Tuesday of the Seventh Week of Easter
St. Paul’s message to the Church elders that we read in the Acts of the Apostles today sounds quintessentially like Paul: it is a bit abrupt and not without dramatic flare. He is telling the community that he will travel on to Jerusalem, just as the Holy Spirit has led him to proclaim to Gospel to so many other cities. All of this travelling, he says, is dangerous and he knows he will face imprisonment and probably death.
Monday of the Seventh Week of Easter
Having a friend and being a friend is a wonderful part of living. As I read the scripture, I often wonder what it was like for the disciples to be not only followers of Jesus, but his friends and daily companions as they traveled on the way. Today’s scripture reminds me of how Jesus is the perfect friend. Despite our failings, our lack of trust, our indifference, and even sometimes our betrayals of him, Jesus loves us, forgives us, and even lets us know that when we fail, He will never turn away from us. What more could you ask for in a friend? His gift of peace and assurance of fidelity in the midst of our daily challenges is a source of hope and courage to all those who share in His friendship.
Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord
There is some new data that should worrisome for many of us. The Pew Research Center finds that the percentage of adults who describe themselves as Christians has dropped from 78.4% in 2007 to 70.6% in 2014. Over the same period, the percentage of Americans who are religiously unaffiliated – describing themselves as atheist, agnostic or “nothing in particular” – has jumped more than six points, from 16.1% to 22.8%. The drop in the Christian share of the population is seen mainly among mainline Protestants and Catholics. The evangelical Protestant share of the U.S. population also has dipped, but at a slower rate, falling by about one percentage point since 2007.
Saturday of the Sixth Week of Easter
There are some things that I don’t like. I don’t like being woken up too quickly, being tailgated, lukewarm coffee, or the feel of cotton balls (yes my wife picks on me about this one). The thing I probably hate the most, though, is being corrected. There is nothing worse than the mental gymnastics that take place as I try to dodge the bullet of being, God forbid, wrong. This is why the first reading is so important to me today.
Friday of the Sixth Week of Easter
For many people (myself often included), life happens on a very short-term time scale. My days are cluttered with brief Facebook announcements, quick news tidbits and hurried hellos to friends as I rush to the next activity. My thoughts and feelings are equally as short-term: how I feel about my life, my appearance, my job, politics, religion and so on are easily affected by a friend's Facebook post, or a sales clerk's mean words, or any number of other short, day-to-day interactions. I can feel despair if someone doesn't smile at me, wondering all day why they didn't smile, what I did wrong, how I could fix it for next time. My feelings about these short day-to-day interactions can last a long time, paradoxically.
Feast of Saint Matthias, Apostle
Today’s gospel reading for the feast of St. Matthias is the same as this past Sunday (John 15: 9-11). It is rich and beautiful and, I think, worth hearing again. Jesus is speaking to his disciples about his love for them, the invitation to “remain” in that love, and the joy that comes as a result. As followers of Jesus, we are called to remain in his love as well. And to keep his commandment, which is stated twice in this reading, and is simply this: “love one another.” How are we to love one another? Jesus says, “…as I love you.” Simple, yet challenging. For we are reminded that “no one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends”. And isn’t that exactly how Jesus demonstrated his love for us? We are commanded to love one another in the same way.
Wednesday of the Sixth Week of Easter
Going out to eat as a kid, often meant going to places with placemats and crayons. My favorite part was connecting the dots. It was exciting to watch the picture come to life. So much of life is about connecting the dots, yet the connections are sometimes allusive. When a good story or joke teller draws you into a story they are often giving the details that lead you unsuspectingly to the conclusion. St. Paul clearly was a master story teller and preacher. He clearly knew how to connect the dots of faith by understanding the people to whom he preached.
Tuesday of the Sixth Week of Easter
Josh Ritter recorded a sad song a few years back called “Best for the Best.” In it, the singer recounts times in his life when bad things happened, and laments “they say the best is for the best, but that’s not what I’ve found.” Today’s readings have a special meaning for us when we’re feeling like Josh Ritter.
Monday of the Sixth Week of Easter
Have you ever thought about how well you listen? I have always thought I was a good listener but if I really think about it, I realize there are times during conversations or meetings, or even during church services, that I find my mind has wandered—or even that I have presumed what will be said in advance. This is not a good thing! It most likely means I am no longer truly listening. Today’s Scriptures remind me how important this particular gift is on a moment by moment basis in my life overall and especially in my relationship with God. Listening is an art and needs practice. Listening—in all it’s various forms—requires work, attention, and perseverance.
Sixth Sunday of Easter
(Let me preface the homily by saying that the stories I will share are not meant to put the people in them in a negative light. I respect each person and where they find themselves at a certain point in their life. I am sharing these stories with immense respect for them).
I am going to share two stories with you. The first story is about a patient at hospice I anointed last Sunday. He must have been about eighty years old. When I introduced myself to him, he seemed relieved. One of the very first things he said to me was, “Father, I am glad you are here. I have not been to church in thirty, fourty, fifty years. I have no reason for that. Just did not do it. I wish I had.” I tried to console him and let him know that God’s love is greater than our weaknesses. He believed that. But then, it is what he said afterwards that got my attention. He said, “When I get out of here, I am going to come and see you in church. I promise I will be in church every Sunday, if I can.” Of course, in my mind I was wondering if he knew he was at hospice. I really prayed that he might recover and at least be able to go to church at least once. The larger question in my mind was, did it have to come to this to realize what he should have always done? To face death with regrets – It is really not a good place to be at!
Saturday of the Fifth Week of Easter
Jesus’ words in today’s Gospel immediately brought to mind the idea of an ambassador or an emissary. Here are the verses that I want to reflect upon, “If the world hates you, realize that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, the world would love its own; but because you do not belong to the world, and I have chosen you out of the world, the world hates you. … If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours. And they will do all these things to you on account of my name…” I know, it is a charming little passage. To offer a juvenile side note, this passage is a perfect set up for Jesus to look at us when we complain and say, “I told you so.”
Friday of the Fifth Week of Easter
I often get asked, "Why is Christianity so legalistic? Why are there so many rules?" This seems intuitively wrong to many, especially when they read that Jesus himself broke laws. For instance, Jesus broke the Sabbath in order to heal people (see Mark 3). He favors mercy over legalisms and love over obeying a rule that doesn't lead to more love.
Thursday of the Fifth Week of Easter
Joy. This is an emotion and a state of being that is hard to explain. It is more than happiness, more than contentment. It is defined as “a feeling of great pleasure and happiness.” But joy to me means so much more. Joy is a deep, inner part of our being that shines through in all we do. Joy shines forth in our conversations, in our actions, in the way we approach the world. Joy comes from a deep belief in the love of Christ. I think it is rooted in the security of knowing that no matter what else happens in this life, we are committed to Christ, we are Christ’s. He is there to take care of us.
Wednesday of the Fifth Week of Easter
This past week I was talking with a person who owns a small vineyard. We began talking about it because of this gospel. This man described how much pruning of the vines was necessary. The year the vine will grow six feet, then you cut it back to one foot. The second year it will grow to ten foot and then you cut it back to one foot again. On the third year after it has been severely pruned then it can bear good fruit. The vineyard owner explained that the other years the vines would bear fruit, but that the grapes would be the size of a raisin and useless for wine. The third year it would bear grapes that were meaty and ready for eating or winemaking.
Tuesday of Fifth Week of Easter
As summer begins, I know that I, for one, am thinking about travelling. The past few years, my summers have been filled with many trips, whether abroad or more locally. I really love travelling; growing up in an Air Force family meant that I got to see many different places as a child and I continue to crave new places to visit. But as much as I love travelling, I must admit that it is exhausting. It is mentally and physically demanding to be on the move. I wouldn’t miss my friends’ weddings, my academic conferences, or my new cultural experiences for anything, but it sure is nice to be home sometimes.
Monday of the Fifth Week of Easter
Love is the pivotal word around Jesus’ teachings in today’s gospel. Jesus talks about the Father’s love for us, His love for us, and our love for God. He then says “whoever loves me will keep my word.” (John 14 24) What is this “word” that Jesus is talking about? Although some translations use the term “commandments” instead of “word”, I believe Jesus is talking in broader terms. This “word” is something that Jesus wants us to hold onto- to keep, and in that possessing we show God our love. As I reflect on this passage, I wonder if the “word” Jesus refers to is the faith in Him. With this faith we believe that God the Father so loved us that He sent us Jesus, and Jesus through His life and teachings shows us not only how to love others, but how to die to ourselves for the good of others just like He did. We show our love and trust in God with this faith, and with this belief we welcome God and His love into our lives. When we “keep his word” we hold the truths of our faith at the core of our being, and therefore we allow Christ to be our center.
Fifth Sunday of Easter
There is a story my second grade teacher told us in my catechism class. Strangely, I still remembered the story as I read today’s scripture. One day, Michelangelo walking through a garden in Florence, saw a block of marble in a corner protruding from the earth. It was half covered by grass and mud. He stopped suddenly as if he had seen someone. Then he said to his friends who were with him, exclaimed: "An angel is imprisoned in that marble; I must set him free." And, armed with a chisel, he began to work on that block until the figure of a beautiful angel emerged. The teacher continued, “Each of us is an angel in the making. And God is the artist. The chisel is the Word of God. God uses his word to bring out the best in us.” Later when I got older, I verified the truth of Michelangelo’s story. It turns out, that my teacher was correct. The angel is now in the Basilica of St Dominic in Bologna, Italy.
Memorial of Saint Athanasius, Bishop and Doctor of the Church
Jesus drops a shocking line in today’s readings. At least, I think it should be shocking to both its initial hearers and us. He says, “Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever believes in me will do the works that I do, and will do greater ones than these.”
Friday of the Fourth Week of Easter
Thursday of the Fourth Week of Easter
You may have noticed that the readings since Easter have been taking us through the book of Acts, the Acts of the Apostles. Acts gives us insight into how the first Christians lived in the years after Jesus’ Resurrection and Ascension. Today’s first reading (Acts 13: 13-25) continues the theme with Paul and his companions’ journeying and spreading the message of Jesus. Paul is addressing the Jews in the synagogue in Antioch in today’s reading; the first of several speeches to Jews, proclaiming the continuity between Judaism and Christianity, illustrating that Jesus is the savior brought by God to the people. This first reading ends with Paul quoting John the Baptist saying about Jesus who was coming after him, “I am not worthy to unfasten the sandals of his feet.”