Luke 7:11-17 Pressure Cooker

Wednesday of the Twenty-Fourth Week In Ordinary Time

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Jesus said to the crowds:  "To what shall I compare the people of this generation?  They are like children who sit in the marketplace and call to one another. 'We played the flute for you, but you did not dance.  We sang a dirge, but you did not weep.'..."

Never Satisfied.  I hope this isn't a heresy, but it seems like the Lord is getting a bit frustrated with the crowds.  His problem isn't that they can't get enough of Him.  It's that they can't get enough from Him!

Is the Lord getting frustrated with you too?  Are you constantly asking Him to perform for you, but rarely giving Him a break?  

"Lord, get me out of this mess I'm in!"  "Lord, take away this addiction of mine!"  "Help me, Lord, I've crashed and burned and I can't get back up."

While I was in Rome, I saw many motorini (or pocket bike) accidents.  I hate saying this - and if you've never been in Rome, you might not understand this - but these drivers are downright stupid and nasty.  They zip through the city as if they owned the city.  They zoom down narrow cobbled alleyways, swerve around pedestrians and dodge in and out of lanes of traffic as if they owned life and death.  They drive as if they own the roads, own the pedestrian walkways and own someone else's vehicle.  In 2006, Rome was voted the most dangerous city in the world for traffic accidents, with over 21,000 collisions resulting in nearly 28,000 injuries. 
 
One evening I heard the wailing of a mother whose son had been killed while driving a motorini.  The young man's girlfriend was with him and was seriously injured.  The mother kept crying out to God why He would allow such a thing to happen:  "Why?  Why Lord???  Why???  No one dared to give her an answer.  No one, not even the police and the pedestrians who saw the whole thing.

Am I expecting God to give me a blank check for life?   

Pressure to perform.  I truly believe that we constantly under the gun to perform, outperform and outdo ourselves like never before.  What's worse is that our teens are constantly under a lot of pressure to perform academically, emotionally and even sexually.  This is a great tragedy when taking into account teen suicide rates, teen depression rates and teen abortion rates.  Whatever happened to "childhood"?  Welcome to the real Hunger Games!

All young people have it very hard today.  With the advent of social media, just about everyone is on the spotlight to perform!  It no longer matters if you are a no body that wasn't asked to the winter formal or some rich and famous teen.  Everyone must perform and outperform the other!  Look at all the drama that is going on in the music industry.  According to Sir Elton John, Lady Gaga is in a "dangerous place" and Miley Cyrus is like "a candle in the wind."  I'm beginning to like Sir Elton John more and more these days.  He knows what he is talking about, at least when it comes to meltdowns and blowouts.  He knows.  He considers himself just lucky to still be standing.  It's a miracle!

This is the reason why I love Confession! 

The Sacrament of Reconciliation remains one of the few places left in this world where someone can truly be human.  I love it!   You can request it at any time.  You can walk right in and you don't need to make a great impression.  In fact, if you really want to make a great impression then all you need to do is be totally honest.  That's impressive!  I love it!    It's not even necessary that you show your face!  The Church isn't interested in seeing your face.  She's only interested in seeing your heart. 

What I love about Jesus Christ is that He performed according to His standard.  It was His Way or no way.  It was His Truth or no truth at all.  It was His Life or death.  No one was going to stop Him.  No one was going to change Him.  No one was going to pressure Him. 

Everything in due season and when His hour had arrived. 

Let's pray.

Luke 7:11-17 Living Life The First Time Around

Tuesday of the Twenty-Fourth Week In Ordinary Time

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Jesus journeyed to a city called Nain, and his disciples and a large crowd accompanied him.  As he drew near to the gate of the city, a man who had died was being carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow. 

An unexpected encounter.  "Do you remember me?" asked the forty-something single woman to a former classmate.  A bit confused, the mother of four looked up at her and with honest hesitation said, "You look familiar.  Do I know you?"     

"Of course you do.  You beat the crap out of me when we were in middle school."

In disbelief and with her children standing next to her, it only took a few seconds for her mind to travel back to that awful day when she repeatedly struck an awkward and shy girl in the school's parking lot.   "You're...??  I'm so sorry.  I'm so sorry."

She just stood there, frozen, with her children next to her. 

The woman who came up to her slowly walked away, satisfied, thinking to herself how sweet revenge can be. 

But with the passing of the years, her wounds have not healed.  The scares still remain and resentment continues to linger. 

Unfortunately this young lady is not alone, and there are many stories similar to hers.  

Years after being bullied, these adults still have a hard time making friends and getting along with family members.  Drugs and alcohol are a significant part of their lives.  They continue to remain suspicious of others.  Trust is something that is hard to grasp.  Relationships always seem to end abruptly and badly.  They doesn't like to be alone.  They seek constant attention. Their self-esteem remains in the pits. 

But maybe, just maybe, these unexpected encounters were a lost opportunity for healing. 

In yesterday's meditation I reflected on faith, and how our faith in God allows us to get the most out of life.  From today's Gospel passage, this truth is more evident to me than ever before.  Faith in God truly allows us to get the most out of life, especially in life's unexpected encounters.  

A divine encounter.  A widow lost her only son.  She had plenty of reasons to worry; plenty of reasons to be afraid; plenty of reasons to be resentful.  Why is this happening to me?  What did I do wrong?   But these prayers of hers for divine intervention were about to be answered, and in way she never expected. 

Out of  nowhere the Lord appeared on the scene.  At least, this is what it seemed like to those gathered around the coffin of a young man and focused on the wailing of a poor window.  But people and things just don't pop into existence.  They appear for a reason.  From another dimension, one not limited to physical constraints, the Lord had seen this woman.  He knew her thoughts.  He saw her heart and heard her cries.  He told her, "Do not weep."  He stepped forward and touched the coffin and said, "Young man, I tell you arise!"

He sat up and began to speak.

Fear seized them all, except the woman.  She was too busy thanking God and hugging and kissing her son.  She was not about to let this moment slip away.

Faith in God doesn't necessarily mean that the dead will rise before us! Second chances are not what the Lord is all about.  Rather, we must awaken from our daily slumber (coma) of indifference and strive to do the will of God, especially in those unexpected encounters the Lord so graciously provides.  That is how we will get the most out of life, and get it the first time around.   

Pope Francis' Five Finger Approach To Prayer

Here's something to share with your children and grandchildren.  Copy it.   Share it.  Print it.

 

Praying will never be so hard again.

 

 

Luke 7:1-10 They Lived Happily Ever After

Monday of the Twenty-Fourth Week In Ordinary Time

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A centurion there had a slave who was ill and about to die, and he was valuable to him.  When he heard about Jesus, he sent elders of the Jews to him, asking him to come and save the life of his slave.

Faith in God.  As was very common in those days, having a slave meant more than just having a servant; it often meant having a friend, even a son. 

Apparently, this centurion was a close friend of the Jews.  We know that he had a synagogue built for them.  What is unclear is if he himself converted to Judaism.  Regardless, the Jewish community appreciated him and were willing to go to bat for him.

When the centurion heard that Jesus was in town, he sent elders of the Jews to him to ask him to save his slave's life.  What faith!  What humble faith!  Think about it:  a Roman soldier begged a group of Jews to help him.  Actually, he asked the Jewish God to help him.

What is the purpose of faith in God?  Why is it so important?  Based on what I have experienced and seen, the purpose of faith is to live life better; that is, to get the most out of life.  It means to seek the Lord in our life:  in our thoughts, words, decisions and actions.  It means to continually strive to be more like Him.

Let's face it.  The Lord went against the current.  He was countercultural.  He was a rebel.  He loved to shock His opponents and surprise His friends.  He reached out to where no one had reached before.  He spoke to women.  He spoke to prisoners.  He touched lepers and went to the homes of sinners.  He invited tax collectors to follow Him and accepted former prostitutes as disciples.  He loved His enemies and called them his friends.  He told his Apostles to turn the other cheek and forgive seven times seventy times.  He welcomed the conversion of sinners with great fanfare and honored the poor as if they were kings.  He called the first last and the last first. 

Let's face it.  The Lord shocked the hell out of this world.

Now if we truly believe in the Lord: listen to Him, take His advice, imitate Him and constantly allow ourselves to be challenged by Him, then I am convinced that we will get the best out of life. 

Who writes your story?  Who deserves your life?  Who deserves to write it down?  You or the Lord?  If it is the Lord, then be prepared to be constantly surprised and humbled.  Be prepared for a shocking yet happy ending. 

The Roman centurion did not consider himself worthy of the Lord's presence, so he sent in his place a delegation of Jews.  When they returned to him, the Roman was shocked to hear what the Master had told them: "Not even in Israel have I found such faith."  The delegation was surprised to learn that the servant was completely healed.

Every time we sin, we take the pen and plan out of the Lord's hands and write our own story.  This story will most certainly end in fear and in tears.  In loneliness.  But when we allow the Lord to write our story, by following His commands, His example and His life, then we know it will always end in shock and wonder.  Together.

...and they lived happily ever after.

John 3:13-17 Lift High Your Children!

Feast of the Exultation of the Cross

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Jesus said to Nicodemus:  ..."For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him."

We do enough condemning in our lifetime.  Now imagine what we would be like if we could see the private lives of others?  What would happen to us and to them?  What would we think of our closest friends, family members and colleagues?  Would we be shocked and confused or understanding and compassionate?  I dread to think of this.

But for this reason alone, the Lord's words take on extra meaning:  "For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life."

Jesus knows me.  He knows everything about me.  He knows my thoughts day in and day out.  He knows my words, even the one's I say under my breath.  He knows all my actions:  alone and in the company of others.

And still, He can say with all sincerity:  God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him."

How can God have so much patience for us?  Isn't He sick and tired of us by now?  Apparently not.

What has always come easy to God no longer comes easy to us.  That's why we need His grace and virtues like faith, hope and love.  

In a very good way God is full of himself, he doesn't need any faith, hope or (our) love.  Unfortunately, we are full of ourselves too, and that's why we need plenty of faith, hope and (His) love.

Christ wants us to empty ourselves from ourselves, and fill our hearts and minds up with Him.  This constitutes Christ's plan for saving the world.  In other words, by saving the world for ourselves the Lord planned on saving it from ourselves!

Be patient.  The virtues allow us to be much more patient with ourselves and with others. Is there any wonder why our patience runs so thin?  This is nothing knew to God.  He is used to us by now.  Is this not the story of our lives?  In fact, is this not the story of the Chosen People: "With their patience worn out by the journey, the people complained against God and Moses..." (Num. 21:4b)?

If you noticed, the Jews took their frustrations out on the two people who loved them the most:  God and Moses.  Children often take out their frustration on the people who love them the most:  mom and dad.  Can you see some divine comedy in all of this?

So what must we do?  Exactly what He did!  Empty yourself, pick up your cross [son and daughter], and follow Him.  The Lord has allowed all parents to undergo the same treatment He undergoes on a daily basis.   It's only fair, for all fathers and mothers receive their names from God the Father and Mother.  It is a blessing, even if it is in disguise.

Today is the feast of the exultation of the Holy Cross.  May God's grace plus human virtues form a Holy alliance that helps deliver us from all evils. 

Lk 15:1-32 Calling All Sinners And Counting on All Saints

Twenty-Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time

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Tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to listen to Jesus, but the Pharisees and scribes began to complain, saying, "This man welcomes sinners and eats with them."

I find it most interesting how the most religious people of the day, the Pharisees and scribes, were pushing back on the most religious figure ever.  I find it intellectually stimulating how those who followed God most closely were pushing back on, well, the Most High, Jesus Christ?

A few weeks back I wrote a meditation entitled Love and Order (August 26th, 2013).  In it, I answered some questions regarding homosexuals and homosexuality.  Someone (I believe a non-believer), was pushing me and other commentators to say that homosexuality was a sin.  I'm glad to say that no one went for it. 

Homosexuality is a disorder, one of many disorders, and those who suffer from this disorder deserve all our love, attention, understanding and compassion.

This morning I read an article from the Huffington Post.  I think it was a God sent.  It came at the perfect time.  Apparently, a priest in India allegedly called homosexuality a "grave sin" during his homily.  A parishioner, who heard the sermon and is also a member of the LGBT group Queer Azaadi Mumbai (AZM), notified the Archbishop of Bombay, Cardinal Oswald Gracias, who then wrote a moving letter to AZM. 

He wrote:  "Going by the data in the letter, some of what the priest said is alright and some part is inappropriate. The Church does not accept gay marriage because the Bible teaches us that God willed marriage to be between man and woman. On the other hand, to say that those with other sexual orientations are sinners is wrong. I do think we must be sensitive in our homilies [sermons] and how we speak in public and I will so advise our priests."

He went on to say that he would advise all his priests to be more sensitive when talking about gay issues.

The Lord reached out to all types of people:  tax collectors, sinners, lepers, Romans, Syrophoenicians, women and children. Today, the Church reaches out to even more people: atheists, agnostics, abortionists, dictators, communists, democrats and republicans.

A while back, I wrote about a miracle attributed to the prayers and intercession of Blessed John Paul II.  A friend of mine, an atheist, asked me if I believed in miracles attributed to gods other than Jesus Christ, or if I thought these miracles were simply a fraud or a hoax. 

What a great question.  Unfortunately, when Christians are faced with such a question they often feel obliged to answer it by compromising their own beliefs: "Well, we believe in our God and they have their god.  What makes us think our God is any better than theirs?"

But there exists some other possibilities that allow us to acknowledge these miracles without having to compromise our beliefs in the One True God.  Wasn't it Jesus who said:  "Love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for He Himself is kind to ungrateful and evil men. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful"  (Lk 6:35-36).

and again,

"To show that you are the children of your Father who is in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the wicked and on the good, and makes the rain fall upon the upright and the wrongdoers [alike]" (Mt. 5:45).

In other words, our God boasts that He lets his blessings rain on sinners and saints, believers and non-believers, the good and the bad.  He loves us all, even if He doesn't agree with us at all.

This makes perfect sense.  Think about it. Would you help someone who didn't believe in you?  Would you help them if they didn't have any hope in you?  Would you help them if they didn't trust in you?  Of course you would.  I hope you would!

Now if we are willing to be so magnanimous, then why wouldn't God?  After all, weren't we created in His image and likeness? 

It makes perfect sense to me that God would help even those who did not know Him, believe in Him, hope in Him or even trust Him.

The Good News of our faith is that Christ is calling on all sinners to join Him.  The Bad News is that He cannot count on all His Saints.  

The reality of sin means the Lord cannot always count on all His people to change their lives and share His life, His love and His forgiveness with others.

Luke 6:39-42 Confession Time

Friday of the Twenty-Third Week in Ordinary Time

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Jesus told his disciples a parable:  "Can a blind person guide a blind person?  Will not both fall into a pit?  No disciple is superior to the teacher; but when fully trained, every disciple will be like his teacher.  Why do you notice the splinter in your brother's eye, but do not perceive the wooden beam in your own?"

It's not uncommon practice for Catholic parishes to ask priests from nearby parishes to help out with their confessions and Masses.  

Confession time.  A few years back, I was asked to celebrate a weekday Mass at a parish nearby downtown Dallas.  It turns out their priest had a family emergency and he needed someone to fill in for him.  I agreed to help and immediately got into my car.  When I arrived, just in the nick of time, I was struck at how few people were in attendance.  There were only 16 people sitting in the pews.

I couldn't believe it.  I guess I'm spoiled.  I'm used to seeing at least two hundred people at daily Mass.  I kept wondering why so few people were there.  And then I understood.

When the time came for the readings, I saw an elderly man see-saw his way out of his seat, struggle to get up the stairs and, favoring one hip, as he limp his way towards the podium.  His physical appearance was even less flattering.  His clothes were old, his hair was a matted to his head and his pants were jacked up well above his waist.  I thought to myself, "Oh my goodness!  No wonder why so few people come to Mass here.  They need to get someone young, vibrant and elegant up here to read.  That's how it's done.  This is depressing!"   

Unfortunately, this poor creature reminded me of Quasimodo from the Hunchback of Notre Dame.

After Mass, I went straight back to the sacristy to change.  To my surprise I saw this same man waiting outside for me.  He asked if he could have one minute of my time.  I was surprised.  At first I felt convicted.  Out of all the people who wanted to speak to me, why him?  For a minute there, I thought he may have heard my thoughts.  But that was impossible, right?

Well, what came out of his mouth was as sweet and sincere as could be.  He spoke to me of how he suffered and struggled, but how his faith was as strong as steel.  He communicated to me how he wished he could offer up more of his life to the Lord and how he could be more like me, a holy man of God.

I nearly broke down in tears. 

I had to guard my eyes and look away, otherwise this holy man would see what a superficial fraud I'd become.

This was a lesson from God.  It was a good lesson for me to learn.  Unfortunately, it seems to be a lesson that must be repeated often before it is finally understood.

Why do you notice the splinter in your brother's eye, but do not perceive the wooden beam in your own?