Luke 11:5-13 Do Not Bother Me

Luke 11: 5-13 Do Not Bother Me

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This morning at 5:00 am, I read an e-mail from a student who was pondering some things at 3:50 am this morning. One of them was a concern that they had become a bother.

“I feel like it is a little self-centered of me to be always contacting you with little problems and things when really so many people in the world are truly suffering; so many people don’t have any faith or family to help them live life. I am not just saying this for the sake of sounding humble, I really mean it. There are so many people in the world who desperately need to be shown the love of Christ, especially through a priest, and it seems to me that I take away from them when I want advice on little things…”

This wonderful person is not suffering from neglect, but from being loved too much. Yes, we can suffer from being loved too much; and not because of an impure heart, but precisely because of a pure, honest, wholesome heart. Why do you care so much? Why do you even bother with me? Why do you want to help me? Why do you love me? The Lord knows why. Love is paid with love. Love has ransomed us from our eternal heartache. How He loves us so! I am not sure if my humble student read today’s Gospel, but if so, they will see the Lord’s answer to their pondering questions. The Lord will always provide the answers to our most inner thoughts, our deepest longings, or empty heart. Love sets no conditions, except for one.

“Suppose one of you has a friend...” What is the glue that bonds or breaks all friendships, the most intimate of relationships? Trust! It makes or breaks a friendship. Trust is the first fruit of honesty. If I cannot be totally honest with myself, then I will never be totally honest with another. If I cannot love myself, then I will never be able to purely love another. All friendships will be held not by a bond but by loose ends, dangling; hanging over a cliff. Honesty produces trust and creates a unity that bears authentic love.

What must I do? “I tell you, ask and you will receive; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you…If you then, who are wicked, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him?”

Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your people and enkindle in them a fire of your love!

If I have a hard time trusting my family, my friends, my God, then I will always be caught in a catch-22. It takes trust in another to build a trusting relationship. Therefore, I must first trust in the one who never fails me: God. Remember, He is the one who never fails me! If I feel like God has abandoned me, then I am wrong. If I feel like I cannot trust Him, then I am sinning because I am lying. This lie is the gravest of sins because it is the gravest of lies inspired by the prince of lies. How is it possible that the one who lived and died for me is not to be trusted? I will not succumb to his temptation. I cannot. Otherwise my life would fall apart; my world would come to an end, and the universe would be swallowed up by a tiny black hole. In other words, I would become a black hole. Healthy relationships are pure relationships. I must be honest so as not to succumb to the temptations of this world. Honesty will never create a bothersome friendship too hard to carry or too heavy to bear. It will lead to a bond that will never be broken by YOU.

Luke 11:1-4 Teach Me To Pray

Luke 11: 1-4 Teach Me To Pray

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Prayer is a battle. These are the first words written in the fourth part of the Catechism of the Catholic Church under the banner “The Battle of Prayer.” Why is prayer a battle? Because life is a battle. Prayer makes all the difference between life and death, success and failure. The Lord’s prayers were those of a warrior. He chose to fight because he chose to pray. He chose to die because he chose to accept the Will of the Father. Talking about prayer is not the same as praying. Praying is not the same as talking. Prayer is a gift of the Holy Spirit. Prayer is God’s gift to us. Prayer is “a close sharing between friends; it means taking time frequently to be alone with him who we know loves us” (St. Teresa of Jesus). Prayer is the passage way between heaven and earth – God and man.

Lord, teach us to pray. All it takes is a sincere heart. I wish to pray. I need to pray. Only then will I take time to pray. Time is never the problem. We find time to do all sorts of things: rise, shower, eat, drive, chit-chat, gossip, sin, lunch, smoke, TV, etc. The problem with prayer is that it can be boring! But who is boring?

A few years back we took our students to see and hear the Dallas Philharmonic Orchestra. The concert was in celebration of Mozart’s 400^th anniversary. With the saddest face on his little face, a student, sitting next to me, leaned over and whispered in my ear, “this is boring.” I looked at him and told him, “You are boring!” God is not boring. I am boring! Especially when I ask for the same things over and over again, and the Lord has told me, over and over again, “No!” The reason why I think God does not hear my prayer or does not love me is because the Lord does not say, “yes” to me. It is similar to a young lady who, after reflecting on it, realized that the only time she ever hated her mom is when she said “no” to her.

The Apostles asked the Lord, teach us to pray. How does the Lord want me to pray? The answer is similar to the Commandment: With all my mind and with all my heart, the center of all my decisions and the temple of God’s glory. Words will never be sufficient. “Lord, lord…Daddy, daddy, daddy, daddy, daddy…will never soften the Giant’s heart. But a heart open to God’s Will will! Daddy, what can I do for you? The Lord always marveled at the remarkable faith of the Gentiles and sinners. He was scandalized by the lack of faith of his own disciples and race.

What is the greatest moment of my day that brings to me the greatest amount of joy? I should probably say, celebrating the Mass. And it definitely would not be a lie. But, the most consistent joy I receive in my heart is found early in the morning, alone, in silence, in the simplicity of my office, in my daily meditation on the Word of God. How he speaks to me, listens to me, opens my heart to be with him. It is a battle, that’s for sure. But it is also a journey, a trip into Heaven’s rings. There I find my Savior, my Lord and my best friend. He, who strengthens me, chastises me, loves me and forgives me, will never be far from me. In prayer, I see how God can truly be all for all and all for me. He is the one who places the words in my thoughts and upon my lips. He is the one who feeds my soul and lifts my heart to “Go throughout the world, and preach the Good News.” And it all begins like Cinderella. “In my own little corner in my own little room."

Luke 10:38-42 Burdened with Much Serving

Luke 10: 38-42 Burdened With Much Serving

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“Happiness is more than chasing pleasure.” This is the newly discovered finding from an MSNBC article posted March 6^th, 2007. I hope NBC does not consider themselves the first to have discovered this life lesson. The Roman Catholic Church have been preaching and writing about this for over two thousand years! She follows faithfully the instruction she received from her Lord and his Apostles.

“Scientific research” (of course) suggests that it has nothing to do with income or experiences of pleasure. But rather, “(1) having a sense of engagement with others – whether love or friendships or social involvement; (2) influence at work; (3) A sense of meaning in life – living for a larger end.”

It is all true. Degree, career, girlfriend, car, travel, independence and money did not make me feel fulfilled at all to the degree I had expected. I think all who read this blog would be in total agreement. Love is not purchased; neither is happiness since happiness flows from love. The “pursuit of happiness” has nothing to do with reaching our goals in life or buying that thing you were always dreaming about. Happiness is deeper than that. It means living up to your values. It means being consistent in what you think, say and do. “Happiness has more to do with a way of being rather than a way of feeling.” And, not only does it make you happy, it makes you healthier, it makes you live longer!

“The things that people choose to do that are reflective of their values - that is what helps them be healthier, live longer and feel more contented. That is the “wow” of all of this!”

MSNBC’s three discoveries can best be summarized in the following Christian way: Living by giving; Making a difference; and Living for God.

When Christ is in the center of our life, there is no burden to hard to bear. Lord, do you not care that I have been left alone? Have you forgotten me? This is impossible with Christ. The Lord, in all fairness, should have responded, "Have you forgotten me?" What can easily happen is that I am anxious and worried about what is not necessary. What does the Lord expect from me? What does the Lord demand from me? The answer has always been that which was made from God and not man: My heart.

I cannot begin to tell you how many silly articles I have read in parish magazines that continue to portray the changing face of a parish priest. How he must be multi-media savvy, a great administrator, an incredible public speaker, team player, etc. And how he no longer has time to pray, to meditate or even prepare a good homily. In one particular article, the editor wrote that St. John Vianney was not a realistic model for priests today. I was very much tempted to respond, saying, “If priests are not praying, then they will be playing; and if they are playing, then we will all be paying!” Praying is the source of all giving, all loving and all living for God and neighbor.

Martha was a wonderful host. She was a marvelous cook. She was a neat freak and a detail-oriented woman. But she isn’t a saint for any of these reasons. She is a Saint because she did exactly what the Lord had told her (and us) to do. When she realized that she was over-burdened and under a lot of stress, she went to the Lord and the Lord reminded her (as he reminds us) to “Come to me all you who labor and are heavy burdened and I will give you rest.”

Sometimes we wait for something beautiful to happen to us, but Christ taught us not to wait for it but to give it.

Get some rest today and visit the Lord in the Eucharist. Receive him so that you can give him to others.

Luke 10:25-37 And Who Is My Friend

Luke 10: 25-37 And Who Is My Neighbor?

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The question really is: Who is my friend? A friend is someone who helps you when you cannot do it alone. The “it”, is complicated. It is full of meaning. A man beaten and left to die cannot rise, survive, or live alone. His body has been torn apart; his mind is in a state of confusion; his heart is racked with pain. All around him he can only see a hostile world where creatures serve themselves and await, in silence, the other’s death. It is a dog eat dog world where little mercy is shown and little mercy is expected. It is Darwin’s theory of evolution: Only the strong survive. And yet, how can we forget? We are not dogs.

I may forget, but the Lord will never forget. “The Lord will remember his covenant forever” (Ps 111:5). During Isaiah’s difficulties, when all seemed lost and the Lord appeared to have rejected and abandoned the prophet forever. Did he not ask the Lord a simple question? “Will you forget me?” How can I forget the response of the Lord: Forget? Can I forget you? “Can a mother forget her child?” Can the impossible fall upon you? And just to reinforce the message again, the Lord sets the limit on the limitless: “Even if a mother – even if the impossible could occur – I will never forget you! We are not orphans. We are his. We are his children.

A friend is someone who helps you remember when you can’t. “I hate my parents!” is the 2^nd greatest lie that children tell themselves. The first being the most obvious: “My parents hate me!” And if this were not the greatest lie ever told, then it would be the gravest sin ever committed. Before we can have any true friendships, we must have a loving relationship with those who love us the most. Order must be put back into my life. The truth must be said. A lie must always be remembered. The truth is never forgotten.

Who is my friend? A friend is someone who helps me when I cannot love myself. When I cannot see myself for who I am: wounded; when I find it difficult to accept the truth of my own sins. When I lie to myself and afflict my own punishment and judgment. When I become the victim of my own abuse! My friend, my best friend, lifts me up and carries me above my own sickness, delusions and realities so that I can once again see the greatest of realities before me: I am still alive. I can still love and be loved. A friend is someone who helps me love when I cannot love.

Who is the Good Samaritan? I AM. I AM who saves. Jesus. He is the Good Samaritan who is rich and became poor so that I could be poor in the things that nail us to this world and rich in the things that lift us high, above this world. Christ was always poor in matter and rich in non-matter: mercy, compassion, love, forgiveness, self-esteem, self-respect and self-worth. He is rich in all the things that money can never buy because money is of man, and God’s image does not appear on worthless items. His image appears in me. How can I forget? I was created in His image. Who is my friend? A friend is someone who helps me discover who I truly am when I cannot see it for myself.

A friend is someone who brings me home, to the Father’s house, since I cannot do it alone. If I have learned anything over the years, it is this: Christ is more than my Lord and my Savior. He is my best friend.

Luke 17:5-10 Be Not Ashamed

Luke 17: 5-10 Be Not Ashamed

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Is there anything more disgusting than a glass of lukewarm water? Yes, there is: a lukewarm Catholic!

“The rash one has no integrity; but the just one, because of his faith, shall live.” (Hab 2:4) A long time ago, someone once told me that if I do not stand up for something, then I will fall for everything! Our life was not meant to be lived as a doormat. No one in Sacred Scripture lived the life of a doormat. Neither Mary, nor any of the Apostles lived a life in which they allowed themselves to be stepped on, trampled upon and kicked all over. A few days ago I commented that the worst thing that could happen to someone was not that they died, but that they died for the wrong reason! The Holy Father, Benedict XVI, prior to leaving England, gave a speech in front of the Prime Minister, the English Parliament, the Queen of England, the Archbishop of Canterbury and distinguished guests representing the various religions around the world, in the same hall in Westminster Abbey where St. Thomas More was found guilty of high treason. Who would have imagined that the Vicar of Christ, the Pope, the head of the Roman Catholic Church, would speak to so many former enemies in such a place! And receive applause! Of course there were some who wished to arrest the Pope. Some people never change, but times do change because of those who left their mark by standing up and dying for what was right, good and holy. The rash one has no integrity because he is like a house built on sand, when the tough times hit – when the storms fall upon us – the one with no integrity, no foundation, no faith, will fall apart. Christians in the United Kingdom are standing up and stepping back against discrimination because of their faith whether at school or at work, by stating loud and clear that they are “Not Ashamed” to be Christian. It is amazing what an old man, from another country, representing the most hated but largest Christian denomination in the world, can do in just a few days in a country that claims to be highly secular. This is only the beginning of a revolution in England. The organizers of the campaign wish to “express our confidence that Jesus Christ is good news not just for individuals or for the church, but for our nation as a whole. He is the only true hope of our society.”

“If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.” The only one who could honestly say this, is the Son who gave us his Father. His heart is made of flesh and blood. It is life giving, life saving and life sharing. Only a man of God can give what does not belong to another: His life. Beloved: I remind you, to stir into flame the gift that God gave to you. For God did not give us a spirit of cowardice but rather of power and love and self-control. Do not be ashamed but bear your share of hardship for the gospel with the strength that comes from God. A spirit of power, of love and self-control…a flame burning in your hearts! These words are not of a lukewarm spirit but of a spirit filled with the WORD.

Let us awaken, re-kindle, the love that God has for all mankind with power (energy), love (dedication) and self-control (dignity, honor and valor). I recently went to a middle school volleyball game and cheered on the students of my new school. I was pounding on the bleachers to the surprise of the parents, shouting out and encouraging our kids to play tough. A young team player from the opposing team hit the ball twice towards me. The first time it happened, I thought nothing of it. The second time it happened I gave her a blessing. Everyone laughed! At the end of the game, someone came up to me and told me she was Baptist! I made my presence felt. We beat them in two sets. If we can show such enthusiasm in games, we must do the same for Christ. Do not be ashamed!

Luke 10:17-24 Your Name Is Written in Heaven

Luke 10: 17-24 Your Name Is Written in Heaven

“Lord, let your face shine on me.” What does the Lord’s face look like? As incredible as it may sound, the Lord appears like Job: A man tested in fire. Job is remarkable because he knew God and followed him. A man of dignity and honor, he faithfully observed God’s statutes and prayed like no other. And yet he bore infirmity, experienced suffering and was exposed to shame. Through it all, he remained like a child: holding on to the very Father who had betrayed and abandoned him. If we were to place a timeline on Job’s life, we would find the vast majority of his life lived in happiness and blessings. Only a small period of his life was filled with immense grief, suffering and loss. Ninety percent of the Book of Job is dedicated to this man’s pain, even though it only comprises ten percent of his life. The same holds true of the life of Christ. The Lord experienced three days of a brutal death, and yet it is very little in comparison to his entire life. Why do we focus so much on sorrow? Why are we attracted to so much pain? The reason lies deep within our hearts: we are attracted to sin. We are children of sin, and sin has infected our hearts. Of course we love LOVE. But we wait for the moment to be hurt. Yes, we long for the moment to be let down, for the dream to come to an end, for the towers to collapse, for the mask to be peeled off. We long to be the victim. No wonder atheists view Christ and Christians as Sadists and Masochists. In reality and true to themselves, they could not be further from the truth. Christ and Christians are not in love with pain, they are in love with LOVE.

Let us never forget: sin is a lack of love… from me! Those who sin, lack love, will always feel like the victim because sin imprisons the soul, sends me inward and turns on me wherever I go. I will blame others, accuse others, falsify others and judge others. Not unlike Adam and Eve, who turned on each other and on their surroundings, blaming the serpent for their fall. The truth is, the problem lies elsewhere: in my heart. As soon as the other knows me, I run. As soon as the other loves me, I run. As soon as the other figures me out, I escape. As soon as the other holds me down to a higher standard, I fear for my life! St. Paul reminds the Christians at Corinth: “You are not restricted by us, but you are restricted in your own hearts” (2Cor 6:12). I think badly of others because I think badly of myself. Sin turns the heart inwards and it has a name: selfishness. The Lord tells us, “There is no greater love, than to give your [love] to another.” The Love of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit will never fail. The Father did not fail Christ. God will not fail us.

How I long to see your face, my Lord and my God. I am told to rejoice because my name is written in Heaven. How could it not be so? Do I love you? Yes, I do. Do I adore you? Yes, I do. Do I wish to be with you? Yes, Lord, I do. This is a marriage that could only be made in Heaven. My name appears on the certificate. All that awaits heaven is my signature. There is one among the crowd that objects, satan. He protests to this union. This one has not been faithful to you. He has spoken poorly of you. He has neglected his duties towards you. He has not shown love. He has scattered and dissipated his love towards false idols. He is not worthy of you. But the Lord gave praise to the Father, “I have not lost one of those you gave me.” (Jn. 18:9) The problem with Satan is that he does not know the Son, or the Father. He does not know the Father of love. Therefore, he does not know the Son of God.

Lord, help me today to be more like you: a heart that is true, a mind that is pure, a soul that is clear and a will that is of steel.

Luke 10:13-16 Will You Be Exalted?

Luke 10: 13-16 Will You Be Exalted to Heaven?

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Lift me up, Lord, from the land of the dead to the land of the living. This world is such a mirage, filled with masks and mirrors. I no longer desire the things of my youth: attention, importance, flattery or title. I seek authenticity. I seek your face. God forbid that I should live in a manner unbecoming of you. I do not seek any love above your love. You cannot be replaced! No treasure on earth, no pearl lost in the seas, no possession above or below can ever replace you. Why? I know why, because I have tried, and I have failed.

“Guide me, Lord, along the everlasting way.” (Ps 139:24b)Your way is The Way; the only way; the true way to live life; to serve you and man. And your way is so simple! “I must increase; you must decrease.” It is so obvious that the world desires you over me. And yet I fight tooth and nail, jump up and down, to be seen and to be loved. It is you, my Lord and my God, that makes man more than “a little”. And a great man is one who knows how little he is.

Every night I wake up in a cold sweat because I know, my God, that you are a demanding God. You expect the most, the best from me. Why do I sweat? I know why, because the greatest temptation that I face each and every day is to fight evil with evil. To the wounded I say: You hate me, I hate you. If you are mean to me, I will be mean to you. If you don’t love me, then I won’t love you. If you hurt me, then I will hurt you. This is not the way of the Christian. This is not the way we fight. We love more, forgive more and give more than we receive. For this reason we are considered fools! Aliens! But only in the land of the dead.

The Lord answered Job: “Have you ever commanded the morning and shown the dawn its place? Have you entered into the sources of the sea, or walked about in the depths of the abyss? Have the gates of death been shown to you, or have you seen the gates of darkness? Which is the way to the dwelling place of light, and where is the abode of darkness? Tell me since you know so much!” (Jb 38: 12-21) We think we know so much because we have all studied Earth Science. And yet what we seem to forget, is that we study what we did not do. The greatest danger to life on earth is man who turns into an animal, which is the lowest form of evolution on earth. As our minds continue to grow bigger and are hearts grow ever smaller, we will see more wars on earth more death and more destruction. The Holocaust, the Rwandan massacres, the genocides that have plagued the 20^th century were for one reason alone: We refused to listen to our God. What did God say to man? “Love one another.”

The Lord said, “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! Woe to YOU! You, who do not listen; who refuse to believe. You, who refuse to accept the truth: There is a God and I am not Him!

Lord, help me to see Your Way as the best Way, Your Truth as the only Truth, and your Life as the life for me. Allow me to be with you when all hope seems to be lost, when the benefits do not outweigh the risks or when success is not guaranteed. Only then will You be the one who burns brightly in the dark and your loving servants be exalted to heaven. Who will be exalted to heaven? The one who is more like you.