Christ Unifies

In a contentious age, it is easy to have many differences. From our political parties being Republican or Democrat, our athletic affiliations being a Met fan or a Yankee fan, we argue a lot. There is no escaping our differences. We dare to say: “We agree to disagree.” There is no unity when we disagree. Unity was a concern even at the time of Jesus Christ.

The Gospel of John (17:1-26) is generally known as the Farewell prayer, given that it is an intercession for the coming Church. Jesus prays for his disciples in the first century and for the future disciples after his death and resurrection. One feature of his prayer was unity among his followers.

“I’m praying not only for them, But also for those who will believe in me
Because of them and their witness about me.
The goal is for all of them to become one heart and mind—
Just as you, Father, are in me and I in you,
So they might be one heart and mind with us.
Then the world might believe that you, in fact, sent me.
The same glory you gave me, I gave them,
So they’ll be as unified and together as we are—
I in them and you in me.”

We all have a common thread that we as Catholics are striving to love and serve the Lord. Christ says, “Pray for those who believe in me.” I ask one basic question. What do we believe? When we pray, do we listen to the words with our heart and soul? Our Catholic faith is based on the Nicene Creed. The Catholic Church teaches that it is One Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church, founded by Jesus Christ in his Great Commission. In Christianity, the Great Commission is the instruction of the resurrected Jesus Christ to his disciples to spread his teachings to all the nations of the world.

Christian history has shown us that unity was short lived. Catholic theology has been debated all throughout the centuries from Adoptionism, Arianism, Macedonians, and Gnostics to name of few heresies that would bring about confusions for centuries. Christ has a great desire of unity among us, his disciples, and that all may remain in the love, which unifies, because without love and without unity, we are nothing.

When Christ gave the Church the gift of unity, he made it an essential corner stone of his teachings. “That they may all be one.” This is a prayer of unity of believers. However, the devil likes to sow confusion in our lives. Satan works to divide us, but Christ works to unite us. Jesus Christ has all the greatness, he wants to give that greatness to us; we just have to strive for it. It is my prayer “that we may be one, being one with Christ.”

Holy Mother Church, pray for us.

Bernard of Clairvaux

God's Plan

This weeks Gospel is from John 14: 23-29 and its when Jesus is explaining that he is going to be leaving soon. He is trying to comfort his disciples and let them know that even though they don’t fully understand all of the details, they do not need to be afraid. He let’s them know that the Holy Spirit will be there to give them the understanding that they are asking for. As I read the gospel I immediately connected with the discussion that was going on between Jesus and the disciples. Jesus is explaining to the disciples that something that is out of their control must happen. He must leave. Even though Jesus tries to keep them “cool” and tells them he will return they still have questions and aren’t quite sure why. Jesus even explains that you don’t really have all the answers but you need to have faith. He says “Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful” Jesus is saying that you need to have faith. Have faith in what I have said and done. Have faith in the plan that God has for us. It was very painful to accept but, what Jesus and the disciples wanted at that time wasn’t as important as what God wanted.

I’ve been there before...There have been countless times in my life when I felt just as confused as the disciples. My life being flipped upside down without a reason. Struggling to make sense of what I’m going to do next. As I get older I’m starting to realize that everyone has those moments. We all have challenges. Everyone has that day when they say “why”? Why did that happen? Why did they die so soon? Why did it turn out that way?? The question really isn’t “why” We as Christians can ask “Who”? Who do we turn to when we are lost? Who has the answers for us? That who is The Holy Spirit. As Jesus said “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things...” Jesus was very clear when he says “all things”. I truly believe that there isn’t one challenge on earth that Holy Spirit can not help you with. I really think that if you are willing to let The Holy Spirit guide you when you are at your low points, that your life can be turned around. The key is to be willing. You have to be willing to let go and let God into your heart. If you can do what Jesus said and not let your heart be troubled, the solution to all of you problems will reveal itself. My experience during those challenging moments is usually starts by being stunned by whatever the situation is. Then there is panic and then there is some more panic and then there is prayer. Typically, during prayer I get the reminder to stay “cool” and trust the lord. Ultimately, I remember that there may be some things in life that I don’t want to happen but, sometimes its a must. Sometimes we just have to stick it out and trust the plan. Not our plan. Life unfolds according to God’s plan and that is the only plan that truly matters.

Love

        This week’s Gospel reading is from John.  The end of the reading says this, “I give you a new commandment: love one another. As I have loved you, so you also should love one another.  This is how all will know that you are my disciples,  if you have love for one another."

       I would define love by using St. Paul’s letter to the Corinthians: “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.”  “And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.”

     Love surpasses and outlasts all things, as does God.  We cannot justify or reason our way out of loving anyone.  “They did this to me …” Nope, not a good enough reason not to love them.  “Look how they live; they …”  Nope, not good enough.  “They don’t respect …”  Nope, still must love them.  Nope, nope, nope.  We must love, love, love.  Love surpasses all. 

    We can dislike what other people do.  But we cannot cease to love them.  At least we cannot cease trying.  Because trying to love is trying to see the other person for what they are, above all else, a child of God. 

     I know that people can sometimes view others as “less than”, but in God’s eyes there is no “less than”.  That’s human, to categorize and stratify.  That’s not godly. 

     I know that people can sometimes view others as “broken”, but let us remember that we are all, each of us, broken in the same essential way.  And as it says in the Book of James, we should not be hypocrites.  “But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.”  In other words, we should follow The Golden Rule. 

The Good Shepherd

It seems to me that it is just so easy to get caught up in the business of everyday life; as a father who is lucky enough to number himself among the gainfully employed I find myself constantly running from one thing to another. After a busy day at work, I am frequently hurrying to get home in time to do something else: get to an after school game, assume the role of taxi driver for one of my children and their friends, fix something that broke or cook dinner if my wife is working that day. Occasionally in between there is a moment where I can take a breather and instead of relaxing, I busy myself with one of the many items on my "to do" list. It seems as if I need this constant business in order to justify my existence, and I sometimes feel like I'm so busy that I'm missing the point of it all.  True, I might actually relax now and again, perhaps allow myself to become distracted by the T.V. or the internet or something else. But inevitably if I do, there's a feeling that I should be "doing" something. So even if I do relax, I sometimes feel like I'm missing the point of something important.

This Sunday's Gospel reading reminds me of what that is: It is my relationship with the Lord. He is the Good Shepherd and I belong to Him. This metaphor expresses relationship - and just as any good shepherd knows his sheep, I am known. The simple truth is that I am valued because the Lord loves me - not because of what I have done or what could do. Of course there are things that I must do - but I get so distracted by everything that I forget about how the Lord values me, and like the sheep that wanders off looking for another, tastier patch of grass I too, frequently wander off.

Perhaps it is His voice that I hear when I get that feeling that I'm missing something important. The Good Shepherd calls to me when I wander off; Yes, I hear Him - Do you?

The Third Big Reveal

JN 21: 1-14

Easter & the post-resurrection of Christ: The disciples return to their village and decide to do what they know best – fish.  After toiling throughout the night, no fish are caught (they get skunked).  As the men pull up anchor & nets, they hear someone from the beach call to them, “Children, have you caught anything to eat?” They yell back, “No” and the stranger tells them to drop their net one more time.  Incredibly, their net is filled to the brim with all kinds of fish.  One of the other fishermen tells Peter that he thinks it is the Lord calling to them & the impulsive Peter jumps overboard to swim ashore and to see if this could be true.

Something strange occurs when they all put back to the shore.  The man thought to be Jesus is now unrecognizable.  He is cooking fish & inviting the disciples to eat.  While reading this, I am trying to understand why Jesus suddenly goes “incognito” on the shore.  I recall that He has done this before; at the tomb of the Resurrection and on the road to Emmaus. Once unrecognizable, he mysteriously appears to those around Him.  It makes me remember that “appearances can be deceiving.”  So, I ask, “Is it me who fails to see the Lord or is Jesus purposely remaining anonymous until just the right moment to reveal Himself?” Maybe He wants me to listen with my heart, rather than confirm Him with sight?  But do I really want to listen to Jesus?  Or do I hear what I want; simply to justify my ego?

Another thought came to mind when Jesus addresses the fishermen as “my children.”  I am a firm believer in the presence of a healthy, father-figure in the family.  I have seen too many young men who have taken the wrong path because of the absence of this figure; whether it be a biological or adoptive father, uncle, athletic coach or some other caring man.  When there is no committed male figure to teach, guide, & discipline (when necessary) trouble can brew.  That is not to say that some young men (without a father-figure) do not overcome these odds and end up living very healthy & successful lives; yet I believe the numbers would confirm my concern & reveal some disturbing results.  

This reading offers us an opportunity to see the essential role of the father.  Without the father (Jesus in this case) who reaches out from the shore (the calling to His fishermen/children), who feeds them (with a breakfast of fish & spiritual lessons) & who ultimately invites them to follow in the Father’s footsteps – the fishermen may have led a rather unexceptional life.  The Pilgrim has witnessed many older men who continue to seek their father's love and who weep because they are now gone.  Possibly, these men had fathers who were broken by addiction, ham-stringed by emotional disorder or absent because of other personal struggles.  It is an unfortunate that many young men (without the resource of a father) will not have the tools to make good choices. Choices that are necessary to stay on the right path and to navigate the trials of their futures.    Whether you are a man of eighteen or eighty, there is always an opportunity to minister to a young man or other brother.  Let us take on the necessary task to not only work on our souls, but the souls of the young who ache for direction & nourishment.  As Christ mentored to his disciple-children on that beach, let us continue to be trusted role models for our children.  The simple question posed is, “Are you ready to lead an extraordinary life or be content with the unexceptional ”  Listen closely.  The Lord is always calling to you from the shore.  Just jump in and swim to Him. The (Wandering) Pilgrim.