eWord

Look No Further - John 17:20-26

Wed, 15 May 2013 20:52:00 -0400

Gospel

JN 17:20-26

Lifting up his eyes to heaven, Jesus prayed saying:
“Holy Father, I pray not only for them,
but also for those who will believe in me through their word,
so that they may all be one,
as you, Father, are in me and I in you,
that they also may be in us,
that the world may believe that you sent me.
And I have given them the glory you gave me,
so that they may be one, as we are one,
I in them and you in me,
that they may be brought to perfection as one,
that the world may know that you sent me,
and that you loved them even as you loved me.
Father, they are your gift to me.
I wish that where I am they also may be with me,
that they may see my glory that you gave me,
because you loved me before the foundation of the world.
Righteous Father, the world also does not know you,
but I know you, and they know that you sent me.
I made known to them your name and I will make it known,
that the love with which you loved me
may be in them and I in them.”

Reflection

We always hear that Christ should be in us. We pray for that, but what are we really asking for? For the Holy Spirit to fill us and have joy in our hearts all day long, at every turn and peace at every tragedy? That would just be LOVELY, but we live too much on our feelings to be riding high all the time. We are always looking for good behavior. Good behavior from our children, right actions from our neighbors, olive branches from our less desirable fellow man (too harsh to call them enemies). It is amazing how often we need a “what would Jesus do?” in our daily lives. As corny as it sounds, we do need to think about what Jesus what do if he were in our shoes. He has revealed his character to us in his holy word. There is consistency in his nature no matter how supernatural. Jesus is firm in his actions. The high road, the other cheek, the poor, the disadvantaged… we are constantly seeking status and resume fillers. God reveals our purpose through the example of Christ. What other example do we need?

Trust in Me - John 14:23-29

Wed, 08 May 2013 20:16:00 -0400

GospelJN 14:23-29

Jesus said to his disciples:
“Whoever loves me will keep my word,
and my Father will love him,
and we will come to him and make our dwelling with him.
Whoever does not love me does not keep my words;
yet the word you hear is not mine
but that of the Father who sent me.

“I have told you this while I am with you.
The Advocate, the Holy Spirit,
whom the Father will send in my name,
will teach you everything
and remind you of all that I told you.
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you.
Not as the world gives do I give it to you.
Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid.
You heard me tell you,
‘I am going away and I will come back to you.’
If you loved me,
you would rejoice that I am going to the Father;
for the Father is greater than I.
And now I have told you this before it happens,
so that when it happens you may believe.”

Reflection

Do you trust me? Have you ever said that to anyone? Have you ever known that you would take care of someone, but they didn’t quite believe you? They wanted additional reassurances. They almost wanted proof. We would all like to see proof, but you can’t really hedge yourself against someone else’s dishonesty. If you did, how terrible of a calculating life would that be? It would mean life as we know it would be full of distrust. It’s hard enough to help a stranded motorist today, much less get invested in their hardships or heartaches. We tend to complicate what the basic human condition implies: Trust in the Lord and look of for others along the way.

Time To Spare - John 21:1-14

Wed, 17 Apr 2013 20:55:16 -0400

Gospel
JN 21:1-14

At that time, Jesus revealed himself to his disciples at the Sea of Tiberias.
He revealed himself in this way.
Together were Simon Peter, Thomas called Didymus,
Nathanael from Cana in Galilee,
Zebedee’s sons, and two others of his disciples.
Simon Peter said to them, “ am going fishing.”
They said to him, “e also will come with you.”
So they went out and got into the boat,
but that night they caught nothing.
When it was already dawn, Jesus was standing on the shore;
but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus.
Jesus said to them, “Children, have you caught anything to eat?”
They answered him, “No.”
So he said to them, “Cast the net over the right side of the boat
and you will find something.”
So they cast it, and were not able to pull it in
because of the number of fish.
So the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord.”
When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord,
he tucked in his garment, for he was lightly clad,
and jumped into the sea.
The other disciples came in the boat,
for they were not far from shore, only about a hundred yards,
dragging the net with the fish.
When they climbed out on shore,
they saw a charcoal fire with fish on it and bread.
Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish you just caught.”
So Simon Peter went over and dragged the net ashore
full of one hundred fifty-three large fish.
Even though there were so many, the net was not torn.
Jesus said to them, “Come, have breakfast.”
And none of the disciples dared to ask him, “Who are you?”
because they realized it was the Lord.
Jesus came over and took the bread and gave it to them,
and in like manner the fish.
This was now the third time Jesus was revealed to his disciples
after being raised from the dead.

Reflection

Being with Jesus after the resurrection must have been amazing. To see him and actually know that Jesus had overcome the grave, now that will boost anyone’s faith. We know that Jesus revealed himself a few times after the resurrection. To see him or feel his presence (their hearts burned within them) must have been the most amazing experience possible in this life. Often we find life too busy to connect with Jesus, but Christ is just as available to us today as he was one year after the resurrection. Why do we assume that Jesus only revealed himself closer to the resurrection and does not reveal himself today? Is Jesus just as available today as he was then? I have to think so. I have to think it is just our agendas that keep God off the schedule. Time alone to simply be still is easier said than done, but we don’t need to be a moving target for God. To come to him. To worship him. To love him. God is good all the time. Unfortunately, time is not always something we are willing to share with the most important relationships of our lives not just today, but forevermore.

Jump The Fence - John 20:19-31

Wed, 10 Apr 2013 21:24:46 -0400

GospelJN 20:19-31

On the evening of that first day of the week,
when the doors were locked, where the disciples were,
for fear of the Jews,
Jesus came and stood in their midst
and said to them, “Peace be with you.”
When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side.
The disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord.
Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you.
As the Father has sent me, so I send you.”
And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them,
“Receive the Holy Spirit.
Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them,
and whose sins you retain are retained.”

Thomas, called Didymus, one of the Twelve,
was not with them when Jesus came.
So the other disciples said to him, “We have seen the Lord.”
But he said to them,
“Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands
and put my finger into the nailmarks
and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.”

Now a week later his disciples were again inside
and Thomas was with them.
Jesus came, although the doors were locked,
and stood in their midst and said, “Peace be with you.”
Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands,
and bring your hand and put it into my side,
and do not be unbelieving, but believe.”
Thomas answered and said to him, “My Lord and my God!”
Jesus said to him, “Have you come to believe because you have seen me?
Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.”

Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples
that are not written in this book.
But these are written that you may come to believe
that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God,
and that through this belief you may have life in his name.

Reflection

Blind faith is a tricky concept. It is like driving on fumes. You know that you could run out of gas at any moment, but something tells you that you will make it to the station. Then again, we do see people walking down the highway with a gas can back to their stranded cars. Maybe they needed extra time to think. Maybe they were the ones that doubted. We meet Doubting Thomas in the weeks gospel. Funny how we shake our heads and say “Old Thomas…. why couldn’t you just believe?” kinda like when we say “Old Peter, how could you deny the Lord?” Even like when we say “Old Judas, how could you betray our Lord?” It is easy to play it out perfectly in your head, but life rarely moves in slow motion. It is hard, fast and once the cat is out of the bag, life changes. Humans are rigid. We don’t want to adapt and we certainly need to see things most times before we believe them. I am a doubter. More or less, but a doubter regardless. My son wanted to jump the fence tonight. I didn’t want him to. I wanted him to play in safe, but every little boy needs to know how to scale a fence. It is just a rite of passage. Rather than convince him not to climb the fence, I taught him technique. There is definitely technique to climbing a fence. He is fast asleep with a sense of accomplishment. He didn’t have any doubts. At some point, I followed suit. Doubts out of mind. The fear subsides and faith takes over. We can fear anything. Life has no promises. Christ is the only promise we can trust. He is with us. Trust in the Lord.

A Contrite Heart - John 8:1-11

Wed, 20 Mar 2013 21:18:19 -0400

GospelJN 8:1-11

Jesus went to the Mount of Olives.
But early in the morning he arrived again in the temple area,
and all the people started coming to him,
and he sat down and taught them.
Then the scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman
who had been caught in adultery
and made her stand in the middle.
They said to him,
“Teacher, this woman was caught
in the very act of committing adultery.
Now in the law, Moses commanded us to stone such women.
So what do you say?”
They said this to test him,
so that they could have some charge to bring against him.
Jesus bent down and began to write on the ground with his finger.
But when they continued asking him,
he straightened up and said to them,
“Let the one among you who is without sin
be the first to throw a stone at her.”
Again he bent down and wrote on the ground.
And in response, they went away one by one,
beginning with the elders.
So he was left alone with the woman before him.
Then Jesus straightened up and said to her,
“Woman, where are they?
Has no one condemned you?”
She replied, “No one, sir.”
Then Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you.
Go, and from now on do not sin any more.”

Reflection

At the end of a Catholic Confession, the person confessing expresses the act of Contrition, which states: My God, I am sorry for my sins with all my heart. In choosing to do wrong and failing to do good, I have sinned against you whom I should love above all things. I firmly intend, with your help, to do penance, to sin no more, and to avoid whatever leads me to sin. Our Savior Jesus Christ suffered and died for us. In His name, my God, have mercy. Amen. Whether Catholic or not, we can all appreciate having a remorseful heart and hating the sins that seem to find us again and again. In this week’s gospel, Jesus makes a very strong point, but the strongest statement he appears to make at the end of the gospel is when he forgives the woman and allows her to start over again. We all have ugly sins. We all struggle with things that keep us from serving God and the world around. Vanity can grip even the most humble. Whether at confession or at prayer in your closet, we cannot even move towards reconciliation with man until we have reconciliation with God and we can’t even approach God unless we truly are ready to abandon sinful behavior that limits our God given potential. Examine your sins. Understand where you are failing. Sure no one is perfectly righteous enough to toss a stone our way, but, we aren’t comparing ourselves vs. others, we are comparing ourselves again God’s chosen standard of living purity and peace.

Prodigal Son - Luke 15:1-3,11-32

Wed, 13 Mar 2013 20:52:51 -0400

GospelLK 15:1-3, 11-32

Tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to listen to Jesus,
but the Pharisees and scribes began to complain, saying,
“This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”
So to them Jesus addressed this parable:
“A man had two sons, and the younger son said to his father,
‘Father give me the share of your estate that should come to me.’
So the father divided the property between them.
After a few days, the younger son collected all his belongings
and set off to a distant country
where he squandered his inheritance on a life of dissipation.
When he had freely spent everything,
a severe famine struck that country,
and he found himself in dire need.
So he hired himself out to one of the local citizens
who sent him to his farm to tend the swine.
And he longed to eat his fill of the pods on which the swine fed,
but nobody gave him any.
Coming to his senses he thought,
‘How many of my father’s hired workers
have more than enough food to eat,
but here am I, dying from hunger.
I shall get up and go to my father and I shall say to him,
“Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you.
I no longer deserve to be called your son;
treat me as you would treat one of your hired workers.”’
So he got up and went back to his father.
While he was still a long way off,
his father caught sight of him, and was filled with compassion.
He ran to his son, embraced him and kissed him.
His son said to him,
‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you;
I no longer deserve to be called your son.’
But his father ordered his servants,
‘Quickly bring the finest robe and put it on him;
put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet.
Take the fattened calf and slaughter it.
Then let us celebrate with a feast,
because this son of mine was dead, and has come to life again;
he was lost, and has been found.’
Then the celebration began.
Now the older son had been out in the field
and, on his way back, as he neared the house,
he heard the sound of music and dancing.
He called one of the servants and asked what this might mean.
The servant said to him,
‘Your brother has returned
and your father has slaughtered the fattened calf
because he has him back safe and sound.’
He became angry,
and when he refused to enter the house,
his father came out and pleaded with him.
He said to his father in reply,
‘Look, all these years I served you
and not once did I disobey your orders;
yet you never gave me even a young goat to feast on with my friends.
But when your son returns
who swallowed up your property with prostitutes,
for him you slaughter the fattened calf.’
He said to him,
‘My son, you are here with me always;
everything I have is yours.
But now we must celebrate and rejoice,
because your brother was dead and has come to life again;
he was lost and has been found.’”

Reflection

Often we think of the Prodigal Son and his brother as two people. Have you ever thought of this story as different seasons of your life? Life is full of ups and downs, highs and lows, etc., etc., etc. How often do we drift from the Lord only to bang our heads on the wall up until the point of epiphany and then seek to return? We don’t have to walk to far away from our own reflection before we start to think we are immortal. Rich, poor, happy, sad, no one escapes the human condition. How do we drift? Why do we drift? Do we get comfortable? Too comfortable to understand how this whole life experience is going to play out? Open the paper and you will see a lot of old people dying. Hard to believe they were babies. Little kids, just playing, but their lives picked up pace and life caught up with them. Some go with dignity and grace and others go ill prepared. The only way to go is in full communion with God. To know that God is responsible for your life if you let him lead, can only inspire us to prioritize life as we know it. Time invested in the Kingdom of God is time well spent. Rather than allowing painful life experiences drive us to return to the Lord, maybe we should just stay in the pocket in the first place.

100 Years - Luke 9:28-36

Wed, 27 Feb 2013 20:22:49 -0500

GospelLK 9:28B-36

Jesus took Peter, John, and James
and went up the mountain to pray.
While he was praying his face changed in appearance
and his clothing became dazzling white.
And behold, two men were conversing with him, Moses and Elijah,
who appeared in glory and spoke of his exodus
that he was going to accomplish in Jerusalem.
Peter and his companions had been overcome by sleep,
but becoming fully awake,
they saw his glory and the two men standing with him.
As they were about to part from him, Peter said to Jesus,
“Master, it is good that we are here;
let us make three tents,
one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”
But he did not know what he was saying.
While he was still speaking,
a cloud came and cast a shadow over them,
and they became frightened when they entered the cloud.
Then from the cloud came a voice that said,
“This is my chosen Son; listen to him.”
After the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone.
They fell silent and did not at that time
tell anyone what they had seen.

Reflection

We get busy don’t we? Busy doing anything productive? I swear I think my task are important and honorable in the eyes of God, but then every now and then I wonder if I am doing anything close to what he would want me to do. It will certainly get your attention. To wonder if we are doing God’s will or our will. Certainly my will motivates me to get out of bed. It takes a great deal of persistence in attitude to guide your steps back to God and often the end of the day arrives and God didn’t really get the best we had. We need activity. We feel we need activity. God loves stillness, but being quiet and patient drives us crazy. We will act first and hope God blesses it along the way, especially if we need God to work us out of our own devices. In this week’s gospel Peter, James and John quickly focused on the here and now of what they need to do when God was attempting to tell them to focus on the Tomorrow and Beyond by being present in the relationship with Jesus. What will our daily actions mean in 100 years? Puts it into perspective doesn’t it? Let’s make our actions count not just today, but forever.

Common Failings - Luke 5:1-11

Wed, 13 Feb 2013 20:13:34 -0500

Gospel Lk 5:1-11

While the crowd was pressing in on Jesus and listening
to the word of God,
he was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret.
He saw two boats there alongside the lake;
the fishermen had disembarked and were washing their nets.
Getting into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon,
he asked him to put out a short distance from the shore.
Then he sat down and taught the crowds from the boat.
After he had finished speaking, he said to Simon,
“Put out into deep water and lower your nets for a catch.”
Simon said in reply,
“Master, we have worked hard all night and have caught nothing,
but at your command I will lower the nets.”
When they had done this, they caught a great number of fish
and their nets were tearing.
They signaled to their partners in the other boat
to come to help them.
They came and filled both boats
so that the boats were in danger of sinking.
When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at the knees of Jesus and said,
“Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man.”
For astonishment at the catch of fish they had made seized him
and all those with him,
and likewise James and John, the sons of Zebedee,
who were partners of Simon.
Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid;
from now on you will be catching men.”
When they brought their boats to the shore,
they left everything and followed him.

Reflection

When does our own internal spiritual growth reach the point that it overflows and we then need to turn to share our faith with others? In this week’s gospel Jesus tells his disciples that they are to now become fishers of men. Certainly not an easy task at hand especially when they need to learn so much more themselves. I think we can get caught in a neutral position where we still tell ourselves that we are working on our own problems so we can’t even think about reaching out to others. If we are waiting on a state of perfection, we will be waiting forever because nothing is perfect as we know. I think there is great authenticity when we expose our shortcomings to others all in the name of mutual growth. When we fail, we tend to hide it and lick our wounds. While we often need time for those wounds to heal, we do need to look for opportunities to share our experience with those who are experiencing the pain in the present moment. We need to be able to share our mistakes to encourage others beyond theirs. No one is perfect, but when we take the time to remind those in need that we are indeed not perfect, you will see common ground open the door to ministry.

Prophet Now - Luke 4:21-30

Wed, 06 Feb 2013 20:27:27 -0500

Gospel Lk 4:21-30

Jesus began speaking in the synagogue, saying:
“Today this Scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing.”
And all spoke highly of him
and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his mouth.
They also asked, “Isn’t this the son of Joseph?”
He said to them, “Surely you will quote me this proverb,
‘Physician, cure yourself,’ and say,
‘Do here in your native place
the things that we heard were done in Capernaum.’”
And he said, “Amen, I say to you,
no prophet is accepted in his own native place.
Indeed, I tell you,
there were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah
when the sky was closed for three and a half years
and a severe famine spread over the entire land.
It was to none of these that Elijah was sent,
but only to a widow in Zarephath in the land of Sidon.
Again, there were many lepers in Israel
during the time of Elisha the prophet;
yet not one of them was cleansed, but only Naaman the Syrian.”
When the people in the synagogue heard this,
they were all filled with fury.
They rose up, drove him out of the town,
and led him to the brow of the hill
on which their town had been built,
to hurl him down headlong.
But Jesus passed through the midst of them and went away.

Reflection

Are you bold enough to be a prophet in your own town? A prophet in your own sphere of influence? A prophet in your own home? Especially when we are coming from a history of broken habits and sin, it can be hard to “reinvent” yourself as new thanks be to God, but we are indeed worthy to be saved and worthy to live a new way of life sharing the gospel with others. The funny thing about being a prophet is that we have to live it in a way that is not necessarily for self profit or even self gratification, but rather as a person who simply has a message. A message so powerful that we absolutely must share it. It may take a while for us to embrace the message of hope ourselves, but if we pursue the perfection of faith, we can touch it at times and it only takes a few moments in the sweet spot for us to then be bold enough to share it. There is great hope in the Lord and we must strive to be a prophet for those around us. Who else will bring the message of hope?

Call Upon The Holy Spirit - Luke 1:1-4, 4:14-21

Wed, 30 Jan 2013 20:13:12 -0500

GospelLK 1:1-4; 4:14-21

Since many have undertaken to compile a narrative of the events
that have been fulfilled among us,
just as those who were eyewitnesses from the beginning
and ministers of the word have handed them down to us,
I too have decided,
after investigating everything accurately anew,
to write it down in an orderly sequence for you,
most excellent Theophilus,
so that you may realize the certainty of the teachings
you have received.

Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit,
and news of him spread throughout the whole region.
He taught in their synagogues and was praised by all.

He came to Nazareth, where he had grown up,
and went according to his custom
into the synagogue on the sabbath day.
He stood up to read and was handed a scroll of the prophet Isaiah.
He unrolled the scroll and found the passage where it was written:
The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
because he has anointed me
to bring glad tidings to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives
and recovery of sight to the blind,
to let the oppressed go free,
and to proclaim a year acceptable to the Lord.
Rolling up the scroll, he handed it back to the attendant and sat down,
and the eyes of all in the synagogue looked intently at him.
He said to them,
“Today this Scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing.”

Reflection

Chasing feelings will get you ups and downs on the road of faith. Feelings lead us down many paths, but we can’t deny that we are indeed spiritual beings. Shove it down, move it aside, but if you aren’t embracing an openness to the spirit, then you are on a short journey with an abrupt ending. Certainly very Old Testament. This week’s gospel talks of “The Spirit of the Lord being upon” Jesus. Do you know what the sweet spot of faith feels like? Do you know how to get there again once you touch it for just a moment? Our faith often feels like a moving target, but once in a while, there is no denying that the Holy Spirit is right there in your midst. It can seem a little odd to summon the Holy Spirit, but Jesus wanted us to do just that, literally call upon the Holy Spirit to walk with us, be with us and lead us on the path of righteousness. The sweet spot of faith involves living with the Holy Spirit. While the true connections may seem few and far between, the Holy Spirit is with us and more than willing to be more intimately involved in the direction of our lives. Each step has more opportunities for God’s plan when we allow the Holy Spirit to not only dwell with us, but to live within us. Don’t be afraid to reach out and embrace it.

Transformation - John 2:1-11

Wed, 23 Jan 2013 20:29:33 -0500

GospelJN 2:1-11

There was a wedding at Cana in Galilee,
and the mother of Jesus was there.
Jesus and his disciples were also invited to the wedding.
When the wine ran short,
the mother of Jesus said to him,
“They have no wine.”
And Jesus said to her,
“Woman, how does your concern affect me?
My hour has not yet come.”
His mother said to the servers,
“Do whatever he tells you.”
Now there were six stone water jars there for Jewish ceremonial washings,
each holding twenty to thirty gallons.
Jesus told them,
“Fill the jars with water.”
So they filled them to the brim.
Then he told them,
“Draw some out now and take it to the headwaiter.”
So they took it.
And when the headwaiter tasted the water that had become wine,
without knowing where it came from
— although the servers who had drawn the water knew —,
the headwaiter called the bridegroom and said to him,
“Everyone serves good wine first,
and then when people have drunk freely, an inferior one;
but you have kept the good wine until now.”
Jesus did this as the beginning of his signs at Cana in Galilee
and so revealed his glory,
and his disciples began to believe in him.

Reflection

Jesus can always make something out of nothing. The child that was never intended, the opportunity that never could have been predicted and of course, the water into wine. Transformation is a buzz word, but if you have ever witnessed a person transform from a broken, conflicted, self-centered person into a spirit filled, peaceful, selfless miracle, then you know what a Christian transformation can look like. Sinners into Saints, Old into New, transformation is a real process. The only thing that keeps God from showing up is the skeptical mind that doubts again and again. No parachutes for the faithful. In this week’s gospel, Jesus simply gives a taste of his public ministry. Just a taste. Can we live our lives fully empowered by the love of Jesus Christ and the promises that are unchanging and worth of our faith? God has revealed his glory, we don’t need to seek it again. We just need to embrace it. Imagine what our lives could be if faith was at the center of our every action.

Clear The Way - Luke 3:15-16, 21-22

Wed, 16 Jan 2013 20:35:00 -0500

GospelLK 3:15-16, 21-22

The people were filled with expectation,
and all were asking in their hearts
whether John might be the Christ.
John answered them all, saying,
“I am baptizing you with water,
but one mightier than I is coming.
I am not worthy to loosen the thongs of his sandals.
He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.”

After all the people had been baptized
and Jesus also had been baptized and was praying,
heaven was opened and the Holy Spirit descended upon him
in bodily form like a dove.
And a voice came from heaven,
“You are my beloved Son;
with you I am well pleased.”

Reflection

The lead blocker takes a beating. Clearing holes and making the other running back look good. But without the lead blocker, the full back starts at a disadvantage. Life is all about breaks. Sometimes things break for us… others times they break against us. There will be times that we will be following suit and there will be times that we will be hoeing the road. Certainly it is easier to be the younger sibling. This week’s gospel finds John telling the people that Jesus was on the way. A holier man was on the way. I think we can forget that others have made our lives easier. Others have raised us, mentored us and even bailed us out of tough situations. Jesus Christ lived up to everything he was proclaimed to be. We care for our reputations and we want people to think well of us, but in the end shouldn’t we strive to make things better for the next generation whether they be family or strangers? Many have gone before us and who knows how many will come after us, but John made it very clear that he was to prepare the way of the Lord. There must be someone to prepare for the way of the Lord in your life. There must be. Who is it? Clear the hole and make a path for them.

Clear The Way - Luke 3:15-16, 21-22

Wed, 16 Jan 2013 20:34:44 -0500

GospelLK 3:15-16, 21-22

Reflection

Gut Check - Matthew 2:1-12

Wed, 09 Jan 2013 20:15:43 -0500

Gospel Mt 2:1-12

When Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea,
in the days of King Herod,
behold, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying,
“Where is the newborn king of the Jews?
We saw his star at its rising
and have come to do him homage.”
When King Herod heard this,
he was greatly troubled,
and all Jerusalem with him.
Assembling all the chief priests and the scribes of the people,
He inquired of them where the Christ was to be born.
They said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea,
for thus it has been written through the prophet:
And you, Bethlehem, land of Judah,
are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
since from you shall come a ruler,
who is to shepherd my people Israel.”
Then Herod called the magi secretly
and ascertained from them the time of the star’s appearance.
He sent them to Bethlehem and said,
“Go and search diligently for the child.
When you have found him, bring me word,
that I too may go and do him homage.”
After their audience with the king they set out.
And behold, the star that they had seen at its rising preceded them,
until it came and stopped over the place where the child was.
They were overjoyed at seeing the star,
and on entering the house
they saw the child with Mary his mother.
They prostrated themselves and did him homage.
Then they opened their treasures
and offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod,
they departed for their country by another way.

Reflection

Have you ever felt a twinge in your stomach that told you to run the other way? Whether it was a person or place where you got that feeling it would be hard to track the results, but I bet the large majority of “gut feelings’ prove to be affirmative. Our guts tell us the way to go. Some have a terrible sense of gut direction, while others are spot on. Intuition, ESP and even coincidence, our gut feelings can be characterized many ways. The Holy Spirit can speak to our gut. Maybe our gut is actually The Holy Spirit. All I know is that my gut rarely fails me. I find that I get a more clear sense of direction when I am closer intimacy with God. When i am in the word. When I am faithful in my prayers. When I am walking with a little more obedience. Isn’t it funny that we try to bend the path and we typically make it crooked and even a dead end when God has promised that he will be a light to our path. The Wise Men when with their gut. Maybe that is why they were considered wise. May we follow suit.

Full Yet? - Luke 3:10-18

Wed, 19 Dec 2012 20:19:52 -0500

Gospel Lk 3:10-18

The crowds asked John the Baptist,
“What should we do?”
He said to them in reply,
“Whoever has two cloaks
should share with the person who has none.
And whoever has food should do likewise.”
Even tax collectors came to be baptized and they said to him,
“Teacher, what should we do?”
He answered them,
“Stop collecting more than what is prescribed.”
Soldiers also asked him,
“And what is it that we should do?”
He told them,
“Do not practice extortion,
do not falsely accuse anyone,
and be satisfied with your wages.”

Now the people were filled with expectation,
and all were asking in their hearts
whether John might be the Christ.
John answered them all, saying,
“I am baptizing you with water,
but one mightier than I is coming.
I am not worthy to loosen the thongs of his sandals.
He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.
His winnowing fan is in his hand to clear his threshing floor
and to gather the wheat into his barn,
but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”
Exhorting them in many other ways,
he preached good news to the people.

Reflection

Do we have enough? I do. I know I do. I have more than enough, but what is enough today? Is it a car that goes from point a to point b or a car that gets there on the best of German engineering? I have multiple cloaks in my closet and my pantry at this moment could sustain me for weeks. I want for nothing, if I am being truly honest. I may desire more. I may pine for more. I may think I am entitled to more and I may even ask for more, but how much is enough? When do we ever feel satisfied and trust that the retirement provisions will indeed be there? Once again we find the gospel helping us see that we are double minded and seek the Kingdom of God, but maybe not “all in”. Maybe we are on the fringe when it comes to living a life of peace. The flesh rips. It usually rips us and it certainly keeps our eyes off the ball if we let it. How much is truly enough? Is there ever enough? The answer is no. There is never enough if we are filling up with material or worldly validation. If you find you come away from the Christmas tree on Tuesday materially dissatisfied, it may be time for a spiritual house cleaning.

Anxieties - Luke 21:25-28, 34-36

Wed, 05 Dec 2012 20:34:47 -0500

Gospel Lk 21:25-28, 34-36

Jesus said to his disciples: “There will be signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars, and on earth nations will be in dismay, perplexed by the roaring of the sea and the waves. People will die of fright in anticipation of what is coming upon the world, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. But when these signs begin to happen, stand erect and raise your heads because your redemption is at hand. “Beware that your hearts do not become drowsy from carousing and drunkenness and the anxieties of daily life, and that day catch you by surprise like a trap. For that day will assault everyone who lives on the face of the earth. Be vigilant at all times and pray that you have the strength to escape the tribulations that are imminent and to stand before the Son of Man.”

Reflection

Can you relate with the way this feels?

Beware that your hearts do not become drowsy from carousing and drunkenness and the anxieties of daily life.

Do you ever feel like you are literally becoming programmed to focus on the fleeting, the temporary and the flare ups of non-sense that will me absolutely nothing 100 years from now. More like 2 years from now? Our hearts and minds can easily grow weary to the anxieties of daily life. I had a lot to do today. Correction, I perceived that I had a lot to do today. I had an agenda. I even had an agenda to create a new agenda… a new and improved agenda because certainly the agenda alone was going to do something. I did have a moment though. A moment when my eternal destiny awoke and reminded me that everything I was planning to do was temporal in nature. Not one thing on my agenda had anything to do with heaven or God or even a moment of worship for the key to getting there (Jesus). I realize that there is work to be done and that we are not always going to be strumming harps and projecting ourselves into heaven, I get it, but are we even slowing down to ponder the grand scheme of things? The really big grand scheme of things that allow us to literally live forever? Beware that your hearts do not become drowsy from the anxieties of daily life. They are waiting for you the moment that your alarm goes off, but God’s plan is too.

As God so Intends - John 18: 33-37

Wed, 28 Nov 2012 20:47:46 -0500

Gospel Jn 18:33b-37

Pilate said to Jesus,
“Are you the King of the Jews?”
Jesus answered, “Do you say this on your own
or have others told you about me?”
Pilate answered, “I am not a Jew, am I?
Your own nation and the chief priests handed you over to me.
What have you done?”
Jesus answered, “My kingdom does not belong to this world.
If my kingdom did belong to this world,
my attendants would be fighting
to keep me from being handed over to the Jews.
But as it is, my kingdom is not here.”
So Pilate said to him, “Then you are a king?”
Jesus answered, “You say I am a king.
For this I was born and for this I came into the world,
to testify to the truth.
Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice.”

Reflection

I wish I could put my finger on it, but there is a great quote that my mother had on her fridge years ago something to the effect that mortals will live as if they will never die, but we miss the greatest opportunities in life by our own self-centeredness. I have butchered the beautiful quote, but my point is that Jesus knew his Kingdom was not of this world. He was referred to as a King because we had to call him something. It was killing the general public not to label him on some finite level. All along, Jesus was thinking on the infinite level. How foolish would we look today with our plans to go here and there and build this and that. With our wars and “bi-partisanship”, Jesus must get a chuckle from time to time with his Heavenly Father. If we were certain that every move we made on earth pulled a string of significance in Heaven, we might take more care in the planning of our next steps. Yes, Jesus is indeed a King, but his Kingdom will only come when we invite it to be the focal point of our lives. I am not going to sit here and try and convince you that I let the Kingdom of God plot my every next step, but how I wish i have the strength and grace to allow God to do so. I pray I will grow more towards the ideal. My we all strive to be led by the Holy Spirit and the direction God so intends.

All In - Mark 12:38-44

Wed, 14 Nov 2012 20:23:23 -0500

Gospel Mk 12:38-44

In the course of his teaching Jesus said to the crowds,
“Beware of the scribes, who like to go around in long robes
and accept greetings in the marketplaces,
seats of honor in synagogues,
and places of honor at banquets.
They devour the houses of widows and, as a pretext
recite lengthy prayers.
They will receive a very severe condemnation.”

He sat down opposite the treasury
and observed how the crowd put money into the treasury.
Many rich people put in large sums.
A poor widow also came and put in two small coins worth a few cents.
Calling his disciples to himself, he said to them,
“Amen, I say to you, this poor widow put in more
than all the other contributors to the treasury.
For they have all contributed from their surplus wealth,
but she, from her poverty, has contributed all she had,
her whole livelihood.”

Reflecion

All in. Sold out. Fully Invested. There are many ways to put your money where your mouth is. In the game of faith, actions show our commitment. We can have all the faith in the world, but if we are willing to lay it on the line to prove it, then we could be fooling ourselves. Certainly people will notice our actions and over time we can “drip” on them, but there may be bold moments of testimony at your life’s next turn. This week, I heard a priest on the radio coaching a healthcare driver about drawing the line in the sand in the terms of the potential patients she may be required to transport in light of the looming healthcare mandate. It doesn’t matter whether you agree with the mandate or not, the woman caller had already committed to herself that she was not going to be a party to driving someone to an abortion. She drew her line in the sand. She was willing to back it up with putting her job on the line. Life had many “crunch time” decisions and as much as we would like to think we are prepared to live for the Lord, we only need to look to Peter to understand just how moments of crisis can compromise our faith. Unfortunately, our own actions are typically to blame. If we are going to be all in and sold out for Jesus, we need to be ready for “Moments of Crosses” when the Moments of Crisis ring the bell. May we not pray to be spared from the moments of crosses, but that we will be prepared to bear them, not only with grace, but with unrelenting courage. The crosses are on the way.

Not Too Far Away - Mark 12:28-34

Wed, 07 Nov 2012 20:37:56 -0500

Gospel Mk 12:28b-34

One of the scribes came to Jesus and asked him,
“Which is the first of all the commandments?”
Jesus replied, “The first is this:
Hear, O Israel!
The Lord our God is Lord alone!
You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart,
with all your soul,
with all your mind,
and with all your strength.
The second is this:
You shall love your neighbor as yourself.
There is no other commandment greater than these.”
The scribe said to him, “Well said, teacher.
You are right in saying,
‘He is One and there is no other than he.’
And ‘to love him with all your heart,
with all your understanding,
with all your strength,
and to love your neighbor as yourself’
is worth more than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.”
And when Jesus saw that he answered with understanding,
he said to him,
“You are not far from the kingdom of God.”
And no one dared to ask him any more questions.

Reflection

How far are we from the Kingdom of God? Is it a physical destination at all? We tend to think it is high above the cloud deck somewhere between the end of the earth’s atmosphere and the beginning of space. It is abstract and when we think of it in the physical sense, it can be hard to comprehend. But what if the Kingdom of God has nothing to do with physical location and everything to do with our righteousness? Could it be that the Kingdom of God is right here, right now? Like literally here? The only thing that might be limiting us is… well, ourselves. What if one man to the left is righteous and living in the Kingdom and one man to the left is not living in the Kingdom? Who is to say? I have to think that the Kingdom of God is real here and now when we are ready to seek it and dare to touch it. We are only limited by our lack of belief. Our lack or faith, our lack of the spiritual abstract. God is true to his word and this week’s gospel, Jesus begins to reveal that the Kingdom of God can come as close as we will let it. The Kingdom of God surely has a life after this, but God’s Kingdom can also be realized today. Fight to find the righteous path and when you get close, grab onto it and let the world think you are crazy. The world can promise you tomorrow, but God already has. God already has. Stake your claim on the greatest gift you have never earned.

Authentic Service - Mark 10:35-45

Wed, 24 Oct 2012 20:37:00 -0400

Gospel Mk 10:35-45

James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to Jesus and said to him,
“Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you.”
He replied, “What do you wish me to do for you?”
They answered him, “Grant that in your glory
we may sit one at your right and the other at your left.”
Jesus said to them, “You do not know what you are asking.
Can you drink the cup that I drink
or be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?”
They said to him, “We can.”
Jesus said to them, “The cup that I drink, you will drink,
and with the baptism with which I am baptized, you will be baptized;
but to sit at my right or at my left is not mine to give
but is for those for whom it has been prepared.”
When the ten heard this, they became indignant at James and John.
Jesus summoned them and said to them,
“You know that those who are recognized as rulers over the Gentiles
lord it over them,
and their great ones make their authority over them felt.
But it shall not be so among you.
Rather, whoever wishes to be great among you will be your servant;
whoever wishes to be first among you will be the slave of all.
For the Son of Man did not come to be served
but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Reflection

Authentic service takes effort. The maids at the Ritz-Carlton, the retired greeter at Wal-Mart (most), the Grandmom who works at the daycare because her grandkids have moved on, now that is service. To stop and change a tire of a perfect stranger (could be dangerous, but we’ll call it service). Nothing in return. Nothing to gain. That is service. Service can be tough. To suppress our desires and our wishes, that is tough. It takes years of practice. Too much of anything (bad that is) can kill a man or woman. Service has many faces, many motives and many rewards, most of which are not financially or politically rewarding. To do things behind closed doors, that takes courage and faith the God sees all and blesses all that is done in he name of humbleness. In this week’s gospel, James and John were selfishly promoting themselves. They were looking for stature, they were looking for position. I find that when I let the Lord take the reigns, he leads me well. I find that when I try to control it all, I need Jesus to bail me out of my own mess. Authentic service is tough, but God calls us to humbleness, meekness and faithfulness. Some days are better than others. Imagine what we could be missing from God by being too busy promoting ourselves. May we all have wisdom of how to expect abundance on God’s watch and not our own.

eWord

Look No Further - John 17:20-26

Gospel

JN 17:20-26

Trust in Me - John 14:23-29

GospelJN 14:23-29

Time To Spare - John 21:1-14

GospelJN 21:1-14

Jump The Fence - John 20:19-31

GospelJN 20:19-31

A Contrite Heart - John 8:1-11

GospelJN 8:1-11

Prodigal Son - Luke 15:1-3,11-32

GospelLK 15:1-3, 11-32

100 Years - Luke 9:28-36

GospelLK 9:28B-36

Common Failings - Luke 5:1-11

Gospel Lk 5:1-11

Prophet Now - Luke 4:21-30

Gospel Lk 4:21-30

Call Upon The Holy Spirit - Luke 1:1-4, 4:14-21

GospelLK 1:1-4; 4:14-21

Transformation - John 2:1-11

GospelJN 2:1-11

Clear The Way - Luke 3:15-16, 21-22

GospelLK 3:15-16, 21-22

Clear The Way - Luke 3:15-16, 21-22

GospelLK 3:15-16, 21-22

Gut Check - Matthew 2:1-12

Gospel Mt 2:1-12

Full Yet? - Luke 3:10-18

Gospel Lk 3:10-18

Anxieties - Luke 21:25-28, 34-36

As God so Intends - John 18: 33-37

Gospel Jn 18:33b-37

All In - Mark 12:38-44

Gospel Mk 12:38-44

Not Too Far Away - Mark 12:28-34

Gospel Mk 12:28b-34

Authentic Service - Mark 10:35-45

Gospel Mk 10:35-45

Gospel
JN 21:1-14