Work hard, Play hard.......

I used to live by the motto "work hard, play hard!" This has been the battle cry for many an impromptu adventure. Time and circumstance has softened my "play" time perhaps, but still, after working hard all week, what wrong is there in enjoying yourself a little? I deserve it don't I? I spend my days providing for the needs of my family and myself. Who can blame me if I want to take my family out for dinner, or if I want to have a party to celebrate an occasion?

I remember hearing sermons about this weeks Gospel regarding the Rich man and Lazarus. Many people of the time believed that God blessed righteous people and cursed sinners. So in hearing this parable, they might have said that Lazarus was in his destitute situation because, well, as a sinner he deserved it. And the Rich man was only enjoying the just blessings that are due to the righteous. There is no mention of him breaking any law, or sinning in any way. Like so many of our Lord's parables, from a human perspective, it just doesn't seem right. Why should the righteous man be condemned to eternal torment simply for enjoying what is rightfully his? If Lazarus was a sinner, ( and this is not questionable since God has "clearly" cursed him severely) what is this to the righteous man? And why should he risk defiling himself by any association with a sinner?

You may object to my harsh assessment of the way this parable may have been received at the time, but I believe that even today we think in a similar way. It's too easy to negate the plight of the poor by finding fault. How many homeless people do I pass on a daily basis, justifying my apathy for their situation with thoughts such as, "it's a scam, they're not that destitute" or "how can he afford cigarettes if he's that poor?" "She's wearing nail polish, how poor can she be?" Besides..."I'm in a rush, I have to catch a train." .....and I go home to a nice dinner and relax with my family, because I worked hard for this and I deserve it.

I found out about that woman with the nail polish; she does have a job and she's trying to get into an apartment. She's doing the best she can to keep things together, and to maintain a professional appearance at work, but she is homeless through no fault of her own. That man with the cigarettes and the drunk that I didn't mention: on top of everything else that they might be going through, if I look at them with the eyes of the soul, I can see that they are slaves to a cruel master.

O.K. maybe there's nothing wrong with me enjoying what is rightfully mine. But when I think about it, I don't think that was ever really the point. There's no great virtue in "not doing anything wrong" -  I mean, were not supposed to do anything wrong anyway, so "not doing anything wrong" isn't going to save us. It's what we do that counts. - What we do that's good, and what we do that's right.

I am sinning when I am blind to the suffering around me and then I'm lavish and even wasteful with myself. St. Mother Theresa said that shirt that has been hanging in my closet for a year that I never wore doesn't belong to me, it belongs to that homeless man in the street. I am just the steward. When I think about it, I guess that I need to focus on my stewardship skills.

How are you doing with that?
                                                          + Theophilus

Another Fine Mess & The Dishonest Shepherd

LK 16: 1-13

I know some remember the classic, comedic duo “Laurel & Hardy?”  Whenever they found themselves in a difficult situation (usually at their own doing), poor Stanley was berated by Oliver who sarcastically uttered his famous remark, “Well Stanley, here’s another fine mess you’ve gotten me into.”  It appears the steward in this week’s passage also found himself in a mess of his own doing.  This week’s Gospel is centered upon violation of trust & amnesty (pardon).  It’s a worthy read.

Historically, mankind has been consumed with an obsession for power, the need to control others & the accumulation of material wealth.  It usually ends ups up rather badly.  Would you agree that with these worldly desires, a lack of accountability arises? Personal accountability today appears to be an allusive gesture, lost in a mix of double-talk and fallacious testimonies.  Sometimes I find myself mimicking Oliver Hardy by saying to myself, “Here’s another fine mess we’ve gotten ourselves into; without looking at where I fit into the mess.”  Maybe as you read this, you are dealing with a personal matter that is a fine mess?  As I sit by the side of the road, I contemplate the troubles I’ve made in my life.  They usually began with a careless attitude that resulted in disappointment, distrust & shame.  In truth, I could not have learned any worthwhile without experiencing the dark messes of my life before appreciating the light. (John 11:43-44) 

In his dishonest matters, the steward eventually compromised his master’s faith & trust by squandering his money.  Once held accountable, the steward decided to make things right by showing mercy to those who owed debts to his master.  The players in this parable are obvious (master=God & servant=me).  Interestingly, the master does not punish his corrupt servant, but rather he commends him for being prudent & even shrewd. Wow, I was sure it would not end up good for the servant.

Besides mercy, perhaps Jesus’ message is also stressing the importance of trust in God.  Experience has proven that trust is the cornerstone in every relationship.  And on this path called life, I am constantly reminded in many ways that God’s redemptive love, His healing & just pardon is always obtainable.  I simply must trust Him unconditionally with a contrite heart.  I continue to examine myself and wonder if I am willing to honestly address the messes I’ve made in my life & be accountable like the steward.  What about you?  It can be unnerving to examine these places of darkness, shadow & shame that are designed to separate us from God.  It appears to be an unavoidable path we must travel in the spiritual clean-up of our messes & in order to obtain Gods’ love & pardon.  (Isa. 55:7) Please pray for our Mother Church.  The Pilgrim

The Lost Sheep

Saving Private Ryan is a 1998 American epic war film directed by Stephen Spielberg. Set during the Invasion of Normandy, France in World War II, the film is notable for its graphic portrayal of war, which includes a depiction of the Omaha Beach assault during the Normandy landings. The film follows United States Army Rangers Captain John H. Miller (Tom Hanks) and his squad of men as they search for a paratrooper, Private First Class James Francis Ryan (Matt Damon), the last surviving brother of four service members killed in combat. Surrounded by the brutal realities of war, while searching for Ryan, each man embarks upon a personal journey and discovers their own strength to triumph over an uncertain future with honor, decency and courage.

The Gospel of Luke (15:1 -32) talks about the parable of the lost sheep. It’s a familiar parable told by Jesus of the Shepard with 100 sheep who loses one and then leaves the 99 to search and find the lost sheep. It’s a parable of redemption, rescue, love and concern.

I know what you’re saying, another war story and the gospel. Let’s think about the two stories. Soldiers were called out to rescue a fellow soldier. The Shepard goes out to find the one lost sheep.  My question to you: Who is the lost sheep? Christ is the Good Shepard, calling out to sinners to be rescued. We are the lost sheep; we are the sinners.  The image of our Lord Jesus Christ carrying the sheep “on his shoulders, rejoicing” is a beautiful image of the love of God saving the sinner. “There will be more joy in heaven over the one sinner who repents.”

We have many lost sheep in our lives, we only have to look with the eyes of Christ to find them. St. Mother Theresa of Calcutta once said, “Stay where you are. Find your Calcutta. Find the sick, the suffering and the lonely right there where you are, in your own homes and in your own families, in your work place and in your schools… You can find Calcutta all over the world, if you have the eyes to see. Everywhere, wherever you go, you find people who are unwanted, unloved, uncared for, just rejected by society- completely forgotten let alone.”

Spoiler alert, in the end of saving private Ryan, Captain John Miller (Tom Hanks) dies saving the life of Private James Francis Ryan (Matt Damon). Christ died for our sins, so that we may have eternal life. Christ will come with an army of Saints to come and rescue you. All you have to do, is listen to the voice of the Good Shepard and ask to be rescued.

St. Mother Theresa of Calcutta, Pray for us.

Barnard of Clairvaux

Heart full of Jesus.

This weeks Gospel: Luke 14:25-33 Jesus explains what it will take to be a disciple. During his explanation Jesus’s uses an example of knowing the cost of construction before you begin a  major project. Knowing exactly what you will have to pay at the start so you aren’t surprised at the end. I don’t know about you but if you have ever attempted any home project, there is always a surprise. Your simple kitchen upgrade is always full of surprises. The type of surprises that require new tools and professional help. What Jesus did during this talk was eliminate the surprise. He goes into detail and let’s us know the true cost of discipleship. Jesus says that if you want it come with him you need to hate your parents, siblings and even your own life. I doubt he meant that you couldn’t love your parents and family. I think he meant that you can’t love anyone more than you love him. That is the cost. The cost of being a disciple is anything that will interfere with your relationship with Jesus. If you truly want to follow Jesus, you must get everything and everyone that stands in his way completely out of your life. Your friends may not agree with Jesus... they gotta go. Your family may not all agree... they gotta go. You may be living or acting in a way that you don’t think Jesus will approve of... that also has to go. When it comes to your possessions Jesus says... you don’t need any! As a follower we are asked to leave every possession behind. I don’t think we are supposed to give up all of our material possessions but, I do think loving them more than you love Jesus is a problem. Have you ever wanted some thing so bad that you took you jeopardized your relationship with Jesus? Have you ever wanted a possession so bad that it actually started to possess you?? I have done that. I think that’s when we run into trouble. Jesus clearly wants his relationship with us to be the most important thing in our lives. No thing is supposed to interfere. No possession is supposed to posses your heart like Jesus.

As a follower of Jesus I have worked hard at doing what I consider to be the right thing. Yes, I have fallen short and have had my share of setbacks on this journey. Yes, the setbacks show up as surprises just like the kitchen upgrade. There are times when I lose a little faith. Still, I know that I can always count on the professional help of Jesus Christ. When I am caught off guard with one of life’s many surprises, Jesus is always right there ready to help. The cost of being a disciple may be very high. Yes, you will end up losing some friends along the way. You may end up making sacrifices that may not always seem worth it at the time. You may not be living life like most people in the world. Being a disciple does mean you have to give up a lot but it is nothing compared to a living life with a heart full of Jesus.