Go and sin no more......

 Jesus is loving, forgiving, kind and merciful. This we know; yes, we have been told since childhood what a benevolent God we serve. And it's true! This week's Gospel reading is perhaps one of the most Iconic examples of Jesus's Mercy. "Neither do I condemn you" He says to the woman after her accusers walk away. They walk away because they know that they are not without sin; and so no-one can cast the first stone. No one except Jesus, though - and He came to us as the King of Mercy - so He told her to "go, and sin no more."

That last part is very important though, and I wonder if I give that part as much attention as I give the "neither do I condemn you" part. It's easy to focus on Jesus's Mercy when I fall short, and yes, we should Hope in His Mercy. The problem is, I find myself all too willing to condemn others when they are clearly at fault. And if that is my tendency, what will Jesus say when He comes as Just Judge?

 

FEAR NOT

Sunday 3 April – John 8: 2-11

 

This week’s Gospel echo’s the reassurance of the Numinous Shepherd, Our Lord who is a kind and merciful God.  We witness the familiar scene of Jesus intervening between an angry mob of Pharisees and a local woman caught in the act of adultery.  The Pharisees hold stones and are ready to execute the woman for breaking the law.  Patiently and in deep thought, Jesus is seen kneeling down and scratching the earth.  Intently, all watch the Patron of Justice as he slowly rises to challenge the mob.  His next remark has reverberated throughout history.  “Let he who is without sin cast the first stone.” There is a slight moment before all the stones drop to the ground and the crowd disperses.

 Weeping and with tears flowing from her eyes, the woman grabs Jesus’ feet in appreciation.  Like the death row inmate who receives a reprieve from his sentence at the last-minute, she is also saved.  The message is obvious.  God’s way are not ours.  As Jesus gently helps the woman up, she is filled with contrition by this act of mercy.  Once again, the Essence of All Grace stood between violence and unbridled love.

 As with most scripture, one can see something different each time they engage in prayer.  Aside from the obvious rescue mission that presented itself and the opportunity for this woman to reconcile her sin, perhaps there is another message embedded in this passage?  Could Jesus also be reminding the woman to be not afraid of the sin that will be nailed to the cross soon?  Perhaps He is telling her to fear not of the crosses that she will bear in the future.  To find courage and not fear the evil forces who look to destroy and condemn?  Maybe Jesus is saying that the Glorious Mercy is available to all,  even until the last minute of our lives?  Just trust in the unconditional love and mercy of God. 

Currently we are witnessing an unprecedented series of events occurring in Ukraine and throughout the word (current wars in Afghanistan, Iraq, Yemen & Syria).  I believe that there is something more sinister taking place. Something that goes beyond a goal motivated by a socio-political land grab.  It is the manifestation of evil personified with genocidal acts targeting innocent children, mothers, and civilians.  The Ukrainian people are demonstrating remarkable courage in the face of evil and fear that most cannot fathom here.  They are following the proclamation of Pope John Paul II after his election to the papacy in 1978.  He proclaimed to the world, “Be not afraid!” Rather than feeling from fear, these brave people have seemed to embrace the proclamation wholeheartedly in their quest to be free.

The Ukrainians have always been a special people to Our Lady.  I suggest you review the messages and prophecies of Fatima and how they are unfolding before our eyes today.  This statement is not designed to spread fear but to think about the message Jesus might have given to the penitent woman on that fateful day to be not afraid and sin no more. Maybe the opposite of fear is not courage-based but rather love-based? I recently read something that stuck with me and that applies to this horrendous genocide and our brethren in Ukraine.  “Danger is not optional in this world, but response to fear is.” 

Ukraine is eighty percent Christian. Are we now witnessing yet another attack upon our church in Ukraine?  Like Our Savior, the Ukrainian people also stand between truth and deception and they too are not allowing fear to be an option.  Their stand is clear.  They are like Jesus who stood up to vengeance and the autocratic rule of the Pharisees with unwavering faith and courage. 

Many today believe that we are living in prophetic times.  As you read this reflection, God is imparting miracles in Ukraine and they are being reported more each day.  We must pray and pray hard from the heart to bring peace to the world.  I suggest that we pray the prayer of Saint Michael who is the champion of justice and who battles all forms of evil.  Let us ask for his protection. I also suggest that we pray to the Immaculate Heart of Mary and ask for Her divine intersession throughout the world?  I leave you now with this simple prayer:

                 “For You Lord and You alone remain the Holy and Divine spark of life,

the axis of perfection and glory between heaven and earth.  With Your

immeasurable and abounding love, You will never abandon Your children to fear.”

 

“Fear Not” - The Pilgrim

 

 

 

Waiting to Run to Us

 

Just this last week, my wife and I had the task of picking up our daughter at the airport.  She was only gone for a few days, but still we missed her.  And so, we arrived at the airport a little early, parked the car and made our way to the arrivals area.  In the good old days, one would be able to go right up to the gate and meet their loved one as soon as they got off the plane.  Of course, in our age of extreme security, you can’t get anywhere near the gate, but we positioned ourselves as close as possible to the door where passengers were exiting to the area to pick up their luggage.  In the busy JFK Airport, it seemed like countless people were coming through that door as each flight arrived.  Each time another group of people came, my wife and I scanned the crowd, hoping to get a glimpse of our daughter. 

At long last we caught sight of her in the distance.  At that moment we could feel a joy come over us.  We knew she had returned to us safely and so we moved forward towards her, meeting her at the doorway, and getting that much-anticipated hug!

Now, our daughter was only away for four days, and that was our response.  It, of course, is a response of pure love.  Our actions in these types of moments aren’t actually planned to the letter, they are impulses.  They are born out of what is underlining, our pure love for those closest to us.  We do anticipate them, but how we act at the moment is coming from something deep inside of us.  They speak of something much more intense than just not seeing someone for four days.

This Sunday we have the famous parable of the Prodigal Son or as some like to call it, me included, the Parable of the Merciful Father.  We are all familiar with the story.  The younger son squanders his inheritance and when all is lost and a famine strikes and he is hungry, he goes back to the father.  As the father sees him coming in the distance, just as he catches a glimpse of him, he goes running towards him.  Now, yes the father hadn’t seen the son in a long time, but he also had much reason to be angry wit the son.  After all, he took his share of the inheritance and left the father and the older brother.  He abandoned his responsibilities.  The father could have stood back and waited for the son to approach him and beg him for forgiveness, but no, he did something very unbecoming an older man of his stature.  He ran to him

We can all agree, our heavenly Father has many reasons to be disappointed in us these days.  Division, egoism, jealousy, greed, and now war, are all part of who we are.  The Father has every reason to be angry with us.  But yet we know, he is there, just waiting for a glimpse of us coming towards him.  He is ready to run and embrace us and once again begin anew.  All we have to do is move towards him.

- The Servant

 

THE DIVINE GARDENER

 

THIRD SUNDAY IN LENT (March 20, 2022)

Luke 13: 1-9

 

          Today’s gospel message is clear and obvious:  If we truly desire to repent and receive God’s mercy, then God will always be there to forgive us, to heal us and to transform us.  By placing ourselves in God’s loving hands we can become fruitful!

 

          But there’s a difference between the fig tree in Jesus’ parable and us.  The fig tree had no choice in the matter.  We do.  When we need cultivation and care it doesn’t just happen.  We have to say “Yes.”  We need to be open to it.  We need to desire it in the deepest recesses of our heart and soul.

 

          So, the first challenge in today’s gospel is:  Do I truly desire to be transformed by my God?  So often it is easy to say we do, but not to truly have that desire until we have hit rock bottom.  It is then that we see and experience the true impact of our sins on ourselves and on those around us.  So often it is when we are at the point of spiritual death – like the fig tree – that we realize we need care and cultivation.

 

          Then comes the second challenge:  Do I remain in sin out of shame and hopelessness and despair?  Do I say I am not worthy of God’s love?  Or do I then say “Yes” and open myself to God? 

 

          The third challenge is then recognizing God in our lives.  So often God’s loving care comes through those around us.  The “gardeners” that God sends into our lives.  We recognize them by their love.  They will never condemn; they will never criticize.  They cultivate, they do not chop down.

 

          The final challenge:  Am I, perhaps, the “gardener” that God is sending to others?

 

“Call Me Ishmael”

 

Transfigured by Prayer

  In todays gospel Luke 9:28-36 we witness the transfiguration of Jesus.   Jesus took Peter, James and John on to a mountaintop. While praying his  face and clothing changed. His clothes became bright white, almost glowing and suddenly two men appeared. The two men were Elijah and Moses.  Elijah and Moses  spoke to Jesus and talked  about what was going to happen in Jerusalem.    While this was going on the disciples had fallen asleep. When they woke up they saw Jesus in his glory.  Soon after, a voice spoke to them. The voice said “This is my son, the Chosen One. Listen to him”  Afterwards, the disciples told no one what happened. 

    Transfiguration is defined as to being transformed into something more beautiful or to be elevated.  During his prayer  to God Jesus was elevated. He was made more beautiful.  I’m a firm believer in the power of prayer. I’m not a believer because all of my prayers are answered. I’m a believer because of the power prayer has to elevate me, my mood , my mindset, my love of others and the world.  Prayer has that special  power to sprinkle a little beauty onto the ugliness of our lives.  Prayer is truly a gift from God.  A tool that we can use  in a world that needs it more than ever.  A power tool to repair us in places that only God and prayer  can. I have rarely finished a prayer and felt worse about any situation.  It’s uplifts me in my lowest moments.  Jesus went to the mountain top to pray  and be uplifted  and the disciples being human ….fell asleep!  Sometimes I question whether or not they went to sleep  or were put to sleep by the awesome power of Jesus connecting with God.   Maybe they weren’t supposed to witness that level of prayer.  Still when the disciples woke up they saw Jesus, Moses and Elijah.  What did they think after they witnessed  this? What was it like to see a elevated and more beautiful version Jesus Christ. I can only imagine that it  changed their lives. There is almost no way to see Jesus in his glory and ever be the same. 

     Prayer has that awesome power to transfigure all of us. You and I can be transfigured just like Jesus. Even though the disciples were not in prayer  themselves ( because they were snoring) they were able to witness someone else’s transfiguration.  That itself  is a form of transfiguration. When they saw Jesus in his glory their lives had changed.  Right there on the spot from that very moment they were different forever.  Having seen Jesus in a new light meant that they saw the world in a new light.  It’s  simply impossible to witness something so special and not change.  This is why we must share our stories of how God has transfigured us as individuals.  Hasn’t God saved you in the past?  Hasn’t The Chosen One brought you through a storm or two?  In those moments  we need to wake up.  We need to speak to as many people as we can about how our relationship with God has changed us. We can use our own transfiguration to leave others moved and inspired by what God has done for us.  We can share in the transfiguration of others, but it starts with our prayer. It’s starts with our willingness to surrender and let God take the lead. Prayer is our opportunity to connect with the almighty and to allow him into our hearts. Make that time special. Make your time with God count. Find a quiet place for you and the lord. You may not have a mountaintop, but find a special place to communicate with God.  Carve out a few moments everyday to pray for others and the world we live in.  You too may find yourself transfigured by prayer. When that happens I encourage you to share. Share your experiences with others so you can be a part of their transfiguration as we are part of Jesus’s. 

Anonymous 

Kingdoms

It seems that man's pursuit of earthy kingdoms has led to the desecration of what should be God's kingdom on earth.  This is not a new occurrence, but we are seeing it with a vengeance today. 

This week's Gospel is a familiar one.  Here is a section, where the devil tries to tempt Jesus.

Then he took him up and showed him
all the kingdoms of the world in a single instant.
The devil said to him,
“I shall give to you all this power and glory;
for it has been handed over to me,
and I may give it to whomever I wish.
All this will be yours, if you worship me.”
Jesus said to him in reply,
“It is written
            You shall worship the Lord, your God,
                        and him alone shall you serve.”

And what about the devil in the world the today?  Do we see men tempted by the evil one promising them a kingdom on earth?  

I think we do.  I think we see this in the news this very day.

What is our solace?  And what is the solace of victims of war?  These are two different questions.  And I feel like an ineffectual observer discussing this when people across the globe are the ones actually suffering.  

But I will try to offer an answer.  The answer is that Jesus died, but lived again.  So even though our sufferings and death are assured, we know that we will wind up in the true kingdom, the kingdom of God.  How do we know this?  Because Jesus walked that path ahead of us, to show us where we are going.

I can only pray to God that people who are at physical and emotional peril at this moment can feel God's peace.  

This is just an attempt at a pep talk, my friends.  And I hope it means something to you.  I truly believe what I say, though I often have a hard time feeling it.  I hope that you do better than I do.

May God bless the whole world.  May His peace seep into the minds of those who need it most: the innocent victims that they may know peace; and the perpetrators, that they see the suffering they have caused and bring it to an end.

Peace be with you.

- The Older Brother