Parades

This Sunday's Gospel reading will be Luke 14:1, 7-14.  The upshot of the reading is that we should always place others first.  And if you do put others first, you will be repaid at the resurrection.  I recommend you read the reading.  It's a powerful lesson. 

Now, I'm going to put aside most of the debate about whether we are justified to God by: A) our faith or, B) by our good acts.  I tend to think that we are justified to God simply because God created us, and the way we respond to that love is by treating each other well.  

But my message today is more about honoring those women and men who have been examples of this love, examples of putting others first.  

At the retirement party for long-time caretaker of St. Brigid's School, Bob Martella, I gave a speech where I spoke about how Bob always acted in that way.  I spoke about how he always put others first, and raised up the students not for his benefit but for theirs.

Let's look to people like Bob and try to follow that lead.  My message is just that.  

Because if the world was right, there would be parades for people in New York City because they were selfless, not because they can hit a 93-mile-an-hour slider. 

There would be parades for the single mothers who went without what they wanted so their children could have more.  There would be parades for nuns who live in the most depressed areas of the world so children can have more of what they needed, though the nuns themselves are often underappreciated.  There would be parades for dads who took time in the middle of the day to see their kid's play, rather than going out to lunch with co-workers.  There would be parades for adult children who took care of parents with dementia.  There would be parades for the granddaughter who held her grandmother's hand in the hospital when the grandmother didn't even know the granddaughter was there.  There would be parades for police officers who step in front of bullets.  There would be parades for correction officers who manage mercy and kindness in a cold prison.  There would be parades for priests who put aside much of their lives and personal aspirations.  There would be parades for checkout clerks at Target who took an extra second to understand that a kind look toward a weary customer might be the only act of kindness the customer would receive all day. There would be parades for politicians who did the right thing to the detriment of their re-electability.

And on, and on, and on.  Take a minute and think of all the people like that who bless your lives.  

God bless you.

Do you know the way?

Did you ever stop to give directions to someone that was trying to find their way? I'm going to guess that at one time or another you have; It's a very common experience after all. I would like to invite you to think about some of the things you say when giving directions, particularly when the place in question is not easy to get to. When I am in that situation, I will often add helpful details to my directions like "as soon as you can, get in the left lane because the next turn comes up quickly......" or maybe something like "It's hard to see the building from the street, but it's the next entrance immediately after the Dunkin Donuts...." I'll add these "details" because I think they are important. What good is only saying that they have to make a left turn when you are pretty sure they will miss the turn if they don't get in the correct lane in time?

In this Sunday's Gospel reading someone asks "Lord, will only a few people be saved?" Jesus responds not with a simple "yes" or "no," but with what I consider to be directions that I'm supposed to follow: “Strive to enter through the narrow door, for many, I tell you, will attempt to enter but will not be strong enough."

What I find to be very interesting in these directions is that even though they are very sparing in the use of words, Jesus includes two helpful details.  The first detail is the use of the word "strive." Strive, as in: "struggle or fight vigorously" or  "make great efforts to achieve or obtain something." So He seems to be telling us that ~ THE WAY ~ is not always going to be easy, either that or that other ways will look easier, but they are not.

The other helpful detail is that many will "not be strong enough." Perhaps it's that struggle that makes one strong enough to enter through the narrow door, or maybe the narrow door is the easiest way in after all, and although there are other ways in, they all require great strength.

All considerations regarding the original language and translation to the side, it's clear that Jesus used language that expressed overcoming difficulty in choosing the narrow door and the consequence of not being strong enough otherwise. I have to think that Jesus used those words because they are important. It's clear that Jesus is telling us to go in through the narrow door. Exactly where is this narrow door, I wonder? And how will I find it? I wonder if "the door" to salvation is this journey that we are on which we call "life." What do you think?

                                              + Theophilus

CHOICES

LK 12:49-53

Ever run into a “brick wall” when praying over scripture?  The symbolism Jesus uses about bringing a fiery baptism to the earth confuses me.  His warning about division among family & followers is apparent, as is His anger & frustration.  While praying over this passage, I became a bit uncomfortable with His message.  This intensity & heightened, sense of urgency has been observed before in Jesus; clearing the temple (JN 2:13-22) and when rebuking the pharisees (MT 23:13). 

We know that God gives us free will to make choices.  Some result in growth & maturity; while others follow a path toward decline & recession.  We witness the choices that result in families torn apart over greed, jealousy, money & property, communities divided over politics, philosophical divisions over religious differences; to name a few.  We witness similar divisions occurring in our church today.  As Jesus warns us about future conflicts and trials that await His followers, I hear a sense of urgency in His voice. He is approaching his death & one can understand his irritation; but I am wondering about the price the committed disciple must really pay.
 

I have come to understand that when one chooses Christ with a receptive heart, they act, speak & think radically different (1 Sam. 10:6).  It is a transformation that is not always readily accepted by those around us.  Sadly, not all will share in the joy & truth emanating from God.  Undoubtedly, some choices we will ultimately result in division, dissension & distrust.  It appears this is what Jesus was inferring.  Can you somehow relate to His message?
 

Today, appalling divisions & interpersonal turmoil seem to be engulfing the world.  Division is certainly not something new to history.  During the rise of Hitler, people who were once amicable neighbors became informants by turning their own family & friends into the Gestapo.  Currently, there are reports that the Chinese government is offering $1500.00 (the equivalent of two month’s salary for many Chinese) to report the identities of Christian home churches & their leaders; resulting in imprisonment, re-indoctrination or worse.  Being a Christian in parts of India may target you for assault & possibly murder by religious extremists.  In the Soviet Union, persecutions of Christians continue, fueled by atheism that date back to Marxist Lenin ideology. Certainly, the division spoken by our Lord here does not parallel these examples of divisiveness.  Or does it?

Any way you cut it, “division results when suspicion, hate & violence take root.”  I wish I had an answer that would reconcile this haunting, divisiveness. The voices of many who came before us echo the same message  to simply only choose Christ; to endure the unforeseen and to simply hang in there.  More now than ever, we must unite rather than succumb to fear.  In truth, there is no other choice!   Please pray for our church.  The Pilgrim.

Are you ready for God?

Are you ready for some Football? Hank Williams Jr, is well known for his theme song for Monday Night Football.  I know you can hear it playing in your head.  The classic song plays every Monday Night during football season. We have all seen the famous football moments. The Joe Montana play, throwing the winning touchdown to wide receiver Dwight Clark. Roger Staubach throwing the “Hail Mary”. How about the “Immaculate Reception’ of Franco Harris running for the game winning touchdown.

The real question we must ask ourselves is simple. Are you ready for God? In today’s gospel (Luke 12 32:48) Jesus said to his disciples: ‘Stay awake and be ready! For you do not know on what day the Lord will come.  If the master of the house had known the hour, when the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. You also must be prepared, for at an hour you do not expect, the Son of man will come.”

I know what you’re thinking? What does the gospel this week have to do with Football? Think about it, football players train their whole life to play for the NFL. It’s their dream. Words that describe an athlete are dedication, sacrifice, and commitment to name a few. All for that one moment, that one play that defines a great moment.  “Stay awake and be ready.” Just like the football player who trains for that special moment, how are we training for God?

“You must be prepared, for at an hour you do not expect, the Son of man will come.” Bishop Kung was prepared; he knew the meaning of sacrifice, commitment, and dedication.In 1955, the bishop of Shanghai, China had his moment, a courageous moment that defined him as a Catholic, not a Hall of Fame moment, but a Hall of Heaven moment. Bishop Kung was arrested by the Chinese Communist and taken into a sports arena, where he was put on a platform and instructed before thousands of his fellow Christians to deny the Pope and the Catholic Church. The bishop of Shanghai, who was no more than five feet tall, reached up to the microphone and shouted, “Long live Christ the King! Long Live the Pope!” He was dragged away, and false witnesses accused him of treason-but his only treason was his loyalty to God. Bishop Kung spent thirty years in prison in one of those slow-motion martyrdom of which we hear little.

In March of 2000 at the age of ninety-eight, Cardinal Kung- for he had been given the red hat by Pope John Paul II secretly in 1979, then publicly in 1991-went to his eternal reward. And when we speak of such a man as Cardinal Kung, we are not using a pious convention when we say that ‘he went to his eternal reward.” Christ is faithful to those who bear faithful witness to Him.”

Are you ready for God? Are you willing to sacrifice your life for Heaven? Are you ready for the big moment for God? Are you ready to hear the applause of our heavenly Saints? Nothing is easy, but if we “stay awake and are ready” then the sacrifices and dedication that we give to God will become our Hall of Heaven moment.

Cardinal Kung, Pray for Us.

Bernard of Clairvaux

A Fools Gold

In this weeks gospel Jesus speaks about a rich fool. Jesus shares a story about a man who was blessed by God with land. He worked his land and was able to make a fortune. Over time this man became consumed by his finances and material wealth. Well, on this man's last day alive God approached him and asked him what was going to happen to all the possessions that he accumulated. God called him a fool and made it clear that true wealth does not come from material goods. They come from a relationship with God.

It is so easy to get caught up in your own life and forget about the things that are really important. I will be the first to admit that I spend many hours a week working so I can provide financial security for my family. Maybe it’s too many hours. Maybe it’s getting in my way of my relationship with the Lord. I’m not sure. There is something that I am sure about though. I am sure is that I have been blessed. I have been blessed to have seen that financial security is important but not nearly as important as your relationship God. I have been blessed to have seen people loose everything while they were on a mission to gain material wealth. I’ve been blessed to see families fall apart because accumulating wealth was more important than anything else, so now I know better. I’ve seen relationships with wives, kids, coworkers, relationships with basically everyone fall apart when too much emphasis is placed on material wealth. Over the years, d found out that more “stuff” doesn’t mean a better life. You may have material wealth but deep inside we all know what real wealth is. To me, real wealth is a relationship with the Lord. That’s a relationship that can outlast the feeling you get from a new gadget. A relationship with the Lord will outshine any new car you buy. A relationship with the Lord will weather any storm better than any house you buy. A relationship with the Lord stands the test of time. Every time. There have been times in my life when the only thing that I was able to count on was my relationship with the Lord. Have you had those times? A time when there wasn’t a new gadget that you could buy to solve a problem. A time when your faith was all that was left? That’s when you really get to see how valuable the Lord is to you. Yet, when life gets better we go back to our normal lives, working on our next big purchase or trying to make some more bucks to put away.

How many hours a week do we put into our relationship with you know who? How much time per day do you leave out to get connected? If you are like me... probably not enough. I know I can do more. I know that the rich fool Jesus spoke of didn’t get it. How about you? Do you get it? Maybe today is the day we make a change. Maybe today we can take a good look at our lives and start to focus on what really matters. Maybe today is our day to put down the gadgets, and shiny things and pick up something way more valuable before you end up accumulating nothing but fools gold.