Experiencing God - Church and Home 26

"Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus' feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.
Gospel of John
                                         
I don’t think anyone can underestimate the importance of the place we call home. I grew up in a farming community, and my parents owned a big two story farm house with two separate living spaces. My grandparents lived in one part, and my family of seven lived in the other. It was not a luxurious place by any stretch of the imagination. It had no indoor bathroom, just a couple of sinks with hot and cold running water. It was heated by an old wood furnace that did not distribute the heat very well and a wood stove in the kitchen. No one hung out in the bedrooms on a cold winter morning. But as a child growing up here, it was a place I felt safe. Home was were we shared family times, times with friends, three meals a day around the dining room table, a place to be when you were sick, a place to come too at the end of the day. I don’t remember a time when family was not around. It was indeed a place where I could feel away from the world.

Martha, Mary and Lazarus had such a home, and it was a place they often shared with Jesus. For this man who had no place to lay His head, this would be the place that represented home to Him. It was there, in the company of those who accepted Him as family, that Jesus would experience being away from the world and its demands, a place where he could relax.

 The Gospel reading above took place in this home in Bethany, just outside Jerusalem. In order to appreciate this short Gospel reading, we must also understand some of the events that surrounded this Gospel we have just heard. 

Some days before, Jesus had raised Lazarus from the dead, and this event had caught a lot of attention, particularly from the Jewish authorities. They were threatened by Jesus and the popularity He was gaining. Jesus was seen as compromising their strict religious practice and their rules, so now word was out that they wanted Him stopped. 

Jesus and His disciples could no longer travel as freely. So they went to Bethany where they knew they would be welcomed. 

Mary, Martha and Lazarus would certainly have been quite aware of the tensions Jesus was experiencing. They welcomed Him, as they had done many times before, as one of their own family. 

Many of the events that unfolded there were really quite ordinary. A dinner is prepared and shared, as well as good conversation, gestures of love, acceptance, and support for the events of the past and those to come. Then Mary, in a very spontaneous way, did something that was quite unusual, that revealed to all the secrets of her heart. She found a jar of special ointment she had been saving, came and anointed Jesus’ feet, and wiped the excess oil off with her hair. And it is said that the aroma of this oil filled the room, as I’m sure Mary’s devotion for Jesus filled the hearts of all who witnessed this event. Except for one. Judas’s heart was not there. 

He missed the moment as we often do when we fail to see the actions of love because our hearts have been hardened with disappointment, resentment, and bitterness. Judas missed this gesture of faith, love and attentiveness given by Mary. Judas revealed only the coldness of his heart, his indifference to love. 

He failed to understand that it is only through attentiveness and love that we become the spring board for transformation and healing. He failed to understand that what Jesus needed at that moment was to be strengthened by this simple attentiveness in order to fulfill the mission that was unfolding.

Judas’s condition is of course a warning for each to us. I’ve seen marriages that started out with such a spring-time of love turn to coldness and indifference. I’ve seen division among family members where past hurts manifested itself into long term animosities and unforgiveness. I’ve seen many examples in our secular culture where cynicism in respect to matters of faith, and negativity towards God leave lives without the meaning and purpose that God intended. We must guard against this happening to us; and it will not as long as we are attentive to God and allow the power of His love to transform our hearts.

It is particularly important that we not only see our churches as being homes for its members, but as places where others are welcomed; A place where they will be greeted, and accepted, a place where they may experience that sense of being at home. 

Some may argue that our structures, dogmas, rules, or traditions are more important.  But if we look closely at what draws people into community; at what transforms hearts into seeing and accepting Christ; it begins with that act of giving attention; those acts of greeting, welcoming, accepting those whom we encounter. 

Others today would argue that we have a need for some fear and caution. After all, there are a lot of bad things happening in the world from which we must protect ourselves. And maybe, in some ways, this is true. But if we exaggerate these things, or fail to see them through the light of faith and God’s transforming presence, then like Judas, we can blind ourselves to the actions of love that are all around us. It is only in the presence of God, through faith, that we dare to let go, open the doors of our hearts to the fearless acceptance of whatever may come to us. When God is present, we dare to open the doors of our homes, our churches and our hearts to each other. Jesus’ mission, and the mission He assigned to all people of faith is exactly that.

From the first reading, Isaiah speaks of Jesus’ mission, and correspondingly, to the mission He gives to us:

“I, the Lord, have called you to serve the cause of right; I have taken you by the hand and kept you. I have appointed you as covenant of the people and light of the nation, to open the eyes of the blind, to free captives from prison, and those who live in darkness from the dungeon.” 

To open the eyes of the blind, to free captives from prison are not just events to be taken literally. Freedom to see, to be free from darkness comes to each of us as we learn to place our trust in the one who journeyed to Jerusalem so many years ago so that we may experience the New Life promised by His Spirit. This same New Life He commissions us to share with others. 

Ten years after moving out of that old farm house where I was raised, it was gutted by fire, and later demolished. 

But the flames and the demolition did nothing to destroy that place and its sense of being home. Home had little to do with the old farm house with its two sinks and an old wood furnace. Home had to do with the life lived there, the connections established among family, the common care and concern expressed for each other which shaped each of our lives. That home still exists. 

These actions of Mary that day in Bethany are alive to us because they speak of the connections that existed between two people: These actions of devotion, of love, that you can be sure, are in reciprocation for the kindness, love, forgiveness and compassion extended to her by Jesus.  

These are the actions that create church, that make it a home, not only for its members, but all those who come there.

Experiencing God - Living Power of God 25

"We constantly thank God because you accepted God's message, not as some human thinking, but for what it really is - a living power of God among you who believe it." 
Thessalonians

I grew up during the time when television first came out.  Very common during those early years of  television programming were western shows and movies.  Many Saturday afternoons I spend with my brothers and cousins watching Western Theatre.  During these midday matinees on Saturday afternoon, eight or ten of us would be sitting around the living room watching these shows.  And of course, these shows always had the good guys, the heroes, and the bad guys.  As children, it was never difficult for us to pick out good guys.  There was never any question who they were, and we would be all cheering for them, and certainly siding with them and wishing to emulate their qualities as they fought against injustices and rescuing those in distress.  What made them the good guys to us children?  Why were we attracted to them? 

Mainly it was because they were interested in justice, particularly for the little guy:  For the kid who didn't have a home, for the poor struggling rancher who was in danger of losing his property, for the old man or widow who couldn't defend him or herself.  The heroes were there to defend them, protect them.  They were more interested in others then in themselves, while the bad guys were only interested in what they could get for themselves.  Children can pick up on these differences very easily.  As adults, we seem to struggle more with seeing this as clearly.

When Jesus walked about Israel, he noticed the virtuous in places where one would not ordinarily expect to find them.  From these unexpected places, we hear stories like the "Good Samaritan", the "Roman Centurion", the "Samaritan Woman at the Well", the "Woman of questionable reputation who visited Jesus at the home of Simon the Pharisee". 

But Jesus also noticed the "lack of virtues" in places where one would normally expect to find them.  Some of these places were the centers of leadership in churches and synagogues.  The Scribes and the Pharisees were often described in the Gospels as the bad guys.  Were they all like that?  Probably not.  But there was enough that it became noticeable to Jesus.  What was it about the Scribes and the Pharisees that disturbed Jesus so much?

It was in their actions, and in the way they lived.  They were so much more interested in themselves and how they appeared, then in others.  Jesus called them hypocrites which means "actors".  They looked good on the outside, but inside they were empty of the virtues that comes from God; compassion, love, care and concern for others.  This can happen to any of us, even in church, particularly if we become more concerned with maintaining appearances or the status quo rather than serving the people in our communities. 

Children are not drawn to emulate those who only want to maintain appearances, or who are only interested in themselves and what they want.  They see through this very quickly.  But they are drawn to the virtuous, those they see as heroes, fighting against injustices, reaching out to those in need.  St. Paul addresses this in his letter to the Thessalonians:

"We constantly thank God because you accepted God's message, not as some human thinking, but for what it really is - a living power of God among you who believe it." 

Experiencing God - Persistence and Faith 24

"Great is your faith!  Let it be done to you as you wish"
Gospel of Matthew

I've always found the story about Jesus' encounter with the Canaanite woman a very unusual one.  Jesus and his disciples are in the region of Tyre and Sidon, towns outside of Jewish territory.  They are in a place located in current day Lebanon, north of Israel.  What were they doing there, we do not know; but while there, they are noticed by this woman who they refer to as a foreigner, a Canaanite who lived in that area. 

This woman was in a somewhat desperate situation; her daughter was seriously ill, and she was looking for help from whatever source she could find it.  She addressed Jesus as "Son of David", so she must have known about Jesus, even to the point of recognizing Him as He and his apostles wandered by.  Anyway, it was her persistence in following Jesus, and her persistence in begging for help that began to annoy the apostles to the point they asked Jesus to give her what she wanted to get rid of her.

The woman's persistence is a reminder to us of what Jesus had previously said about prayer in the Gospel.  You will recall that Jesus said that if your neighbor would not loan you a loaf of bread in the middle of the night because of being a good friend, then by being persistent with your request, the friend will likely comply just to be able to get some sleep.  It is with this same type of persistence that this Canaanite woman pursued Jesus and His apostles.  And Jesus' compassion comes out in His response to her, although the dialog that went on between them is unusual to us.

Some would say that Jesus responded to her in this fashion to test her faith.  And even though the words to us seem insulting, her response revealed not only the desperateness of her situation, but the greatness of her humility.  Her thoughts and concerns were not on herself, but with her daughter; and she recognized in Jesus someone who could help her daughter; so personal pride was set aside and did not become an obstacle to grace.  I've recently read that humility is not thinking less of yourself, but thinking of yourself less.  I believe it is here that we have the most to benefit from this Gospel reading.

Despite our unworthiness, despite the fact we often miss the mark when it comes to our outward performance, when we approach God with humility, we discover His compassion and love for us.  We discover the compassion of Christ reaching out to us, meeting us in our need.  Jesus' response to us is the same as His response to the Canaanite woman:  "Great is your faith.  Let it be done for you as your wish."  It is in our humility that the barriers between ourselves and God are broken down, and we come in touch with the compassion of Christ which heals our brokenness, creates a new being, and sends us on our way. 

Experiencing God - Natural Law of Growth 23

"Nothing lives but that something dies.  And conversely, nothing dies but that something lives.
George Maloney - Alone With The Alone

In his book, "Alone With The Along", Fr. George Maloney speaks about the basic law of growth that applies to all human development:  "Nothing lives but that something dies."

This natural law of human development is reflected in the book of Exodus of the Old Testament.  The people of Israel are dying of starvation in the desert, and they are beginning to complain to Moses.  God hears their cry, and instructs the people to prepare themselves - how?  By holding themselves in readiness for the happening of a certain event.  God promised to provide meat by way of quails in the evening, and bread by way of manna in the morning.  In the evening, the quails flew in and covered their camp, and the people had plenty of meat to eat.  In the same manner, manna congealed like due on the grass in the early morning hours. 

Nothing lives but that something dies. 

In the Gospel of Matthew, we are familiar with the Parable of Sower.  We have the generous sower scattering seeds everywhere.  Some fell on the edge of the path which the birds ate.  Some fell on rock but died from lack of soil.  Some fell among thorns where they chocked out by the thick growth.  But other seeds fell on rich soil where they sprouted and produced a hundred fold. 

In both stories from the Old and New Testament, God is the generous provider, and the people are the recipients, but only when they are properly prepared to receive the bounty that comes from God.  Even in that respect, nothing new lives unless something dies.

In preparing ourselves to receive God's abundance, we have to let go (or let die) those things that are obstacles to receiving the New Life that comes from God.

In our Catholic Christian faith tradition, this preparation is done through the Sacraments, those encounters with Christ that draw us into a relationship with Him.  Eucharist becomes the manna given to us, as the Israelites in the desert, to give life, to sustain our growth, causing us to grow in Christ's likeness.  Yet even with Eucharist which gives us life comes to us at the cost of death; Jesus' own death on the cross.

The question we can ask ourselves is:  What are we letting go of (letting die) in our lives in order to prepare ourselves for the New Life that comes from God's abundance?  Are there things that we cling too that may be preventing God's abundance from breaking through?  Do we see that dying, in all its different meanings, is not necessarily a loss of something that we have to fight for and preserve at all costs, but are often passageways to a more abundant and fruitful life with God.

There is a basic law of growth that applies to all human development: "Nothing lives but that something dies"  

Experiencing God - Do we understand 22

"Jesus said: It has been given to you to know the secrets of the Kingdom, but to others, it has not been given.  To those who have, more will be given, but from those who have nothing, even what they have will be taken away.  But blessed are your eyes, for they see; and your ears, for they hear."

Chapter 13 of Matthew is full of Jesus' parables.  We find there the parable of the sower, the parable of the weeds among the wheat, and several of the parables that give us insight into the Kingdom of God. 

"The Kingdom of God is like a mustard seed, the smallest of all seeds, but when it is grown, it is the largest of all shrubs, and the birds of the air find comfort in it and nest in its branches."

When Jesus was asked by His disciples why He spoke in parables, He gave them a rather unusual answer:  It has been given to you to know the secrets of the Kingdom, but to others, it has not been given.  To those who have, more will be given, but from those who have nothing, even what they have will be taken away.  But blessed are your eyes, for they see; and your ears, for they hear."

Even the answer Jesus gives is somewhat of a parable.  Do you know the secrets of the Kingdom?  We know, we perceive, and we understand through faith.  Without faith, Jesus' words fall on deaf ears.  Many hear the words, but they do not understand them, or at least, they fail to act on what they hear. 

We live in a world that largely does not listen and understand what Jesus is saying; so they follow other voices.

Lately on the news, we have heard a lot about the web site "backpage.com" that is under investigation in the United States and Canada.  It is a site that advertises in the sex trade, particularly with under age children.  This site makes millions of dollars per month on this type of advertising.  I was listening to a woman who was being interviewed in this morning's news, a twenty-six year old who advertises on this site.  She said that she wishes she had discovered the site years earlier because she can make in excess of $1,000 per week as a result of her advertising.  This, she says is more than sufficient to pay for her education and living costs. 

Do you think that this woman and the people who run this site understand Jesus' parables on the Kingdom of God?  If they continue to be deaf to God's word, then even that which they have now will be taken away from them. 

In another of the parables found in the gospel of Matthew, Jesus is saying:  "The Kingdom of God is like a treasure hidden in a field, which someone finds and hides.  Then in joy, they go and sell all that they have and buy the field. 

Is the Kingdom of God your treasure?  Are you willing to sell off or let go of all the other things, which pale in comparison, in order to possess that treasure? 

Where your treasure is, there also you will find your heart.  If your treasure can only be found in the transient and temporary things of this life, like $1000 per week illegally earned to cover education and living costs, or $1,000,000 a month in illegal advertising fees, then even the little that you have will be lost.  Our true treasure can only be found in God, and the life that God has prepared for us now, and to come.

"Blessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they hear."

Experiencing God - Surrendering 21

"To whom then will you compare me, or who is my equal? says the Holy One.
Isaiah

The act of submitting usually means surrendering power to another, to yield to the control of another.  In our culture, submitting or surrendering is not a popular thing to do.  We want to be in control, particularly in regards to the decisions we make enforcing our individual rights.  We want to exercise power over our lives and not submit to anyone.  Submission or surrender are seen as signs of weakness. 

And yet, in scripture readings, we see submission to God as something favorable, something beneficial. 

"Young men may grow tired and weary, youths may stumble, but those who hope in the Lord renew their strength.  They put on wings like eagles.  They run and do not grow weary, walk and never tire."

"Come to me, all you who labor and are over burdened, and I will give you rest.  Put my yoke upon you, and you will find rest for your souls, for my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."

Jesus proclaims that His yoke of submission is easy, and his burden is light.  So how can we reconcile these apparent contradictions between what we are inclined to do and what we are asked to do. 

The best way to answer this question is to examine our own experience.  In surrendering to God, or submitting to Jesus' yoke, we make a free response to seek the way of love in all of our decisions and actions.  What would Jesus do?  How would God respond to this or that particular situation?  Out of love!  Our response need not be a clinging to power, a clinging to things, a clinging to our often misguided thinking to justify ourselves; but a surrender to a wisdom and a direction that is so much greater than anything we may ourselves possess.

"Who made the stars if not He who drills them like an army, calling each one by name.  The Lord is an everlasting God.  He created the boundaries of the earth.  God does grow tired or weary.  God's understanding is beyond fathoming."

Think of the time when you were struggling with a critical decision with dire consequences, perhaps having to do with a health situation, a financial loss, or a loss of a relationship.  And you didn't know what to do.  So you went to the Lord in prayer and discovered what you must do.  Was it not a response of love?  Did you not experience a sense of peace?  Was not the Lord with you in the decision you had to make?  Was there not a letting go, a self-surrender that led to peace and a oneness with God? 

Surrender is not a sign of weakness.  It is a gift of strength.  It allows us to let go of the internal struggle, to accept what is, and to see the grandeur of God in all things, even things that appear momentarily beyond human understanding.

Experiencing God - Finding a lonely place 20

"When daylight came, Jesus left the house and made His way to a lonely place."
Gospel of Luke

A Jesuit by the name of George Maloney describes Jesus as the freest of all Persons.  In the retreat book of his which I have used many times, Maloney poses a question:  "How do you know you are free?"  True freedom, he would say, is what Jesus possessed.  It consists in freely determining to live your life as your Heavenly Father would wish us to do.  It means in all the choices that we make, we act out of love to please God.  And of course, this freedom only comes as we deeply and personally experience God's love for us through Christ.  Do you experience Christ's love for you in that way?

In the gospel of Luke, we read of a whole list of successes that Jesus experienced in healing those who were ill.  Simon's mother-in-law is healed of a high fever.  And then many sick people begin to arrive at Simon's house suffering from a variety of ailments.  And Jesus cured them.  Despite all this amazing stuff that was going on, I still find the most revealing passage in this Gospel reading is that after all this, when daylight came, Jesus left the house and made His way to a lonely place.  Why would that be?

Because we cannot possibly remain free, in fact we cannot do too much of anything of God's work, unless we take time to pray.  And prayer for Jesus would not be for the purpose of trying to get God's will to conform to His, but to get His will to conform to God's.  True freedom is our determination to live our lives as our Heavenly Father would wish us to.

As we look out at the world, we see much confusion, much suffering, lives turned upside down, people who seem lost, without any moral compass to follow, and most of it is a result of our insistence on doing things our own way, in absence of God's divine plan for us, in absence of even consulting God's loving presence which is all around us.

In the Gospel reading, when the crowds found Jesus, they came with the insistence that He continue on with all the activities of the day before.  Jesus said no, I must go and proclaim the Good news of God's kingdom to others, because that is what I am sent to do.  My will is to do the will of my Father, not chase after empty dreams.

The only way we can change the world, is to change ourselves.  And when we change ourselves through prayer, discernment, and a desire to live in accordance with God's plan for us, then the world will change because we are part of the world.

St. Paul affirms this in his letter to the Colossians - "The Good News which has reached you, he says, is spreading all over the world and producing the same results as it has among you ever since the day when you heard about God's grace and understood what this really is." 

As we recognize Christ's love for us, as we adjust our lives to live in accordance with God's plan, we begin to understand what this is all about.  We become instruments of change for a world in much need of God's grace and light.