My Jesus, My King

A Reflection on Matthew 2:1-12

By: Larry T

 

For all the oracles of the prophets foretold him,

the Virgin Mother longed for him

with love beyond all telling,

John the Baptist sang of his coming

and proclaimed his presence when he came.

– The Roman Missal, Third Edition, Preface II of Advent

By 7 B.C. the Jews had been subject to Roman domination for nearly seventy years, and from the beginning of Roman rule they had prayed desperately to God for the advent of a new Jewish king. Suddenly there he was – the king of the Jews was born.

¹ When Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, in the days of King Herod, behold, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem,

² saying, “Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star at its rising and have come to do him homage.”

³ When King Herod heard this, he was greatly troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.

⁴ Assembling all the chief priests and the scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born.

⁵ They said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it has been written through the prophet:

⁶ ‘And you, Bethlehem, land of Judah,

          are by no means least among the rulers of

                    Judah;

since from you shall come a ruler,

          who is to shepherd my people Israel.’”

⁷ Then Herod called the magi secretly and ascertained from them the time of the star’s appearance.

⁸ He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search diligently for the child. When you have found him, bring me word, that I too may go and do him homage.”

⁹ After their audience with the king they set out. And behold, the star that they had seen at its rising preceded them, until it came and stopped over the place where the child was.

¹⁰ They were overjoyed at seeing the star,

¹¹ and on entering the house they saw the child with Mary his mother. They prostrated themselves and did him homage. Then they opened their treasures and offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

¹² And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed for their country by another way. – Matthew 2:1-12 N.A.B.

But, what kind of king would Jesus be? The Jewish people had been praying fervently for a great warrior king who would overthrow the Romans, reunite the twelve ancient tribes of Israel, reestablish the Davidic kingdom, and return the Jewish nation to its former glory. The king they were anxiously awaiting was expected to do all of these things and more. They wanted a messiah on their own terms, but since Jesus failed to meet their expectations, they rejected him.

What about us? What kind of King is Jesus to us - to me - to you? While atheists reject Jesus outright and some other religions recognize Jesus as simply a prophet, I am a Christian and he is my King. Still yet, do I genuinely accept Jesus as my King, and do I accept all of His commandments, or have I molded him into a reflection of what I want him to be rather than who he is? If I choose to reject one or more of his commandments can I expect a wink, a nod, and a smile from him? Haven’t Christians been tripped up by this sort of self-deception from the very beginning?

We’ve seen the same sort of distorted thinking recently applied to Pope Francis. From the very beginning of his papacy various misguided special interest groups and media have misquoted him in such a way as to serve their own interests. They make him a reflection of what they want him to be rather than who he is to serve their own purposes. 

As we continue to celebrate Jesus’ birth, we might reflect on these two questions: Do I truly accept Jesus as my King? And do I accept all of His commandments?

Your Way, Lord

A reflection on the Mass readings for the Twenty-fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time

By: Sharon Nelsen

The Lord recycles truth in our lives; always giving us new thoughts, new words, new ways to think, speak and to act on old truths.  Today, as I read from Isaiah 55.7-8, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my ways, says the Lord,” I smiled—yet again the Lord had recycled that truth in my life.

When I was an RCIA companion in our parish several years ago, I was inspired to write this prayer, a prayer I knew was inspired by the Holy Spirit for it flowed from my pen and needed little editing.  After I wrote it down, I named it, “A Prayer for Continued Growth.”

Blessed Lord, God of Heaven and earth,

            Draw me into right relationship with You:

                        May Your Thoughts become my thoughts

                        May Your Ways become my ways

                        May Your Words become my words

            I invite You to touch and heal all that is wounded

                        Within my mind

                        Within my heart

                        Within my spirit

            Set me free from any false beliefs I hold

                        In my thoughts

                        In my habits

                        In my values

            Fill me with Jesus, Your Way, Your Truth, Your Life

                        In my relationship with You

                        In my relationship with others

                        In my relationship with self

Open my lips that my mouth may proclaim Your Wondrous Deeds, praising  You now and forever.  Amen.            Sharon Nelsen, April 18, 2012

This past week was a week full of conflicts and so I asked the members of our faith-sharing group to pray over me.  As they prayed, the prayer for continued growth came to my mind.  I realized that I had something deep within me that perceived the words as conflictual, as if God and I were at odds in our thoughts, words and ways; we were on a collision course.  In an understanding that can only come from the Holy Spirit, I realized that God, who calls us into partnership, is not in conflict with us.  Rather, God reassures us that the seed we plant, the leaven we work into the dough of our lives are beginnings; our thoughts, words and ways are not necessarily “wrong.”  They are by nature, our good human nature, limited. 

When God says, “I will complete the work I have begun in you,” God reveals that my good thoughts, good words, and good ways are materials for God’s thoughts, words, and ways, which are cosmic, while mine are very local.  God welcomes those beginnings in us and longs to receive them so that He can do even greater works with them.

The Gospel reading from Matthew 20.1-16a illustrates the point clearly:  The laborers, who were hired at the end of the day, received the same wage as those who had been hired at the beginning of the day, express their thoughts about the justice of it all:  “These last ones worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us, who bore the day’s burden and the heat.”  (Matthew 20.12)

God’s way, as landowner in the parable, is generosity, a generosity that hovers high above human justice, leavening the dough of Divine Justice with cosmic compassion.  Have you ever stood on a corner and waited for a truck to come by to pick you up and take you out to the job site so you could earn a day’s wage and feed your family?  Recently, as I drove through a section of downtown Omaha around 8:00 in the morning, I saw four Hispanic men standing on a corner, waiting.  It reminded me of my high school days in Los Angeles, when I first saw a crowd of Hispanic men clothed for labor, standing along a whole block of sidewalk.  I asked my Dad why they were there.  He replied that they were “day laborers” waiting to be hired.  When we drove by the same area hours later, there were still many men waiting.  And if we had driven by even later, we would have seen men still waiting.

What does it take to stand in the day’s heat and wait, wondering if your family will have food that night, or if the rent can be paid, or if the water and light bills can be paid? 

Would you rather be standing idle, struggling with fearful thoughts, or laboring with others, knowing you can provide what is needed for those entrusted to you?

Help us grow, Lord, into your way, a way that urges us to generous compassion.  May we sow our tiny seeds with hope, entrusting the growth to Your Ways which are “As high as the heavens are above the earth.”  (Isaiah 55.9)

You Duped Me

Sunday, Aug 31: 22ndSunday in Ordinary Time

Today's readings are taken from:

Jeremiah  20:7-9

Psalm 63:2-9

Letter of Saint Paul to the Romans  12:1-2

Gospel according to Matthew 16: 21-27

Jeremiah cried out to the Lord, "You duped me and I let myself be duped. You were too strong for me, and you triumphed.  All the day I am an object of laughter; everyone mocks me."  Jeremiah continues on to tell us that he is determined not to talk about the Lord anymore.  Jeremiah will be silent, but then the name of the Lord burns within Jeremiah and he must speak.

I asked myself and I ask you, have we been duped by the Lord? In a way I hope the answer is yes. Have we been seduced by Jesus to take up the mission of proclaiming the Word?  Do we stand up against the worldliness that can turn us into uncaring people, looking only for our personal gain and comfort.  Are we brave enough to speak out when needed and then accept the derision we might receive when we testify to our mission?  In many ways, we too can be prophets and then be willing to suffer the mocking and laughter that can follow. But in our hearts we can hold tight to the name of the Lord that indeed burns within us knowing that the Lord is always with us and within us.

As I reflected on the Gospel reading, I wondered if Peter too, felt that he had been duped. In the previous passages of Matthew, Jesus told Peter that he was blessed and that Peter would be the rock upon which Jesus would build His Church. Peter must have felt both fear and delight in hearing that he would be a vital part of the kingdom on earth.  Through God the Father, Peter had been able to proclaim that Jesus was "the Christ, the Son of the living God." Peter was probably both humbled and proud.

This week, as Peter hears more and more about what Jesus will endure for our Salvation, he must be horrified.  Jesus is the Son of God; things should be easy for Him.  Instead, Jesus will walk the path of humiliation, great suffering and death.  Peter rejects the possibility of a suffering Jesus and is sharply rebuked by Jesus.  Peter is compared to Satan; an obstacle to Jesus; perhaps tempting Jesus to take an easier path.  Jesus tells us, "Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross and follow me.  For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it." 

And so Peter learns, as did Jeremiah, that the prophetic message may not be received with joy and happiness, but rather may be received with derision and even hatred.  We need to be careful not to conform to this age. We need to point out when power is abused; when our worth is defined by our wealth; when many people around us are deep into poverty and homelessness.  I'm not sure it is enough to live our lives in virtue and piety; maybe we need to take some action, speak out, etc.  I don't know what my next step should be, but I do know that when Jesus didn't know what to do next, He spent the night in prayer, asking His father to show Him what He should do next.  Maybe that's a good place for me to start.

Peace and Blessings,

Judy

Come and Eat! Be Satisfied!

A Reflection on Matthew 14:13-21 N.A.B.

By: Larry T

Servers rushing about, all kinds of rare and delicious foods piled high on serving platters; fine wines flowing freely; endless toasts, boisterous laughter, musicians, entertainment, and even dancing – it was a birthday bash – a royal birthday banquet.

At this banquet Herodias skillfully maneuvered Herod into ordering the murder of John the Baptist.

When Jesus heard that John the Baptist had been savagely murdered he tried to withdraw to a deserted place to be alone, but an enthusiastic crowd followed him. And when Jesus stepped from the boat to dry land the massive throng was there to greet him. He took pity on them and healed their sick. Ultimately this event concluded with a satisfying meal – Jesus’ banquet.

¹³ When Jesus heard of it, he withdrew in a boat to a deserted place by himself. The crowds heard of this and followed him on foot from their towns.
¹⁴ When he disembarked and saw the vast crowd, his heart was moved with pity for them, and he cured their sick.
¹⁵ When it was evening, the disciples approached him and said, “This is a deserted place and it is already late; dismiss the crowds so that they can go to the villages and buy food for themselves.”
¹⁶ [Jesus] said to them, “There is no need for them to go away; give them some food yourselves.”
¹⁷ But they said to him, “Five loaves and two fish are all we have here.”
¹⁸ Then he said, “Bring them here to me,”
¹⁹ and he ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass. Taking  the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, he said the blessing, broke the loaves, and gave them to the disciples, who in turn gave them to the crowds.
²⁰ They all ate and were satisfied, and they picked up the fragments left over—twelve wicker baskets full.
²¹ Those who ate were about five thousand men, not counting women and children.
- Matthew 14:13-21 N.A.B.

The sharp contrast between Herod’s banquet and Jesus’ banquet is clear. At Herod’s banquet there was resentment, arrogance, scheming, and murder. It took place in a royal court. At Jesus’ banquet there was healing, trust, and sharing. It took place in a deserted location – like the wilderness in which ancient Israel was fed with manna and quail.

Reading that Jesus took the five loaves and the two fish, looked up to heaven, said the blessing, broke the loaves, and gave them to the disciples should remind us of his institution of the Eucharist at the Last Supper:

²⁶ While they were eating, Jesus took bread, said the blessing, broke it, and giving it to his disciples said, “Take and eat; this is my body.” – Matthew 26:26 N.A.B.

We might also recall that Elisha, the Old Testament prophet, fed a hundred men with twenty loaves of barley and a few fresh ears of corn.

⁴² A man came from Baal-shalishah bringing the man of God twenty barely loaves made from the first fruits, and fresh grain in the ear. “Give it to the people to eat,” Elisha said.
⁴³ But his servant objected, “How can I set this before a hundred men?” “Give it to the people to eat,” Elisha insisted. “For thus says the LORD, ‘They shall eat and there shall be some left over.’”
⁴⁴ And when they had eaten, there was some left over, as the LORD had said.
- 2 Kings 4:42-44

There are some parallels between Jesus’ banquet and Elisha’s banquet, but the number of people fed by Jesus is much larger than those fed by Elisha, a sign of Jesus’ superiority.

Still, the multiplication of fish and loaves of bread should point us beyond the Last Supper and the institution of the Eucharist to one more banquet, to the kingdom of God pictured by the Old Testament prophet Isaiah.

⁶ On this mountain the LORD of hosts
     will provide for all peoples
A feast of rich food and choice wines,
     juicy, rich food and pure, choice wines. - Isaiah 25:6 N.A.B.

Reflecting on the feeding of the Israelites in the wilderness with manna and quail, Elisha’s feeding of one hundred men with twenty barley loaves and a few ears of corn, Jesus’s multiplication of five loaves and two fish for five thousand men not counting women and children, and Jesus’ institution of the Holy Eucharist at the Last Supper to Isaiah’s vision of the kingdom of God as a heavenly feast gives us a way of linking our present day experience of sharing in the Eucharistic meal to its rich biblical background, and our future hopes as God’s people.

The Kingdom of Heaven is Like....

Sunday, July 27: Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Today's readings are taken from:

Book of Kings  3:5, 7-12

Psalm 119

Letter of Saint Paul to the Romans  8:28-30

Gospel according to Matthew 13:44-52

The Gospel for this Sunday is a continuation of the teaching Jesus shared with his disciples with regard to the Kingdom of Heaven.  Again Jesus speaks in parables.  This week Jesus shares three analogies which help the disciples, and us, gain a better understanding of the Kingdom.  Jesus describes the kingdom as a treasure, as a merchant and a net. Both the parable of the hidden treasure and that of the pearl of great price tell us that we cannot fully understand the value of the Kingdom of Heaven and that in order to obtain the
Kingdom we must be willing to give up our attachment to earthly things.  That is not always an easy thing to do; too often earthly things can become our idols. St. Gregory Nazianzen (died in 390 AD) described his Pearl of Great Price as being the Word.  He said that he "would never willingly neglect this possession, but on the contrary honor it and embrace it and take more pleasure in it than in all other things combined that delight the multitude --he made it the partner of his whole life and his guide. Would that I too, can continue to treasure the Word and avoid falling into the pattern of embracing the idols of our world.

As I thought more and more about the net, a dragnet, I thought about the Final Judgment.  The righteous  will be separated from the evil ones.  We women and men will be gathered up and we will be judged by our faith and our works.  As I think of all of us as various species of fish, I pray that I will be judged as a fish worth keeping and not a fish to be thrown back into the abyss "where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth."

In these past weeks, we have been reading about the Kingdom of Heaven.  Jesus has told us parable after parable in order to help us better understand the Kingdom.  Beginning to know more about the Kingdom is truly a gift from God.  Those mysteries are beyond us, but Jesus in His love for us gives us a glimpse of the Kingdom.  Just as in our first reading of today, Solomon asked God to give him an understanding heart, we too are being given a gift of understanding.

Jesus described the Kingdom to us in such ordinary things like seeds, light, salt, yeast, farming, fishing, and baking.  New life comes with the Kingdom of Heaven and Jesus helped His followers understand this. As I mediated upon the Gospels of these past three weeks, I wondered what ordinary things I might use to help increase my understanding of the Kingdom and how Jesus might use those things.   For example, "The Kingdom of Heaven is like my computer.  It can connect me to people all over the world and help me share my thoughts and love for our Savior no matter where I am or where others are."

How could you complete this sentence?

 The Kingdom of Heaven is like ----------

Peace and Blessings,

Judy

I Will Open My Mouth in Parable

A Reflection on the readings from July 20:Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

By Judy Morss

Book of Wisdom 12:13, 16-19
Psalm 86
Letter of Saint Paul to the Romans 8:26-27
Gospel according to Matthew 13:24-43

The Gospels read last Sunday, this Sunday and next Sunday are focused on the parables that Jesus told to the crowds.  The stories are drawn from everyday life, but the deeper truths are not really evident until Jesus speaks to His disciples and shares secrets of the Kingdom of God. What a beautiful example of the private instruction we sometimes receive from Jesus, from God the Father and from the Holy Spirit.  Jesus' disciples were the first to receive special grace and understanding from our Savior.

Last week we heard about the Sower and all the lackadaisical responses to the sowing of seed.  We are often distracted by things of the world and our responses are not fruitful.  However, when we are responsive to the kingdom, we bear good fruit, good works and faithfulness through God's grace.

This week we hear three parables that Jesus told the crowds.  First, a farmer sows good seed in his field, but the enemy sows weed in the field. Instead of trying to pull up the weeds and risking the uprooting of the good wheat as well, the farmer says that the crops should be allowed to grow together.  At harvest time, the weeds can be distinguished from the wheat and will be burned.  This parable helps me better understand the relationship between good and evil.  How many situations have you seen where good and evil seem to coexist?  It gives me comfort to know that although good and evil may be side by side, eventually the evil will be gathered up and destroyed and the good will be redeemed.   As I reflected more on the reading from the book of Wisdom, it struck me that justice should be restorative. "And you taught your people, by these deeds, that those who are just must be kind; and you gave your children good grounds for hope that you would permit repentance for their sins."

The second parable for this Sunday is the Mustard Seed.  I love this one; it reminds me that Jesus sowed the Kingdom into His small group of disciples and knew it would grow into a worldwide Church.  When I get discouraged about my small efforts and whether or not they can possibly have any impact, I think of the mustard seed and know that everything is possible through God.  I may never see the results of my efforts, but there will be results.

The third parable describes the kingdom of heaven as being like yeast, or leaven.  As I am a baker and love to bake breads, rolls, etc., I know the power of yeast, but I also understand the delicate nature of yeast.  If it is too hot, too cold, or too old, my breads will not rise as I had hoped.  I need to nurture that leaven in order for it to perform as it should.  A small amount of leaven can bring about dramatic results. As I read this parable, I was reminded that we are called to be leaven for the world.  We need to help bring about the Kingdom of God.

Next Sunday, we continue with the Gospel accounting to Matthew and will encounter additional parables.    I did a little research on parables; they are defined as a spoken or literary "comparison" between two things for illustration.  The word 'parable' is found 48 times in the Gospels of Mathew, Mark and Luke.  Jesus uses parables for a couple of reasons; He reveals and/or conceals divine mysteries. Parables also appear to be spoken as a means of judgments against the faithless.  For example, in Matthew, after Jesus is rejected by the Pharisees he shifts from His straightforward teaching to parables. "I will open my mouth in parables, I will announce what has lain hidden from the foundation of the world."

Peace and Blessings,

Judy

Image By Andrey Mironov (Own work) [CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, July 13, 2014

Reading I:  Isaiah 55:10-11
Reading II:  Romans 8:18-23
Psalm Response:  65:10,11, 12-13,14
Gospel:  Matthew 13:1-23

If there was ever an agricultural theme for a set of readings, this week's readings certainly fits the bill.  A fitting time to look to the fields, look to the harvest, notice the crops as the summer ripens and autumn draws nearer.

Isaiah writes of the Lord's word, just as precipitation falling from heaven waters the earth and produces food, his word goes forth from his mouth to achieve a harvest of his will, his intended purpose.  

The psalm praises the Lord for the bounty of the harvest, his providence in drenching the fields, using very poetic language.  The fields are garmented with flocks and the valleys blanketed with grain.  What a beautiful word picture.

In Romans the battles and struggles of the Christian life have hope of coming to fruition, as we ourselves are called firstfruits of the Spirit.  Our struggles to grow will not count for naught.  We have been planted by the Lord, our growth is in the Lord, we will be gathered again to the Lord.

The Gospel reading is a parable about a sower who goes out to sow, to plant, and has mixed results based on where the seed falls.  The disciples are perplexed by Jesus' use of parables, and Jesus gives them an inside interpretation of the story.  I am so glad that the writer of Matthew included this (psst, come here, I'll put you in the know, the writer whispers), as it enables us to understand the parable ourselves as it was understood by the disciples, and gives us a clue into how other parables we read are meant to be understood.  I kind of wonder if the disciples really understood the parable before Jesus so kindly provided them the interpretation.

It may be perplexing to hear that some are not blessed with understanding, even many prophets and righteous people from the past who longed to know what the disciples learned by being with Jesus.  The early Christians really struggled with that question, and also with not understanding why many of their contemporaries did not accept Jesus' teaching, and that is reflected in this story they chose to record through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.   No eye has seen, no ear has heard, what God has ready for those who love him, or for those who will love him.  I know that there are days that I am not blessed with understanding, and on those days it is best to wait upon the Lord.

A parable, or any portion of Scripture for that matter, at first glance can be seen as a raw and unprocessed product, like a grain of wheat.  A grain of wheat can be processed in so many ways.  It can become bread, cinnamon rolls, pancakes, tortillas, pasta.  It can be roasted or baked or boiled, depending on the creativity and the needs of the cook.  It is prepared to nourish our bodies.  With the word of God, it too can be processed in many ways.  It can become the ingredient for a homily, a teaching device, an essay, an inspirational thought, a convicting jolt, a new story, a poem, a reminder of our past or a hope for the future.  It is prepared to nourish our soul and spirit, and when our souls are nourished, our bodies too benefit.  God's word as food, as harvest.

As we read, it is the Lord himself, the Master of the Harvest, who feeds us.  As we hear the word proclaimed at Mass and through the mouths of those near to us, it is the Lord himself, the Master Gardener, who feeds us, nourishes us, and causes us to grow into more mature Christians.  As we receive Christ in Holy Communion.   Come, all you who are hungry...let us see what the Lord has prepared today.

Blessings In Christ,
Gazelle

Where Does This Teaching Come From?

Where Does This Teaching Come From? 

A Reflection on Matthew 11:25-30 N.A.B.

By: Larry T 

Scene at a recent Scripture study class:

The instructor said, “The Catholic Church recognizes that Holy Scripture can have four senses of meaning: the literal sense, the allegorical or mystical sense, the anagogical or future sense especially concerning end-times, and the tropological or moral sense.” 

A hand shot up in the front row, “Can you give us an example?” 

“Sure. Boniface Ramsey did an excellent job of explaining it in his book, Beginning to Read the Fathers. He said the city of Jerusalem is a good example of something that may be understood according to four senses. Historically, in the literal sense, it is the city of the Jews; allegorically it is the Church of Christ; anagogically, in the future, end times sense, it is that heavenly city of God which is the mother of us all; tropologically, in the moral sense, it is the human soul, which frequently under this title is either blamed or praised by the Lord.” 

A gray-haired woman in the back row jumped up and snorted, “Where does this teaching come from?”

“It comes from the Catechism of the Catholic Church, Article Three, Sacred Scripture, one-hundred fifteen through one-hundred eighteen." 

The woman stormed out of the classroom at the end of the session, and sadly enough, never returned to the class. Even worse, she convinced a friend of hers to drop out too. 

This Sunday we read about the learned and wise Scribes and Pharisees who had closed their minds to Jesus and his teachings. Jesus was talking about them when he said, “. . . you have hidden these things from the wise and learned . . .” 

²⁵ At that time Jesus said in reply, “I give praise to you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for although you have hidden these things from the wise and the learned you have revealed them to the childlike.

²⁶ Yes, Father, such has been your gracious will.

²⁷ All things have been handed over to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son wishes to reveal him.

²⁸ “Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest.

²⁹ Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for your selves.

³⁰ For my yoke is easy, and my burden light.”
– Matthew 11:25-30 N.A.B. 

What did the gray-haired woman in the Scripture study class have in common with the wise and learned in today's gospel reading? What do a parachute and the human mind have in common? They both work properly only when they are open! The wise and learned in this gospel reading had closed their minds to Jesus and his preaching. Only the humble of heart (the childlike) can embrace new teaching and part with old traditions; they are the ones that Jesus always connected with. The tension, and sometimes incompatibility, between the old and the new is part of every religious tradition and accompanies every change within that tradition. Present day Christians have no less a challenge in dealing with change than did Jesus’ audiences. 

Every word that Jesus preached was a divine act in human form - a revelation of the Father granted to those open to receive it and refused to the arrogant. In his work, Jesus in Nazareth, Erich Grässer wrote, “Just as his power is our salvation, so our unbelief is his powerlessness.” God constantly offers us the nourishment necessary for our lifelong spiritual journeys; we must be humble of heart and teachable to receive it.

Into Your Hands I Commend My Spirit

“Though all may have their faith in you shaken,
mine will never be.” Matthew 26:33

It has been a tough Lent for me, a long dry spell in prayer has continued though, not completely without respite.  Along with that a family situation suddenly came upon us that will continue to demand much prayer, love and sacrifice into an uncertain future.  And here I am with nothing to offer, not a thing.  One day, as my husband and I were waiting on some news with our loved one, I reflected on how empty I felt, how impoverished I was in this particular situation.  How impoverished I had always been.  I stand at a crucial moment, like Peter at his denial of the Lord, relying on my own store of love and fidelity and I find am empty! In that emptiness, fear, resentment and bitterness were threatening to invade. “Lord!”  I cried, “I have no love!” 

The Lord GOD is my help,
therefore I am not disgraced;
I have set my face like flint,
knowing that I shall not be put to shame.  Isaiah 50:7

It was a Thursday, so, since I had nothing to do but wait, I prayed the Luminous Mysteries of the Rosary.  Oh, because of my dryness in prayer I tried to distract myself with other things, but in the end I relented to the call to pray.  I don’t think I ever finished it, because as I prayed the second Luminous mystery, The Wedding of Cana I began to realize that Our Blessed Mother was helping me to ask for His love to minister to this situation, and in fact to overflow into my past failures to endure in love and faithful patience.  In turn, I was being invited to wait on the Lord.  How can one trust such an intuition?  How can one cling to it with nothing to see as proof it will come to fruition?

He trusted in God;
let him deliver him now if he wants him.  Matthew 27:43

But as I have journeyed through this Lent the meditation of waiting on the Lord has kept coming back.  I went to a day of reflection given by the Institute of Priestly Formation.  We meditated on trusting and waiting on the Lord, especially in situations where our own love cannot suffice.  We wait on His perfect love to flow our through us.

But Mary Magdalene and the other Mary
remained sitting there, facing the tomb.  Matthew 27:61

And I wait, with hope and faithfulness for what I don’t quite know.  I walk forward into this uncertain situation with the trust that what I need will be given when I need it.  I wait with Mary Magdalene and the other Mary, facing the tomb, not knowing but trusting.  I wait relying not on my own strength, but on the strength of the One who conquers all.

Christ Jesus, though he was in the form of God,
did not regard equality with God
something to be grasped.
Rather, he emptied himself,
taking the form of a slave,
coming in human likeness;
and found human in appearance,
he humbled himself,
becoming obedient to the point of death,
even death on a cross.
Because of this, God greatly exalted him
and bestowed on him the name
which is above every name,
that at the name of Jesus
every knee should bend,
of those in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue confess that
Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father. Philippians 2:6-11

Into your hands Lord, I commend my spirit
Blessed Holy Week,
Heidi

Whose Kingdom Are You Seeking?

Reflection for Sunday, March 2 -- The Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time

By: Judy Morss

Gospel of Matthew 6:24-34

Jesus said to his disciples:
“No one can serve two masters.
He will either hate one and love the other,

or be devoted to one and despise the other.
You cannot serve God and mammon.
“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life,
what you will eat or drink,
or about your body, what you will wear.
Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing?
Look at the birds in the sky;
they do not sow or reap, they gather nothing into barns,
yet your heavenly Father feeds them.
Are not you more important than they?
Can any of you by worrying add a single moment to your life-span?
Why are you anxious about clothes?
Learn from the way the wild flowers grow.
They do not work or spin.
But I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor
was clothed like one of them.
If God so clothes the grass of the field,
which grows today and is thrown into the oven tomorrow,
will he not much more provide for you, O you of little faith?
So do not worry and say, ‘What are we to eat?’
or ‘What are we to drink? or ‘What are we to wear?’
All these things the pagans seek.
Your heavenly Father knows that you need them all.
But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness,
and all these things will be given you besides.
Do not worry about tomorrow; tomorrow will take care of itself.

Sufficient for a day is its own evil.”


Ash Wednesday is this week, and so we enter into the Lenten season. As I enter into the Lenten desert, I hope to draw closer and closer to our Savior, Jesus the Christ. The readings for this Sunday seem to have a common focus seeking the Kingdom of God and his righteousness. There we will find the love of God and His care for us. Isaiah 49:14-15 tells us that even if it were possible for a Mother to forget her child, "I will never forget you."

Our response to Psalm 62 is "Rest in God alone, my soul" and we are told that "Only in God is my soul at rest; from Him comes my salvation."  In Matthew 6:24-34 Jesus tells his disciples: "No one can serve two masters. He will either hate one and love the other, or be devoted to one and despise the other." He further tells us that we should not worry about our life or the day to day issues in our lives. All that we need will be given to us. Our focus must be on the kingdom of God.

We are not to worry about tomorrow; "tomorrow will take care of itself."  To stop worrying about tomorrow is not an easy thing. Jesus invites me to trust Him and know that He will give me what I need, according to His plan for me. Now comes the hard part. His plan for me; not my plan for me. I need to hear and receive this invitation to trust in a more personal, deep way. I need to feel the comfort that Jesus offers and accept and feel the bond, the special connection and the tenderness that God has for me.

God has a plan for me; He created me to achieve that plan. As I reflect on these readings, it becomes more and more obvious to me that I MUST decide who I will serve. When I focus too much on my wants and needs (security issues) then I am serving a false god. There is freedom in the decision not to worry about all of the external things, but to trust that God will provide for my needs. When I release myself from serving my own needs, I free myself to serve others. And that change in my focus, opens me up to all that the kingdom of God provides.

With peace and love,
Judy

It's worth it.

A reflection on Matthew 5:38-48, the Gospel for February 23, 2014, the 7th Sunday in Ordinary Time.

 

 

Jesus said to his disciples:

“You have heard that it was said,

An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.

But I say to you, offer no resistance to one who is evil.

When someone strikes you on your right cheek,

 turn the other one as well.

If anyone wants to go to law with you over your tunic,

hand over your cloak as well.

Should anyone press you into service for one mile,

go for two miles.

Give to the one who asks of you,

 and do not turn your back on one who wants to borrow.

 

“You have heard 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,

for he makes his sun rise on the bad and the good,

and causes rain to fall on the just and the unjust.

 For if you love those who love you, what recompense will you have?

Do not the tax collectors do the same?

And if you greet your brothers only,

what is unusual about that?

 Do not the pagans do the same?

So be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect.”

 

This week’s Gospel is certainly not easy to live out.

When someone strikes you on your right cheek, turn the other one as well. But that hurts!

If anyone wants to go to law with you over your tunic, hand over your cloak as well. But it’s mine, I earned it!

Should anyone press you into services for one mile, go for two miles.  But I’m busy and far too tired!

Every statement in today’s Gospel emulates God’s love for us. He gave his whole self, and yet he continues to turn the other cheek when we reject Him and His teachings. His love does not lessen, no matter our actions. He desires us to have that same love for each other. It is not easy to do in an imperfect world, but we need to step outside our comfort zone.

What do you have to lose by extending yourself?

Better yet, what do you have to gain?

The losses are temporary, and the gains far outnumber them. If we never venture beyond the sense of security, we never grow.

A baby could very well remain helpless for the rest of their lives. Most have all their needs fulfilled by others, and are largely care-free. But they were created for more, and so they strive for more. Are a baby’s first steps without trepidation? Of course not. But they still take them, because by doing so a whole new realm of possibilities is opened.

When teaching a baby to walk, often times one parent will be supporting the child, while the other is a short distance away with arms open. The first parent releases the child, and waits with baited breath. The other beckons the child, encouraging them. Both parents are there to catch the child if they fall, and also to celebrate when the child is successful. This is parallel to God’s support whenever we strive for sainthood.

Picture a parent twirling their child in the air after the first steps. What if God was that elated each time you extended yourself righteously? (Hint: He is!)

Isn’t that alone worth it?

 

Godbwye

Laurel

 

Be the Light

Reflection for Sunday, February 9 --  The Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time

  Judy Morss

Gospel of Matthew 5:13-16
Jesus said to his disciples:
“You are the salt of the earth.
But if salt loses its taste, with what can it be seasoned?
It is no longer good for anything
but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.
You are the light of the world.
A city set on a mountain cannot be hidden.
Nor do they light a lamp and then put it under a bushel basket;
it is set on a lampstand,
where it gives light to all in the house.
Just so, your light must shine before others,
that they may see your good deeds
and glorify your heavenly Father.”
The readings for this Sunday seem to have a common focus on light. Isaiah 58:7-10 tells us "If you bestow your bread on the hungry and satisfy the afflicted; then light shall rise for you in the darkness, and the gloom shall become for you like midday."

Our response to Psalm 112 is "The just man is a light in darkness to the upright" and we are told that ""Light shines through the darkness for the upright; he is gracious and merciful and just."
In Matthew 5:13-16 Jesus tells his disciples: "You are the light of the world.... Just so your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father."

Sometimes when I look around me, I see a lot of darkness. When I listen to the news, I often see and hear even more darkness. But then I will notice a person whose light shines brightly. Like the teenager next door who shovels the sidewalk for his elderly neighbor and takes no pay. Then there is a woman from church who brings a couple of elderly ladies to Mass every Sunday morning. I see our people at Eucharistic Adoration 24 hours a day, seven days a week and the light shines brighter and brighter.

There certainly is a lot of darkness in the world, but when I begin to feel some despair, I look to those people who do not "light their lamp and then put it under a bushel basket." And that makes me refocus on being the light. Our readings for this day tell us what we need to do. We need to feed the hungry, shelter the homeless, cloth the naked, encourage and support those who are afflicted.

I have lots questions I need to ask myself. Am I gracious and merciful and just? Do I reach out to those in need? Am I a just person; can my soul be part of the heavenly light? I am commanded by my Savior to become light; to be light. If we all persevere and become the light, we can help put out the darkness. From darkness to light, that's my goal.

With peace and love,
Judy

Prepare the Way of the Lord!

Reflections for Sunday, December 8 --  The Second Sunday of Advent

By: Judy Morss

For those of you who keep the tradition of the Advent Wreath, we light the second candle today. Candles one, two and four are purple in color. The first candle which we lit last Sunday is called the prophet's candle and it symbolizes hope. We think of Isaiah, the Prophet, who foresaw the coming of our Messiah.  The second candle is known as the Bethlehem candle and it symbolizes faith and preparation as we prepare for the coming of Jesus. The third candle is pink/rose in color and is lit on Gaudete Sunday. The priest wears rose colored vestments; my priest laughingly tells us that he is "pretty in pink." This candle is called the shepherd's candle and symbolizes the joy that was proclaimed by the angels when Jesus was born. The fourth candle is called the angel's candle and symbolizes peace and love when Jesus came to earth.  Some churches and families add a fifth candle, a white candle.  This candle is lit on Christmas Eve and is known as Christ's candle.  The Advent Wreath can be a wonderful symbol of our Advent journey as we move closer and closer to the beautiful gift from God, the birth of our Savior.

Today's gospel is taken from Mathew 3:1-12

John the Baptist appeared, preaching in the desert of Judea
and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!”
It was of him that the prophet Isaiah had spoken when he said:
A voice of one crying out in the desert,
Prepare the way of the Lord,
make straight his paths.
John wore clothing made of camel’s hair and had a leather belt around his waist.
His food was locusts and wild honey. At that time Jerusalem, all Judea,
and the whole region around the Jordan were going out to him
and were being baptized by him in the Jordan River as they acknowledged their sins.
When he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism,
he said to them, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath?
Produce good fruit as evidence of your repentance. And do not presume to say to yourselves,
‘We have Abraham as our father.’
For I tell you, God can raise up children to Abraham from these stones.
Even now the ax lies at the root of the trees. Therefore every tree that does not bear good fruit
will be cut down and thrown into the fire. I am baptizing you with water, for repentance,
but the one who is coming after me is mightier than I. I am not worthy to carry his sandals.
He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fan is in his hand.
He will clear his threshing floor and gather his wheat into his barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”

Advent indeed is a time of waiting, of hope and of preparation. Just as John the Baptist, we are crying out in the desert. We are looking and longing for something. Often we don't know what we are looking for; we just know that we have a hole that cries out to be filled. The Baptist reminds us that we need to prepare for the coming of the Kingdom of God -- Christ himself. We should be focused on "making straight His paths." We often wander about in the darkness or in dim light, not sure where we are going or what we have as our objective. It is so easy to get involved in the preparation of Christmas and lose sight of the wonder that is before us. In order to straighten my path, I need to ask God for forgiveness and hope. If I focus on the holiday instead of the Holy Day, then I wait for Christ in vain. When I spend more quiet time with Him, I begin to see in the birth of Jesus what He really means in my life and what He gives me. Through His love, my life can bloom and flourish. I can indeed make a straight path for Him to enter directly into my heart. May the season of Advent draw you closer and closer to our Savior and as you light another candle each week, may your straight path become brighter and brighter.

With peace and love,
Judy