I will not........

" I will not....." That is what we say to our God when sin, isn't it? We are telling God that we want our will and not His. 

If I am being honest, I see in myself both sons mentioned in the parable of this Sundays Gospel reading.  When I recite the Creed every Sunday, I am saying "yes, this is what I believe." But my actions are not always consistent with what I profess to believe, When I pray the Our Father, I say "your will be done" But I don't always do my God's will. I fall short. Often.

Many times throughout the week, I say "I will not...." if not in word, then certainly in deed. Does this strike a chord with you? Upon reflection can you not identify with these sons of the father?

If your answer is "yes," the good news is that our God is Merciful and Forgiving. If we break from sin and do what is right and just we shall know the Mercy of our God. This is the promise our Lord gives us in this Gospel. Tax collectors and prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God........

May our actions glorify God our Father!

                      + Theophilus

 

¿Vas a tenerme rencor porque soy bueno?

 

Ningún pasaje del evangelio, con la excepción de la parábola del Hijo pródigo, causa tantos sentimientos adversos en nosotros como esta parábola de los trabajadores que llegan a la viña a distintas horas y reciben la misma paga que los que trabajaron todo el día.

 

¿ Es justo, nos preguntamos, que los que trabajaron solamente una hora o los que trabajaron solamente parte del día, reciben la misma paga que los que trabajaron todo el día sufriendo el calor del sol?

 

Recientemente hablaba con una persona que emigró a los Estados Unidos, que llegó aquí hace más de 20 años procedente de un país de América latina.

 

Me decía, “los inmigrantes que están llegando ahora reciben un lugar donde vivir, tratan de darle trabajo, y hasta le consiguen documentos:

 

Cuando yo llegué no recibí nada. Tuve que trabajar arduamente para comprar la casa que tengo, el automóvil que conduzco y para conseguir el permiso de trabajo. Conseguir los documentos me costó trabajo y dinero. Éstos recién llegados lo tienen muy fácil. “

 

Le recordé la parábola de los trabajadores que lleguen a la viña a distintas horas del día y todos reciben la misma paga. La persona se rio y me dijo, “nosotros somos los que hemos trabajado todo el día y hemos aguantado el calor del sol.

 

Cómo es una persona de iglesia y de espiritualidad, entendió. Pero, ¿entendió?

 

¿Entendemos tú y yo?  Más, ¿aceptamos ella, tú y yo la justicia divina?

 

Quizás la clave para entender el sentido de la Parábola está en la pregunta que hace el dueño de la viña al trabajador disgustado,

“¿Vas a tenerme rencor porque soy bueno?

 

¿No te parece que el dueño de la viña sabía que los trabajadores que llegaron a la última hora tenían una familia que mantener lo mismo que los que trabajaron el día completo? Y que sentía el deseo de satisfacer Las necesidades de cada familia.

 

Durante su vida pública, Jesús curó a los enfermos, dio de comer a las multitudes hambrientas, hizo caminar a los cojos, ver a los ciegos y abrazó a los leprosos.

 

Toda persona, no importa su nacionalidad, su status migratorio, el color de su tez, es una hermana o hermano miembro del Cuerpo de Cristo y tiene derecho a trabajar, a servicios de salud pública, a una vivienda adecuada, educación para sus hijos, y el respeto de sus hermanos en Cristo.

 

Comprenderemos y aceptaremos el mensaje de la parábola de los trabajadores en la viña cuando tengamos presente que “el Señor es compasivo y misericordioso, lento a la ira y rico en clemencia. “

 

Pidamos a Nuestra Señora que nos ayude a entender y aceptar la voluntad de su Hijo.

 

AMÉN

 

El Caballero de Nuestra Señora

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hug Mercy and Compassion

In the book of Sirach we read, “Wrath and anger are hateful things, yet the sinner hugs them tight.”  Think for a moment to the last time you were really angry with someone.  It might have been months ago.  It might have been this morning. If it was some time ago, I bet we can recall the details of the situation like it happened this morning.  We can recall what the initial reason for our anger was.  We can remember exactly what somebody either did or said to make us angry.  We can remember our response.  We can remember how we felt.  We can remember probably how personally angry we felt.  We can remember what revenge we had planned for that person or persons who hurt us.  It all comes back to us so vividly in our mind’s eye. 

You see we have so much trouble letting go.  The reality is we may have forgiven a particular person or group of people for a particular action or series of actions, but forgetting is something entirely different.  Perhaps our forgiving and our ability to receive true forgiveness is merely shallow.  We so often see forgiveness as merely an opportunity to come to an agreement that we can move on from.

It reminds me of when I was a child.  I had a good friend named Billy.  We were indeed good friends, but as it is with most boys, from time to time we would get into some little fights.  One time we were wrestling in the neighborhood.  Billy wrestled me into the mud that was in front of a neighbor’s house.  The neighbor came out and broke up our fight.  He knew us, and besides trying to prevent us from messing up his yard, which he wanted to be the best despite its now rundown appearance, he didn’t want to see two good friends fighting each other.  After he broke up the fight, he invited us to both shake hands and apologize.  We both were harboring that anger, but for the sake of the neighbor, we shook hands and without looking each other in the eye, we said we were sorry.  But were we?  Probably not, but we wanted to move on. 

You see, our forgiveness and our willingness to accept that forgiveness is often very shallow.  And so we harbor that wrath and anger, and we perpetuate that sinfulness.  We remain in a viscous cycle of deep resentment and anger because perhaps we are only willing to forgive on the surface.  Jesus is calling us to a deeper forgiveness.  The man asks, “How many times must we forgive, seven times?”  Jesus says, “No, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.”  In other words, we must simply be about forgiveness.

For forgiveness at its least allows us to temporarily get past a situation, and forgiveness at its best can be transformative.  Being forgiven gives us the motivation to forgive others.

We have no greater example of how we need to forgive than the mercy and compassion of Jesus himself.  From the very cross, after being abandoned, betrayed, and having one his closest deny three times even knowing him, and then to be accused, tortured, and put on a cross to die, he forgives, “Father forgive them, for they know not what they do.”

We seem to want to hug anger and wrath.  Let us hug mercy and compassion.

-  The Servant

 

FORGIVENESS and PRESENCE

23d SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

Matthew 18:15-20

 

Once again we hear the call, the commandment, to forgive.  And we are reminded that we are given the authority to forgive.   “… whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven….”

Yet, we are also given the awesome authority to not forgive.  “…whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven…”

Having the authority to do so is one thing.  Having the ability is quite another.  How in the world can I know what to bind and what to loose?”  What talent, wisdom or intellect do I have to make that decision?  How can I possibly judge what to bind or what to loose when I, myself, am subject to such judgement?

The answer is in presence.  The presence of our Lord, our Savior, Jesus.  Only when I am consciously aware that Jesus is present in my mind, my heart and my soul can I be confident regarding what to bind and what to loose.  Even then, it is not only up to my own discernment – although that’s where it must begin.  More importantly, Jesus’ presence can only be fully manifest when two or more are gathered in his name.  Only by working together – with each other, for each other – in HIS name – can we be assured that Jesus is working through us.

All our earthly talents and wisdom and abilities mean NOTHING unless they are given over to Jesus.

Aware of Jesus’ presence we realize, of course, that when we bind others we bind ourselves – and when we loose others, we loose ourselves.

It is said that to err is human, to forgive is divine.  And to gather in his presence is essential.

 

“Call Me Ishmael”

 

Take up your cross.

 In this 

In this weeks Gospel Matthew 16:21-27

Jesus explains to his disciples  and followers that he will be killed in Jerusalem only to rise again on the third day.  Jesus was preparing his disciples for what was to come. Peter was so upset hearing that Jesus was going to die.  It was just too much for him to believe that Jesus that he loved so much was going to die.  Peter looked at Jesus and said "God forbid, Lord! No such thing shall ever happen to you." He turned and said to Peter, "Get behind me, Satan! You are an obstacle to me. You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do."  

 Before we go any further into the gospel let’s consider how we tend to do exactly what Peter did.  When you get some unwanted and unexpected news what happens to you? Who do you become? What thoughts do you have?  Do you act or think like God or do you become very human?   When life gets heavy do you forget all that you know about  Jesus and salvation? Jesus’s response was a call for Peter to remember who he was.  

Jesus then explains what it truly means to be disciple.  Being a disciple is about letting go of your selfish desires and having Jesus at the center. It’s about trusting Jesus with all your heart. He says "Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me.”  That had to be hard to hear the first time.  Take up your cross and follow  the Jesus that just said he was going be killed.  Yet, they followed.  Jesus also said “What profit would there be for one to gain the whole world and forfeit his life”  I believe that this is when the disciples started to get an idea of what It meant to be a follower of Christ. It meant that your desires and wishes went on the back burner for the lord. God is asking for all of us to make him number one in our lives.  You are called to look past the material possessions and look directly at God.  

This weeks reading moved me because I was able to relate to how disappointed and upset Peter was. His reaction to bad news was terribly “human”. Jesus didn’t waiver. He continued to make sure his disciples understood that the dress rehearsal was over.  This is what it means to be  real Christian. You don’t get to do what you want. You answer to a higher power. You answer to God. How many of us start the day with prayer but by noon we “forget” what we signed up for.  The cross is our reminder that Jesus came and died for us and our sins. We have a responsibility to remember. We have a responsibility to live a life that isn’t about all we can get and do.  It’s more about what we can do for others and how we can be a Christian that puts Jesus first. 

     In this weeks Gospel Matthew 16:21-27

Jesus explains to his disciples and followers that he will be killed in Jerusalem only to rise again on the third day. Jesus was preparing his disciples for what was to come. Peter was so upset hearing that Jesus was going to die. It was just too much for him to believe that Jesus that he loved so much was going to die. Peter looked at Jesus and said "God forbid, Lord! No such thing shall ever happen to you." He turned and said to Peter, "Get behind me, Satan! You are an obstacle to me. You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do."

Before we go any further into the gospel let’s consider how we tend to do exactly what Peter did. When you get some unwanted and unexpected news what happens to you? Who do you become? What thoughts do you have? Do you act or think like God or do you become very human? When life gets heavy do you forget all that you know about Jesus and salvation? Jesus’s response was a call for Peter to remember who he was.

Jesus then explains what it means to be a disciple. Being a disciple is about letting go of your selfish desires and having Jesus at the center. It’s about trusting Jesus with all your heart. He says "Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me.” That had to be hard to hear the first time. Take up your cross and follow the Jesus that just said he was going to be killed. Yet, they followed. Jesus also said “What profit would there be for one to gain the whole world and forfeit his life” I believe that this is when the disciples started to get an idea of what It meant to be a follower of Christ. It meant that your desires and wishes went on the back burner for the lord. God is asking for all of us to make him number one in. You are called to look past the material possessions and look directly at God. This week's reading moved me because I was able to relate to how disappointed and upset Peter was. His reaction to bad news was terribly “human”. Jesus didn’t waiver. He continued to make sure his disciples understood that the dress rehearsal was over. This is what it means to be a real Christian. You don’t get to do what you want. You answer to a higher power. You answer to God. How many of us start the day with prayer but by noon we “forget” . We have a responsibility to live a life that isn’t about all we can get and do. It’s more about what we can do for others and how we can be Christian that puts Jesus first.

 weeks Gospel Matthew 16:21-27

Jesus explains to his disciples and followers that he will be killed in Jerusalem only to rise again on the third day. Jesus was preparing his disciples for what was to come. Peter was so upset hearing that Jesus was going to die. It was just too much for him to believe that Jesus that he loved so much was going to die. Peter looked at Jesus and said "God forbid, Lord! No such thing shall ever happen to you." He turned and said to Peter, "Get behind me, Satan! You are an obstacle to me. You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do."

Before we go any further into the gospel let’s consider how we tend to do exactly what Peter did. When you get some unwanted and unexpected news what happens to you? Who do you become? What thoughts do you have? Do you act or think like God or do you become very human? When life gets heavy do you forget all that you know about Jesus and salvation? Jesus’s response was a call for Peter to remember who he was.

Jesus then explains what it means to be a disciple. Being a disciple is about letting go of your selfish desires and having Jesus at the center. It’s about trusting Jesus with all your heart. He says "Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me.” That had to be hard to hear the first time. Take up your cross and follow the Jesus that just said he was going to be killed. Yet, they followed. Jesus also said “What profit would there be for one to gain the whole world and forfeit his life” I believe that this is when the disciples started to get an idea of what It meant to be a follower of Christ. It meant that your desires and wishes went on the back burner for the lord. God is asking for all of us to make him number one in. You are called to look past the material possessions and look directly at God. This week's reading moved me because I was able to relate to how disappointed and upset Peter was. His reaction to bad news was terribly “human”. Jesus didn’t waiver. He continued to make sure his disciples understood that the dress rehearsal was over. This is what it means to be a real Christian. You don’t get to do what you want. You answer to a higher power. You answer to God. How many of us start the day with prayer but by noon we “forget” what we signed up for. The cross is our reminder that Jesus came and died for us and our sins. We have a responsibility to remember. We have a responsibility to live a life that isn’t about all we can get and do. It’s more about what we can do for others and how we can be Christian that puts Jesus first.