Prophets Accepted/Rejected / U.S. Supreme Court / Catholic Teaching (2015-07-05)

5 July 2015  /  14^th Sunday (Year B)

Ezekiel 2:2-5  _  Psalm 123

2 Corinthians 12:7-10 _ Mark 6:1-6

[__01__] At times, our Savior was rejected by those whom he served.

We read, for example, that the Son of Man had nowhere on the map to lay his head, that the infant Jesus / child Jesus had no GPS to find room at the inn.

This rejection – by others – did not mean that his mission was halted or stopped or even hindered.

Rather, it means that the Lord’s personal relationships…became more important…

·       Within the Holy Family of Jesus – Mary – Joseph

·       Within the circle of the 12 apostles

·       With his friends and disciples such as the Martha and Mary  and Lazarus.

The struggle and journey of our salvation, in this regard, took place on a small scale first.

These circles of short radius were– and are– more important than a big crowded circle of popularity ... or a press conference.

A prophet is not accepted in his own land. This is a message of the Gospel today.

[__02__]  This does not mean that you and I, as prophets, will be rejected by ABSOLUTELY EVERYONE all the time.

Even Peter/Saint Peter who denies Jesus three times… is repentant and quickly reconciled.

And, while we may experience rejection – in the “town”- we certainly rely on our friends, families, spouses, for support of our values.

And, we also rely on the personal relationship we have – and can have – with our Savior.

He is present to us in our prayer, in our consciences, in meditation and contemplation.

We read in Psalm 139, “Where can I go from your spirit? From your presence, where can I flee?  If I go up to the heavens, you are there. If I sink to the nether world, you are there.” (Psalm 139:8)

[__03__] We may, at times, experience rejection on a small scale or large scale of Christian principles.

Sometimes, this rejection is presented or wrapped up in something very subtle such as the recent movement – and Supreme Court decision – to legalize marriage as a civil right accessible to those of the same gender or same sex.

This decision, we are told, does not demean or diminish Christian values because Christian matrimony is a private religious event.   But, we would submit that all marriages – and family arrangements – are public testimonies.

In Washington D.C., Archbishop Donald Wuerl wrote recently …

“that some may think that because the civil law definition of marriage has changed, so too has the Church’s teaching on what constitutes marriage.”

However, while this definition has not changed,  Archbishop Wuerl writes:

“the Church has always and always will meet people where they are and bring them closer to Christ.”

If people do not share our values, we do not reject them. We do not even wish to say that God rejects or condemns anyone.

[__04__]  The distinction between “sin” / “sinfulness” …. and  the …. “sinner” applies to all of us.   Archbishop Wuerl wrote that “disagreement” over what is sinful is not “discrimination.”

While Jesus may be the prophet whose values  we resist or reject… Jesus still visits our land, hometown ..he always invites us to conversion, into conversation, to draw closer to him.

Jesus is not necessarily the conquering hero returning triumphantly to us on a parade float. This was not true in ancient Jerusalem. It is the same today.

A prophet may not be accepted in his own land.  Jesus comes to meet all of us, sinners in need of God’s grace.

Archbishop/Cardinal Wuerl continued …”if the Church were to welcome only those without sin, it would be empty. Catholic teaching exhorts (invites) every believer – every one of us – to treat all people with respect, compassion, sensitivity, and love. All are called to walk with Jesus and so all who try do so have a place in the Church.”

Love includes dialogue, speaking, listening, …and loving those with whom we disagree.

Can we not love those with whom we differ?

Here at LOURDES, we are grateful to many through whom we grow in our faith …

[__05__]  Within our parish are many who hear God’s call and make God is present even when we may be feeling distracted or outright ignoring him…

These include many volunteers … our …

·       Children’s Liturgy of the Word volunteers … every Sunday at 11:30 am MASS.

·       Our catechists and aides in Mrs. Eileen Morgan’s Faith Formation program and Mrs. Morgan.

·       Our Pre-Cana marriage preparation team – Catholic husbands and wives who may not view themselves as “heroes” …. But it is by their ordinary everyday sacrifice – and sharing this – that we can form and guide new couples preparing for the lifetime commitment of the family and marriage in the Sacrament of Matrimony.

·       Our RCIA team and many others.

He is present when we ignore him in the midst of a family controversy… present when we feel Christian values ignored by our friends and neighbors … present when we feel discouraged by our own faults and fragility.

God is present when we reject him even in own land … in our own conscience.

[__06__] On this  July 4^th / Independence Day weekend, we recall that freedom is a value and virtue purchased at a price …and paid for still with soldiers and sailors and national defense.

In other words, FREEDOM is a value we share – COMMUNALLY …not something we own individually.

And, freedom is also a Christian virtue …which invites us to consider our love of God and love of neighbor at all times..

This is not a freedom to do anything we want …but it is the freedom to do what our Lord and Savior asks …even if it is not easy path.

It is the freedom to …

·       Forgive even those who do not ask for forgiveness.

·       Love even those who do not love us.

·       Teach – by our words and actions – even those who seem to ignore us.

·       Ask – for God’s mercy and forgiveness… even if we are discouraged by our faults and fragility.

Yes, at times, we may be rejected.

Yet, freedom rings.

And, we know that God – as Father, Son and Holy Spirit always awaits our return to the security of his homeland and to the spirit of his word.

[__fin__]

The Storm (2015-06-21, 12th Sun)

12^th Sunday (B) / 21 June 2015

Job 38:1, 8-11  _   Psalm 107 __  2 Corinthians 5:14-17

Mark 4:35-41

  

[__01___]         In certain seasons – and on certain occasions – the weather – the conditions of meteorology – rainfall, sun, humidity – is not one section of the news, but rather the weather is all the news that is fit to print.

And, certainly for places in our own country, in Texas and the southwestern U.S., the severe rainfall and storms require the attention and efforts of many to rescue and to rebuild.

The weather is the news; the conditions themselves may not always be good news. Nevertheless, these conditions of precipitation or drought, rain or shine, is the news.

[__02___]      We read in the Gospel Good News this Sunday about the navigation of Peter, James, John and the disciples on the boat, on the Sea of Galilee with Jesus.

We read that after they had set sail …

“a violent squall came up  [“a great storm of wind arose”]  and waves were breaking over the boat so that it was already filling up. Jesus was in the stern asleep on a cushion. They woke him and said to him,‘Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?’”

 (Mark 4:37-38)

Jesus, our Savior, had apparently not tuned into The Weather Channel.

Meanwhile, The Weather Channel was the only station of interest to the disciples.

[__03___]         Jesuit Father Edward Mally indicates that this episode shows both the anxiety and also the faith of the disciples – and of the early Church – in Christ, even under stress, even at times when God appears to be asleep or absent, silent.

We can still bring our prayers to him in times of difficulty.

On the other hand, this episode on the boat also invites us to bring ourselves to Christ in thanksgiving for the good things, the successes and prosperity we may experience.  We are also called to give thanks for his power and strength.

[__04__]      Yes, at times, there are deluges and wildfires and droughts which are weather related.

These require our attention and possibly specialized rescue equipment, fire trucks, police, firefighters, EMS, and ambulances.

These conditions may come upon us with little or no advance warning. It may or may not be in the 5 or 10 day forecast.

The storm for the disciples on the boat symbolizes not only the clouds that might gather but also the conditions created by evil by injustice.

[__05__]       At times, these conditions are similar to WEATHER CONDITIONS or extremes of temperature.

That is, due to evil/injustice on a large scale or on a smaller interpersonal scale, we may be inclined to lock ourselves up or – as the disciples do – to consider that this is the end of – rather than a turning point

  

[__06__]       Our Savior is reminding us to take action out of love, out of charity, even in times of anxiety or injustice. This will bring us closer to our salvation.

Saint Basil, the great spiritual father and spiritual director, writes:

“If we turn away from evil out of fear of punishment, we are in the position of slaves. If we pursue the enticement of wages, . . . we resemble mercenaries. Finally if we obey for the sake of the good itself and out of love for him who commands . . . we are in the position of children.”  (CCC 1828, St. Basil, Reg. fus. tract., prol. 3: PG 31, 896B.)

[**PAUSE***]

[__07__]      In the Gospel this Sunday, we read that the rainfall and wind conditions changed – they arrived – quite suddenly.

It was a “violent squall.”

VIOLENT. VIOLENCE.

This Sunday, we also mourn and pray for the victims of the squall – the storm – in this past Wednesday’s tragedy at Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in South Carolina, in Charleston.

Certainly all of us are called to remember that God does not abandon us in our need, that while human free will can be a ray of hope, this human freedom can also be used for evil purposes, and to manifest one’s sinful choices, in pride and hatred.

This the storm against which our brothers and sisters in Charleston were defenseless.

The Lord invites us to faith, hope, and charity in our prayers for all the people of God, for all us to recall that God will bring healing to this injury, light to this darkness and that we are called to turn to him, so that we ourselves are not driven or overcome by conditions beyond us, but that we are turning to God in the midst of this storm – or any storm – to be quiet and to be still.   [_fin_]     

Good News Underground (2015-06-14 - 11th Sun.)

11^th Sunday (B) / 14 June 2015

Ezekiel 17:22-24

Psalm 92

2 Corinthians 5:6-10

Mark 4:26-34

[__01___]         It seems that there is Good News about life underground.

Reflecting on these parables of the sower and seed and the planting of the seed, we recognize that a healthy environment is necessary for growth in the earth, in the soil.

This originates underground, invisibly, out of sight.

[__02___]      In the Gospel, the Kingdom of God is compared to the underground, subterranean development/growth of a tree or plant.

Regarding this progress in the soil, we read:

“This is how it is with the kingdom of God; it is as if a man were to scatter seed on the land and would sleep and rise night and day and through it all the seed would sprout and grow, he knows not how.” (Mark 4:26-27)

Do we hope, do we expect to find life underground?

At times, life underground can be troublesome or risky.

For example …

·       In an earthquake… in a tunnel.

·       In the plants or trees that could grow beneath our porches or houses

·       Or ..in the objects which might accumulate in our basements.

[__03___]         Do we hope, do we expect to find life underground?

The Good News is that our Savior expects that we would find life underground, that the Kingdom of God grows in secret.

And, he wishes that we would participate in the discovery.

[__04__]      Through these parables, our Savior reminds us of the importance of life underground

[__05__]      In your life and in my life, we are called to part of God’s kingdom, and in this kingdom God’s word – and God’s commandments – are the seed which is planted in the soil, in the earth.

This seed and these roots grow gradually and also invisibly.

[__06__]      As we just read in the Gospel …

“This is how it is with the kingdom of God; it is as if a man were to scatter seed on the land and would sleep and rise night and day and through it all the seed would sprout and grow, he knows not how.” (Mark 4:26-27)

[__07__]      Yes, this growth depends on the sacramental moments and sacramental graces on the day of ..

·       Baptism

·       Confirmation

·       Sunday Mass & Communion & First Communion

·       The wedding day / Sacrament of Matrimony

All of these moments are important sacramental encounters with God as the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

And, what Jesus is saying is that our soil, our life, our earth is changed by the planting of these seeds in sacramental moments.

[__08___]        However, the growth of God’s kingdom also occurs when we are not watching or observing explicitly.

[JURASSIC PARK / JURASSIC WORLD EXAMPLE]  We may, at times, resemble the scientists and “developers” in the fictional Hollywood action-movie, Jurassic World …. These scientists and developers are trying hard to control the growth of their ancient flora and dinosaurs. They wonder how they became so powerful. Where did they achieve all this growth?

For example, if experience a movement in our hearts, a movement in our consciences, to act in a certain way, to admit a fault, to do something generous…. We might say that these thoughts or movements are similar to the seed which grows …though the man of the parable knows not how. (cf. Mark 4:26-27)

 [__09___]       We may wonder, at times, why we are called to act differently or contrary to the way in which our friends or family would behave.

Sometimes, especially, when we are are young, we experience this as peer pressure to follow a friend or to fit in with the crowd.

Some of our friends are also leading us “UNDERGROUND”…but it is not necessarily a path to the Kingdom of God.

In our consciences – in secret and underground – we know that God’s way call us to a certain virtue or honesty.

For example, we are called to….

·       Treat our bodies our own person – and others – as Temples of the Holy Spirit.

·       …pray for enemies…to pray for those who persecute us….

·       Persevere even if we were criticized or rejected for doing what is right…. Sometimes, the persecution is an indirect way of recognition that we are doing what God asks…not what anyone else wants.

We are called not simply to do what appears good above the surface or on the ground, but also to do what is right underground in our hearts.

The Catholic Church teaches…

“The heart is the dwelling-place where I am, where I live; according to the Semitic or Biblical expression, the heart is the place "to which I withdraw." The heart is our hidden center, beyond the grasp of our reason and of others; only the Spirit of God can fathom the human heart and know it fully. The heart is the place of decision, deeper than our psychic drives. It is the place of truth, where we choose life or death. It is the place of encounter, because as image of God we live in relation: it is the place of covenant.” (CCC 2563)

[_10_]     In this regard, God works mysteriously underground in our hearts, in our souls.

[_11_]      In our prayer today – and every day – we realize that we cannot change the ATMOSPHERE or the CLIMATE CONDITIONS into which we are born or in which we exist.

Neither can the farmers schedule the rainfall or sunlight.  Of course, they wish they could just as we may wish we could control the actions of others.

Rather, we live in an ATMOSPHERE or CLIMATE that may include, both:

·       Justice and injustice

·       Love and indifference

·       Honesty and deception.

However, here on earth, underground, we can unite ourselves to God, in an intimate relationship so that he can work to shelter, to protect us and to guide us with his grace, in our soil, so that we might the be good trees that bear good fruit with his help.  (cf. Matthew 7:17)

There is Good News underground.

[_fin_]     

Corpus Christi - Where Shall We Go ...? (2015-06-07)

Corpus Christi/ 7 June 2015

Exodus 24:3-8

Psalm 116

Hebrews 9:11-15

Mark 14:12-16, 22-26

[__01___]        Where should we celebrate the Passover?

Where should we celebrate the Passover?

The disciples asked our Savior this question in the Gospel, today, this Sunday of Corpus Christi.

They were asking for direction and directions.  “Do you want us to go and prepare for you to eat the Passover?” (Mark 14:12)

And we read very specific instructions about the –

·       CITY

·       ENTERING THE CITY

·       ON THE STREET …MAN WITH A WATER JAR

·       MASTER OF THE HOUSE @ THE DESTINATION

Jesus had a place prepared. And, by the miraculous divine power of his insight, he did not need to call ahead for reservations but rather he knew the place before they would arrive.

“Where should we celebrate the Passover?”

[__02___]      This would be a question that a Jewish family would ask today, carefully considering the location for their sacred and Seder meal.

“Where should we celebrate the Passover?”

Where should we celebrate? Where should we go?

[__03___]       Don’t we need assistance/guidance/reflection to find the right place [OR, DESTINATION] to celebrate, to sacrifice with our loved ones?

At any major holiday/observance, this is also the question in our families, between married couples. 

Sometimes, it is a series of exchanges and trades, free agents, draft picks, and players to be named later.

“Where should we celebrate the Passover?”

We will go to your family for Thanksgiving and mine for Christmas.

Where should we celebrate? Where should we go?

In these discussions, also we are called to be guided by prayer, by the Holy Spirit, in the decisions we make for our FAMILIES and the time we spend together.

These decisions enable us not only be fed, to be fed physically but also to be nourished and united spiritually.

[__04__]     I also meditate on this question because this is Corpus Christi Sunday, and we recall our tradition and teaching of not only RECEIVING the Body of Christ but also FORMING and BECOMING the Body of Christ.

[__05__]      Where should we celebrate our Holy Communion with our Savior?

We celebrate here at Our Lady of Lourdes.   

*** If this were a recorded messages about SUNDAY MASS, we would now press [9] for the Mass Schedule.

One might object or question.  Why here?

Why in church?   Why not at home … at my address?

Why not on a mountain or in the forest … away from all material distractions … and where everything is truly wireless?

Is not God present everywhere? That is, he is present whether we are home alone or going out into the wild.

Yes, we believe God is present everywhere. He is maker of all things, visible and invisible, as we profess in the Creed.

Then again, might we also not say that our family and our unity in marriage is present EVERYWHERE?

That is, you and I remain children to our parents, parents to our children, brother or sister to another, husband and wife, even outside of the physical presence of the other person.

At the same time, do we not consider physical presence, HOME to be SACRED, SPECIAL?

We consider the family table to be sacred, special.

For this reason, at home also, we are also called to pray before MEALS, to acknowledge we are in God’s presence, to speak in certain tones and display manfiest certain attitudes of listening and compassion – at the table …and, so, whether we are in church or in the dining room … we live the Good News of the Gospel:

“where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I in the midst of them” (reference).   This is a message of God’s presence for the FAMILY and the CHURCH.

[__06__]     The Lord invites us every Sunday to come home, to come home to him in prayer.

Yes, it is true that God is present everywhere, but we discover God because of the arrangement here, just as we have arranged our homes in  a certain way.

We arrange the church with…

è Cross and Crucifix to remind us that this meal of the Holy Eucharist – Holy Communion – was made possible by his death and resurrection.

è The Tabernacle reminds us that his presence – of his Body and Blood – is abundant and enduring.

[__07__]      We come to church to experience God’s love.

We read in the Gospel of Matthew:

“For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.”  (Matthew 7:8)

This verse teaches not that our each one of our DESIRES may be granted, but it does teach us that each one of our QUESTIONS – everything we ask – is really heard by God. 

We come to church so that we may focus our meditation and contemplation.

We are called also to listen, to experience God’s love and also identify his love and truth everywhere.

[__08___]        This gathering in church at MASS also reminds us that just as the body needs nourishment to hold together, to bond together, so also the community, the Body of Christ, needs the nourishment of communal prayer and penance and sacrifice to unite, to stay together.

Just as husband and wife, family and children, gather not only to be nourished physically at the table, but also to be loving, charitably, spiritually nourished.

Husbands and wives, family and children gather at their own altar, in their own homes, to sacrifice and share with each other.

[_09_]     And, where should we celebrate, the disciples ask.

We celebrate and pray here as one family as one body to know also that the Lord has given us not only DAILY BREAD so that we may have grace and strength.

He also given us his grace and strength and word as our DAILY BREAD.    [_10_]        [_fin_]     

Trinity Sunday (2105-05-31)

Trinity Sunday  / 31 May 2015

[__01___]        This Sunday is Trinity Sunday, traditionally observed as the Sunday immediately following Pentecost Sunday.

Regarding the Trinity, we recall that God exists as distinct persons, with distinct roles --- as the Father, as the Son, and as the Holy Spirit.

Traditionally – and mathematically – we also assign numbers, implicitly ranking them as …

1^st – God the Father

2^nd – God the Son

3^rd – God the Holy Spirit.

However, the mystery of our faith is that the three are equal.

They are different, distinct, yet equal.

In the Bible, reading sequentially from the Old Testament from the New Testament, from the Book of Genesis …and onward to the Book of the Gospels, we read …

·       First …in Genesis … the words of God the Father, such as as “let there be light”  (Genesis 1:3)

·       Many pages later, we read Jesus saying …for example  “let he who is without sin cast the first stone.”   (John 8:7)

So, we are accustomed the words of the Father precede – in sequence and on paper – the words of the Son.

[__02___]      Nevertheless, the Father, Son and Holy Spirit are equal.

Saint John, the Evangelist, in his Gospel of John, writes and summarizes this way :  “In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God; he was in the beginning with God; all things were made through him and without him was not anything made that was made” (John 1:1-3)

In this regard, the very first word, the very first idea of God the Father was through his Son.

[__03___]     Are we not aware that two persons can be equal in status, equal in importance, yet different …

For example, a parent and child are equal in importance to the family, yet each has a different role to play.

We might also say that the “parent” and “child” come into existence at exactly the same moment… if we consider that a person’s life would changed, if he or she were to become a parent.

A husband and wife, in marriage, are equal in dignity, but each has a different gift to bring. In fact, in their love, in the Sacrament of Matrimony, in their vows, in their “I Do” before God, they are allowing God into their lives, to complete them, as a third person, as a trinity.

Do we in, our relationships, welcome God in as our partner, our guide, not to impose rules on us, but simply to share his desires with us, so that we might also respond to his desires, his hopes, his direction?

[__04___]     Yes, there is a 1^st person, a 2^nd person, and a 3^rd person in the Holy Trinity, but this is not a computerized ranking system or review.

1^st … 2^nd … 3^rd … reminds us their distinct roles.

[__05___]      Also, we are called to consider how we can form a trinity and the trinity by our own actions – in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

This is a challenge we may resist or overlook.

For example, in HOLY MATRIMONY, we are often reminded of the 2 persons…the first 2 persons.  Which is, for example…

·       ME – I am the first person

·       YOU – You are the second person.

And, between ME and YOU …or between YOU and ME, there may not be perfect agreement, as there is between the “FATHER” and the “SON” and “HOLY SPIRIT”.

There are the 3 divine persons. We are, in our lives, striving to be made like God, by allowing God – the Divine Presence – to be the third person.

We form a trinity – in marriage – by acknowledging that God also has hopes, has desires, even has  TO-DO LIST (HONEY-DO LIST?) equal in importance to our own.

God is calling us to form this trinity of love.

[__06___]      In the relationship between parent and child, between 2 family members, a trinity exist, not only the first person of my desires and the second person of your desires, but also the 3^rd person of God’s desires.

What does God want as a partner, as a guide? He wants what every spouse wants, he wants what every parent wants of her child…or what every child wants of his parent …

That is, God wants us to be –

·       HUMBLE –  In the first letter of Saint Peter we read:

“All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.” 

(1 Peter 5:5-6)

Don’t we hope that those we love are HUMBLE ?

God wants us to be

·       HOPEFUL – St. Paul wrote to the Romans that we hope for what we do not see and we wait for it with patience. (cf. Romans 8:25)   Do we not expect – do we not hope – that others will be patient with us… even if they cannot see everything we are doing?

We are called to demonstrate the same patience, to imitate God.

That is, God wants us to be –

·       HELFPUL – We are called to be servants. Even if we are in leadership roles – or in charge – we remain SERVANTS.

In the Gospel of Luke, we read –

“But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you.”  (Luke 14:13)

Under the sign of the cross – of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit – we welcome God into our lives.

[__07___]     Our calling in life is to be closer to God, through the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

This is a calling not only for those in religious life, or the ministry of the priesthood …for those whom we call Sister, or Brother…or Father …

All of us are called to meditate on how we can enter into the life of the trinity on how we can join ourselves to God,  so that we can know what God wants as a partner, an equal partner in our lives… as we carry this out in distinct and different ways.      [_fin_]