Where is the Mount?

 

This week we get to hear the best of homilies, the best of sermons.  Our Lord speaks to us in the perennial words of the Beatitudes, delivered to us in the Sermon on the Mount.  If we could imagine for a moment being there as Jesus first spoke those words that would be passed on to us in Sacred Scripture.  Picture, if you will, the crowd, of simple down-to-earth people, struggling as shepherds, farmers, fishermen.  There would be hard-working men and women and children, all looking for answers to their own questions.  They were hoping that this teacher would have the answers.  So, they focused on what he was saying.  Every word that came from his mouth were absorbed, for indeed this new way could indeed be the way to their salvation.

Of course, we are not there.  That event happened two thousand years ago in a place far from where most of us find ourselves.  There is one similarity though between that event and the circumstances that we find ourselves today.  And that is that each of us in our own circumstances are just like those who were listening to Jesus at the Mount.  We too find ourselves working hard to make a go of it.  We wonder what will be bring us true happiness.  We need to hear a way that will help us satisfy that nagging that the way of the world is just not right.  We try to satisfy that nagging by absorbing all kinds of content that the world offers, much of it from entertainers and politicians.  We listen to the opinions of others and then agree with those who we think are just like us.  All of that leaves us hungry.  For none of that was ever meant to satisfy, to give us real answers.  The only real truth comes from the one who is The Way, The Truth and The Life. 

And so we who know that fact, that the answers come from the mouth of the Lord, have to be careful not to have his words muddled in the many voices that we hear.  So often the voices and messages we hear come in an appealing package that entertains us and entices us with the world’s offer of an easy life.  The words from the Mount are not about getting an easy life, but rather the offer is for eternal life.

And so we, we who are blessed to know to look for the Mount and to avoid the myriad of other messages, have another responsibility and that is to bring others to the Mount.  Every person is searching for the same answers, for the same truth, but so many think they found the truth aside from the Truth.  So many buy into to the world’s offer of happiness in easy living.  Let us commit to bringing one another to the Mount, to hear the Lord, to come to the Truth.  There really is no other answer.  There really is only one Mount.  Let's get everyone there.

- The Servant

 

 

3d Sunday in Ordinary Time

Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 1:10-13, 17

 

“… that there be no divisions among you …”

 

I am deviating from the custom of reflecting on the gospel and turning my prayerful thoughts instead to Paul’s epistle which cautions against the rivalries that had sprung up amongst various Christians who began to see themselves as followers of Paul or Apollos or Cephas, etc. rather than as true followers of Christ.

 

This passage seems so timely in view of the discord which we see amongst we who call ourselves Christians today.  And these divisions are no less troubling now than they were in the First Century.

 

Paul concludes with a call to unity  “… so that the cross of Christ might not be emptied of its meaning.”

 

There are differences and there are divisions. They are not the same thing.  If the meaning of the cross is that we should love one another as He loved us – with total sacrifice and with the intent to forgive, heal and draw us closer to our Heavenly Father to experience His divine peace and joy – then we must realize that we might be true to that meaning even if we think, see or speak a bit differently, but not if we seek to divide and it becomes “us” versus “them” and not “we.”

 

A quick example:  There are those who prefer to experience the Eucharist in English.  There are those who prefer Latin.  Each claims that their experience brings them into a closer relationship with God.  That’s good.  Isn’t that what we all seek?  Each simply has the same experience differently.  The meaning of the cross of Christs remains intact.  However, when a person in one camp tells a person in the other camp, “My way is the better way” (Holier, more reverent, superior) then Christ’s cross is rendered meaningless.  There is no charity, there is no love, there is no healing, there is no forgiveness.  There is no joy.  There is no peace. 

 

It is a reminder of the famous adage first espoused by Marco Antonio de Dominis.* 

 

“In essentials unity; in non-essentials liberty; in all things charity.”

 

As St. Paul challenges us today, “Is Christ divided?”  No.  He loves us all.  I am reminded that I must do the same.

 

 “Call Me Ishmael”

 

*For an ironic (and perhaps even humorous) twist that, perhaps, underscores Paul’s epistle check this article on the origin of the quote Marco Antonio de Dominis

Turn up the volume.

     In this weeks Gospel, John 1:29-34.  John the Baptist introduces the world to  the Lamb of God.   John saw Jesus walking towards him and said  “Look, there is the lamb of God that takes away the sins of the world”   This was the first time that  Jesus was being recognized as the messiah.  Today I ask you when do you recognize Jesus as the messiah in your life.  Do you take the time to “see” Jesus throughout the day?  Do you take the time to recognize that Jesus is always at work?  He’s always working on who we are and how we live. 

     The Lamb of God that takes away the sins of the world can sounds almost a little impersonal.  I know when I think of the words “sins of the world”  I can get lost in there.  It’s sounds more like umbrella coverage for God. I know I'm covered but God really isn't focused on me.  Yet, I know that as a Christian Jesus came to wipe my sins away, all of my sins. Personally, everything that I have done and will do that is sinful  will be wiped clean. He has come to give  each and every one of us a blank slate.  Each and everyone one of us has been giving a fresh  start.  The lamb of God that takes away the sins of that world includes you and I. Every  single sin you have committed has been wiped clean and we are called to follow God and his way of life.   Our nature is sinful so we need to be very much present to Gods way of life when we are out in the world.  Even then we will fall short. Thankfully we have the Holy Spirit to guide us.  The Holy Spirit is also how John  was able to recognize Jesus. John didn’t fully understand exactly  what Jesus had come to do. (I’m not sure Jesus knew exactly  himself. ) Yet, he knew that Jesus was coming and he knew exactly  how to recognize him. 

   

     "The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and rest is the one who is to baptize with the Holy Spirit."  That’s exactly what John saw.  The Bible  says John saw the Holy Spirit In the form of a dove resting  on Jesus’s shoulder. That’s how he recognized Jesus.  How do you recognize Jesus in your life?  How do "see" Jesus? Is Jesus some mystical character that you think about? Is he here to look over you? Is he like a father watching and keeping a close eye on you?  There really isn’t a right answer. Your relationship with Christ is your relationship. Is it to be examined? Sure but without judgment. We are all have different relationships with Jesus and I believe that's how it supposed to be.  How and when you recognize Jesus in your life is unique to you.  I Just know that just like John, you are able to recognize that he is the Messiah and very much part of your life.  For me,  I see Jesus in the random acts of kindness from others. I see a Jesus when Christians continue to believe  and have faith even though we are in a world that is increasingly violent and filled with negativity.  I see Jesus in  a child that hasn’t learned  of hatred or racism.  I see Jesus when we  choose to do the right thing  and overlook an offense and see the common bonds we all share on this planet.  I see Jesus in the actions of the people that do what’s right even when the world suggests otherwise.   We all have the opportunity to see  and recognize the presence of  Jesus in our lives. It takes some patience but I believe Jesus is always  here managing, assisting, supporting and loving us at all times. When we see Jesus the Messiah will we be like John? Will we say it out loud. ? Will we proclaim that we have seen him or do we keep it to ourselves?

As a Christian we are called to announce that we have seen the Messiah with our own eyes. We  are called to share that we believe that our salvation has already been taken care of.  In a world that is growing more and more divisive we are called to speak up. We are called to turn up the volume of our faith and belief in Christ.  Like John the Baptist, we are called to recognize and proclaim that Jesus is here and  in our lives.  Jesus is in our lives to not because of our righteousness. He’s in our lives because of God’s Grace.  When you “see” Jesus this week turn up the volume and announce it. You never know who’s listening. 

-Anonymous 

The Epiphanies

 "The Epiphany" story from today's Gospel is really the first in a series of three epiphany stories.  In the first story, we hear how Jesus was revealed to the world by the calling of the Magi.  Later in Matthew, in the story of Jesus' baptism, we hear about God revealing that Jesus is His son.  Yet later in Matthew, in the story of the wedding at Cana, the first miracle of Jesus is revealed to the world.  

What's the point?  The point, to me, is that finding and understanding Jesus is not a one-shot deal; it's a life-long process.  I sometimes feel that I have met and accepted Jesus.  Other times, not so much.  Then I have more moments, and I feel I have advanced.  Then two steps back.  And so forth.

But I think that's OK.  The way the Bible relates the story of Jesus, it was a process, not just one moment.  Nobody "got it" right away.

Right or wrong, when I hear people say that on such and such day, or at such and such time, they accepted Jesus as their Lord and savior, I am both envious and dubious.  If that is how people, all at once, have "an epiphany" and they're done, that's truly great for them.  That's just not my personal experience.  For me, it's more one step forward and two steps back.

How is it for you?

Peace, brothers and sisters.

- The Older Brother