! For John, “in the beginning” is not measured in human terms; it is a much longer term, back to creation, before time. There the Word already had divine life and was already one with God. And this Word would come to dwell with us on earth so that we might see divine glory. A profound Christmas message today: if we accept Jesus and come to know him, then we become children of God. Jesus’ birth is also our rebirth. From the beginning, God desired our salvation. The amazing good new – one moment ushers in an eternal glory. Darkness is dispelled because the Light of the World became incarnate and dwells among us. Christmas is the time to risk becoming vulnerable again. Christmas is the time to really believe that love is possible. God’s vulnerability at Christmas time invites us to respond by opening our hearts and believing in love once again. Nothing is more magical than a heart that has become vulnerable to another person – not snow on Christmas eve, not twinkling lights and starry skies, not haunting Christmas carols, not even the faces of little children on Christmas morning. Nothing is more magical than a heart that has become vulnerable to believe once again in the promise and possibilities of love. And that’s what we see when we look in the manger or on the cross – the vulnerable heart of God calling us to mutual friendship and maybe even a little romance. It’s magical. It’s the magic of Christmas.
A Divine Dwelling Jesus’ birth is foretold in this gospel where Gabriel comes to Mary and announces that within her she has the king that Israel has long awaited. To have found favor with God surprises Mary, a woman with none of the qualities valued in her society. She was female, young, poor, and didn’t even have a husband or child to give her existence credibility. Not only did this puzzle her, but she knew she was a virgin and carrying a child didn’t logically fit. Her puzzlement gave Gabriel the opportunity to explain that the baby she carried was conceived through the Holy Spirit. Mary accepted what was told to her, and remained open to God’s will. At the same time, she learned that her cousin, Elizabeth, was also pregnant. This pregnancy was miraculous as well, since Elizabeth had been thought to be barren and was now an old woman. Mary accepted the gift of Jesus with a willing and thankful heart. She is a good model for us as we approach this busy and hectic time of year. Rather than be so concerned about all the preparations for the holiday, at least for a few minutes today, take time to thank God for the gift of Jesus and the promise he brings to each of us. Along with Mary, we might be thankful for the gift of our family and friends and focus today on what is really valuable about these gifts.
Who Are You? When my nephew was five, he was visiting with my mother shortly before Christmas. Grandma asked him what Santa would bring him. His answer was a long list of the latest toys, but he ended with a surprise! With all the simplicity and honesty of a child, Jason spread out his arms in resignation and said, “And probably a lump of coal!” Jason knew himself to be good and yet, sometimes, not so good. The challenge of our Gospel today is to be clear about who we are and who we are not. Who we are must flow from our relationship with Jesus. John was sure of his identity because he was sure about the identity of Jesus. His self knowledge enables John to be who God intends him to be. If we are asked, “Who are you?” can we be so sure about our identity in relation to Jesus that our lives point to him? Our Baptism plunges us into Christ’s saving mystery. Our baptism transforms us into the Body of Christ and initiates a lifelong relationship to Christ and each other. We are called to announce the presence of Christ among us and within us. We too are heralds of Christ. United with Christ, we can bring a “year of favor”.
Are We Ready? Have you been out to see the Christmas lights yet? It is time for the annual excursion, when you pack the car with people on a chilly December evening, and drive around to all the neighborhoods and parks made beautiful by cities or neighborhood associations with lights, lights, and more lights, in a variety of colors and hues. There are bright reds, blues, and greens; beautiful, pastel pinks and yellows; and of course the brilliant elegance of white. As you drive along, there are elves and carolers, Santa and his reindeer, a snowman or two, and maybe a tin soldier. The decorations are eye-catching, breath-taking, and often amusingly original. One house I saw recently was decked out in red and white lights, with a gigantic “OSU” shining in the yard. I am not sure what that had to do with Christmas, but it sure looked good! Of course, you will eventually see a nativity scene. There will be baby Jesus in a manger. Mary and Joseph will hover reverently over the holy child. Shepherds, three wise men, and a menagerie of animals will give fullness to this sacred reminder amidst all the glitter. There is always one person missing. Correct me if I am wrong, for I imagine that collectively we have seen a tremendous amount of Christmas displays. So if you have found him somewhere, please let me know. But have you ever seen John the Baptist in any of the nativity scenes? He would be this hairy, unkempt, wild-looking guy wearing camel’s hair. There would be a piece of locust caught between his teeth and dried honey in his beard. Louder than any Santa says, “Ho, ho, ho,” you would hear the automated voice of John the Baptist screaming, “The kingdom of heaven is near.” Has anyone noticed a figure like that in any of the nativity scenes that are traditional to our celebration of Christmas? I love receiving Christmas cards. I especially like Christmas cards with good Christian artwork on the cover. The lion with the lamb; the three wise men and the message, “Wise Men Still Seek Him;” the Madonna and child; or the star piercing the darkness over stable and manger; all are beautiful depictions of the Christmas story. Again, I am positive that as a group we have all perused thousands of Christmas cards like these. Yet I do not recall ever receiving one with John the Baptist preaching in the desert. Do you? No? There is a reason for that, of course. John the Baptist is totally inappropriate for the way we celebrate Christmas. What does John the Baptist have do with Christmas? For Mark, everything. Instead of Bethlehem and choirs of angels, he begins the story of Jesus’ coming with a prophet blaring and baptizing in the wilderness of Judea. In so doing, he adds a new figure to the good news about the incarnation and coming of the Christ. It is John the Baptist. Throughout the centuries the church has recognized Mark’s unique contribution through its observance of Advent in preparation for the celebration of Christmas. Advent means “coming.” Two thousand years ago, in a place called Bethlehem, lying in a manger, God came to us in the weakness of a baby. God entered our world, put on our shoes, and lived, breathed, and walked among us. He taught, loved, died on a cross, and rose again. God came to us; Advent. So John the Baptist invites us into the wilderness. If we are going to receive Christ’s coming, we must be made ready by stepping away from distractions and stepping out of the pace and pattern of Christmas as it’s celebrated by our culture, and going out into the stripped-down simplicity of the desert, where we learn again that we live not on bread but on the word of the Lord; not on stuff, but on His presence. He calls us out into the wilderness to get away from all the clamor and distraction, so we might focus on Christ. He asks us to respond to a message of repentance, to pray about hindrances and sin and cry out, “Lord, deliver me from this! Forgive me of that! Help me to overcome! I am putting these hindrances, those sins aside. I am not going there anymore. Give me strength Lord!” He invites us to follow him on Jesus’ way, the way of the cross; the way of giving our lives away. John the Baptist enters the Christmas story to get us ready for the coming Christ. Are we ready? Are we ready? Or do we need to answer the call of John the Baptist, join him in the wilderness, and get ready? Jesus is coming. Are we ready?
Waiting, Hoping When my nephew was younger, we would use NORAD’s website to track Santa’s progress around the world. Jason would want us to go to the website every few minutes to see where he was. At a certain point, with eager expectation, we had to get him to bed. What a challenge! His expectation was unlimited. All good things were about to happen. And we? Are we affected by our expectations as an eager child who is waiting for Santa? And do our sound expectations motivate our behaviors and open us to new possibilities? Jesus’ admonition, ” Be watchful! Be alert!” in our gospel was spoken to hearers holding expectations that the Messiah was about to come to restore Israel to its former power, wealth and glory. However, their expectations narrowed their vision. Their limited expectations prevented them from recognizing Jesus as the Messiah already in their midst. Why? Who would expect a carpenter to be the Messiah! The challenge for us is to be open our eyes to the simple, everyday ways God is present to us with gifts we cannot imagine.
Feast of Christ the King Ask a group of boomers who pops into their minds when they hear the word “king.” Some candidates might be simply “The King” (Elvis) or the King of Pop or, more soberly, some might remember “The Boss” singing: “Poor man wanna be rich/ Rich man wanna be king/ And a king ain’t satisfied/ Till he rules everything.” “King” suggests someone at the top, exercising power and receiving adulation from all quarters. Even today, when kingship seems out of kilter with modern culture. The Gospel on this feast of the Messiah king, Jesus, calls forth those “blessed by the Father” to share in his eternal life. To be blessed is to share in God’s holiness, to be of God, to act toward each other as God acts toward us. We hear the Son of Man’s call to eternal glory in the cry of those in need and we respond to that call by spending ourselves for the good of others; by our care and compassion; and we inherit glory here and now and forever.
Got Talent? In our Gospel today, a man went away on a journey. He must have been very wealthy, because he entrusted large portions of his money to three of his servants. Before “talent” meant skill, it meant money. It represented the largest unit of accounting in the Greek currency – 10,000 denarii. According to the parable of the workers, a denarius represented a day’s fair wages (Matt. 20:2). Multiply your daily wage by 10,000, and you discover the value of a talent. If you earn $30,000 a year and you annually work 260 days, you make about $115 a day. A talent in your case is valued at 10,000 times $115 or $1,150,000! The first two servants invested the money during the master’s absence and it yielded great returns. The third servant, however, was fearful of investing (or some scholars say he was lazy). In either case, the servant buried the money he was given and returned the full amount to the master when he came home. The master was pleased with the investments of the first two servants, but was very upset with the third one. To those who have much, much more will be given. To those who have little, even that little will be taken away. God has given each one of us talents. Sometimes out of laziness or lack of ambition, or sometimes because we are afraid of failure or ridicule, we do not share our talents. The Gospel today challenges us to take a risk and invest our gifts for the greater good of God’s people. While we await the Master’s return, we are to use our blessings well in faithful discipleship and in intimately loving God. We are to make present God’s Kingdom here and now.
You Are One Choice Away Think about this for a moment…one choice, just one, can change your life forever. Simply put, your life today is what your choices have made it, but with new choices, you can change directions this very moment. Take a few minutes and reflect: http://www.onechoicemovie.com/. This short video offers tremendous hope, regardless of circumstances, for a better tomorrow.
Be Prepared I am not very patient when it comes to delays. I avoid certain stores where I know checkout lanes are always insufferably long. I am anxious in Doctors’ offices if I have to wait more than 30 minutes. And I dread seeing “delayed” behind scheduled flights at the airport! Delays annoy me because I perceive them as costing me precious time, they catch me off guard with nothing productive to do or they keep me from meeting other deadlines. Our annoyance with delays teaches us how much we live in the here and now and how precious time is to us. This Sunday’s Gospel challenges us to look with longer vision-there is more to the present than the present. We are to become aware that every detail of what we are doing now is part of life’s journey toward the future where we meet our Bridegroom. Five wise virgins can well afford to sleep for they are prepared for the long delay. Jesus warns us that the here and now is an important readying for his second coming.The question for us, then, how do we deal with the delay? Matthew is suggesting that we are to be prepared. We are living in a crucial time of spending our lives being open to Christ’s comings in the here and now. We must actively seek our bridegroom and have the long-range vision that sees Christ seeking us.
Practice What You Preach How many parents or teachers haven’t had the experience of seeing their behavior played back to them by children or youth? Last Sunday, my mother was preparing to leave her grand-niece’s home when she simply froze on the top step of the front porch. Ethan, her great-grand nephew who is four, recognized her struggle. He went up the steps and stood with her. “Place your right foot on the next step; Good, now place your left foot next to your right foot. Good! Now, let’s do that again” And he got my mother down the steps! So it is, we know how his mother taught him to use the steps! This experience of seeing our behavior played back is so true when it comes to language, mannerisms, habits, preferences and prejudices. Sometimes it is young people’s imitation of adult behavior that confronts the adults with the truth about who they are and brings about in them a desire for change. In our Gospel today, Jesus talks to the crowds and disciples about the failure of the scribes and Pharisees to live up to their preaching. Jesus’ teaching hits home because his own life witnessed so completely to what he preached; he not only taught us to reach out to the poor, but he himself reached out to the marginalized; he not only preached forgiveness, but he himself forgave; he taught love as the greatest commandment, and then loved sinners, children, Gentiles lepers. Practicing what we preach as Jesus did is not easy. Our Gospel mis saying that we must always keep our eyes on God , doing works out of love for God and others and act with the integrity of Jesus. Our works must reveal that we are disciples of Jesus, the servant of others, recognizing all as our sisters and brothers in Christ.
Priorities, Priorities, Priorities Priorities indicate how things are of relative importance to us. The things that are important to us generally have impact on our well being and that of others. This Sunday’s Gospel is about priorities. The scholar of the law tests Jesus by asking him to prioritize -to identify the greatest law. Had Jesus answered by naming most important one of the 631 numerous precepts so dear to the Pharisees he would have failed the test. Jesus states a clear priority with his answer-there is only one commandment above all others to love God with our whole being. This is the most important thing in our lives and everything else we do is measured against our love for God. And secondly, by loving our neighbor we are l0oving God. Here lies the surprise of the Gospel, love of God and love of neighbor cannot really be separated for in loving our neighbor we are loving God! Most of us don’t have great difficulty loving those we know and care about, but what about the neighbor we do not know? We can volunteer at soup kitchens, assist in building homes for the homeless, participate in acts of justice that lead to systemic change. In all of these and countless other ways not only do we love our neighbor, but in these acts we show our love for God. This is our most important priority – to love God in the neighbor we meet every day.
The Way of God Once again, we find the Pharisees plotting to entrap Jesus. The controversy between Jesus ad the religious ;leaders is becoming more obvious and deliberate. With sarcasm, the Pharisees in today’s Gospel attempt to trap Jesus. seeing through their ruse, Jesus turns the tables with the truth. The way of God is not found in opposing civil and religious authority but in acting with the integrity of Jesus responding appropriately in each kingdom. Like Jesus,we are to give ourselves for the good of others in all areas of life. Giving ourselves first to God, we will know the way and the truth of all other loyalties and our choices and behaviors will further God’s plan of salvation. Above all we are to live as one who gives God what belongs to God. What God wants most from us isn’t money. What God asks of us is the wholehearted self offering that acknowledges who God is and who we are in relation to God. In return, God gives what no state can give: a share in divine life.
All In The Gospel brings us another parable. The parables you find later in Matthew tend to have darker themes and definitely hit the eschatological ideas differently than in earlier parables. As Jesus gets closer to the cross, he tells stories that challenge us to make decisions and spur us to action. Following Jesus is not for wimps. The parable of the wedding banquet has some violent themes that make us cringe a bit—but you get the point—if you get invited to the banquet, say yes. And there will be all kinds of folks invited to the banquet, so get over it. And after you have said “yes”, be sure to be prepared for the banquet. Jesus wants fully committed followers who are “All In.” We are invited to a feast of generosity through many opportunities to share our gifts with others less fortunate than ourselves. Do we willingly donate time, energy, resources to others? We are invite to a feast of relationships within family, workplace, neighborhood. Do we share our values and spirituality with others? Which is the feast we choose? Are we all in?
Fruit of the Vine How disappointing it is to work hard at something, only to have it go wrong and have no god outcome happen. Students might spend hours studying for an exam, only to discover the have studied the wrong questions. A worker puts in long overtime hours on a project, only to have the manager scuttle the project. How disheartening this is for us, and how often it even results in our hesitating to work so hard the next time. God is amazingly resilient despite human forces and frailties that constantly thwart the divine plan for our salvation. Nothing, not even sparing the life of the divine Son, deters God from offering us a rich heritage in divine life itself. For our part we are to be faithful tennants who rejoie in our heritage and acknowledge that we have been given far more than we expect or deserve. What is the fruit we are to produce? The fruit of the kingdom is the life God offers but the only way to produce that fruit is to die to self. The kingdom involves our rooting out anything that keeps us from growing in relationship with God and hearing God’s word, our dying to self so that we can do God’s willl. As faithful tenants we plant seeds of encouragement and hope, we water the growing fruit with prayer, we fertilize it with reflection on God’s word, we cultivate it by good works and we celebrate its abundance by sharing it with others. We are heirs to more than our rightful share. We receive an inconceivable heritage, abundant life that cannot be pressed out.
To Do God’s Will I irritate some people because I cannot make up my mind. However, living with people who constantly change their minds drives me batty! Such a simple thing as to what to have for dinner can bring ten things out of the freezer and take a half hour to decide! In this instance changing our mind has no serious consequences -maybe time lost and nerves frayed, but these are forgotten as dinner is finally served. In our Gospel today, two sons change their minds about how they carry through on their response to their father’s command to go and work in his vineyard. The point of the parable goes far beyond simply doing work. Jesus is telling us something about the kingdom of God and salvation. We cannot dilly-dally around. Our belief must be decisive and our actions must carry through and be consistent with our belief. No matter what we say, the real issue is what we do. Any change of mind we have must be about turning ourselves from mere talk to doing God’s will. This is how we enter the kingdom of God. All of us are a little like both sons. Sometimes we hear and respond faithfully to God’s will, but at other times our actions don’t carry through what we hear and believe. The good news is that God does not change the divine mind about calling us to salvation. Whether we say yes or no to God’s call, God keeps calling us. We are the ones who need a change of mind. We are the ones who must believe in God’s offer of salvation and faithfully do God’s will.
A Forgiving Heart Today’s readings offer an uncomfortable, but clear challenge to us on this anniversary of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks: the challenge of forgiveness. In today’s Gospel, the Parable of the Unforgiving Servant, we hear the story of the master (representing God) who forgives the servant of his debt (the servant represents us). The message is that God forgives us not because we deserve it, but because God is merciful. Yet, when that servant does not extend the same forgiveness to others, he gets himself into trouble, for he has not acted toward others the way the master acted toward him. We are called to forgive those who sin against us. This message is made clear by Peter’s question to Jesus, “Lord, if my brother sins against me, how often must I forgive him? As many as seven times?” Jesus answers, “Not seven times but seventy-seven times” (Mt. 18:21-22) We have probably heard this instruction many times and we can sometimes take it for granted. It may be easy to apply to everyday situations: I will forgive you for leaving your dishes in the sink, being late to pick me up, forgetting my birthday, etc. But in fact, these everyday situations are ultimately about developing an attitude of forgiveness that can define our lives. Without that kind of attitude, what will we do about the really difficult situations in life: …the close friend who says something hurtful behind your back; …the spouse who cheats; …how about the priest who abuses a child; …the murderer on death row; …the terrorists who plotted and carried out the attacks on September 11, 2001? Our inclination may be simply to say that some things are too terrible to forgive. Certainly, it is only human that we must often go through a period of anger, bitterness, and mourning. Perhaps, we will never forget some wrongs. But there is great wisdom in Jesus’ words about forgiveness. Our human experience tells us that when we hold on to anger and hatred, it eats away at us. It can begin to change us and make us into persons we never wanted to be. In some ways, forgiveness frees the one who forgives from carrying that burden. We can let it go and entrust the other to God who is better able to deal with them. The teaching on forgiveness is about being like God, who is merciful. It is about recognizing something of ourselves in those who commit the greatest evils, for no one is free of sin. Finally, this teaching on forgiveness is about being able to live with the peace of love instead of hate, which tears and destroys. Jesus is not urging us simply to be passive in the face of evil. We must still work to protect the innocent and to hold those who perpetrate crimes against humanity accountable. But at the same time we are called to forgive even while asking, in love, how we can move forward in truth and love. Forgiveness requires that we address the situation in a positive and loving way, instead of with fear and hatred. This may be a hard message to hear, but Jesus’ words today are challenging us in a big way. When something that is dearest to us has been attacked, how will we respond? The Gospel challenges us to consider what a Christian response might be. Our response will have long-lasting implications on us as persons and as a society. What has been your response to September 11, 2001, and how can you act positively and lovingly as we move forward? How about your prayer response?
Where Two or Three Are Gathered Imagine sitting at the dinner table when two family members are not speaking to one another. Tension fills everyone at the table and can even make eating difficult. How courageous and risky it is for someone to speak up to resolve the tension. How disruptive it is for the family not to address the tension! The family sitting at the dinner table is, in our gospel today,the community of the church. Jesus challenges us to deal openly with the ways we willfully or even inadvertently hurt one another lest our unity be permanently weakened. What is at stake is our identity as the Body of Christ, our capacity to pray with one another,and our ability to make decisions based on gospel values. Facing another about hurts is one of the most difficult “dyings” we undertake- a dying that requires us to risk relationships, let go of self-righteousness, perhaps face angry reactions. From the other side, admitting that we have hurt another takes great humility and honesty. Neither facing another nor facing ourselves is easy! The good news and strength to be reconcilers comes from Jesus’ promise that he is in the midst of two or three gathered in his name. The challenge is to grow in the consciousness that we and others are the presence of the risen Christ for one another and then act accordingly.
We Must Lose Our Life Today’s Gospel continues straight on from last week’s and shows how fleeting the disciples’ understanding was. Last week, they heard Peter identify Him as the Son of God – this week, they hear Jesus call Peter “Satan”. What is going on? The problem lies in Peter’s understanding of what being the Messiah – the Son of God means. He had been brought up on the idea of a warrior Messiah – someone who would liberate Israel by his qualities of leadership and even having traveled with Jesus and heard His words in the Sermon on the Mount, Peter is still convinced that this is Jesus’ destiny. Jesus understands things differently. He recognizes that His Kingdom is not one of this world – and that the kind of Kingdom He is building is going to bring Him into conflict with the chief priests and lead, eventually, to His death. This is unthinkable to the disciples – but Jesus is quite certain and recognizes in Peter’s words some of the empty promises offered by Satan in the desert. Hence words which seem harsh: “get behind me, Satan”. Last week, Peter thought in God’s way – this week, he has reverted to human thinking. Jesus makes the point even more strongly – not only is He destined to suffer but those who follow Him are going to suffer too. The true followers of Jesus will, like Him, have to shoulder the burdens of suffering and death. But the promise Jesus offers at the end shows that this is not empty suffering – or pain for its own sake. In the end, suffering and death always leads to new life. The life Jesus offers is worth any price.
Who Do You Say I Am? The two questions that Jesus poses to His disciples today – “Who do people say I am?” and “Who do you say I am?” are questions that every disciples has to face at some time in their lives. They may be questions that we have to keep returning to as we learn more – and change throughout the course of our lives. Jesus asks the disciples first of all what they have heard others say about Him – and they quote those who say He is John the Baptist – Jeremiah – one of the other prophets – and so on. Then, He changes the question to “But you – who do you say I am?” They fall silent – this was obviously something they either had not given any thought to – or could not put into words if they had. At this point, Simon Peter finds words from deep within himself as the truth about who Jesus is revealed to him. A fisherman – more used to mending nets and catching and selling fish – finds himself at a turning point in history – when Jesus is revealed as the Christ. Jesus recognizes that such an insight cannot come from human thinking – but is a revelation from God. He also recognizes that this sets Peter apart as someone who not only receives the revelation but is also able to speak of it. In this, we see a premonition of Peter’s speech on the first Pentecost Sunday. Throughout our lives, we hear different things about Jesus. Some of them will help to develop our understanding about Jesus – others will challenge us – and others may confuse us. Like Peter today, we will hear all sorts of things about Jesus – but, eventually, we will have to look at them all and decide what we believe about Jesus. This may change and grow as we change and grow – indeed it should grow and change. But always, as we reflect, we come back to the same insight – stronger and deeper – that Jesus of Nazareth is the Christ – the Son of God. And this Gospel challenges us with our own identity. We are Christ’s presence any time we forgive, offer encouraging words, show mercy and compassion. In all these and many other ways, we witness to our identity as church- as the presence of the risen Christ made visible in and through us. Such an identity we share.
The Persistent Mother I struggle with the story of Jesus encountering the Canaanite woman. I don’t know if it’s the lack of compassion in Jesus’ voice or the exploitation of power or the tone of condescension, but if this were the only story I knew of Jesus I’d be turned off. When the Canaanite woman calls to Jesus, he doesn’t even acknowledge her. He doesn’t give her the time of day. But the woman is persistent. Her daughter is suffering, and this Jesus can help. So she keeps calling out. The disciples urge Jesus to make her leave. He seems to agree and says, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” In other words, I did not come for you, so get lost. She kneels and says simply, “Lord, help me.” Jesus is unmoved. “It is not fair to take the children’s food and throw it to the dogs.” But the woman fires right back at Jesus. “Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from the table.” This time Jesus says, “Woman, great is your faith!” and grants her wish. Her daughter is healed. Is the point to encourage great faith? Is it a lesson in perseverance? Is the point that Jesus has the power to heal us if we beg? The gospel challenges us to be persons of strong faith who are persistent in prayer and courageous in asking for salvation. The encounter between Jesus and the woman reveals the unrestricted mercy of Jesus, the power of great faith and the universality of salvation for those who believe. The Canaanite woman’s single-mindedness on behalf of her daughter challenges us to be just as single-minded about placing our requests before God and about our inclusive ministry with others. To reach out to others in mercy and compassion, no matter who they are.
Get Out of the Boat and Keep Your Eyes Fixed on Jesus Matthew 14:22-33 It was a long and challenging day, with the sick and outcast, the hungry and vulnerable, coming to Jesus to be healed, to be fed, to be recognized, accepted and loved. I have had days like that; days when I am spent and tired and in need of a pause in my ministry of care. Jesus was weary – the disciples were weary. As evening drew near, Jesus sent his disciples off in their boat, to the other side of the lake; For the best boat accident attorney visit boat injury attorney in Miami – Amanda Demanda. he dismissed the crowd so he could go up on the mountain to prayand join them later. Jesus sought out his place of solitude – the disciples theirs, in their boat, on the water. We are not told what happened that evening in the boat, nor on the mountain, but we can anticipate that both Jesus and his disciples cleared their heads, rested and gave some thought to what had happened that day. I, too, need those break-away moments and spots where I can recollect and get a grip on what it is I am about and where I find my guidance and strength. Jesus was most at home in his moments and places of solitude, where he could commune with his Father and find strength and meaning to continue in his ministry of healing; to remember that the words and actions of His healing ministry were of his Father. I am like Jesus. I need solitude, away from the crowds and a place in nature, preferably on land, where I can reflect on my vocation and ministry of care, and where I find my meaning, my purpose and my strength to go on. The disciples were most at home in their trusty craft – in the surroundings that were familiar to the fishermen among them. Their tradition, their daily task of fishing and mending nets on the shore was where they were most comfortable in life. There they felt safe. Like the disciples, when I am in safe, familiar and comfortable circumstances, and not challenged, I am at home. – and fearless. The lake was not strange territory to them. Even as the weather changed, and they were far from the land, with the wind against them, they were in familiar territory; they were safe – until fear overtook them. It was not the wind or waves, nor being tossed about in their boat, that caused the fear to rise up in them. No – it was the sight of their Master walking toward them on the water, appearing as a ghost, that frightened them. Peter recognized it was the Lord, and fear left him when he heard Jesus speak: “Courage, do not be afraid, It is I.” But Peter, needed the assurance that he was in the safe-keeping of his master and responded to Jesus’ invitation: “Come!”. He responded by getting out of the boat. I, too, have had those moments when I have been challenged to dare, to risk, and get out of the boat of my comfort, safety, and the familiar – to respond to Jesus’ invitation: “Come!” And I found strength in His Word. When Peter challenged Jesus: “Lord, if it is really You, command me to come to You on the water.” , was he questioning: “Am I in the presence of the One who can do all things in and through me?” Perhaps fear had left Peter, but did he trust in the Lord’s presence and power? When doubt overcame him, Peter began to sink – and fear returned. I recently read a book by John Ortbert: “If You Want to Walk on Water, You have to Get Out of the Boat.” The author’s premise was that the invitation to follow Christ was an invitation to dare, to risk and step out of the boat of our comfort zone, to leave what is familiar, comfortable, safe, and face the challenges of ministry in His name. I have found that when I trust and respond to my vocational call to walk with Jesus, on land or water, there are risks. But when I do dare to get out of the boat, I discover the unique calling of God and can respond with trust. It is then that I can more readily respond to the invitation of Jesus to “Come”, and experience the power of God accomplishing in and through me what I would not be able to do on my own. And with Jesus there to take my hand, lift me up and out of my fear, I can answer his call to a greater faith, to a more powerful ministry of service, and a new way of trusting God’s presence in my life. I don’t have the desire to walk on water, but I do desire to follow Jesus, and in order to accomplish that, I must first get out of the boat – then keep my eyes fixed on Jesus, so I won’t sink in the process.
The Kingdom of Heaven My father would tell us that we could discover a person’s true values by observing what was around the house. If every corner were filled with things, the person valued inanimate objects. If the walls shined with pictures of family and friends, the person valued relationships. If there were green plants around, the person valued growth and life. Our Gospel for today speaks to the value of the kingdom of heaven. How is this kingdom manifested? When God is present. When there is hospitality and kindness, joy and love, wisdom and understanding. These are expressions of God’s presence here and now. The treasure we seek is not a thing in some place. It is the very presence of God revealed in the hearts of those who know what is right and act justly. It is revealed in a wise and understanding heart. Such a heart leads us to seek and treasure the people who mediate for us God’s loving and abiding presence This presence is the kingdom of heaven among us. To be faithful disciples we must be willing to give our all to encounter God’s presence in the goodness we share with others. We encounter God’s presence in our self-giving response to the needs of others. In everyday experiences we find ldting treasure- the kingdom of heaven among us.
God’s Amazing Patience Patience is a virtue. I admire parents who seemingly have endless patience with their two year old’s constant “No!” Or teachers who patiently coax their students to stretch their learning and strive to achieve all their talent allows. Patience is that virtue which enables us to wait for the maturing of persons, abilities and ideas. “The kingdom of heaven” is continually being established by a God who is amazingly patient. This Sunday’s three gospel parables illustrate this well. The kingdom of heaven is guaranteed by the God who patiently cultivates even when the field produces weeds as well as wheat, the God who confidently plants even when the seed seems inconsequential, the God who capably raises batches of bread from mere yeast. This is a God who knows that worthwhile and everlasting things take time and cannot be rushed. If God is patient with wheat and seed and leaven, how much more is God patient with us! Being patient with testy children, being patient trying to teach another some skill, being patient with another’s foibles and weaknesses are all ways God’s patience is present through us. God’s patience abounds as does the kingdom of heaven!
The Goodness of God The parable of the sower and the seed stood as a favorite parable in the early church. The contemporaries of Jesus gathered around him to learn about the Kingdom. In this gospel passage, the crowd was so great, Jesus had to sit in a boat off shore to teach. But Jesus taught in such a way to cause frustration and insight. Instead of teaching clearly, he allowed the listener to but the pieces together. In this way, the listener (and the reader) could grow spiritually. The parable of the sower and the seed shocked Jesus’ audience for wasteful planting and the abundant harvest. Ancient people saw waste as an abuse of the rich. When they discussed economics, most ancient people agreed on two points. First, there was only a limited amount of wealth in the world. Second, God (or the gods) willed the distribution of that wealth within a rigid social class system. The rich (five percent of the population) held ninety percent of the wealth and the poor battled for survival. The ancients would consider our modern notions of creating wealth and individual betterment absurd. Imagine the audience’s attitude toward waste. They would recycle any useful object and pick up any useful seed so they could replant it in good soil. Yet the farmer in the parable threw seed around without thought. Did he flaunt his wealth? Or, did he totally lack common sense? In the end, however, the harvest vindicated the farmer’s sowing practices. When most people gained yields of two to five times the amount of grain planted, the farmer in the parable gained 30 to 100 times! The yield boggled the mind of the ancients. Jesus considered this parable important enough to give it two emphatic statements: “Look!” at the beginning and “Those who have ears, listen!” at the end. Why? To emphasize the blessings of God’s Kingdom. God’s blessings seemed as irrational to Jesus’ audience as they do today. God blessed the wicked with riches while the good suffer. Yet, the suffering of the good led to much greater blessings. Such was God’s Kingdom. Like any good story, the parables of Jesus had many levels of meaning. Jesus interpreted this parable for the missionary ministry of the apostles. In our Gospel, Jesus viewed the sower as the missionary preaching to the crowds. Some in the crowd reject the message outright (like seeds on the hardened path). Others receive the message but are immature and quickly lose interest in the face of opposition (like the seeds on rocky soil which the sun burnt). A third group become Christians but never enjoy spiritual growth, since worries of the world get in the way (like the seeds sown with thorn weeds). The last group grows abundantly in Christ, since they willingly place themselves at risk (like seeds in a deep, rich soil that is turned over and over). God’s word is sown in the most unpredictable places and ways. God’s word is sown at the family dinner table where the day’s joys and challenges are shared. God’s word is sown in extending expressions of endearment, in expressing understanding and forgiveness, in speaking encouragement, in challenging injustice. In all of these ways, through us, God’s word achieves the end for which it was sent. Jesus meant his parables to shock and befuddle his audience for a reason. He told parables to make his audience think. Applied to our modern life, the parable of the sower and the seed still poses a challenge.
Come to Me All You Who Labor Sons often imitate their fathers. I have a picture of my nephew around the age of three pushing a lawn mower following his dad as his dad mowed the front lawn! If his dad was in the garage working on a car, my nephew was right there wanting to use the same tools. If his dad was carrying something heavy, he wanted to help ease the burden. As my nephew has aged, he has found out that heavy burdens are not desirable! We do not go through life looking for heavy burdens to shoulder. They often weigh us down, break our back or can even break our spirit. Heavy burdens are not God’s desire for us. God’s desire is that God comes to us first and in turn invites us to come to Christ. Jesus is accessible to us. And in choosing to come to Christ, we share the burden Jesus himself carries.This burden is self-giving for the sake of others. It is seeing Christ in the face of the needy. Jesus promises that the burden is easy and light. It is easy and light because Jesus shares the burden of carrying it. We do not shoulder the burden alone. All we need to do is rest in Jesus.