“And when the time came for their purification…they went to present him to the Lord…(Lk2:22)
The presentation of the Lord in the temple offers one much thought. Edward Sri, The Dawn of the Messiah, pp 83-97 gives a full picture of the event. We can look at the presentation from different perspectives.
From the aged Simeon and Anna, waiting long for the Messiah, they represent the people of Israel; a nation waiting for the presence of the Lord once again in the temple. He is the “console” of Israel. Their prayers have been answered; their work comes to an end. Christ comes to the prophets, to the priests, to the nation, to the world.
Mary, the mother, the ark of the covenant, realizes fully the reality of her “yes”. Her annunciation continues; it entails suffering, blood, and death for her babe. Why? It is for ALL men; her motherhood extends to all humanity. She offers her babe as the perfect sacrifice to the Father for humanity. It is the harshest reality for a mother; her lamb will be the sacrificial lamb for the world.
Christ’s reality is as a babe. He senses the older, rougher hands of Simeon, rather than the loving arms of His mother. As divine, He always is aware of the future violent arms of His persecutors, whom He will encounter in His mission.
Joseph to, begins to sense “the glory of the Lord” in his adopted son. He as one of the kingly family of David understands his mission as model father will be preparing Jesus with his love, his work, his word. He will be protector, surrounding Jesus and Mary with love, giving them security in a world of violence and harm.
For man, where do we see ourselves in this tableau? Do we present our babe to the Lord in baptism, accepting whatever role He has in mind for our beloved ones? Are we reminded of our holy roles in our children’s lives: roles as holy parents in a holy family? Do we understand our suffering is but a preparation for Good Friday? Do we wish good things not for just our children, but for ALL children of the world? Do we too “long to see the glory of the Lord?
Sunday, December 28, 2014
“Do not be afraid,” the angel Gabriel says.(Lk1:30, Mt1:20, Lk1:13)(Lk2:10)
To Mary, to Joseph, to Zechariah, to the shepherds, the angel announces these words. It is an order and a promise. A promise because whenever he tells one these words, the Lord is inviting them to do something important in His plan of salvation; it is a natural order because the sight and sound of an angel is out of the ordinary, no matter how righteous or humble one may be.
The visit of the angel to Mary bringing news of God’s plan of redemption gives man a glimpse of Mary’s greatness by her participation with the plans of God. She, a promised virgin of the Lord, is directed to be a mother. She ponders, wondering if she is to remain a virgin as well as mother of the Son of the Most High. Knowing all that will be required of her, she gives her consent. “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.” ( Lk1:37-38) Her fiat, freely given, she serves God in perfect obedience and perfect love- everything in accordance to His divine will. Her self-sacrifice, her devotion, her service, her physical being- all is freely given for man’s benefit. She remains physical mother to Jesus and spiritual mother to mankind. Our thanks is unlimited; our eternal future full of hope and joy.
Joseph, springing from the loins of David, awaits his savior as he awaits his bride, Mary. Awakened by the angel, he is led into the mystery of the birth of his Messiah. His plan to quietly divorce Mary, he surrenders; God’s plan will be his plan. His faith, his trust, his love pours forth into his actions. He accepts being foster father to Jesus and model of true fatherhood to man. Man, even Joseph, can only find himself when he finds Him; and then he loses himself in Him.
Zechariah, the father of John and born of the house of priests, should be open to hearing the voice of one from God. A holy and righteous man, he and his wife had long ago given up the idea of a child of their own. Elizabeth had staunchly borne the accusations she had sinned. Zechariah, is more like us: he questions; his unbelief is sinful. God is with him, guiding and supporting his efforts, and Zechariah doubts. He does not understand the meaning of: “ Do not be afraid.”
To Mary, to Joseph, to Zechariah, to the shepherds, the angel announces these words. It is an order and a promise. A promise because whenever he tells one these words, the Lord is inviting them to do something important in His plan of salvation; it is a natural order because the sight and sound of an angel is out of the ordinary, no matter how righteous or humble one may be.
The visit of the angel to Mary bringing news of God’s plan of redemption gives man a glimpse of Mary’s greatness by her participation with the plans of God. She, a promised virgin of the Lord, is directed to be a mother. She ponders, wondering if she is to remain a virgin as well as mother of the Son of the Most High. Knowing all that will be required of her, she gives her consent. “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.” ( Lk1:37-38) Her fiat, freely given, she serves God in perfect obedience and perfect love- everything in accordance to His divine will. Her self-sacrifice, her devotion, her service, her physical being- all is freely given for man’s benefit. She remains physical mother to Jesus and spiritual mother to mankind. Our thanks is unlimited; our eternal future full of hope and joy.
Joseph, springing from the loins of David, awaits his savior as he awaits his bride, Mary. Awakened by the angel, he is led into the mystery of the birth of his Messiah. His plan to quietly divorce Mary, he surrenders; God’s plan will be his plan. His faith, his trust, his love pours forth into his actions. He accepts being foster father to Jesus and model of true fatherhood to man. Man, even Joseph, can only find himself when he finds Him; and then he loses himself in Him.
Zechariah, the father of John and born of the house of priests, should be open to hearing the voice of one from God. A holy and righteous man, he and his wife had long ago given up the idea of a child of their own. Elizabeth had staunchly borne the accusations she had sinned. Zechariah, is more like us: he questions; his unbelief is sinful. God is with him, guiding and supporting his efforts, and Zechariah doubts. He does not understand the meaning of: “ Do not be afraid.”
Shepherds watching over their flock, struck by the choir of heavenly voices are given the joyful news of Christ’s birth. These men, of the people of God, are the true priests of the flock. Protecting, guiding, proclaiming, ministering to the people, these men leave their comfort fields to go about the countryside evangelizing and giving glory to God.
Each answered the call: each answered yes.
Each answered the call: each answered yes.
Sometimes the angel comes to us in the middle of the night; a time when we are weak and fearful, our defenses down, and he asks us to respond to God’s plan of salvation. Man may ponder, may not fully understand all that will be required, yet our trust and love should pour forth because God is with us and we will not be afraid.
Wednesday, December 24, 2014
Venite Adoramous
The fields lie fallow, awaiting new life;
The night’s aglow with celestial stars;
The sheep and camels bow low to the earth;
Each one has expectation as to when the babe will appear.
The snow falls gently o’er Bethlehem town
As Joseph and Mary fulfill the call of the crown.
“No room at the inn,” the gatekeeper shrills
Yet quietly, everyone awaits the blessed one, oh so small.
Is it He, the Magi dream?
The longed- for Messiah of David, so promised of old,
His kingdom, the desire of all different lands
Will open again the world to peace, love, new birth.
Let us exult with joy and loud voice:
“Give praise to the Savior, born this Christmas Day;”
“Sing hallelujah,” the angels announce:
“Venite adoramous, the newborn babe, Emmanuel has come.”
The fields lie fallow, awaiting new life;
The night’s aglow with celestial stars;
The sheep and camels bow low to the earth;
Each one has expectation as to when the babe will appear.
The snow falls gently o’er Bethlehem town
As Joseph and Mary fulfill the call of the crown.
“No room at the inn,” the gatekeeper shrills
Yet quietly, everyone awaits the blessed one, oh so small.
Is it He, the Magi dream?
The longed- for Messiah of David, so promised of old,
His kingdom, the desire of all different lands
Will open again the world to peace, love, new birth.
Let us exult with joy and loud voice:
“Give praise to the Savior, born this Christmas Day;”
“Sing hallelujah,” the angels announce:
“Venite adoramous, the newborn babe, Emmanuel has come.”
Lord, who shall be admitted to your tent
and dwell on your holy mountain?
he who walks without fault;
he who acts with justice
and speaks the truth from his heart;
he who does not slander with his tongue;
he who does no wrong to his brother,
who casts no slur on his neighbor
who holds the godless in disdain.
but honors those who fear the Lord;
he who keeps his pledge, come what may;
who takes no interest on a loan
and accepts no bribes against the innocent.
Such a man will live forever.
Psalm 15
By wisdom is a house built; by understanding, is it made firm;
And by knowledge are its rooms filled with every precious and pleasing possession.
(Prv 24:3-4)
“Always seek what is good for each other and for all. Rejoice always. Pray unceasingly. In all circumstances give thanks, for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus.” (iThes5:16-18)
My coming of age period coincided with that of Martin Luther King and his civil rights movement, or as my mother would say, equal rights movement. Although MLK never entered our home, his companions, who were usually religious teachers, did meet there and plan activities.
When MLK was killed we were devastated- would non-violence be a central part of our actions? Would the movement die because the leader was gone?
Advent came with the readings about John the Baptist. Now I was reading the Advent message from a different perspective. The events came alive; I could relate. I knew Someone more wonderful than the person of John the Baptist and MLK would follow.
I knew MLK was a descendant of John, not physically, but both yearned for a change in people’s hearts. Both were forerunners, messengers of something greater than themselves. They brought awareness man was not living according to God’s divine will.
Both men were utterly authentic-their message firmly ingrained in their psyche: each spoke with the presence of a preacher and people followed; their message was to transform their listener’s lives. Both wanted to awaken man from the pattern of sleep into the pattern of life God had given. It was to change man’s life as it was known into something better: the order of life God had ordained for all men. The time is now they declared.
Both men were considered rebels by the authorities, although neither one broke the rules (laws) of the land. Neither man claimed the title Messiah or Elijah though some of their followers did believe them to be more than ordinary prophets. Both were chosen to speak to their communities, in their time.
Even their clothing spoke they were different from those of their class. Both were the “voice of one crying out in the wilderness.”(Jn1:20) Their message resonates today. Man sees only a tiny segment of time; God see time from creation to eternity.
Decades later my perspective is different. I ponder as did Mary: was non-violence an act of love, or was it a tactical solution when one had no money, guns or power? Did love permeate the actions of the movement? Was the purpose to influence or inspire- to transform hearts to a higher level in being fully human as Christ made all men?
For myself, Advent of 1968 awakened an awareness of my life’s work-justice and compassion for all men- an idealism that one with Christ could make a difference- that my life had a higher purpose than pursuit of money, pleasures, ease.
Today division, separation from the whole of life grips our communities as it surely did in the time of John the Baptist or Martin Luther King. Could it be that each of us who have willfully chosen Christ has been anointed to look at the gospels from a different perspective? Are we to transform lives once more? Are we “to restore all things to His will”?
Before one can change himself or another, one must cleanse himself as John said so Christ can enter and leave His Spirit of truth to guide one- “that all may see and know, observe and understand that the hand of the Lord has done this. (Is41:20) Having heard His voice in the desert are we not required to go into the towns to bring His message to all of love, of repentance? Will we choose an intentional “Yes” as did Mary as we hear the Advent message?
My coming of age period coincided with that of Martin Luther King and his civil rights movement, or as my mother would say, equal rights movement. Although MLK never entered our home, his companions, who were usually religious teachers, did meet there and plan activities.
When MLK was killed we were devastated- would non-violence be a central part of our actions? Would the movement die because the leader was gone?
Advent came with the readings about John the Baptist. Now I was reading the Advent message from a different perspective. The events came alive; I could relate. I knew Someone more wonderful than the person of John the Baptist and MLK would follow.
I knew MLK was a descendant of John, not physically, but both yearned for a change in people’s hearts. Both were forerunners, messengers of something greater than themselves. They brought awareness man was not living according to God’s divine will.
Both men were utterly authentic-their message firmly ingrained in their psyche: each spoke with the presence of a preacher and people followed; their message was to transform their listener’s lives. Both wanted to awaken man from the pattern of sleep into the pattern of life God had given. It was to change man’s life as it was known into something better: the order of life God had ordained for all men. The time is now they declared.
Both men were considered rebels by the authorities, although neither one broke the rules (laws) of the land. Neither man claimed the title Messiah or Elijah though some of their followers did believe them to be more than ordinary prophets. Both were chosen to speak to their communities, in their time.
Even their clothing spoke they were different from those of their class. Both were the “voice of one crying out in the wilderness.”(Jn1:20) Their message resonates today. Man sees only a tiny segment of time; God see time from creation to eternity.
Decades later my perspective is different. I ponder as did Mary: was non-violence an act of love, or was it a tactical solution when one had no money, guns or power? Did love permeate the actions of the movement? Was the purpose to influence or inspire- to transform hearts to a higher level in being fully human as Christ made all men?
For myself, Advent of 1968 awakened an awareness of my life’s work-justice and compassion for all men- an idealism that one with Christ could make a difference- that my life had a higher purpose than pursuit of money, pleasures, ease.
Today division, separation from the whole of life grips our communities as it surely did in the time of John the Baptist or Martin Luther King. Could it be that each of us who have willfully chosen Christ has been anointed to look at the gospels from a different perspective? Are we to transform lives once more? Are we “to restore all things to His will”?
Before one can change himself or another, one must cleanse himself as John said so Christ can enter and leave His Spirit of truth to guide one- “that all may see and know, observe and understand that the hand of the Lord has done this. (Is41:20) Having heard His voice in the desert are we not required to go into the towns to bring His message to all of love, of repentance? Will we choose an intentional “Yes” as did Mary as we hear the Advent message?
“On that day there will be a great light…”(CT of Zech14:7)” …that you may radiate with joy”(Psalm34:7)
Standing on the threshold of her young child’s room, Mother croons, ”Cover your eyes with both hands, I am turning on the light and coming to you.” After turning on the light, she gently presses open, finger by finger, the child’s eyes until they are fully opened and he is enveloped by light and love.
Such had to be God’s entry into the world through Mary, the Mother of God. Children of God, welcome the Christ Child, the Light of the World through one “full of grace,”” a holy and pure temple,” one who “has found favor with God.” Man’s eyes could not contain the radiance of the divine Son of God without the consent and love of Mary and His coming as a child.
“The joy of us in the Advent season is Mary’s own joy. The figure of Mary of Nazareth sheds light on womanhood as such by the very fact that God in the sublime event of the Incarnation of his Son, entrusted himself to the ministry, the free and active ministry of a woman. “(John Paul II) The Light of the World comes to man through Mary, the Mother of God. Mary is the faithful vessel in God’s plan to save the world through the Christmas coming of His Son.
Jesus Christ, the Light of the World comes from the dark walls of the intimate, loving womb into the light of life- a new beginning, a new hope and a new joy. The one who is free from all sin gives new life to the human race so once again, man is able to be united to Christ and given to the Father in love. He is the one, who by humbling himself into man’s realm, makes man rich in the grace and mercy of the Father. Coming in the darkness of time, He changes and transforms the world into the dawn of a new age- a new beginning for man. Being the Light of the World, man can see the true meaning of life, can have a vision of God, can quiet the fear brought on by suffering and tears in the night. We, the children of God meet the Light of light, the eternal light.
Being one with the Father, the Light of the World, can take man into His divine heart; can open man into the possibility of being fully human as was man when created by God, as when man was created in “the image and likeness of God.” It is Light who is the Path man sees and follows on man’s journey back to God. He is the flame of love which enables man to forgo the detours of passion, pleasure, privilege.
He is the light from the lighthouse of His church which steers man over the ocean waves of sorrow, sickness, sin. He is the beacon, always drawing man to Himself. All man has to do is grab His open arms, to be folded into His bloodied side. to emerge as a new creation.
He is the Sunshine of our life whose glory and radiance are manifested in the love and service of man for all men. He is our Light our Love our Joy born on Christmas Day!
Standing on the threshold of her young child’s room, Mother croons, ”Cover your eyes with both hands, I am turning on the light and coming to you.” After turning on the light, she gently presses open, finger by finger, the child’s eyes until they are fully opened and he is enveloped by light and love.
Such had to be God’s entry into the world through Mary, the Mother of God. Children of God, welcome the Christ Child, the Light of the World through one “full of grace,”” a holy and pure temple,” one who “has found favor with God.” Man’s eyes could not contain the radiance of the divine Son of God without the consent and love of Mary and His coming as a child.
“The joy of us in the Advent season is Mary’s own joy. The figure of Mary of Nazareth sheds light on womanhood as such by the very fact that God in the sublime event of the Incarnation of his Son, entrusted himself to the ministry, the free and active ministry of a woman. “(John Paul II) The Light of the World comes to man through Mary, the Mother of God. Mary is the faithful vessel in God’s plan to save the world through the Christmas coming of His Son.
Jesus Christ, the Light of the World comes from the dark walls of the intimate, loving womb into the light of life- a new beginning, a new hope and a new joy. The one who is free from all sin gives new life to the human race so once again, man is able to be united to Christ and given to the Father in love. He is the one, who by humbling himself into man’s realm, makes man rich in the grace and mercy of the Father. Coming in the darkness of time, He changes and transforms the world into the dawn of a new age- a new beginning for man. Being the Light of the World, man can see the true meaning of life, can have a vision of God, can quiet the fear brought on by suffering and tears in the night. We, the children of God meet the Light of light, the eternal light.
Being one with the Father, the Light of the World, can take man into His divine heart; can open man into the possibility of being fully human as was man when created by God, as when man was created in “the image and likeness of God.” It is Light who is the Path man sees and follows on man’s journey back to God. He is the flame of love which enables man to forgo the detours of passion, pleasure, privilege.
He is the light from the lighthouse of His church which steers man over the ocean waves of sorrow, sickness, sin. He is the beacon, always drawing man to Himself. All man has to do is grab His open arms, to be folded into His bloodied side. to emerge as a new creation.
He is the Sunshine of our life whose glory and radiance are manifested in the love and service of man for all men. He is our Light our Love our Joy born on Christmas Day!
ADVENT- We Begin Again
Advent is the beginning of a new liturgical year; it is the preparation for the birth of Christ- the Incarnation of Jesus Christ. Incarnation, the coming to earth by the Son of God, whereby man can see, touch, know God through the presence of His Son. (Ad-toward; venturus-the one who is to come) Advent harkens man to become awake, alert, to watch carefully for the Messiah.
Advent is the beginning of a new liturgical year; it is the preparation for the birth of Christ- the Incarnation of Jesus Christ. Incarnation, the coming to earth by the Son of God, whereby man can see, touch, know God through the presence of His Son. (Ad-toward; venturus-the one who is to come) Advent harkens man to become awake, alert, to watch carefully for the Messiah.
The season of Advent
Is like springtime in
Nature, when everything
Is renewed and so is fresh
And healthy. Advent is also
Meant to do this to us-
To refresh us and make us
Healthy. To be able to receive
Christ in whatever form
He may come to us.
Bl Teresa of Calcutta
Monday, December 22, 2014
Jesus Christ is a king unlike any other…
This king comes as a shepherd- a shepherd who serves others, the homeless, the orphans, the poor.
This king’s power lies in humility, the “green wood” of the cross.
This king is called Teacher, bringing the Word of life to man.
This king’s truth is love; love for which he begs, so it can be given away.
This king’s scepter is a cross, promising mercy and justice.
This king offers himself as a spotless sacrifice to bring men peace.
This king’s crown is made of thorns, the jewel of suffering for his subjects.
This king’s joy lies in receiving all men who enter his kingdom.
This king’s body is eaten in the form of bread, his blood the wine of the chalice which man drinks.
This king’s majesty and splendor is the armor of faith and trust.
This king’s strength is prayer and grace to overcome foes of sin and evil.
This king reigns in in peace through the bountifulness of love with justice and mercy as his commands.
This king suffers for his subjects, not for them to suffer for him.
This king urges his citizens to seek the riches of the hereafter, not the allure of the world.
This king wills to act in man, “to lift up our hearts” in a prayer of compassion for all men.
This king elevates his adopted children to a new creation sharing his kingship with them.
This king eschews divisiveness bringing peace, the peace of the heart and soul as one with him.
This king prays for forgiveness for those who kill him- “Father, forgive them.”
This king empties himself so all men can enter into his realm.
This king conquers the terror of death, reigning over every power for all time, the glory of the Risen Lord.
This king comes as a shepherd- a shepherd who serves others, the homeless, the orphans, the poor.
This king’s power lies in humility, the “green wood” of the cross.
This king is called Teacher, bringing the Word of life to man.
This king’s truth is love; love for which he begs, so it can be given away.
This king’s scepter is a cross, promising mercy and justice.
This king offers himself as a spotless sacrifice to bring men peace.
This king’s crown is made of thorns, the jewel of suffering for his subjects.
This king’s joy lies in receiving all men who enter his kingdom.
This king’s body is eaten in the form of bread, his blood the wine of the chalice which man drinks.
This king’s majesty and splendor is the armor of faith and trust.
This king’s strength is prayer and grace to overcome foes of sin and evil.
This king reigns in in peace through the bountifulness of love with justice and mercy as his commands.
This king suffers for his subjects, not for them to suffer for him.
This king urges his citizens to seek the riches of the hereafter, not the allure of the world.
This king wills to act in man, “to lift up our hearts” in a prayer of compassion for all men.
This king elevates his adopted children to a new creation sharing his kingship with them.
This king eschews divisiveness bringing peace, the peace of the heart and soul as one with him.
This king prays for forgiveness for those who kill him- “Father, forgive them.”
This king empties himself so all men can enter into his realm.
This king conquers the terror of death, reigning over every power for all time, the glory of the Risen Lord.
Jesus Chris is a king unlike any other. Alleluia!
Death with Dignity
Man was created at the beginning of time, created by the Creator with mind, heart and soul. “God created man in his image; in the divine image he created him; male and female he created them.” (Gen1:27) Man’s dignity as human was above others in creation, separate from creatures of sea and land. In Paradise God invited man to share in His creation, “to share in his joy.”
Man’s dignity was tarnished, swept away by sin. Sin created by the snake, seduced man into believing man was the Source- man equal to the Source. When man succumbed to the snake’s reasoning, to sin, each man’s dignity grew less and less in the sight of God, who is the Source, the Source of all creation. Man’s dignity became less to himself, bearing the clothes of his own evil. Sin came, making man subject to death, death for all men. Man’s rebellion began his inward decline- his loss of the Creator’s presence in his life; yet man did not lose God’s love. God loved man, not the sin man perpetuated. Man was always in God’s thoughts, God guiding man through the eons of time.
The incarnation of God’s son, Jesus Christ, raised man once more, perhaps to man’s highest level. Man’s humanity became divinized; man’s human nature is greater with Christ’s humility to descend to man’s human nature with Christ keeping his divine nature. Christ’s presence shows man Truth, the path to God. Christ’s mission is given: to open again the doors of Paradise for man to enter; to show man the Way- the gate to returning to man his full dignity; man, able to become fully human; to return to the bosom of the Creator. Christ accepts his mission.
Man’s dignity reached its apex upon the height of the cross. On the cross Christ demonstrated to man His love and obedience to the will of the Father. He poured out His love for man through blood from His side, flowing love into man; love for man, for man’s potential, for man’s dignity. It is unlikely enough, that someone should die for a good man, yet Christ gives His life for sinners. “Greater love than this no man has, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” Man, once again raised up, man’s dignity, elevated; man opened to the possibility of becoming fully human. Life can now be focused on learning to live better; life transformed into potential, the potential for good; for good for all men.
Today the phrase “death with dignity” resonates with the voice of the serpent in the garden. It sounds innocent; it placates; it tries to compensate for something one doesn’t understand. It mocks the Source of creation; it trivializes that which Christ did for man; it once again lowers the dignity of man to the lowest level.
Death with dignity means something different for Christians. Death becomes like pushing a heavy door, stepping into sunlight. It means life has had purpose; it means life has seen and been enveloped with love; seen and been enveloped by Love. One steps tentatively at first. Light is so bright and suddenly all is known. It means the journey of becoming one with Christ is realized. Love stretching His hands out to envelop weak old bones is pulsated with love, honor, and praise. It means man enters into Paradise with the One who says, “Come, share in my joy.”
Lord, who shall be admitted to your tent
and dwell on your holy mountain?
he who walks without fault;
he who acts with justice
and speaks the truth from his heart;
he who does not slander with his tongue;
he who does no wrong to his brother,
who casts no slur on his neighbor
who holds the godless in disdain.
but honors those who fear the Lord;
he who keeps his pledge, come what may;
who takes no interest on a loan
and accepts no bribes against the innocent.
Such a man will live forever.
Psalm 15
By wisdom is a house built; by understanding, is it made firm;
And by knowledge are its rooms filled with every precious and pleasing possession.
(Prv 24:3-4)
and dwell on your holy mountain?
he who walks without fault;
he who acts with justice
and speaks the truth from his heart;
he who does not slander with his tongue;
he who does no wrong to his brother,
who casts no slur on his neighbor
who holds the godless in disdain.
but honors those who fear the Lord;
he who keeps his pledge, come what may;
who takes no interest on a loan
and accepts no bribes against the innocent.
Such a man will live forever.
Psalm 15
By wisdom is a house built; by understanding, is it made firm;
And by knowledge are its rooms filled with every precious and pleasing possession.
(Prv 24:3-4)
Moving on the journey we call life, disciples of Christ welcome each step as it becomes an act of faith and hope. Each step with our loving Shepherd necessitates a compulsion to know how to walk in His perfect will, the path He has chosen for each of us. He has said it is our work to make all people, all creation work in harmony, "Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven."
It requires us to slow down. To think. To write. To relearn. To leave behind some preconceived ideas, some habits. To seek guidance, maybe even rescue. To change. To wait for His answer. To become the work of His making.
Some, even our loved ones, may question us. Are you crazy? Laughter from another.
To do this for a lifetime, enduring hardships, loneliness, moving toward a sunrise of heavenly light is possible. It is possible only because we are sustained with Living Bread and Wine.
Every journey has an end, a final resting place. As disciples of Christ, our destination, our everlasting dwelling, our paradise, will contain us and all that we have become, united with Love.
Who do
you say I am? (Matt:
16:15)
Ruth Bell Graham saw a roadside sign and knew it would fit perfectly on her gravestone. It read, "Project completed. Thank you for your patience." She knew who she was; her soul was her real essence, her core and she needed a lifetime to perfect it for Christ. The words of St Paul to Timothy, I hope will be on mine,"I have competed well; I have finished the race, I have kept the faith." I will not forget or neglect Him as I advance along a path by which I reach my final goal, heaven.
Some have faith from birth; some have to search for it in later life. Many go through life unfulfilled, unfocused, searching- a blank canvas waiting for a picture to be posted on them. All have to be given the gift of faith by God, some dramatically, like St Paul. His early education, one taught by famous teachers left him persecuting Christ's followers until he was struck by God's powerful hand on the road to Damascus. The divine gift of faith given by God necessitates our response, our Amen, for God is love. Neither Paul nor we can preach effectively if we are not a vessel of His love. We meet Christ, look into His gaze as He looks into our hearts and love whatever He loves. Like Paul, our lives are revolutionized.
Christians recognize Christ is more than a prophet; we are like Peter who says, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God," Our faith is not lacking; we have a loving attachment to the Source of faith. Christ is working through us- seeking and finding the lost, binding up the brokenhearted. His command still rings true:" Love one another, as I have loved you." All our service has a duty to love behind it.
Peter, Paul, us, each in his own unique way remain one in our faith and love of God. We do not know our final earthly end- Peter martyred on the cross, Paul by the sword, but this we do know..."to the victor, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life." (Canticle of Peter and Paul)
We give thanks praying with faith:
That we will be engulfed and set on fire with the zeal of Paul;
That the keys to the kingdom of heaven given to Peter's successors will be remembered by all;
That we remain steadfast in our faith through the reception of Bread of Life.
That we embrace the love of our church of Peter through the reception of the sacrament of Penance;
That we recognize the Real Presence of the Son of the Living God through Adoration.
That we beg for His strength when we are weak and temptations threaten our lives.
That we comfort the family of those who have reached the end of their life journey;
That we seek what is good in others as He has sought what is good in us.
"For to every one who has will more be given, and he will have abundance..." (Matt: 25:29)
The master is going on a journey, the journey we recognize as Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem and his death on the cross and Resurrection. His return will come as He judges man to enter into his kingdom, the Kingdom of God. His servants, not tenants, not slaves, are his apostles, disciples, and us, his Christians. His love and trust He leaves man; He entrusts to us His servants His truths, His greatest possession. Man is seen as the three servants, each given talents in varying amounts; how man develops the talents depend on man’s love, fidelity, resourcefulness, and the image of God, man perceives. The talents are God’s grace; man uses the gifts to add to the kingdom.
The servants of the master are not slaves who cannot leave the service of the master, but men who choose to stay with the master. Yet Christ tells us not all who stay will enter the kingdom; man must be invited into the kingdom by the master. “Not everyone who says to me, Lord, Lord will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven.” (Matt7:21)
The question remains, if faith is not the only requirement to enter the kingdom of heaven, what else is needed? Faith that saves manifests itself in good works. “So faith of itself, if it does not have works, is dead.” (1Jas2:17)
Peter, Paul and Judas are good examples of faith and talents. All three had the first response to faith, to follow the Master. All three were given talents and grace to continue the work of the Master as He goes on a journey. All three will be judged when He returns and determine if each will be invited into the Kingdom of God. Their response is our response.
The Master does not micro-manage; He leaves man free to perform his duties according to the circumstances; He trusts man to do good as man see fit. This servant has true freedom- love and grace are multiplied. This is the true meaning of “harvesting what you did not plant and gathering what you did not scatter. “ (Matt25:25)
Peter’s faith is like our faith, wavering, but open to receive the truth. More and more we love the Master and feed the people with bread and love. We multiply our talents through the gifts of the Spirit- becoming willing participants in God’s plan for mankind. Growth and love perpetuate itself for the Master.
Christians are much like the second servant- we love, we multiply 100% as the first servant, Peter, but we begin with much less. We have chosen not to be envious of the first servant nor fearful as the third servant. We are content to enjoy the invitation of the Master, “to share in his joy. “ We have been invited to the kingdom because of our faithfulness in promoting the good of the kingdom; we are not envious; we have not projected a false image of the Master; we are not fearful of His return.
Judas as the third servant has been given much ability at birth. He becomes a disciple of the Master, calling himself a servant, but in his own heart, he has rejected the mission of the Master. Judas’ idea of the Messiah is not Jesus’ mission. Christ mission is as a shepherd, to bring truth to all people. Judas wants Jesus’ power to rule and thus he is not open to the way of the Master. He makes the Master something which the Master is not. Is fear another attribute of pride? Again, man must look into his heart to decide on man’s response.
The master returns for an account. It is not a return of what he has given; it is more like, ”Let’s see what you have done.” It is an accounting each of us will face. The master does not want us to be unprepared as the virgins of the bridegroom were unprepared; He wants us to have been fruitful and invited into the kingdom of heaven, where He is with all the other servants of the master. There each will be given new, more responsibilities and bask in His love.
Peter’s faith is like our faith, wavering, but open to receive the truth. More and more we love the Master and feed the people with bread and love. We multiply our talents through the gifts of the Spirit- becoming willing participants in God’s plan for mankind. Growth and love perpetuate itself for the Master.
Christians are much like the second servant- we love, we multiply 100% as the first servant, Peter, but we begin with much less. We have chosen not to be envious of the first servant nor fearful as the third servant. We are content to enjoy the invitation of the Master, “to share in his joy. “ We have been invited to the kingdom because of our faithfulness in promoting the good of the kingdom; we are not envious; we have not projected a false image of the Master; we are not fearful of His return.
Judas as the third servant has been given much ability at birth. He becomes a disciple of the Master, calling himself a servant, but in his own heart, he has rejected the mission of the Master. Judas’ idea of the Messiah is not Jesus’ mission. Christ mission is as a shepherd, to bring truth to all people. Judas wants Jesus’ power to rule and thus he is not open to the way of the Master. He makes the Master something which the Master is not. Is fear another attribute of pride? Again, man must look into his heart to decide on man’s response.
The master returns for an account. It is not a return of what he has given; it is more like, ”Let’s see what you have done.” It is an accounting each of us will face. The master does not want us to be unprepared as the virgins of the bridegroom were unprepared; He wants us to have been fruitful and invited into the kingdom of heaven, where He is with all the other servants of the master. There each will be given new, more responsibilities and bask in His love.
“This illness is not to end in death, but is for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified through it.” (Jn 11:4)
All men and women are asked, do you believe? Do you believe in the One who says, “I am the Resurrection and the life; whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die.” (Jn 11;25)
Before one can answer fully, with love in their heart, a process is needed. There must be a desiring, a dialogue, a decision, and then a declaration can be given. Time, reflection, prayer, reasoning, an infusion of Spirit, transforms one into a relationship with the One who loves us. It is a relationship joined through the Cross and Resurrection. Lazarus, Martha and Mary had this: a close relationship with Christ.
All men and women are asked, do you believe? Do you believe in the One who says, “I am the Resurrection and the life; whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die.” (Jn 11;25)
Before one can answer fully, with love in their heart, a process is needed. There must be a desiring, a dialogue, a decision, and then a declaration can be given. Time, reflection, prayer, reasoning, an infusion of Spirit, transforms one into a relationship with the One who loves us. It is a relationship joined through the Cross and Resurrection. Lazarus, Martha and Mary had this: a close relationship with Christ.
Lazarus, around whom this miracle of rising from the dead revolves, speaks not a word. Yet we remember him. He stands for all men: men who must die; men who have sinned, men trapped in their own tomb of sinfulness, yet loved by Christ. It is for them that Christ weeps. It is for us.
Death comes to Lazarus; death which has no power, no hold over Christ. It is a death which Christ will overcome with His own Resurrection; death which has no permanent hold over those close friends of Christ who have His Spirit within them. It is a death which can have no power over those who can say, “I believe.”
If we, like Martha, running out to meet Jesus, affirming her faith, being bold in her request to Jesus to intercede to God, His Father, acknowledging not my will, but Thy will, then we too can say, ”I believe.” We too will then be raised from death to new life.
This is our hope, our sureness of belief, our love for our close friend Christ. It is not based on the miracles and signs He can do, but for the life He gives; it is based on His great love for us and for the great “I do,” He gave to the Father for us.
Death comes to Lazarus; death which has no power, no hold over Christ. It is a death which Christ will overcome with His own Resurrection; death which has no permanent hold over those close friends of Christ who have His Spirit within them. It is a death which can have no power over those who can say, “I believe.”
If we, like Martha, running out to meet Jesus, affirming her faith, being bold in her request to Jesus to intercede to God, His Father, acknowledging not my will, but Thy will, then we too can say, ”I believe.” We too will then be raised from death to new life.
This is our hope, our sureness of belief, our love for our close friend Christ. It is not based on the miracles and signs He can do, but for the life He gives; it is based on His great love for us and for the great “I do,” He gave to the Father for us.
“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.”(Matt22:37)
When a mother first sees her newborn there is such a palatable feeling of love- a shared experience with a smaller, weaker one that has turned a mother’s heart into a caring longing to return love to someone else. By knowing human love, one is led to knowing divine love. It is a continuation of the love first given by Someone greater, mightier than ourselves.
When a mother first sees her newborn there is such a palatable feeling of love- a shared experience with a smaller, weaker one that has turned a mother’s heart into a caring longing to return love to someone else. By knowing human love, one is led to knowing divine love. It is a continuation of the love first given by Someone greater, mightier than ourselves.
It is like that with God and man- a shared experience of creation- created by Love for love- love of man, love of the individual man. God is love (1Jn4:7) and man is loved by God. Man and God want that initial relationship to grow and love more, a continuous seeking love; to grow longer than nine month gestation, longer than a living life, for all eternity, from the beginning of time. “He chose us in him, before the foundation of the world.”(1Jn4:8)
God is love; it is His essence. His love is without boundaries, without restrictions; He turns no one away. As a loving Father, He offers us guidance through the words of His Son. His heart is open to our friendship, our love. He loves our cries of praise as we call him, Abba. He gives us freedom of choice- to choose Him or the fleeting pleasures of the world.
God is love; it is His essence. His love is without boundaries, without restrictions; He turns no one away. As a loving Father, He offers us guidance through the words of His Son. His heart is open to our friendship, our love. He loves our cries of praise as we call him, Abba. He gives us freedom of choice- to choose Him or the fleeting pleasures of the world.
He gives us freedom to love anyone in need, as an expression of our love for Him. He who is the creator of all, gives us our work- to continue creation- to care for the things of the earth and its contents-to be a continuing of His creation. He is telling us to bring all people into His kingdom of love-to be love ourselves.
Love practiced, as mother to child; husband to wife; family to friends; friends to community; community to world. Love expressed, from Jew to Samaritan; from black to white; from Chinese to Native; from Anglo-Saxon to Hispanic.
He wants us reaching out, growing, becoming-loved and lover; going from human to divine; embracing the familiar to the distant; from the seen to the unseen. He desires us to move- becoming fully human-knowing Him, loving, choosing.
Love practiced, as mother to child; husband to wife; family to friends; friends to community; community to world. Love expressed, from Jew to Samaritan; from black to white; from Chinese to Native; from Anglo-Saxon to Hispanic.
He wants us reaching out, growing, becoming-loved and lover; going from human to divine; embracing the familiar to the distant; from the seen to the unseen. He desires us to move- becoming fully human-knowing Him, loving, choosing.
It is an act of will, a determination, a giving of self for another. It is acquired by time and grace, prayer and patience, forgiving and forgiven, trust and faith to become love. It is becoming as one with Him, who loved us and created us- in communion with Love.
“Whose image is this, and whose inscription? (Matt22:20)
At the wedding feast for the son, Christians prepare for the
banquet by donning the “clothing’ of Christ, becoming the “image of Christ” by
“putting on Christ”. ‘Christians’ image
of Christ reflect Christ’s essence- his love for the Father, his obedience to
the Father’s will, his abhorrence of sin, his humility; his love for creation,
especially man.
“God said let us make man after our own image”
(Gen1:26). Man is thus made to reflect
God and man knows God through the Son. St Paul called Christ, “the image of the
invisible God.” Man is modeled after Christ, the Son of God.. Thus the word and meaning of image is
important; it was important to Christ and to the Jewish nation.
The Jewish nation was a theocracy- a nation ruled by God and
God’s representatives. Their kings never had an image coin; God’s image is on
man, not on a coin. Rule by powerful kingly
Romans antagonized their historical and religious beliefs. Jewish awe and hatred of Roman superiority
centered on a poll tax required of all nations under Roman rule. A special coin to pay the tax was required;
this coin had the image of Caesar on it.
It was an image of kingship, superiority and power.
The Pharisees were the religious doctors of Jewish law. For them to carry the special Roman coin should
have upset the population. The plan of the Pharisees was daring: to try to trap
Jesus by using his words against him and turn Jesus over to the Roman judiciary
for condemnation. The Pharisees would be rid of this thorn in their side.
Earlier, when the Pharisees were conferring about how to get
rid of Jesus; Jesus withdrew; he gave way, let their anger have free rein. (Matt12:14-15)
His time had not yet come; his meekness
shown through the strident voices of the religious crowd. It was meekness, fulfilling the prophesy of
Isaiah:: Here is my servant whom I have chosen, my beloved, the favorite of my
soul, I will endow him with my spirit, and he will proclaim the true faith to
the nations. He will not brawl or shout…Man
will see Christ’s meekness again during his trial.
The Pharisees were on the counter attack after Christ had shown
them to condemn themselves. Hypocrites they were; vainly thinking they had Jesus
in a dilemma-he would offend the Jews or the Romans by his answer. Notice their
false words pretending honor yet attempting to lead Jesus into a trap of
words: “Teacher, we know you are true,
and that you teach the ways of God in truth.” (Matt 22::16) Did they know truth, the truth Jesus taught? Did they think Jesus would condemn himself?
Jesus, in the face of the powers of the world, shows them what
being a real Christian citizen means- a really true Christian is at one and the
same time a good citizen of his country and a good citizen of the Kingdom of
Heaven. Usually these aims are the same;
however since all He created belongs to God- the universe, the heaven, man; man
must conclude all rights and obligations
due to God are above the rights and obligations of country.
My Search for Mercy
I, myself, do not have a clear picture of mercy, something that when I see it, I will immediately know: mercy. I also don't have a picture showing mercy. I knew I would have "to study" mercy.
I, myself, do not have a clear picture of mercy, something that when I see it, I will immediately know: mercy. I also don't have a picture showing mercy. I knew I would have "to study" mercy.
I looked to the readings on that Sunday, and thought," Good. I don't have to acknowledge and write about mercy because the main focus of the reading is "Peace be with you." I still was not satisfied.
I asked friends, "Give me your idea of mercy and how you show it." None had a picture, yet all had good examples of what mercy is: something we do not deserve; something from someone greater than ourselves. Some said to show mercy, one has to give it without any expectation of reward.
I asked friends, "Give me your idea of mercy and how you show it." None had a picture, yet all had good examples of what mercy is: something we do not deserve; something from someone greater than ourselves. Some said to show mercy, one has to give it without any expectation of reward.
Maybe our world and our culture condition us not to expect mercy. We don’t usually do favors unless something in return is given. When the Governor extends clemency, it makes headlines. When President Ford granted immunity to Nixon, everyone questioned his motives.
Life moves on, I could not shake the knowledge I did not understand a five letter word: mercy. I read more, I questioned others, I prayed, and finally I just offered it to God as a mystery I would never see.
Suddenly during Mass, out of the blue, around the consecration, it finally came- the vision of mercy:
Jesus nailed to the cross is looking down on to the world. It is just flowing, no words, or sounds of pain or horror, just giving. It is Christ giving His all, not just His body with the scourges, the cross of thorns, the hands affixed to the wood; His mind and soul on the Father. It is a picture of Christ’s side with blood and water flowing out, flowing freely down from and feet with nails. Not just His body, precious though that is, but His insides, everything that He is. He does not beg us to love Him, He just is; open and accepting of whatever happens, whatever we decide to do. Nothing is hidden, nothing is left out; all is given.
I know it; I feel it; I believe it. Like the apostles I must give up fishing, and go share the Good News.
Wednesday, December 17, 2014
“There was a landowner who planted a vineyard….Then he leased it to tenants and went on a journey (Matt21:33)
This parable tells us much about Jesus and man and their relationship. Jesus is the landowner who gave to Israel everything needed to flourish to show other nations what God has done for them. Israel and man was to produce much fruit (goodness) during their tenure. Everything was in place to ensure good results-prophets, commandments, religious leaders to “till the soil.” Man was to become like vines in the vineyard reaching up to heaven, entwining goodness in all men, making the vineyard the kingdom of God on earth. Jesus entrusted to tenants one of his most precious gifts-the earth and creatures of the earth.
By leasing the vineyard to man, one knows the time to produce fruit is limited-limited to man’s lifetime, to earth’s lifetime; knowing one day the Lord, the landowner, will return to claim the bounty of the harvest. The relationship is landowner to servant, not equals; man is not entitled to a share of the profits without the landowner’s consent. Trusting man to treat the vineyard with respect is God’s prerogative. It is assumed the tenants will also treat the landowner’s delegates with respect too.
Tilling the soil of the soul is hard work; sometimes a winepress is used. The winepress can remind man that man may have to undergo physical suffering to produce fruitfulness.
Man sometimes regresses, he sleeps, he gets weak, he gets angry at the landowner, is contemptible. Man doesn’t always submit to the will of God. Man can forget the harvest- the possibility of inheriting the kingdom. He forgets God is a generous, merciful landowner.
Prophets were sent as messengers; sent to Israel, to the precious vineyard, to assess the harvest. They were ignored; they were killed; the religious leaders began to think of their own welfare and not of the goodness of the landowner. Man did not ask forgiveness for his terrible deeds. The covenant God made with Israel continued.
Tilling the soil of the soul is hard work; sometimes a winepress is used. The winepress can remind man that man may have to undergo physical suffering to produce fruitfulness.
Man sometimes regresses, he sleeps, he gets weak, he gets angry at the landowner, is contemptible. Man doesn’t always submit to the will of God. Man can forget the harvest- the possibility of inheriting the kingdom. He forgets God is a generous, merciful landowner.
Prophets were sent as messengers; sent to Israel, to the precious vineyard, to assess the harvest. They were ignored; they were killed; the religious leaders began to think of their own welfare and not of the goodness of the landowner. Man did not ask forgiveness for his terrible deeds. The covenant God made with Israel continued.
WHILE EVERYONE WAS ASLEEP, HIS ENEMY CAME AND SOWED WEEDS ALL THROUGH THE WHEAT (Matt13:25)
The world is the field where the seed of the word of God is sown. It is sown by the Son of Man into man’s heart and mind- good seed for good wheat, f or good bread, for good use. Wheat is the good food, grown through the light and benevolence of the Creator. Sin, the weeds of the devil, comes in the darkness of night when we are lax; a parasite living on another. Sin disguises itself so cleverly that man has trouble distinguishing sin from good and thus, man’s re action become the basis for his future deeds. Wealth too, grown by man can be good, depending on how it is grown, how it is distributed, how man uses it for future good. The dividing line between good and evil runs through each human heart; only by the fruit can man’s true heart be known. God alone knows the human heart. He knows what we are capable of doing, how we may be misled without even being conscious of the wrong we do. (Jn2:24-25) We hope and rely on His justice and His mercy.
There is both good and evil in the world.
Wheat, grown for man’s use; wheat, the basis for bread;
wheat, stored for future use…
Wealth, made by man’s sweat for man’s use; wealth, the basis
for consumption; wealth, kept for future use…
Weeds, the basis for disharmony in the garden of life;
weeds, sown by capricious wind and tossed about by birds; weeds, entangling
itself into man’s efforts for future goodness and growth…
Sin, brought about by Adam’s pride; sin, the basis for man’s
departure from God; sin, determining man’s future resting place…..
The world is the field where the seed of the word of God is sown. It is sown by the Son of Man into man’s heart and mind- good seed for good wheat, f or good bread, for good use. Wheat is the good food, grown through the light and benevolence of the Creator. Sin, the weeds of the devil, comes in the darkness of night when we are lax; a parasite living on another. Sin disguises itself so cleverly that man has trouble distinguishing sin from good and thus, man’s re action become the basis for his future deeds. Wealth too, grown by man can be good, depending on how it is grown, how it is distributed, how man uses it for future good. The dividing line between good and evil runs through each human heart; only by the fruit can man’s true heart be known. God alone knows the human heart. He knows what we are capable of doing, how we may be misled without even being conscious of the wrong we do. (Jn2:24-25) We hope and rely on His justice and His mercy.
Some lessons to be learned from the parable:
There is both good and evil in the world.
Sometimes it is impossible to tell one from another for a
time.
Therefore one must be on guard about our own behavior.
One cannot be so quick to judge; one must wait for the harvest,
the end time.
Christ is both sower and harvester of love.
Man must be watered in the seeds of love.
Judgment will come; it will come from God alone.
His judgment will decide our final resting place.
“Afterward he sent his son to them thinking they will respect my son…(Matt21:37)
Jesus, greater than the prophets which came before is the beloved son sent by the Father. He is sent to Israel to receive the bounty of the people. He is sent because they are in need of redemption; their sins are too great. At this moment the covenant with Israel is ended. The vineyard has produced sour grapes, wild grapes as foretold by Isiah5:3.
The laborers become a mob and kill the beloved son- the son God wanted man to love and respect. “God sent his Son not as a bearer of a sentence of punishment against the guilty, but as the bearer of an offer of repentance. He sent him to put them to shame, not to punish them. (St John Chryoston)
The Pharisees thought they were astute; Jesus uses this example to help them pass judgment on themselves. Did they not fear retribution, reprisal for their action? Did they despise the landowner so much? Were they unaware of their pride, not understanding pride is the root of all evil?
Does man feel no shame for what man did to Christ, the Son of God? Does shame save a man from evil? Is the philosophy of the mob today, “If it feels good, etc”
Justice, repentance, requires man to see: ”He will put those wretched men to a wretched death, and let out the vineyard to other tenants who will give fruits in their season.”
“He will put
those wretched men to a wretched death and lease his vineyard to other tenants
who will give him the produce at the proper time.’ (Matt21:43)
This parable
tells us much about Jesus and man.
Jesus, the landowner planted the vineyard (Israel), did all that was
needed to make it produce good fruit (conversion), leased it to his tenants and
went on a journey. The Pharisees recognized themselves in this parable, as
Jesus intended.
On
a deeper level, Jesus, the Creator, has given man all man needs to cultivate
the earth, to produce a good harvest of souls-prophets, religious leaders. God does not hover over the tenants; He has
great patience. He wants man to “till
the soil,” to become the vines which entwine around other vines making a kingdom
whereby God is honored.
By
leasing the vineyard, one knows the time to produce fruit is limited-one day
the landowner (God) will return to claim the fruits of his creation. The relationship is landowner to servant. Trusting man to cultivate the vineyard is
God’s right and a servant’s duty.
Tilling
the soil of the soul is hard work- the wine press reminds man that physical
suffering is necessary. Man sometimes
regresses, he sleeps on the job, he gets weak; man gets angry at the landowner;
he does not submit his will to the will of the landowner. Man forgets the possibility of inheriting the
vineyard, the kingdom; man forgets God is merciful; man does not remember every
sinner has a future, a chance to change.
Vintage
time arrives and the landowner sends agents to collect what the landowner is
due. As a landowner, he can expect his
agents to be truthful, his tenants to be respectful and honest, open to
receiving the truths of the landowner.
Unfortunately,
the tenants reject God’s agents; again the landowner sends others to collect
the harvest due to him. His patience is
ignored. Finally, the landowner’s son is
sent; surely, “they will respect my son.” (Matt21:37)
When
God sends his son, the tenants bloody their hands; they become a mob, killing
the son. It was a deliberate act of rebellion and
disobedience; it was sin. “God sent his
son not as bearer of a sentence of punishment against the guilty, but as the
bearer of an offer of repentance.” (Pseudo- Chrysostom)
Does
man feel no shame for what man did to Jesus Christ, the Son of God? Does man think he is above God? “Has man sunk so low, he is useless to
God?” (William Barclay) Sorrow
for man’s evil actions is necessary for repentance and none was shown. Harsh judgment is inevitable.
“What is your
opinion?” (Matt21:28)
“Which of the two sons did the father’s will?” (Matt21: 30). The answer as explained by Jesus infuriated the religious leaders: “How dare Jesus assert the greatness of John the Baptist over them? John, a misfit, who preached repentance; one, whose followers were not equal to them, they thought. Humility be dammed; we have been set apart, been given places of honor in the temple, and WE should be placed highest in heaven’
From 1957-1975, William Barclay, the noted Scottish theologian, in his book: Gospel of Matthew Volume 2 asserts this parable is “the better of two bad sons.” Both sons are imperfect; neither son by their actions, honor or respect their father. He further says, the second son symbolizes a class of men whose words profess one thing, but then they do not follow through with their performances, their deeds. Most telling, in his book, The Mind of Jesus, p128, Barclay opinions: the sin Jesus most condemns is hypocrisy- a Greek word meaning ‘actor’. The second son uses courtesy calling the father, ”Sir”, but true courtesy he says is “obedience, willingly and graciously given.”
Many, in my unscientific poll, equate the response of the sons to children of today: children promise anything; if they change their mind most justify their inaction, or do it out of a fear of retribution. The second son is “just rebellious,” saying no as a matter of habit. Obedience, daresay love, seem to be missing. One person offered the thought-The father has to be worthy of respect to get obedience. God the Father and repentance never enter into their mind. Clearly, much prayer is needed and perhaps a time-out with a teaching moment: WWJD? Free will is man’s choice: to obey or disobey. When man cannot comprehend, man follows something he can understand- his own opinion.
Bishop John A. Marshall, Who Do You Say I Am? notes: human relationships like father and son can change, but the relationship between God and man can never change. He is the Creator, we are his creatures and as creatures we are expected to obey. So man must ask: Am I able to unite myself perfectly to the will of the Father? By following God’s will, man is perfecting himself in the image and likeness of God.
St John Vianney uses this parable as an example of man’s indifference, a lackadaisical outlook, believing: “What I am doing is acceptable to enter the kingdom of God.” Man is leaving God out of his mind-set, thus missing out on the many blessings man could have in his life.
St Jerome sums up: “Ignorance of scripture is ignorance of Christ.”
“Which of the two did the Father’s will?” (Matt 21:33)
God is always completely good. Jesus, the Son of God, is completely good
too; he always loves the Father, always does what is pleasing to Him; he always
follows the will of the Father, even to death. Ever willing to “go it alone” in
accepting God’s direction, Jesus’ humility is as humble as a child who lovingly
accepts his parent’s directives.
From the context of this parable, the meaning is obvious,
only hardness of heart of the Pharisees keep them from grasping the
answer. As blind and deaf as those who
seek a miracle from Jesus, the Pharisees are more adept at scheming than
thinking. Pride and arrogance rule their
lives; they plot against the one who speaks truth. Jesus speaks in parables so
the innocent, the unsophisticated, the humble, like the prostitutes can
understand him.
Faithful in all ways, Jesus speaks truths so man can love,
honor and obey the Father. No matter how
unfaithful, how disobedient man is to God, He cannot be unfaithful. Jesus is faithful to the Father and man whom
He loves. He speaks truths whereby man
can learn and grow into the image of God.
‘Honor thy Father’ implies obedience to his authority,
whether heavenly or human origin. Both
John and Jesus’ authority come from God; both preach repentance, not defiance;
both are rejected and persecuted by the leaders of God’s people, people who are
to follow the ways of God.
Jesus desires all to be a part of the kingdom of God. By speaking truth in this parable, Jesus is speaking
of himself and the Father and their relationship, a relationship of love and
goodness. “Abba,” is a more intimate,
more loving title than one of human paternity (father); “Abba” shows closeness
between the Father and Son. To Jesus,
true son-ship is sacred. Ordinary people
accept his holiness, his closeness to the Father. God cannot be a father to those who do not
respond in love and obedience. He asks
man to change his mind, his ways of acting and return to His kingdom.
Come back to me
with all your heart
Don’t let fear
keep us apart.
Long have I
waited for your coming home again,
And living deeply
our new love.
Sin is foreign to Jesus; to him disobedience is a failure- a
failure of what man can and ought to be.
Jesus shows by his obedience what man who loves, says and does; they are
one and the same. “You must be perfect,
as your heavenly father is perfect.” (Matt5:48)
Jesus is the spokesman for God; “He is the living God, the Father of all
people.”(Bl Paul VI, Oct 4, 1965)
“My friend, I am not cheating
you. Did you not agree with me for the
usual daily wage? Take what is yours and
go. What if I wish to give the last
ones hired the same as you. Or am I not
free to do as I wish with my own money? “(Matt 20: 14-15)
Human ideas of justice and God’s idea of mercy and charity clash in the vineyard meeting (workplace) of the landowner (Christ) and wage earners (man). In the parable monetary payment is not based on labor union agreements for all workers. Jesus’ love, mercy, and reward gives man much more than he promises, and this he gives freely.
Human criteria say-”It’s not fair. You have no right.” When unexpected favor comes to another, man
asks-“Why not me?” Divisiveness, envy,
jealousy enter the work place. The devil
has infected hearts. The reasoning of
the world, man knows too well. Christ’s
process of love justice, mercy is a real alternative. Christ offers man an
example whereby man’s actions can change the workplace into a community.
Jesus recognizes business is a noble vocation if employers
and employees are engaged with love and attitudes that unlock the full
potential of everyone. All perform tasks
with zeal and goodwill, giving just wages for appropriate performance. The workplace offers a safe, respectful work environment;
love transforms the workplace into a community. It is immensely practical; love
and respect are ultimately attractive.
No longer will productivity charts and attrition rates dominate
meetings. Instead decisions will be guided by the Holy
Spirit. Equality and generosity is able
to permeate the heart. In the vineyard
of hope and love, no matter how tiring the work, no matter how hot and humid
the physical surroundings, man can thrive and give glory to God throughout the
work day.
“The kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out at dawn to hire
laborers for his vineyard.”(Matt 20:1)
Jesus, the divine Son of the Father, is the landowner of the
vineyard (Israel); he comes to offer man a chance to produce fruit for the
vineyard. He has come early in the
morning of civilization- since the creation of the world- part of which He gave
to Israel. Creation was given freely;
man was the fruit of creation. He gives
man more than he deserves. Man could never earn God’s love. His love has no
strings attached; He is a superabundance of love. “He is generous in forgiving.”
(Isiah55:7) His love is steadfast,
faithful. “He keeps his merciful
covenant down to the thousandth generation.”(Deut7:9)
Wanting man to come to the Father, five times God comes to
Israel with prophets, looking for Israel to lead other nations into his
vineyard. Persistent He is, throughout history, which is
like a day to him. “He loved us before
we loved him.”( Jn4:19 )
He asks man why he
was not working for God “They answered,
because no one has hired us.” (Matt 20:8)
No other god could offer what the Father offers, what man needs.
Christ takes man as man is- in early life, in late life,
good men, sinners, for example, like the good thief, and He promises “I will
give you what is just.” (Matt 20: ) Man has experienced the extravagant nature of
divine mercy. Yet man grumbles, so Jesus
goes to the heart of the parable. ”Are
you envious because I am generous?” (Matt20:15) Man
must look into his heart; his actions will reflect his attitude.
Now it is late in the day. Again Jesus, the Son of God,
comes offering divine grace to all; it is sealed in the blood of Christ. Christ’s redemption of man, given in love and
obedience to the Father will be beyond anything man can imagine. His crucifixion will be an awesome giving of
self; man has no equivalent payment.
As Jesus shows love without measure, so man must show love
and service to all to bear fruit in the vineyard.
JESUS SPOKE TO THEM IN PAABLES, SAYING; “A SOWER WENT
OUT TO SOW.” (Matt13:3)
And as he sowed,
some seed fell on the path, and birds came and ate it up. Some fell on rocky ground, where it had
little soil. It sprung up at once
because the soil was not deep and when the sun rose it was scorched, and
withered for lack of roots. Some seed
fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked it .
In the last article, one could justify to
ourselves, the strong and powerful were not us Now there is no
hiding; this is us.; it Is us who hide the truth from ourselves; us, who have
made our hearts hard and stubborn, closing ourselves from God's loving words.
We have made our conscience, our minds, our wills closed by our habits of
indifference, blind prejudice, our lives dominated by ambition, pride and
self-centeredness. Yes, we say we love Him, but our love is lukewarm, reserved-
we keep part of ourselves back from His love. There seems to be a
constant battle between what we truly desire and what we actually do. In
this parable of the sower and the seed, we are led to the conclusion that the
path, the ground, the soil we walk daily, must be tilled and we are the plough
horse or oxen who determine how deep we will go.
Christ says, "Open wide your mouth and I will fill it', and fill it He will with His word, His bread, Himself. He is doing the giving and we are the receivers. Love and commitment He gives us; what do we give back? We know we must respond, but we are weak, afraid what this must involve.
The beginning to know self- to desire to commit to Someone, something greater than ourselves is the beginning of maturity. Self-identity is a risk one must determine for himself. And God gives us the freedom to do that. He puts everything in place, but the choice is ours- to give back toHim that love which He has given completely to us.
Some say, so show me a plan, a plan I can follow. Teach me to pray.
Each one is unique, distinct; "To anyone who has more,more will be given.". Man has a mind, one must have an intellectual faith. Man knows he should pray, but he can allow too many other things to enter his mind and he becomes too busy to pray.
Paul urges us to pray unceasingly; like breathing without interruption, not with our mind, but with all our thoughts centered on God; not a self-centered monologue but a God-centered dialogue. We keep nothing from Him as Jesus kept nothing from His Father. Psalm 37 rings true- trusting God with your dreams, securing all He provides; the promise of refuge in times of trouble. He has told us the more we unite ourselves to Him, the closer we will become like Him.
Yes, it is a constant challenge, a constant act of trust. When man sows seed, he knows not to look for quick results. Nature does not work that way. It takes a long time before the seed germinates in man, yet he plants and hopes. Storms may slow down growth, yet Christ has given us sunlight to achieve growth and fruit. A rainbow is His sign of promise.
O Wisdom of God to you we pray:
Give us light to see the path we should choose, have true discernment.
Let us sow justice in the fields of our work.
Help us to live the wisdom of the cross.
Rain gently on the hard ground around our hearts.
Forgive us when we make light of our own sins.
Christ says, "Open wide your mouth and I will fill it', and fill it He will with His word, His bread, Himself. He is doing the giving and we are the receivers. Love and commitment He gives us; what do we give back? We know we must respond, but we are weak, afraid what this must involve.
The beginning to know self- to desire to commit to Someone, something greater than ourselves is the beginning of maturity. Self-identity is a risk one must determine for himself. And God gives us the freedom to do that. He puts everything in place, but the choice is ours- to give back toHim that love which He has given completely to us.
Some say, so show me a plan, a plan I can follow. Teach me to pray.
Each one is unique, distinct; "To anyone who has more,more will be given.". Man has a mind, one must have an intellectual faith. Man knows he should pray, but he can allow too many other things to enter his mind and he becomes too busy to pray.
Paul urges us to pray unceasingly; like breathing without interruption, not with our mind, but with all our thoughts centered on God; not a self-centered monologue but a God-centered dialogue. We keep nothing from Him as Jesus kept nothing from His Father. Psalm 37 rings true- trusting God with your dreams, securing all He provides; the promise of refuge in times of trouble. He has told us the more we unite ourselves to Him, the closer we will become like Him.
Yes, it is a constant challenge, a constant act of trust. When man sows seed, he knows not to look for quick results. Nature does not work that way. It takes a long time before the seed germinates in man, yet he plants and hopes. Storms may slow down growth, yet Christ has given us sunlight to achieve growth and fruit. A rainbow is His sign of promise.
O Wisdom of God to you we pray:
Give us light to see the path we should choose, have true discernment.
Let us sow justice in the fields of our work.
Help us to live the wisdom of the cross.
Rain gently on the hard ground around our hearts.
Forgive us when we make light of our own sins.
Water the work of our hands with gentleness and
love.
Remake our hearts to conform with the image of Christ.
Remake our hearts to conform with the image of Christ.
The Kingdom of Heaven is like a merchant searching for fine pearls. When he finds a pearl of great price, he goes and sells all that he has and buys it.” (Matt13:45-46)
Man has always sought God, Someone greater than himself. “I will seek Him whom my heart loves.”(Song of Songs3:4) Longing for Him is in our psych, our human makeup. We long to see Him face to face and our desire has been answered, though in unexpected ways. Jesus, Son of God became man, a man like us in appearance, yet divine, without sin. Jesus, the great pearl, the priceless treasure of God, humbled himself to us sinful creatures. He came not as a rich, powerful ruler that we fear, but as savior, servant, shepherd, a fisher of men. Christ taught us the path to God, using the familiar to explain the unfamiliar; thus the parables.
Man has always sought God, Someone greater than himself. “I will seek Him whom my heart loves.”(Song of Songs3:4) Longing for Him is in our psych, our human makeup. We long to see Him face to face and our desire has been answered, though in unexpected ways. Jesus, Son of God became man, a man like us in appearance, yet divine, without sin. Jesus, the great pearl, the priceless treasure of God, humbled himself to us sinful creatures. He came not as a rich, powerful ruler that we fear, but as savior, servant, shepherd, a fisher of men. Christ taught us the path to God, using the familiar to explain the unfamiliar; thus the parables.
He came to unite us as one kingdom, a kingdom of love, of
peace, of people living together following the will of God; something as lovely
as the pearl of great value, Christ. No
greater pearl can be found: not knowledge, not wealth, not power, not human relationships;
nothing can surpass the love which Christ offers us. It is Love which will be seen on the cross.
Man cannot merit or
earn the kingdom; God gives it freely to sinful man. To be a member of His
kingdom, man must have an interior conversion, an understanding, open heart of
Solomon, repentance from sin, and a determination to lead a new life. Sinful man needs constant conversion and
Christ leaves us Himself in the breaking of the bread to strengthen our
faith. He leaves us the Holy Spirit and
the Church to guide us in our daily walk. By ourselves we can do nothing; with
Him all is possible.
There is a sense of urgency, a sense of abandoning
everything like the Apostles to follow Christ.
Making Him and His kingdom our first priority, leaving our previous
treasures behind, we answer “Yes” to His call.
“Do you understand these things?” Christ speaks to the Apostles and us. To you,
understanding of the Father is given.
You will be the new scribes, the new teachers of the fulfilling of the
Hebrew Scripture of old. Man can now have a personal, conscious relationship
with God, through Christ; a relationship of love and intimacy. Man can give true testimony when he can
affirm: “I have found Him whom my heart
has sought.”
God uses His authority to love us to goodness. Love is never negative;
All of us have some power or authority over another: a mother tells one of her children, "You are in charge." When we are tempted to think of our dignity, our prestige, our rights, our desires, our self-prominence, then we are no longer, “one of the little ones." When we walk alone, we are bound to stumble, to grope, to go the wrong way. When we take up the yoke of Christ, we have our guide to safety, peace; our service to others becomes a joy, not an obligation.
,
.
it doesn't demand; it simply is. An obligation is not a task to be done; it is a labor of love, a prologue to joy.
All of us have some power or authority over another: a mother tells one of her children, "You are in charge." When we are tempted to think of our dignity, our prestige, our rights, our desires, our self-prominence, then we are no longer, “one of the little ones." When we walk alone, we are bound to stumble, to grope, to go the wrong way. When we take up the yoke of Christ, we have our guide to safety, peace; our service to others becomes a joy, not an obligation.
,
.
Although you have hidden these things from the wise and the learned, you have revealed them to the little ones.” (Matt11:25)
Jesus was a teacher; He taught by example. Usually His message had had two teachings: one which was on the surface and a deeper meaning which wash hidden beneath the surface.
On the surface, the wise and learned are the Scribes and Pharisee; their teachings, the" yoke of the Torah", impose a heavy burden on the people. The arbitrators of faith are unable to see the mysteries of Christ in the kingdom of God. Like Alice in Wonderland, the above ground logic of Alice will not work in the below ground logic of the rabbit. The little ones are the meek, the humble, the ones the Father has given the grace of His "gracious will," They will form the Christian community; they will know the Father through Christ. The familiarity and intimacy of Christ and the Father (Abba), is such as that of a child and a loving parent. The disciples will have that closeness too; they will be given the inner peace of the spirit in this life which quiets their mind and heart. The disciples will still have trials, frustrations, and sufferings, but the call to discipleship will be lighter with Christ's help. By tying yourself to the yoke of Christ, one sees He carries the heavier burden. His yoke contains all the love He has for His disciples.
The below surface meaning speaks to those who are given power; to those who have authority, the right to govern others, the "wise and the learned." How one uses their power is the core teaching. Does one see himself as standing over others, judging, condemning, punishing? The Scribes and Pharisees did this. An obligation was made into something negative. True authority, true leadership is based on mercy and love.
God uses His authority to love us to goodness. Love is never negative; it doesn't demand; it simply is. An obligation is not a task to be done; it is a labor of love, a prologue to joy.
All of us have some power or authority over another: a mother tells one of her children, "You are in charge." When we are tempted to think of our dignity, our prestige, our rights, our desires, our self-prominence, then we are no longer, “one of the little ones." When we walk alone, we are bound to stumble, to grope, to go the wrong way. When we take up the yoke of Christ, we have our guide to safety, peace; our service to others becomes a joy, not an obligation.
Jesus was a teacher; He taught by example. Usually His message had had two teachings: one which was on the surface and a deeper meaning which wash hidden beneath the surface.
On the surface, the wise and learned are the Scribes and Pharisee; their teachings, the" yoke of the Torah", impose a heavy burden on the people. The arbitrators of faith are unable to see the mysteries of Christ in the kingdom of God. Like Alice in Wonderland, the above ground logic of Alice will not work in the below ground logic of the rabbit. The little ones are the meek, the humble, the ones the Father has given the grace of His "gracious will," They will form the Christian community; they will know the Father through Christ. The familiarity and intimacy of Christ and the Father (Abba), is such as that of a child and a loving parent. The disciples will have that closeness too; they will be given the inner peace of the spirit in this life which quiets their mind and heart. The disciples will still have trials, frustrations, and sufferings, but the call to discipleship will be lighter with Christ's help. By tying yourself to the yoke of Christ, one sees He carries the heavier burden. His yoke contains all the love He has for His disciples.
The below surface meaning speaks to those who are given power; to those who have authority, the right to govern others, the "wise and the learned." How one uses their power is the core teaching. Does one see himself as standing over others, judging, condemning, punishing? The Scribes and Pharisees did this. An obligation was made into something negative. True authority, true leadership is based on mercy and love.
God uses His authority to love us to goodness. Love is never negative; it doesn't demand; it simply is. An obligation is not a task to be done; it is a labor of love, a prologue to joy.
All of us have some power or authority over another: a mother tells one of her children, "You are in charge." When we are tempted to think of our dignity, our prestige, our rights, our desires, our self-prominence, then we are no longer, “one of the little ones." When we walk alone, we are bound to stumble, to grope, to go the wrong way. When we take up the yoke of Christ, we have our guide to safety, peace; our service to others becomes a joy, not an obligation.
PARABLES
Jesus taught using parables more than any other method,
other than living his life and teaching by example. Luke records 34 parables, more than any other
gospel writer. Parables are like
onions-there are many layers to uncover.
The core message always tells who Jesus is and he uses them to give us
hope to reside in the kingdom of God.
The kingdom of God also has many layers and man has noted
that it is heaven with the Trinity or in some cases it is Israel, the chosen
people of God. It is also the kingdom
on earth where man can be truly human and work for the good of the
kingdom. Note the Our Father: ‘thy
kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”
Each parable causes man to come to a conclusion which
enables man to transform his behavior.
Each one is particular to individual men and their circumstances- each
man sees a message for his own life situation.
Each one form a picture of Christ, of the possibility of a personal relationship
with Christ- Who Christ is, who God is, His attributes, and of course His love.
Each parable will be viewed two ways: who Christ and what
can man learn.
Kingdom of Heaven, Kingdom of God
Each apostle addresses special groups –people of his own heritage or groups to which he is drawn. Matthew speaks of the Kingdom of Heaven over thirty times and closely related to the Kingdom of Heaven is the Kingdom of God.
Modern man is familiar with “Thy kingdom come” and its action, “Thy will be done” as found in the Our Father. Jesus established the kingdom when he came as Messiah, speaking and acting as the Son of God. His teachings and miracles are signs by which the kingdom begins, his divinity revealed, with man called to respond. Man is called first to repent humbly-to change his actions and behavior; he is called to love one another, and by mirroring the forgiveness of Christ, man is following the worthy ideal. Jesus, the holy, venerated standard, opens the kingdom to man. Man can exercises his free will to follow the will of God. Thus the Kingdom of God can grow here on earth.
The finest, truest expression of the kingdom will take place at the end time. Final judgment will be rendered for all men. All power, all authority comes from God. God will gather those who have followed Jesus faithfully into the kingdom; man will be in communion with the Trinity, giving eternal praise.
“No one has ever seen God, only the son, who is in the bosom of the Father, he has made him known” (Jn 1:18)
Jesus Christ is the object of our faith, the one sent by the Father so man would know who God is, not just intellectually, but with full commitment to the Word. “I came into the world as light, so that everyone who believes in me might not remain in darkness.”(Jn12:46)
The episode of the Transfiguration brings together many elements of faith whereby man and God come together to say who Jesus is. The Light of the World ascends Mount Tabor just six days after Peter’s great declaration of faith. Jesus brings with him his disciples Peter, James and John. Again and again Jesus has told his disciples he must journey to Jerusalem to suffer and die. It is night and Jesus has come to pray, to be sure he is following the will of his Father. He would take no step without talking to his Father. The disciples are always wavering in faith; the road to Jerusalem with the cross could turn them into unbelievers. They need something to cling to during their time of testing. Before them Jesus’ face and garments change: “His face shone like the sun, and his garments become as white as the light.”(Matt17:2) With Jesus are Moses and Elijah, the prophet who found God not in the wind, and not in the earthquake, but in the small voice, (1Kings:9) and the lawgiver of the Old Testament, whose face shone. (Exodus34:29) Jesus, Moses and Elijah are talking. Jesus is the fulfillment of the Old Testament represented by Moses and Elijah. Everything comes together in this tableau of faith as to who Jesus is. The greatest of the Old Testament bring recognition to Jesus and witness to Jesus that he should go forth. The voice of the Father in the bright cloud confers his blessing upon Jesus: “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.”(Matt 17:5) The disciples’ eyes and hearts are opened, their faith restored to believe the divinity of Christ. The light of power and divinity, the truth of Jesus’ relationship to the Father come from the same source: God the Father.
Man cannot remain atop the mountain, the place where one encounters Christ. Man must seek Christ’s shining glory on the plains of injustice and poverty. After witnessing the glory of Christ, man can remember, can meditate. Man needs to perceive God’s will for his life and like Christ pray for guidance. Man too needs a transfiguration to remain faithful in times of trial and tribulation. Man offers his suffering up to God; these are man’s altars of praise and glory to God.
Although you have hidden these things from the wise and the learned, you have revealed them to the little ones.” (Matt11:25)
Jesus was a teacher; He taught by example. Usually His message had had two teachings: one which was on the surface and a deeper meaning which wash hidden beneath the surface.
On the surface, the wise and learned are the Scribes and Pharisee; their teachings, the" yoke of the Torah", impose a heavy burden on the people. The arbitrators of faith are unable to see the mysteries of Christ in the kingdom of God. Like Alice in Wonderland, the above ground logic of Alice will not work in the below ground logic of the rabbit. The little ones are the meek, the humble, the ones the Father has given the grace of His "gracious will," They will form the Christian community; they will know the Father through Christ. The familiarity and intimacy of Christ and the Father (Abba), is such as that of a child and a loving parent. The disciples will have that closeness too; they will be given the inner peace of the spirit in this life which quiets their mind and heart. The disciples will still have trials, frustrations, and sufferings, but the call to discipleship will be lighter with Christ's help. By tying yourself to the yoke of Christ, one sees He carries the heavier burden. His yoke contains all the love He has for His disciples.
The below surface meaning speaks to those who are given power; to those who have authority, the right to govern others, the "wise and the learned." How one uses their power is the core teaching. Does one see himself as standing over others, judging, condemning, punishing? The Scribes and Pharisees did this. An obligation was made into something negative. True authority, true leadership is based on mercy and love.
God uses His authority to love us to goodness. Love is never negative; it doesn't demand; it simply is. An obligation is not a task to be done; it is a labor of love, a prologue to joy.
All of us have some power or authority over another: a mother tells one of her children, "You are in charge." When we are tempted to think of our dignity, our prestige, our rights, our desires, our self-prominence, then we are no longer, “one of the little ones." When we walk alone, we are bound to stumble, to grope, to go the wrong way. When we take up the yoke of Christ, we have our guide to safety, peace; our service to others becomes a joy, not an obligation.
,
.
Jesus was a teacher; He taught by example. Usually His message had had two teachings: one which was on the surface and a deeper meaning which wash hidden beneath the surface.
On the surface, the wise and learned are the Scribes and Pharisee; their teachings, the" yoke of the Torah", impose a heavy burden on the people. The arbitrators of faith are unable to see the mysteries of Christ in the kingdom of God. Like Alice in Wonderland, the above ground logic of Alice will not work in the below ground logic of the rabbit. The little ones are the meek, the humble, the ones the Father has given the grace of His "gracious will," They will form the Christian community; they will know the Father through Christ. The familiarity and intimacy of Christ and the Father (Abba), is such as that of a child and a loving parent. The disciples will have that closeness too; they will be given the inner peace of the spirit in this life which quiets their mind and heart. The disciples will still have trials, frustrations, and sufferings, but the call to discipleship will be lighter with Christ's help. By tying yourself to the yoke of Christ, one sees He carries the heavier burden. His yoke contains all the love He has for His disciples.
The below surface meaning speaks to those who are given power; to those who have authority, the right to govern others, the "wise and the learned." How one uses their power is the core teaching. Does one see himself as standing over others, judging, condemning, punishing? The Scribes and Pharisees did this. An obligation was made into something negative. True authority, true leadership is based on mercy and love.
God uses His authority to love us to goodness. Love is never negative; it doesn't demand; it simply is. An obligation is not a task to be done; it is a labor of love, a prologue to joy.
All of us have some power or authority over another: a mother tells one of her children, "You are in charge." When we are tempted to think of our dignity, our prestige, our rights, our desires, our self-prominence, then we are no longer, “one of the little ones." When we walk alone, we are bound to stumble, to grope, to go the wrong way. When we take up the yoke of Christ, we have our guide to safety, peace; our service to others becomes a joy, not an obligation.
,
.
“…so that the world may know I love the Father.” (Jn 14:31)
“Christ reveals through his humanity the mystery of his divinity- his life and death is a visible expression of the invisible life of the Trinity, where the Son eternally pours himself out in love to the Father.” (Catechism of the Church)
Jesus wants to communicate the love the Father has toward man-God has loved man before man was created. Man was created for love-man was created to be in a “communion of love with the Son” and offered to the Father in love. Jesus, the Word, …”though he was in in the form of God, did not regard equality with God, as something to be grasped, but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of man.” (Philippians 2:6-7) Man, so imperfect, needs a visible sign to grasp the invisible life of the Trinity. Man needs to hold on to perfection to be complete- to be truly human.
Humility, obedience to the will of God, underlined with encompassing love, guided every moment of Christ’s life. Christ’s love for his Father and man reached its apex on the Cross of Calvary. The death of Christ on the cross stands as the greatest moment in man’s history; by the cross man is able to attain eternal life with the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Love expressed so vividly marks a man of faith: man feels humbled, loved, and determines to live his life with love, love for all, as Christ lived his life.
Man, in the trials of daily life, struggles to exercises intentional faith, daily prayer and sacrifice. Most men never face martyrdom as did Peter, but by these actions of man, man joins Christ’s sacrifice of love to the Father for His eternal glory and praise.
“The blind men approached him and Jesus said to them, ”Do you believe that I can do this? “ “Yes Lord,” they said to him. Then he touched their eyes and said, ”Let it be done for you, according to your faith.” And their eyes were opened. ( Mt9:28-30)
There are many kinds of blindness: physical, spiritual, mental. All recognize physical; man calls upon Jesus when our pressing needs confront us and our medical resources are exhausted. Jesus is not a magician we conjure up to produce a miracle.
Jesus is asking the blind men: “Do you believe in ME?” Do you recognize my presence in your life? Do you trust I love you and have a purpose for this suffering in your life?
When one commits to faith, it is faith in a person- the person of Jesus Christ. Do you trust in ME that I have God’s power to change your life? Can you see that I can see into your own heart? Can you see I am the Source of ALL healing?
If we share, we love; if we love we believe; if we believe, we trust.
The most difficult blindness for man to recognize is the blindness inside himself; it is the blindness that closes his heart to complete trust in Jesus. It is blindness to our own defects, our own bias, our own opinions, our own selfish ideas, our own pride.
Jesus asks us to take a deeper look at ourselves to develop a richer, more eye-opening interior life. Man says, “This is the path I am going to take to God.” Jesus says, “I am the path, the Way.” I am going to show you a richer goal, a goal to “contemplative union with God.” This blindness and your acceptance is your living my will; this is your cross to Calvary, your living my Passion. Acceptance is man’s action; acceptance is man’s highest action, the highest adoration of God in a blinded world. “As for me, in my justice, I shall see your face when I awake, with the sight of your glory.”(Ps17:15)
In our present age, the final blindness is the blindness of indifference. It is “not seeing” the suffering of those around us. Our senses are blocked to seeing misery, the plight of the less fortunate, like the rich man who did not see the beggar outside his home each day. Christ is in our midst and man does not see him. Man desperately needs Christ to remove our blindness; man needs God’s mercy to see; man needs to have the faith Jesus is asking of the blind men, so man can see.
Monday, December 8, 2014
While everyone was asleep, his enemy came and sowed weeds through the wheat.” Matt 13:25
We are spending the summer in Door County, Wi, known nationally for its numerous quality galleries, spectacular scenery, and fish boils. Tourist from Chicago, Milwaukee flock to the area each weekend,
On the surface, the county seems upscale: one of a kind properties, with everything “cute”, yet by the numbers, most of its citizens rely on government assistance. This summer the local YMCA will hand out 18,000 free lunches; the Altrusa Club will give 500 kids, back to school supplies; the Boys and Girls Club has seen a 2000% increase in daily attendance in the past three years , teaching education, recreation and life skills in a safe environment. This is not an error, the figure is correct.
Thus in the midst of great wealth, there is great need, which is hidden from wealthy tourists. We see only those who are like us, so therefore it is easy to be hospitable; we become indifferent to the poor in our midst- out of sight, out of mind. We sleep and the homeless do not, the devil slips into our subconscious, sensuality, self-importance emerge. We eat at award winning grills, and some beg for an extra pbj sandwich to take home for supper. This does not take into account migrant laborers; they didn’t come this Spring-too cold, too wet for gathering hay. Cherry picking comes later in the season and migrants will pick the world famous cherries.
Can we wonder that the enemy is here in our country? He comes in the guise of wealth, wealth we have earned, earned for our family; wealth we have used for our own good, acquiring “things.” Poisonous as the darnel of Jesus’ time, wealth and indifference are intertwined with each other in our present time, causing misery for a large portion of our countrymen. Christ wept; I wept, but even more is needed. Not a problem to be solved by reason, but a change in attitude by all; a shift in ethics, not mine but for the good of all. Man needs a philosophy of reflection, a deeper reflection of reality determining what man must move toward, what man must move away from, and always present in our hearts, ”I give you a new commandment:, love one another.”(Jn13:34)
Can we wonder that the enemy is here in our country? He comes in the guise of wealth, wealth we have earned, earned for our family; wealth we have used for our own good, acquiring “things.” Poisonous as the darnel of Jesus’ time, wealth and indifference are intertwined with each other in our present time, causing misery for a large portion of our countrymen. Christ wept; I wept, but even more is needed. Not a problem to be solved by reason, but a change in attitude by all; a shift in ethics, not mine but for the good of all. Man needs a philosophy of reflection, a deeper reflection of reality determining what man must move toward, what man must move away from, and always present in our hearts, ”I give you a new commandment:, love one another.”(Jn13:34)
“The feast is ready, but those who were invited, were not worthy to come. (Matt22: )
God, the king invites his special country to the wedding feast of his son, Jesus. It is a joyous occasion; his son will be honored and the wedding guests will rejoice with him. Some men reject, some ignore, some give business or family excuses; their reasoning sounds like man today when justifying why man must miss Mass, the wedding for Jesus.
Man’s free will, man’s wavering acceptance, man’s reluctance to change his behavior, man’s sinful actions toward the Son, apply to the Pharisees and the Jewish communities. The invited guests have declined the joyous invitation.
In God’s mercy, He goes out to the roadside to invite others to the feast, Gentiles, who do not yet have a close personal relationship to Him. The feast is moved from the temple to the new tabernacle, the Church. We, the new Adam believers, become Christians.
What gifts do we bring to the joyous feast? Man’s gifts, presented on the altar for the Son and his Father, are gifts of self-gifts which man has developed, enriched, grace filled by the Holy Spirit. The gifts of man’s faith, hope and love embedded in the bread and wine are returned ten fold to the Creator; the talents and gifts earned by man’s sweat of his brow enrich the offering. Humility, acceptance of suffering, ripen the worthy guests’ meal. The banquet is joyous, reverent, filled with love. Man’s spirit is lifted up to God’s spirit; communion of love flow from one to another.
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