Luke 5:33-39 What To Do To...?

Luke 5:33-39 What To Do To...?

(Click here for readings)

The scribes and the Pharisees watched [Jesus] closely to see if he would cure on the Sabbath so that they might discover a reason to accuse him…they discussed together what they might do to Jesus.

If you spend some time with someone, you are bound to get to know them.  Once you get to know them, you are bound to get upset with them.  From a distance, they can do no wrong.  Up close and personal, all they seem to do is wrong. 

This is the paradox of friendship.  In order to make a friend, you have to get to know them.  Once you get to know them, you know everything about them.  Once you know everything about them, you can easily get annoyed by them.  That’s why very few brothers or sisters are very good friends.  It’s not because we didn’t get to pick them.  It’s because we got to know them! 

To be a friend means to love a friend.  To love a friend means to forgive a friend.  A friend is not someone you find.  It is someone you forgive.   

This morning I told a group of high school senior girls that the best way to prepare for College life is to invite their little sister back into their room.  What better way is there to prepare for dorm life; for a roommate you didn’t pick!  What a great way to prepare for someone who will snoop into your affairs; complain night and day; and have little to no respect for your property, feelings or ideas.

Friends do not make us better prepared for college life (or life).  Family does! 

The scribes and Pharisees were watching the Lord closely to see if they could accuse him of something, anything.  Boy, that must have taken a lot of work!  It couldn’t have been an easy task.  And there lies the irony of it all:  the scribes and Pharisees were working hard, harder than the Lord, on the Sabbath!

But they couldn’t find anything.  So what to do? 

Rather than looking to be better or holier, the scribes and Pharisees looked for something – anything - to accuse the Lord of.  And the Lord knew it.  That’s why He went along his way and spent very little time with them.  Sure, He talked to them and dealt with them, but He gave very little of Himself to them, and this irritated the hell in them!  While the Lord continued to cure the sick and heal the sinners, the scribes and Pharisees continued to attack Jesus: viciously and aggressively.  They called him names.  They twisted his actions.  They distorted his messages.  In the meantime, the Lord continued doing what He did best.

What do you do when someone does you wrong?  Do you leave them alone?  Do you try to help them?  Or do you strike back in a vicious manner?  We all know what the Lord did.

What do you do when someone doesn’t fall into your trap?  Do you leave them alone?  Do you learn your lesson?  Or do you strike back in a vicious manner?  We all know what the Pharisees and scribes did.

Does name calling or throwing mud at someone’s name or reputation make you a better person?  Does calling someone a bigot, a racist, an extremist or a chauvinist make you feel any better?  Would it have made the Lord any better?  Did it make the Pharisees any better?

There are some people in this world that, regardless of how much you try to help them, will end up attacking you.  Christ knows!  The perfect man experienced it himself.   Would you expect anything different; especially you being imperfect?

Honest people make mistakes and give us a great opportunity to rise above the mud and forgive… just as we hope to be forgiven.    

To forgive someone does not require a lot of time.  Don’t expect too much time to be given.

John 6:24-35 Believing and Agreeing

John 6:24-35  Believing and Agreeing

(Click here for readings)

When the crowd found Jesus across the sea they said to him, “Rabbi, when did you get here?”  Jesus answered them and said, “Amen, amen, I say to you, you are looking for me not because you saw signs but because you ate the loaves and were filled.” 

Many of us tend to listen to those who agree with us or believe those who agree with us, and we are satisfied with this because we can survive with this.  But it would be worth our effort to learn how to agree with those who listen to us, or agree with those who believe in us. 

The Lord believes in us much more than we believe in him.  Why?  Because it is much more to the Lord that He believes in us than that He agrees with us.      

The Lord loves people.  And love does not flow from agreement; it precedes it.  Love does not look for compromise; it looks out for another’s good.  Christ did not compromise with others.  Rather, He called for their conversion.  He did not call sinners to follow Him.  He called sinners to imitate Him.  He invited twelve sinners to become Twelve Saints.  The Lord invites us to turn from our former way of life and “be renewed in the spirit and put on the new self, created in God’s way in righteousness and holiness of truth” (Eph 4:24).  Christ did not give up on the sinner and call it a draw.  He drew the sinner towards him and called it love.  

For this reason the Lord loved the sinner; for this reason the Lord died for the sinner:  so that they could believe in Him before they agreed with Him. 

“One does not live on bread alone.”    We need food.  Let’s not fool ourselves.  But we need food just as much as we need love.  The Lord was not naïve.  We need our bread, we need sustenance.  And we should never forget that man needs to eat in order to survive.  But what we tend to forget is what the Lord reminds us of:  One does not live on bread alone.  Like so many of Christ’s teachings, this saying means much more than just the obvious.  It means one does not live on money alone, sex alone, pleasure alone, happiness alone, material things alone or acceptance alone.  To live we need more than just to survive; we need to thrive.  To live life to the full, we need God; his divine life and his divine words.  In order to live we need to be able to forgive.

One reader of my blog commented yesterday that the individual that verbally abused a Chic-fil-A employee was summarily fired from his job.  I really consider this a shame.  That should never have happened.  Why?  Because our society taught this man the art of hate rather than the art of debate.  He was so proud of himself, he videotaped himself.  How many of us on the road have been caught in a moment of anger, of a raging fit???  Thank God we did not videotape ourselves; thank God we were not videotaped!

Unfortunately, I don’t think anyone will come to his rescue…too risky.  This is precisely were a Christian needs to come in.  This is precisely where the young lady who was verbally abused can help.  She can help him…and only she can do it.  She can tell the world that she did not want this to happen; that this man deserves a chance to redeem himself.  But redemption requires someone dying; someone coming to the rescue; someone taking him by the hand and helping him back up.  The human reaction was obvious:  make him suffer as much as he made her suffer.  This is the human reaction.  The Christian position is not so obvious:  love him before he can understand us.

Far too often we believe in those who agree with us and reject those who disagree with us.  But from afar, someone believed in us before we believed in Him; someone believed in us before we agreed with Him; someone saved for us before we believed in Him. 

The Lord loved us before we loved Him and so taught us how to live and love like He did: believing before seeing; believing before agreeing; by giving and then receiving.

Mt 13:36-43 Coexist

Mt 13:36-43  Coexist

(Click here for readings)

Jesus said to his disciples:  “He who sows good seed is the Son of Man, the field is the world, the good seed the children of the Kingdom.  The weeds are the children of the Evil One, and the enemy who sows them is the Devil.”

While driving back home, I noticed a bumper sticker that read “Coexist”.  The letters were written in the form of various religious symbols.  The “C” was in the form of a crescent moon (Islam); the “T” was in the form of a cross (Christianity); the “X” was in the form of the Star of David.

Although I have no doubts of the owner’s good intentions, I do wonder if the designer was open to any religion at all.  I wonder because I could easily design a bumper sticker myself with the same word but written in an entirely different form.  Why limit our hope to just religion, especially if our goal is to live in perfect harmony?  Why limit ourselves to religion when we can use so many political and national symbols or colors as well. 

For example, I would love to see “Coexist” written in various colors.  “C” in blue (Capitalists), “E” in green (Environmentalists), “S” in red (Socialists), “X” in black (national socialists).  Or better yet, why not write the letters using the colors of national flags:  “C” (USA), “O” (North Korea), “E”(Israel), “X” (Iran), “I” (Iraq), “S” (Saudi Arabia)? 

Why not?  Unless, we have a hidden bias against religion; that religious piety is the source of all our problems and not human thinking?  Or, to be more specific, that religion, and not human beings, is the source of all our problems.

People love to group religions together, as if they were all the same.  Would we do that to animals?  Would we place a cat in the cage with a lion?  Are they not the same? Would we do that to a dog and a coyote?    I don’t think so. 

Would a math teacher be upset with me if I claimed that all numbers are the same?  Can’t we group them all together?  Is one more significant than the other?  Can’t they coexist?

There is a place in our world for coexistence.  For example, I dream to see a Republican endorse a Democrat, not because he/she is a Democrat, but because he/she is really the better candidate.   I would love to see a Democrat nominate a Republican as their running mate, not because they have lost their mind, but because two minds are better than one.  This is real coexistence. 

But when it comes to the truth, there can be no space for falsehoods; when it comes to love, there can be no place for hate; when it comes to unity, there can be no time for sin.

My concern with false ideology is how it disguises itself as authentic piety.  Why should religions coexist?  Did the Lord ask for coexistence?  Of course not!  He asked for his disciples to go throughout the world and baptize in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.   He did not ask us to declare war on religion, like atheists have done.  Neither did he ask us to declare war on religious liberty, like secularists have done.  He asked us to declare war on sin, like Christ has done by dying to oneself and “loving one another as I have loved you.” 

Let us compete.  Let us race.  Christianity, like all religions, was not created to coexist.  Christianity was created to stand alone, like the number “1” or a gold medalist.  Let us compete.  Let us race.  Most religious people would find nothing wrong with this statement.  Islam was not created to coexist; it was not created to be one truth among many truths.  What distinguishes one religion from another is the truth; the truth found in its founder. Christianity is not like any other religion because Christ was like no other.  He did not die in battle.  He died on a Cross.  He did not hate his enemies; he loved His enemies.  He is not God or man; He is God and man.  He sowed good seed where there was only bad seed. 

Christianity is not a religion of conquerors, unless you consider love conquering.  

Mt 13:31-35 A Seed of A Different Kind

Mt 13:31-35  A Seed of A Different Kind

(Click here for readings)

Jesus proposed a parable to the crowds.  “The Kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that a person took and sowed in a field.  It is the smallest of all the seeds, yet when full-grown it is the largest of plants.  It becomes a large bush, and the ‘birds of the sky come and dwell in its branches.’”

I believe it is an American proverb:  “When it rains, it pours.”  It’s not always a bad thing, especially when half the nation is in a terrible drought. 

Yesterday evening I returned home after having spent the weekend in Mexico City.  It was a long day of travel that only got longer.  Of course I was thrilled to be there.  It was the first wedding I ever performed in Mexico.  It was the first wedding I ever performed in which the bride and groom were former students of mine.   Although it was an honor and a privilege to be with them and their families, I was ready to get back home. 

American Airlines flies non-stop from Dallas to Mexico City.  They have four or five flights a day every day.  But yesterday, my flight (and only my flight) got cancelled.  I couldn’t believe it!  I had beat Montezuma’s revenge; I had beat the traffic; I had survived the roads; I had beat getting mugged or robbed.  Like Spirit Airlines, American Airlines could offer me nothing except an early morning flight the following day.  I was furious!  I left the airport bitter and got the first cab I could find.  

As I was heading back to the Hotel (the one I had just checked out of) the traffic became unbearable.  Bicyclists appeared in every direction.  Since the driver couldn’t get near the Hotel, he asked me to get out and walk ten blocks from the Hotel.  I couldn’t believe it.  With a bag in my hand, I began the walk.  I still left him a tip. 

When I got to the Hotel, I sought out a friend of mine.  He is a Platinum member with American Airlines.  He got on the phone and Viola! …I had a ticket in my name for one of the evening flights out of Mexico City.  Let’s not fool ourselves:  money talks.  I’m sure some poor guy is scratching his head wondering how “he” made a mistake that cost him his seat.

I went back to the airport, and without thinking twice, I checked in my bag.  Afterwards, I realized that I had left my prescription sunglasses in one of the outer compartments.  I thought to myself, “Oh no, I hope they don’t get crushed.”

I (along with my bag) made it back to Dallas. Better late than never.  While I was driving home, I noticed an object in the middle of the road.  I couldn't avoid it and ended up hitting a piece of an 18-wheeler’s tire.  I heard a horrible noise as I drove away.  It turns out the front bottom of my car is damaged.  I will need to get that fixed.

When I made it back to my house, I opened up my luggage to check and see if my sunglasses had survived the journey.  I opened the case and discovered that the glasses were gone.  I couldn’t believe it.  Actually, I could…and I did.  I began to do what most people would do.  I began to think horrible thoughts about people; generalize an entire nation; think of ways to get back at them; imagine what I would do the next time, etc.

To top it all off, I think I got Montezuma's revenge.

If we were to take today’s Gospel and turn it upside down we would get a very good description of the Kingdom of hell.  Yes, the Kingdom of hell is like a very small seed that a person took and planted in your field.  It is the smallest, yet when full-blown it can quickly grow and spread into the greatest of plants.  It consumes everything around it and leaves shade to hide. 

Those who are possessed by hatred, resentment and bitterness can quickly consume the good people that are around them.  Not a single living creature would dare come near or even think of dwelling or resting  upon them.    

Hell has a tendency of spreading like a wild fire in the midst of a drought.  Hell begins for plenty of good reasons.

Christ entered where no man dared come near to.

But as there are many good reasons to hate, there are plenty of good reasons to love and be loved.  “It was not you who chose me, says the Lord, but I who chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last” (cf. Jn 15:16).

The Lord had plenty of good reasons to hate.  That reality is what makes him so much more remarkable.  A weak man knows how to hate.  It takes a very strong man to know how to love.  We have the model in Jesus Christ.  “Do not forget God who gave you birth.” (Dt 32)

Moments like the one I had above are moments that test our patience and our faith.  It's good to have moments like these.  It helps us to see just how much spiritual progress has been made.

Christians are called to be seeds of a different kind: of Christ’s kind and of Christ’s kindness. 

We grow were least expected. 

Mt 6:19-23 Where’s The Beef?

Mt 6:19-23  Where’s The Beef?

(Click here for readings)

Jesus said to his disciples:  “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and decay destroy, and thieves break in and steal.  But store up treasure in heaven.  For where your treasure is, there also will your heart be.”

Do you remember the little old lady in the Wendy’s commercial that shouted out “Where’s the beef?”  Well, she did more than boost sales for Wendy’s.   This catchphrase became an all-purpose phrase questioning the substance of an idea, event, product and even person.  “Where’s the beef?” now means more than just beef. 

Where is Christ in your Christianity?  If you are buying a hamburger, you would think that the most important ingredient in the hamburger would be the burger, not the bun, or tomatoes, or onions or the lettuce.  Of course, all these ingredients are important in a hamburger, but the essential, not accidental, item in a hamburger should be – must be – the meat! 

Christians are good people, wholesome people, nice people.  We help others.   We give.  We are generous.  We are compassionate.  We are a community that helps others regardless of who they are.   But what makes Christians different from non-Christians?  What is essential to being Christian?  The answer is obvious; it comes from our name:  Christ. 

If we give our time, talents and financial treasure but do not receive Christ's Word, Christ’s sacraments and Christ’s graces, then we will give...something, but not everything.  If we are good to people but are not good at being Christ-like, then we will do what is possible, but not what is impossible.  This is why so many of us see holes in just about everything we do; in our “social justice curriculum” and even in our homes.  We give a lot and get a lot done, but we just don't ever seem to be able to seal the deal.  As a community, we give tons of food and clothing but are we sharing our faith, hope, and love?  Are we giving what all people need now and in the end?  While we are giving our love are we also sharing our faith in Jesus Christ?

Where is Christ in my life?  We grow up with tons of goals to achieve.  We want to be this.  We want to do that.  We want to go here.  We want to see this.  We want to experience that.  And there is nothing wrong with any of it, except for the fact that some of our goals were illusions while most of them changed with time.  It’s true.  I notice it with myself.  What seemed so important in my youth, no longer interests me in my maturity.    I see it too. I notice how young people love to dress while old people love to be able to dress.  Fast cars are at the top of the list for many young men and near the bottom of the list for many young dads.  We shouldn’t feel bad for our dads.  We should actually feel proud of them.  They get it.  They’ve grown up.  Career is important, like the lower bun of a hamburger.  Money is important, like the dressings.  Family is important like the top of the bun.  But what matters most must be Christ.  He is the way, the truth and the life.  He is the reason for it all.  Where is Christ in my life?      

Where is Christ in your children?  We spend years of our life to give our children the best.  We really do.  And that’s a lot…maybe too much.  After all, what went wrong with our children?  How did they screw things up so bad?  How did they become so narcissistic, pessimistic and problematic?  Maybe, just maybe, while we were chasing our dreams our kids were having nightmares.  While we were enjoying work, they were terrified of school and ‘friends’.  Could it be that while we were building our dream home, they were already thinking about selling it?  I see the way moms and dads treat their kids.  They have only the best in mind.  They spend and spend and spend a lot of money to get a safe car and safe car seats; they spend to buy organic foods, use organic detergents and live in ‘safe’ neighborhoods.  They want their children to receive the best education possible.  They lock the doors at night and turn on the alarm to keep their children safe and sound.  So what are we doing wrong?  Why are our kids acting like bullies, criminals and delinquents?  Why are our kids wasting their youthfulness on drugs and sex?  Why are our kids cutting themselves, abusing themselves and killing themselves?  You ask, Are they starving?  I say yes!  Are they dying?  Yes!   Are you kidding?  No!  How could they possibly be starving and dying if we are giving them everything?  We are not giving them everything.  We have given them just about everything but not everything.  We have taught them just about everything except the most important things.  We have given them just about everyone except the most important One.

What’s missing in our children's lives?  Christ!  They are starving for Christ.  Our kids are dying for Christ.

There are a wide variety of people that influence our children:  mom, dad, friends, teachers, coaches, mentors, actors, actresses, musicians, performers, etc…Some people have more influence than others.  Some people think they have more influence than others.  Some people have way too much influence, period.  But there is someone who is just dying to love our child, influence our child and be the most significant other in their life:  CHRIST.  There is something our kids could use more of and, I promise you, it will never mess them up:  faith, hope and charity.

Our treasure is our faith in Jesus Christ and the fruit of our treasure is our personal holiness. 

Who would not want that for themselves, for their children and for our world? 

Mt 5:43-48 Love Who?

Mt 5:43-48  Love Who?

(Click here for readings)

Jesus said to his disciples:  “You have hard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’  But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your heavenly Father.”

Many years ago, while I was working at Kodak, I got into a little fight with a co-worker.  It all started when I first started.  Although we were co-workers and roughly the same age, he took it upon himself to be my “mentor”; that is, to correct me when I made some mistakes.  I was in charge of product quality.  He was an Industrial Engineer in charge of procedures and processes.  My mistakes were not serious, but they were at times embarrassing.  They had nothing to do with product quality but mostly with following proper protocols.  Although our cubicles were side by side, this co-worker decided to send me e-mails to ‘help’ me.  As a young employee, I wondered why he wouldn’t just come over and talk to me.  I later found out it was because he was blind copying our boss.  Eventually, it dawned on me the reasons why I was making these types of mistakes:  we had no manuals, no protocols, and no procedures in place.  So, I wrote a friendly e-mail to my friend inviting him to do just that, “so that any future employee could learn the ropes sooner and better.”

I sent the e-mail.  Within an hour, I received a response.  But due to the pace at work picking up and a sudden surge in orders, I never got the chance to sit down in front of my computer and read his reply.  It would take me almost two weeks to do so.  All the while, we were working together, doing our jobs as a team, and having lunch together like normal. 

One day at lunch he asked me, “How do you do it?”  Do what? I replied.  “How can you just talk to me, work with me, sit down and eat lunch with me as if I didn’t lose my cool with you?  Aren’t you a little upset with my last e-mail to you?”  I wanted to tell him that I hadn’t read it.  Instead, I took credit where it didn’t belong and told him some lie like, “I’ve learned to turn the other cheek.”   That didn’t impress him as much as the way I treated him.  From that moment on, he considered me his ‘mentor’. 

Love your enemies.  Three words put together that, if lived, have power; the power to change lives...including my own.  

But is it possible?  Is it advisable?  Is it for me?

“Be merciful Lord, for we have sinned” (Ps. 51:3a).  I just found my answer.  Yes.  It is possible.  It is highly advisable.  And it is definitely for me.  Every time I sin, I switch sides.  When I sin, I fight for the enemy.  When I sin, I am technically at war with the Lord.  I become the enemy’s agent, not the Lord’s.  When I break my promises, I break His heart.  His voice, his hand should rise in anger but it doesn’t.  I know it doesn’t because I would be destroyed.  Instead, the Lord is kind and merciful, slow to anger, rich in compassion.      

Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your heavenly Father.  Isn’t this what Christ did?  Isn’t this what Christ was?  The Lord is now inviting us to do what He does best: Love those who persecute you; pray for those who hate you.  If you do this, then you will be a child of the Father, just like our Lord is the Son of the Father.  How you love may not change those around you, but it will definitely change who you are. 

Turn away your face from my sins (Ps 51).  I learned a great lesson that day at Kodak.  I learned that living by faith is more powerful than knowing the facts; that my opinions are not as meaningful as my gestures.  I learned that in order to hate, you must have a reason.  To be kind, you can be blind to reason.

Mt 5:1-12 Sky Is Not The Limit

Mt 5:1-12  Sky Is Not The Limit

(Click here for readings)

When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain, and after he had sat down, his disciples came to him.  He began to teach them, saying:  “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.” 

I just finished talking to a group of children doing Vacation Bible School at St. Monica.  This year’s theme is:  “SKY” – Everything is possible with God. 

Sky’s the limit.     Not really and not true.  And those who teach it - our teachers, our parents, our mentors - are wrong in saying it. All Christians should know this and all Christians should avoid it.   What’s so wrong about this is exactly what makes Christianity so special: The Beatitudes. 

Christians make all things possible because they bring God to all possible things.  The Lord spoke in paradoxes for a reason:  to teach others that the sky is not the limit; that is; our vision is not His vision; our heights are not His heights; our lives are not our lives; our destiny is not our destiny.  Jesus gave the world His Word; he gave the world the Beatitudes, and then showed us The Way to put it all into practice.   

Unfortunately, too many people live very boring lives because they were taught and told to believe that the sky’s the limit.  They were taught to think, speak and live in non-paradoxical ways.  For example: We were all taught that if you want to win a race, then you must come in first place.  But the early Christians were taught that you can still win a race by coming in last place.  That’s not boring!  Now I know what you are asking: “How do you do that?”  If you don’t know, then check out my meditation, “Missing Link”.  That’s just one example of how to lose a race and win.  There are many other ways to do it, as many as there a people.  How many ways are there to Heaven?  As many as there are people!

The sky is not the limit, but we must stay within the limits.  To live The Beatitudes requires that we live The Commandments.  If you wish to be great, then you must remain small.  Here is another paradox.  If you wish to reach the highest heights, then you must stay within your limits.  If you wish to love man, then you must first love God.  Otherwise, we will see what we have always seen:  WAR. 

In Antioch the disciples were first called Christians.  In the Acts of the Apostles, we read how the disciples of the Lord were first called Christians.  Notice something?  They did not call themselves Christians.  Instead, it was the non-Christians that called them Christians.  It’s one thing when you call yourself a Christian.  It’s another thing when people say, “You’re a Christian.”  Do you see the difference?  What do people call you?  Would they even know that you are a Christian?

The Lord has revealed to the nations his saving power.  Have you revealed yourself to your neighbors, to your boss, to your family?  Have you revealed His saving power?  Have you invited someone to Church?  Have you invited someone to go to Confession with you?  The Lord has commanded his disciples to “go, and teach all nations.” 

Why limit yourself with the title of “volunteer” or “helper”.  How boring.  What about something not so secular, something different, something not so sterile, or lukewarm, or boring.  Why not something more radical, more thrilling and exciting?  Why not a little bit of persecution or insult or injury upon injury?  “Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you and utter every kind of evil against you falsely because of me.  Rejoice and be glad, for your rewards will be great in heaven.  Thus they persecuted the prophets who were before you.  Thus they persecuted me before you.” 

To be a Christian means to be another Christ.

The earth, the sky, the solar system, the universe, the win, the raise, the bonus, the marriage, the family, the title, the awards, the achievements are not the limit. 

Being a Christian is.