In the tender compassion of our God, the dawn from on high shall break upon us, to shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death, and to guide our feet in the way of peace.
Gospel of Luke
We are all familiar with the story of Job from the Old Testament. Job was a very successful man in every way. But he lost everything; his property, his family including his children, and finally, even his health. Job is a story about a man who had a complaint against God for taking away everything he had of value. He did not see this as fair because he was a just man, undeserving of such losses.
The story concludes when Job is humbled by God's reply to him: "Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell me, if you have understanding. Who determined its measurements -- surely you know? On what were its bases sunk, or who laid its cornerstone when the morning stars sang together, and all heavenly beings shouted for joy?"
The story concludes with Job coming to a new understanding of his relationship with God; humbling but filled with awe and reverence. "I have uttered what I did not understand, things too wonderful for me which I did not know." The story concludes with Job's prosperity being restored.
From the book of Samuel, we find King David in somewhat of a similar but opposite situation. David is sitting on the throne of success. He has defeated his enemies, he lives in riches, surrounded by family and friends and untold wealth; and in his grandeur, he wants to return something to God. "I am living in a house of cedar while the Ark of God dwells in a tent", he says.
As with Job, David has to be reminded that it is not his plans that determine a place for God, but it is God's plans that determine a place for him. And God's plans reach far beyond David's puny moments of success. It reaches far beyond his knowledge and understanding. It is a plan that includes countless future generations of peoples and nations.
In the Gospel of Luke, we hear the beautiful canticle of Zachariah, the father of John the Baptist. "In the tender compassion of our God, the dawn from on high shall break upon us, to shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death, and to guide our feet in the way of peace." We begin to gain some insight into the plan that Nathan the prophet revealed to King David many centuries previous.
Like Job and King David, do we still not live our advents with the view of fitting God into our plans for Him, instead of understanding that advent is really about the fulfillment of God's plan for us?
God appears to us only as we put ourselves in right relationship with Him. Job came to that understanding when he admitted: "I have uttered what I do not understand; things too wonderful which I did not know". King David understood this when he heard God's voice speak to him through the Prophet: "Are you the man to build me a house to dwell in? I took you from the pasture, from following the sheep"?
Do we not understand that God's plan for us this Advent can be found in the sign of a child, a successor of David, one called Emmanuel - God is With Us -- born in a stable because there was no room for Him in the inn. This advent, are we busy fitting God into our plans? Do we still live in a world that does not have time for God's unfolding mystery and plan for us: to shine on those who live in darkness and the shadow of death, to guide our feet in the way of peace?
Wednesday, December 24, 2014
Sunday, December 14, 2014
Experiencing God - 196 Seeing Things As They Really Are
“I am not the light. I am not the Messiah. But I am a witness to testify to the light”
Gospel of Luke
Gospel of Luke
For the last two weeks of advent, we have been hearing a
lot about John the Baptist and his role in announcing the coming of
Christ. The question I asked myself as I
was preparing this homily is: “How can these gospel
accounts about John the Baptist help us in our own understanding of advent?” Perhaps I can begin with a story that I read
a couple of months ago that continues to be a source of reflection for me this
Advent.
There once was a young man who wanted to become a monk in
a near-by monastery. But he had a
problem. This particular monastery
followed a strict spiritual discipline and rigid ascetical practices. And this young man was considered by many in
his community to be a little slow, undisciplined, and at times, a little
clumsy. But he decided to try anyway; so he placed himself under the direction
of the Novice Master at the monastery to begin the required formation. After two months, the Novice Master was
called in by the Abbott of the Monastery to see how the new young recruit was
doing. The Novice Master told the Abbott
that he was not doing well. He was having great difficulty in learning
the rule, and was undisciplined in following the required practices. In fact, he told the Abbott, for the previous
two months, he had assigned him the daily task of cleaning the dirt from the
sandals of the monks as they entered the prayer room, and sweeping the dust
from the floor. As a result, he
recommended that the young man be dismissed.
The Abbott, being
a compassionate man, asked to speak to the new recruit. When he arrived, the two spoke, shared a few
stories. Finally the young man expressed
the difficulty and struggle he was having in formation, but still affirmed his
desire to become a monk. The Abbott gave him some direction. “From now on, when you clean the dirt from
the sandals, and when you sweep the dust from the floor, I want you to say to
yourself: I am removing the obscuration
so as to be the beloved of Christ.”
And what do you mean by obscuration, the young man asked
the Abbott? An obscuration is anything
that prevents you from seeing things are they really are, replied the Abbot.
So the young man agreed to try this new discipline. At first, every now and again, he would forget
what he was supposed to say. And he
would meet with the Abbott for a refresher, but soon he was pretty good at
following this basic instruction, and he carried it our faithfully every day as
he did his task.
Six months later, the Abbott called the young recruit in for
another meeting. He asked him: “Have you
been cleaning the dirt from the sandals?”
Yes, was his quick response? “Have
you been sweeping the dust from the floor?”
Again, yes was his quick response.
“Have you been removing the obscuration so as to be the beloved of
Christ?”
There was a long silence as he pondered this question. Then
suddenly, like a light bulb coming on, a bright smile broke on the young man’s
face as his mind was awakened as to what the Abbott was trying to teach
him. He suddenly realized that the sandals, even with the dirt, were still sandals: That the floor, even with the dust, was still
the floor. And that he, even with all his
limitations, those things he saw as impairing him, his weaknesses, his faults,
his warts; he was still the beloved of God, and loved by Christ.
Soon there-after, the young man was initiated into the
community as a monk. As time would later
show, he became the best and most loved of all the monks. At time, he would chuckle to himself when
others teased him about his slowness, or when he was a bit clumsy. But with the
birth of his special insight, this awakening in his heart, he was able to see, in a new way, all those people who entered
the doors the monastery for the first time.
No matter what their position, no matter what situation in life, no
matter what their difficulty or struggle, he saw them as the beloved of God, as
loved by Christ, and he welcomed them, every one of them, as Christ
himself.
Perhaps the greatest obscuration that people face today
when it comes to advent, and when it comes faith practice, is that we often
fail to see things are they really are.
We fail to see that no matter what our impediments and warts, no matter
what our limitations, no matter what our station in life, no matter what we
have done, we are the beloved of God. We
are loved by Christ. If we can free
ourselves from this obscuration, then like the monk in the story, we will
discover who we are before God; we will discover God’s perfect plan for our
lives, and the gift that is ours to share.
John the Baptist was able to see things as they really were. “I am not the light”, he said. "I am not the messiah. I am here as a witness,
to testify to the light”. What is this
witness to the light? I like what
Archbishop Mancini had to say about this when he presented the building blocks
for the new evangelization. He compared
the witness to Christ to a witness in a court case. He said that a witness is not the judge. A witness is not the arresting officer. A witness is one who gives testimony as to
what he or she has seen, what he or she has heard, and what he or she has
experienced.
During the early
years of my Christian journey, in my mid-twenties, I went through a time of what
I call a critical introspection. I thought that to be a better person, I would
have to root out all the things I didn’t like about myself: my shyness and
introversion, my aloofness, my dark thoughts, my selfish tendencies. All of this introspection did very little
good. In fact, it made me feel worse
about myself, until that moment when my mind and heart was awakened to that
deep realization that I was God’s beloved, that I was loved by Christ. It was not just an intellectual thing, but a
heart-felt experience; a experience that changed the course of my life.
Advent, this beautiful season of our church year, is here
as a reminder that first and foremost, we are being called to give birth to Christ
in our hearts. When we give birth to
Christ in our hearts, then all our feeble attempts at trying to find
fulfillment through our own efforts begin to die away, and through Grace, we
become the person that God intends us to be. We are not the light, but we become witnesses
to the light found in Christ.
Grace means one thing – to be thankful, to be filled with
gratitude, to overflow with the light that is given to us as gift. The other
readings for today speak of this so beautifully. The reading from Isaiah is not just meant for
Isaiah, or for Christ. It is meant for
us: “The
spirit of the Lord is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me. He has sent me to bring the good news to the poor,
to bind up the broken-hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and release
to the prisoners.”
The beautiful “magnificat” found in our responsorial
psalm is not just a prayer for Mary, but is our prayer as well: “My
soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savoir, for He has
looked with favour on the lowliness of His servant.”
And St. Paul’s prayer in his letter to the Thessalonians
is not just for Paul. It is again our
own advent prayer of thanksgiving: “Brothers and sisters, rejoice always, pray
without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God
in Christ Jesus for you.”
Advent is not about turning ourselves into super people.
It is not about perfectly having all our plans in place in order to meet the illusionary expectations of what we feel Christmas is all about. This is only an obscuration. Like the young monk is the story, Advent is
about giving birth to Christ in our hearts, recognizing that we are the beloved
of God, and becoming grateful witnesses to Christ’s indwelling Spirit.
Wednesday, December 3, 2014
Experiencing God - 195 Removing Our Mourning Veil
"On this mountain, the Lord will remove the mourning veil covering all peoples and the shroud en-wrapping all nations. Death will be destroyed forever."
Isaiah
Scripture's most beautiful imagery can be found in our Advent readings from Isaiah. The time of the above reading was around 740 BC. Judah, the southern kingdom of Israel finds itself in a "life and death" struggle against its own people to the North. These beautiful scripture readings of Isaiah were written during difficult moments when brother was fighting brother on the battle field.
Isaiah is an artist with words. He paints a tapestry that touches the hearts of a troubled people. It's a tapestry that touches our heart even today in the midst of our own struggle.
I remember, not too long ago, when I was a part of a "Celebrating the Word" group. Twelve of us gathered to share the Sunday scripture readings.
The producer of the "Celebrating the Word" program always asked soul searching questions. One I remembered was: "What is heaven like for you, or how would you describe heaven?" We would then go around the room and each person would identify something from their own hearts as to what heaven was like for them. And each person would offer something unique that added to the picture that would eventually emerge.
We need images such as this because they restore our hope and bring us in touch with a reality that is often in conflict with our day to day experience and struggle. They express something much deeper, at the level of the heart, that take us beyond the surface of our own existence.
Jesus in the Gospels is doing much the same thing, but He is doing it differently. He creates a tapestry for us through the actions of His life.
We read in the Gospel of Matthew: "Jesus sat on the shore of the Sea of Galilee, and crowds came bringing the lame, the blind, those without speech, and many others. These they put down at His feet and He cures them."
Through these biblical accounts, we see the tapestry of Jesus' actions beautifully laid out before us, not only offering us hope, but challenging us to live differently in order to see and build up God's Kingdom.
This painting of God's tapestry with words and actions is not unfamiliar to us in our Christian faith. In fact, our Archbishop has done this in his recent Pastoral letter called "Lord, Where Are You Going". In conclusion, I have quoted a paragraph from this letter as it relates to mission and community.
Mission
The mission to which we are presently being called is to effectively do, in our times and in our world, what Christ came to accomplish. Christ's mission is to proclaim a vision of life and a hope for humanity, revealed in a culture of personal encounter, and experienced in relationships of self-sacrificing love. This is presently counter-cultural. The challenge is to take seriously the proclamation of an alternative way of being and living, which can touch the heart of humanity, and do it consciously and deliberately through commitment and action.
Jesus spoke about the "Kingdom of God" using terms that were relevant and understandable in him time. Now, we need to present the same concept in our own language and context, by speaking in terms of achieving a better world. We need to speak of a world where the truth and reality of God is not an idea, a philosophy or a political agenda, but where the truth of our Trinitarian God is founded on the personal experience of being loved; where love is a choice, a decision and a deliberate action, not just a feeling or wishful thinking.
Community
To speak of rebuilding our Church is not to speak about repairing, reconstructing, or even maintaining what we had; nor is it about repeating what we have always done. That Church has largely disappeared. If we are going to interact with the present world, we need to be there. We need to develop the skills, the discernment and the mentality that lead us to see, recognize and acknowledge God present in all circumstances. This is the formation of heart and mind needed to bring about engaged communities of Christian faith.
A community is not something perfect or only for the elite who qualify. Think of your families and friends: They all have communities to which they belong because they are welcomed and accepted. If your sons and daughters are not perfect, you don't reject them; you don't stop loving them. If there are points of disagreement, you learn to cope with them. With such attitudes and qualities, dynamic Christian communities can and must become centres of welcome, providing opportunities for conversations and invitations for accompaniment on the spiritual journey, where people and their needs are respected and discernment is encouraged with time and patience.
Isaiah
Scripture's most beautiful imagery can be found in our Advent readings from Isaiah. The time of the above reading was around 740 BC. Judah, the southern kingdom of Israel finds itself in a "life and death" struggle against its own people to the North. These beautiful scripture readings of Isaiah were written during difficult moments when brother was fighting brother on the battle field.
Isaiah is an artist with words. He paints a tapestry that touches the hearts of a troubled people. It's a tapestry that touches our heart even today in the midst of our own struggle.
I remember, not too long ago, when I was a part of a "Celebrating the Word" group. Twelve of us gathered to share the Sunday scripture readings.
The producer of the "Celebrating the Word" program always asked soul searching questions. One I remembered was: "What is heaven like for you, or how would you describe heaven?" We would then go around the room and each person would identify something from their own hearts as to what heaven was like for them. And each person would offer something unique that added to the picture that would eventually emerge.
We need images such as this because they restore our hope and bring us in touch with a reality that is often in conflict with our day to day experience and struggle. They express something much deeper, at the level of the heart, that take us beyond the surface of our own existence.
Jesus in the Gospels is doing much the same thing, but He is doing it differently. He creates a tapestry for us through the actions of His life.
We read in the Gospel of Matthew: "Jesus sat on the shore of the Sea of Galilee, and crowds came bringing the lame, the blind, those without speech, and many others. These they put down at His feet and He cures them."
Through these biblical accounts, we see the tapestry of Jesus' actions beautifully laid out before us, not only offering us hope, but challenging us to live differently in order to see and build up God's Kingdom.
This painting of God's tapestry with words and actions is not unfamiliar to us in our Christian faith. In fact, our Archbishop has done this in his recent Pastoral letter called "Lord, Where Are You Going". In conclusion, I have quoted a paragraph from this letter as it relates to mission and community.
Mission
The mission to which we are presently being called is to effectively do, in our times and in our world, what Christ came to accomplish. Christ's mission is to proclaim a vision of life and a hope for humanity, revealed in a culture of personal encounter, and experienced in relationships of self-sacrificing love. This is presently counter-cultural. The challenge is to take seriously the proclamation of an alternative way of being and living, which can touch the heart of humanity, and do it consciously and deliberately through commitment and action.
Jesus spoke about the "Kingdom of God" using terms that were relevant and understandable in him time. Now, we need to present the same concept in our own language and context, by speaking in terms of achieving a better world. We need to speak of a world where the truth and reality of God is not an idea, a philosophy or a political agenda, but where the truth of our Trinitarian God is founded on the personal experience of being loved; where love is a choice, a decision and a deliberate action, not just a feeling or wishful thinking.
Community
To speak of rebuilding our Church is not to speak about repairing, reconstructing, or even maintaining what we had; nor is it about repeating what we have always done. That Church has largely disappeared. If we are going to interact with the present world, we need to be there. We need to develop the skills, the discernment and the mentality that lead us to see, recognize and acknowledge God present in all circumstances. This is the formation of heart and mind needed to bring about engaged communities of Christian faith.
A community is not something perfect or only for the elite who qualify. Think of your families and friends: They all have communities to which they belong because they are welcomed and accepted. If your sons and daughters are not perfect, you don't reject them; you don't stop loving them. If there are points of disagreement, you learn to cope with them. With such attitudes and qualities, dynamic Christian communities can and must become centres of welcome, providing opportunities for conversations and invitations for accompaniment on the spiritual journey, where people and their needs are respected and discernment is encouraged with time and patience.
Thursday, November 20, 2014
Experiencing God - 194 Shutting Out God's Love
"Lord, here is your talent. I wrapped it up in a piece of cloth, for I was afraid of you, because you are a harsh man. You take what you did not deposit, and reap what you did not sow."
Gospel of Luke
When I was in Diaconate Formation, my children were quite young; nine, ten and eleven. This process included interviews with all family members to see how things were going. During one of the family interviews, I remember explaining about all the things I was involved in; at work, courses I was taking, ministry at the church etc. After I had finished, I recall my oldest son quickly coming in and saying: "My dad is quite busy, but we don't see him as much any more." This was certainly a wake-up call.
Both the Gospel of Matthew and the Gospel of Luke contain the parable of the "talents". In Matthew, only three servants were given talents of different amounts. In Luke's Gospel, ten servants were given one talent each with which to do business. But the message of the two Gospels are the same. The negligent servant in both Gospels is quoted as saving: "Lord, here is your talent. I wrapped it up in a piece of cloth, for I was afraid of you, because you are a harsh man. You take what you did not deposit, and reap what you did not sow."
The reaction of many people when they hear this parable is guilt. Why guilt? Because it generates the question - Am I doing enough? We picture in our minds that to pass the test we have to be the one who is most busy, who is at the centre of every activity. But this Gospel parable is not about busyness. Neither is it about the multiplication of our money. It's about trust and faith.
Do you have trust and faith that God loves you unconditionally? Is that trust and faith integrated into your life to the point that it affects and influences your relationships with others?
If you look at Jesus' own life, you discover that He was not about busyness or being at the centre of every activity. Jesus came from an obscure Nazareth village. He did a bit of carpentry work in His early years but left that for other pursuits. He had no university degrees. He did not seek or attain fame or fortune. He wrote no books. He belonged to no committees or organizations that I know about. He depended largely on others for His personal needs which were minimal. And yet, more than any other person, He touched the lives of others. He was present to them in a way that changed their lives. He had complete faith and trust in a relationship with One He called "Father", and this relationship moved Him into every action that He performed.
The difficulty with the servant who took his talent and hid it in a piece of cloth was that he did not have faith and trust in God's unconditional love for him. His life did not reflect the awesome presence of God's abundance and goodness because his heart was closed and fearful. The little he had of the very thing he needed the most was lost to him because he chose to remain closed from God's creative presence.
The question that arises from all this is not: "Am I doing enough?". The question that should arise is: "Are there ways in which I am shutting out God's love that prevents me from seeing His goodness and abundance?" What do I need to change so that this goodness is reflected in my life and shared with the people I encounter; my spouse, my children, my friends and neighbors, those with whom I share faith, the stranger I meet in my daily journey? These are the moments that give witness to God's Kingdom. These are the moments that Jesus was able to live so well.
Gospel of Luke
When I was in Diaconate Formation, my children were quite young; nine, ten and eleven. This process included interviews with all family members to see how things were going. During one of the family interviews, I remember explaining about all the things I was involved in; at work, courses I was taking, ministry at the church etc. After I had finished, I recall my oldest son quickly coming in and saying: "My dad is quite busy, but we don't see him as much any more." This was certainly a wake-up call.
Both the Gospel of Matthew and the Gospel of Luke contain the parable of the "talents". In Matthew, only three servants were given talents of different amounts. In Luke's Gospel, ten servants were given one talent each with which to do business. But the message of the two Gospels are the same. The negligent servant in both Gospels is quoted as saving: "Lord, here is your talent. I wrapped it up in a piece of cloth, for I was afraid of you, because you are a harsh man. You take what you did not deposit, and reap what you did not sow."
The reaction of many people when they hear this parable is guilt. Why guilt? Because it generates the question - Am I doing enough? We picture in our minds that to pass the test we have to be the one who is most busy, who is at the centre of every activity. But this Gospel parable is not about busyness. Neither is it about the multiplication of our money. It's about trust and faith.
Do you have trust and faith that God loves you unconditionally? Is that trust and faith integrated into your life to the point that it affects and influences your relationships with others?
If you look at Jesus' own life, you discover that He was not about busyness or being at the centre of every activity. Jesus came from an obscure Nazareth village. He did a bit of carpentry work in His early years but left that for other pursuits. He had no university degrees. He did not seek or attain fame or fortune. He wrote no books. He belonged to no committees or organizations that I know about. He depended largely on others for His personal needs which were minimal. And yet, more than any other person, He touched the lives of others. He was present to them in a way that changed their lives. He had complete faith and trust in a relationship with One He called "Father", and this relationship moved Him into every action that He performed.
The difficulty with the servant who took his talent and hid it in a piece of cloth was that he did not have faith and trust in God's unconditional love for him. His life did not reflect the awesome presence of God's abundance and goodness because his heart was closed and fearful. The little he had of the very thing he needed the most was lost to him because he chose to remain closed from God's creative presence.
The question that arises from all this is not: "Am I doing enough?". The question that should arise is: "Are there ways in which I am shutting out God's love that prevents me from seeing His goodness and abundance?" What do I need to change so that this goodness is reflected in my life and shared with the people I encounter; my spouse, my children, my friends and neighbors, those with whom I share faith, the stranger I meet in my daily journey? These are the moments that give witness to God's Kingdom. These are the moments that Jesus was able to live so well.
Wednesday, November 12, 2014
Experiencing God - 193 Amazement and Gratitude
"Now as they were going away, the ten were cleansed. Finding himself cured, one turned back praising God at the top of his voice, and threw himself at the feet of Jesus and thanked Him."
Gospel of Luke
In the above Gospel, Luke gives an account of the cure of the ten lepers, of whom only one thanked Jesus. This Gospel is much more than a story about ten people who were healed of their physical ailment. It's about the disposition of the heart of those who were cured.
Back in my late twenties when I had my own deep encounter with Christ, there were two things that I remember most about the experience. The first was the sense of amazement that such a think would happen to me in the first place. It was quite unexpected, and it therefore struck me with a sense of awe. The second thing I remember and it continues to be with me today is the sense of gratitude to Christ that it would happen at all. It is this immense gratitude that moves us into a new relationship with Christ. It is this immense gratitude that causes a shift in our priorities. Our focus and attention is no longer on ourselves but has shifted to Christ.
If you look at stories of miracles and conversion in the New Testament, you will find that these qualities of amazement and gratitude are common. The man who was healed of his physical handicap at the temple gate by Peter and John went away with them walking, jumping and praising God. The man that Jesus healed at the pool of water called Bathsadia immediately rose up, took his mat, rolled it up, and went on his way in amazement, praising God. The two disciples on the road to Emmaus were amazed when they finally recognized the person who was travelling with them on the road. In their excitement, they returned all the way back to Jerusalem to tell their companions.
This amazement and gratitude is what makes us effective witnesses to Christ. It reveals our true change of heart. Gratitude or gratefulness expresses a thankful disposition, is related to the receiving of grace, and causes us to respond in acts of thanksgiving.
Recently, many of us attended a workshop where our Archbishop presented his new pastoral plan for the next five years. His plan focuses on three main initiatives - mission, community and formation. As we begin to explore these three initiatives, we will be asked to do some discernment surveys in which we will be asked to reflect on a serious of questions. For example, the first question we will be asked on the mission initiative is: "Am I comfortable in speaking about my relationship with Christ?
The point I would like to make is that when we have that personal encounter with Christ that leaves us with that sense of amazement and gratitude, then we become effective witnesses of that encounter to others. The gospel above about the healing of the lepers gives expression to that change of heart.
Ten lepers were healed of their physical ailments, but only one returned in amazement and gratitude praising God. Only one returned with a changed heart and a changed life. To this one, Jesus says: "Go your way, your faith has saved you." What happened to the other nine? We do not know, but this one, a Samaritan, experienced a true conversion of heart.
From the letter of Titus, we read: "But when the goodness and loving kindness of God appeared, God saved us, not because of any works of righteousness that we had done, but according to His mercy.
It is through amazement and gratitude, the actions of Grace, that we are able to freely and easily give witness to Christ.
Gospel of Luke
In the above Gospel, Luke gives an account of the cure of the ten lepers, of whom only one thanked Jesus. This Gospel is much more than a story about ten people who were healed of their physical ailment. It's about the disposition of the heart of those who were cured.
Back in my late twenties when I had my own deep encounter with Christ, there were two things that I remember most about the experience. The first was the sense of amazement that such a think would happen to me in the first place. It was quite unexpected, and it therefore struck me with a sense of awe. The second thing I remember and it continues to be with me today is the sense of gratitude to Christ that it would happen at all. It is this immense gratitude that moves us into a new relationship with Christ. It is this immense gratitude that causes a shift in our priorities. Our focus and attention is no longer on ourselves but has shifted to Christ.
If you look at stories of miracles and conversion in the New Testament, you will find that these qualities of amazement and gratitude are common. The man who was healed of his physical handicap at the temple gate by Peter and John went away with them walking, jumping and praising God. The man that Jesus healed at the pool of water called Bathsadia immediately rose up, took his mat, rolled it up, and went on his way in amazement, praising God. The two disciples on the road to Emmaus were amazed when they finally recognized the person who was travelling with them on the road. In their excitement, they returned all the way back to Jerusalem to tell their companions.
This amazement and gratitude is what makes us effective witnesses to Christ. It reveals our true change of heart. Gratitude or gratefulness expresses a thankful disposition, is related to the receiving of grace, and causes us to respond in acts of thanksgiving.
Recently, many of us attended a workshop where our Archbishop presented his new pastoral plan for the next five years. His plan focuses on three main initiatives - mission, community and formation. As we begin to explore these three initiatives, we will be asked to do some discernment surveys in which we will be asked to reflect on a serious of questions. For example, the first question we will be asked on the mission initiative is: "Am I comfortable in speaking about my relationship with Christ?
The point I would like to make is that when we have that personal encounter with Christ that leaves us with that sense of amazement and gratitude, then we become effective witnesses of that encounter to others. The gospel above about the healing of the lepers gives expression to that change of heart.
Ten lepers were healed of their physical ailments, but only one returned in amazement and gratitude praising God. Only one returned with a changed heart and a changed life. To this one, Jesus says: "Go your way, your faith has saved you." What happened to the other nine? We do not know, but this one, a Samaritan, experienced a true conversion of heart.
From the letter of Titus, we read: "But when the goodness and loving kindness of God appeared, God saved us, not because of any works of righteousness that we had done, but according to His mercy.
It is through amazement and gratitude, the actions of Grace, that we are able to freely and easily give witness to Christ.
Thursday, October 23, 2014
Experiencing God - Flying On Two Wings 192
I've recently read a little story that has stuck in my mind. It's about a butterfly. A butterfly has two wings. In order to fly, it needs both wings. Without both, it will go no where.
The author of this story compares these two wings of a butterfly with the two wings that we need in our relationships with one another in order that these relationships will grow and flourish. And these two wings that we need in our relationships are "wisdom" and "love".
"Love" without "wisdom" -that is without commitment, fidelity, responsibility - is not love at all.
There are many examples of this type of love in our culture which has brought great suffering to relationships.
"Wisdom" without "love" - that is without caring, compassion, understanding - is not wisdom at all.
We need both for either to work. For "wisdom" to be "wisdom" and "love" to be "love", they must work together like the two wings of a butterfly.
In the Gospel Of Luke, we have Jesus singling out the religious teachers and lawyers with some rather strong words of rebuke. Jesus was angry with the religious leaders because they failed to listen to God's ways, and were misleading the people they were suppose to be guiding.
What is happening here? How can we learn from it?
The religious leaders were conveying what they considered to be great spiritual wisdom, but correspondingly, missed the mark. One example Jesus points out was in tithing, the offering of one's labor, their first fruits, as an expression of thanksgiving and honor for God's loving care. The Scribes however went to extreme lengths to tithe on insignificant things, such as tiny plants, with great mathematical accuracy. They were very attentive to minute matters of little importance, but they neglected to care for the needy and the weak. In becoming self-justified by following their minute rules and laws, they became filled with pride and contempt for those who were unable or unwilling to do so.
The exercise of their practice of wisdom and scriptural knowledge was not done with caring, compassion, concern or understanding of others, and as a result, they were leading others to a Pharisaism rather than to the love of God and neighbor.
The essence of God's commands is love - love of God, love of neighbor, and everything that flows from love. St. Paul went at great length when speaking to the Galatians to speak about the fruits of the Spirit. Love, joy, peace, patience, goodness, kindness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. But in order for these fruits to be manifested in our relationships and community, our love must be, as St. Paul says, directed by the Spirit. This means directed by Wisdom. We cannot belong to Christ unless we begin the process of crucifying all self-indulgent passions and desires.
It's a sensitive balance, one that is difficult to maintain, and we often fall off, but with the presence of God's Spirit, we can be guided towards the wholeness and fullness that comes from using both wisdom and love together.
The author of this story compares these two wings of a butterfly with the two wings that we need in our relationships with one another in order that these relationships will grow and flourish. And these two wings that we need in our relationships are "wisdom" and "love".
"Love" without "wisdom" -that is without commitment, fidelity, responsibility - is not love at all.
There are many examples of this type of love in our culture which has brought great suffering to relationships.
"Wisdom" without "love" - that is without caring, compassion, understanding - is not wisdom at all.
We need both for either to work. For "wisdom" to be "wisdom" and "love" to be "love", they must work together like the two wings of a butterfly.
In the Gospel Of Luke, we have Jesus singling out the religious teachers and lawyers with some rather strong words of rebuke. Jesus was angry with the religious leaders because they failed to listen to God's ways, and were misleading the people they were suppose to be guiding.
What is happening here? How can we learn from it?
The religious leaders were conveying what they considered to be great spiritual wisdom, but correspondingly, missed the mark. One example Jesus points out was in tithing, the offering of one's labor, their first fruits, as an expression of thanksgiving and honor for God's loving care. The Scribes however went to extreme lengths to tithe on insignificant things, such as tiny plants, with great mathematical accuracy. They were very attentive to minute matters of little importance, but they neglected to care for the needy and the weak. In becoming self-justified by following their minute rules and laws, they became filled with pride and contempt for those who were unable or unwilling to do so.
The exercise of their practice of wisdom and scriptural knowledge was not done with caring, compassion, concern or understanding of others, and as a result, they were leading others to a Pharisaism rather than to the love of God and neighbor.
The essence of God's commands is love - love of God, love of neighbor, and everything that flows from love. St. Paul went at great length when speaking to the Galatians to speak about the fruits of the Spirit. Love, joy, peace, patience, goodness, kindness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. But in order for these fruits to be manifested in our relationships and community, our love must be, as St. Paul says, directed by the Spirit. This means directed by Wisdom. We cannot belong to Christ unless we begin the process of crucifying all self-indulgent passions and desires.
It's a sensitive balance, one that is difficult to maintain, and we often fall off, but with the presence of God's Spirit, we can be guided towards the wholeness and fullness that comes from using both wisdom and love together.
Experiencing God - What Has God Entrusted to You 191
"From everyone to whom much has been given, much will be required, and from the one to whom much has be entrusted, even more will be demanded."
Gospel of Luke
Entrusted, in this sense means: "to be given responsibility for". A lawyer is often entrusted with funds from his clients. That's why they are called trust funds. The lawyer is then responsible for the proper distribution of those funds to the beneficiaries. If he or she fails to do that, they are in breach of trust.
The concept of "being entrusted" comes out very strongly in Paul's letter to the Ephesians. St. Paul says: "For surely you have already heard of the commission of God's grace that was given me for you." In the Jerusalem Bible, it is translated even more clearly. "You have probably heard how I have been entrusted by God with the grace that God meant for you." He has been entrusted with something that must be shared, and of course, he takes this very seriously. If he did not follow through, he would be in breach of trust.
In the Gospel of Luke, chapter 12, Jesus is telling little stories to illustrate this point. Each of us as Christians, as people who live with others in community or society have been entrusted with something that is very special, that must be shared. It could be this, or it could be that, depending on the individual, but it all relates to our faith in God. Jesus says: "Happy the servant whom His master will find at work with this task when He arrives. Truly, I tell you, this person will be put in charge of all of His possessions." And of course we hear also the other side of the story. What if we are not about the task that has been entrusted to us?
The question that I ask myself, and I throw it out to you: "If Jesus were to call on us today, would He find us at work with the task entrusted to us, or would He find us squabbling over boundaries, rules, who's right or who wrong, and many other things that serve only to distract us and divide us?
To be entrusted, as I said at the beginning, is to be given responsibility for. It has to do with missioning. St. Paul says in Ephesians: "I have been entrusted by God with a grace that is meant for you." The "you" in this case are the gentiles - those without grace - at least at the moment - the intended beneficiaries of those chosen by God.
What is the mission in our communities in respect to all that has been entrusted to us?
Gospel of Luke
Entrusted, in this sense means: "to be given responsibility for". A lawyer is often entrusted with funds from his clients. That's why they are called trust funds. The lawyer is then responsible for the proper distribution of those funds to the beneficiaries. If he or she fails to do that, they are in breach of trust.
The concept of "being entrusted" comes out very strongly in Paul's letter to the Ephesians. St. Paul says: "For surely you have already heard of the commission of God's grace that was given me for you." In the Jerusalem Bible, it is translated even more clearly. "You have probably heard how I have been entrusted by God with the grace that God meant for you." He has been entrusted with something that must be shared, and of course, he takes this very seriously. If he did not follow through, he would be in breach of trust.
In the Gospel of Luke, chapter 12, Jesus is telling little stories to illustrate this point. Each of us as Christians, as people who live with others in community or society have been entrusted with something that is very special, that must be shared. It could be this, or it could be that, depending on the individual, but it all relates to our faith in God. Jesus says: "Happy the servant whom His master will find at work with this task when He arrives. Truly, I tell you, this person will be put in charge of all of His possessions." And of course we hear also the other side of the story. What if we are not about the task that has been entrusted to us?
The question that I ask myself, and I throw it out to you: "If Jesus were to call on us today, would He find us at work with the task entrusted to us, or would He find us squabbling over boundaries, rules, who's right or who wrong, and many other things that serve only to distract us and divide us?
To be entrusted, as I said at the beginning, is to be given responsibility for. It has to do with missioning. St. Paul says in Ephesians: "I have been entrusted by God with a grace that is meant for you." The "you" in this case are the gentiles - those without grace - at least at the moment - the intended beneficiaries of those chosen by God.
What is the mission in our communities in respect to all that has been entrusted to us?
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