7 Sept 2014 - elevating relationships

This morning God is calling us to unity.  He wants us to preserve the unity of the Spirit by the bond of peace (cf. Eph. 4:3). He is telling us practically how to live that out.

We are no longer strangers or sojourners (cf. Eph. 2:19). We are brothers and sisters with a Father in heaven from whom every earthly father receives his identity (cf. Eph. 3:14). We have the same Father in heaven as Jesus (cf. Joh. 20:17) and so we are all one family. That is what Church really means. It is the covenant people of God. It is the spiritual Israel (cf. Gal. 6:16). Israel starts off as just a nuclear family and grows to a tribe, and then a nation. Finally, in Jesus, the family becomes international in the Catholic Church.

But we know practically speaking that family doesn't mean that our relationships are any easier. They become more important to us which, if anything, makes them even more challenging. We must be our brother's keeper, not turning a blind eye when we see him heading toward destruction.

If I tell the wicked, “O wicked one, you shall surely die, ”
and you do not speak out to dissuade the wicked from his way,
the wicked shall die for his guilt,
but I will hold you responsible for his death.

If we do something to wrong a brother or sister we can't leave it that way. We have to go to them and try to make things right again (cf. Mat. 5:3). We have to ask his or her forgiveness and try to reestablish the relationship if we can. It can be even more challenging if the brother sins against us rather than we against them. We might prefer to leave well enough alone. But we are still called to try to win over our brother. When our motives might be in question because we are involved it is often necessary to bring in others to help us.  An intervention of several people carries more weight than just our own warning, which might otherwise be dismissed. It isn't enough just be get back to neutral, if we can help it. At the very least, "Love does no evil to the neighbor". That is enough to fulfill civil law and ensure harmonious societies.  But we are meant to be family.  So, "let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth" (cf. 1 Joh. 3:1).

If a brother or sister has nothing to wear and has no food for the day, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, keep warm, and eat well,” but you do not give them the necessities of the body, what good is it? (cf. Jam. 2:16).

And the Church is always there to present to us the standard by which make these judgments. She binds and looses that we might have assurance enough to know sins when we see them. She wants us to have sufficient confidence in her to bring her wisdom into our relationships.

In family we are often tempted to harden our hearts. But "where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.” That is why unity is essential. We need this unity because the world needs Jesus here. It needs the floodgates of the Father's blessings opened. And they are opened we agree. They are opened when we come together with one accord like the disciples at Pentecost. There can be no renewed Pentecost apart from renewed unity. The secret then and now is to gather around the Blessed Virgin. Let unite with her in praise to the LORD most high.

Come, let us sing joyfully to the LORD;
let us acclaim the rock of our salvation.
Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving;
let us joyfully sing psalms to him.

6 Sept 2014 - king me

We are invited once again to become fools for Jesus. We see that the Corinthians are inflated with pride. They have become satisfied and grown rich in the wrong ways. It isn't just that they have a preference for one preacher over another. There is nothing wrong with that. They are taking pride in themselves because of whom they choose. They think, look at how great my preferences are.  They even let that pride create division with those who chose something else.

We don't succumb to this when we embrace the foolishness of the kingdom.  We embrace this foolishness when we remember that we have nothing we do not receive. Boasting as if we have not received, as if we have earned, lays the foundations for strife and division.

The Corinthians become kings without Paul. They believe they earn that kingship. Paul does has a path for them to become kings. Yet it is a path that first appears to be foolish. What kind of throne requires that one first experience weakness, disrepute, hunger, and thirst, rough treatment, homelessness, and toil? Isn't the whole point of being king the power to be free from ridicule, persecution, and slander? And then after enduring all, Paul still says that we earn nothing and that all is a gift. It is just too much.

Yet this is precisely the kingship of Jesus. He offers to share it with us. And we are right to recoil, right to count the cost. That means we are taking him seriously. He is calling us to be so willing to seek first the kingdom of God that we appear to be fools from an earthly perspective. The world has no way to distinguish between the times when we must abstain and times when we may indulge. The world could understand it if we always chose one way or the other. But as it is, kingdom criteria is not so rigid and legalistic.

“Have you not read what David did

when he and those who were with him were hungry?

How he went into the house of God, took the bread of offering,

which only the priests could lawfully eat,

ate of it, and shared it with his companions?”

He isn't calling us toward self-hatred. He isn't calling us to willfully inflict as much hunger and thirst on ourselves as we can. Instead, he tells us to put earthly needs in their proper perspective. Hence, as the they walk through fields, the disciples are allowed to pick grain and enjoy it. Jesus sticks up for them. He defends their right to be satiated. They are on mission and they need fuel for that mission. Since these gifts are being put in the service of the true king they are not a problem.

“The Son of Man is lord of the sabbath.”

Foolishness, it seems, is all a matter of perspective about priority. Let's make sure that Jesus is our number one priority. Let us strive to become kings in the way that Paul does rather than the way the Corinthians do. He says that he will become a king along with the Corinthians when they become kings. But that will happen when they become kings for real and not just in their own estimation. Paul wants this for them because the LORD wants it for them.

He fulfills the desire of those who fear him,

he hears their cry and saves them.

The LORD keeps all who love him,

but all the wicked he will destroy.

5 Sept 2014 - wine whining

And no one who has been drinking old wine desires new,
for he says, ‘The old is good.’”

Today the LORD is inviting us to broaden our palate. He tells us how to do it, too. Once we acquire a taste appreciating it is easy. But learning to like something new, whether, wine, or beer, coffee or cilantro is something nearly impossible by our own will even in purely human terms.

It isn't that there is anything inherently wrong with the old wine or the other flavors to which we are accustomed. Fasting, for instance, will find it's place in our new diet. As will feasting. But the old wine is a problem if we are unwilling to try anything new. If we are unwilling to move forward, old forms and practices can become idols. We are guilty of idolatry when we trust our practice rather than the Living God. We need to be sufficiently detached from our old cloaks that when we receive a new cloak from the LORD in baptism, we don't ruin it for the sake of old.

He is inviting us to feast, because he, the bridegroom, is with us. Are we so attached to the way things were that we refuse to enter into the joy he has for us here and now? Are we like the older brother who won't enter into his father's party for the prodigal son who has returned? From our perspective it is as to condemn the older brother. But the older brother is so caught up in his way of thinking that he doesn't even immediately realize that he is missing out. He has been thinking this way for a long time. It is hard to change just because there is suddenly a party.  This is just one reason why human judgment is inadequate. Even Paul has to say:

I do not even pass judgment on myself; 
I am not conscious of anything against me, 
but I do not thereby stand acquitted

Paul has an excellent framework for judgment, better by far than the older brother in the story. But even he recognizes that he might be wrong. He might be more attached to his own judgments than to the wisdom of God. Even Paul needs the LORD to "bring to light what is hidden in darkness" and "manifest the motives" of his heart. The possibility always is fresh in each moment. It is a temptation requiring constant return to trust in God. The world reinforces it. The world condemns Paul for his weakness, his foolishness, his lack of public speaking ability, and any number of other things ranging from the true but misunderstood to outright falsehoods. It is easy to start believing the world's criteria and ignoring the LORD.

We need to seek "praise from God" and not the world in our motives. These are the motives that free us to enter into the Father's celebration. These motives compel us to feast with the bridegroom while he is near us. We now taste the new flavors which we are offered unencumbered by expectations and comparisons. We can now genuinely enjoy them for their own sake.

Commit to the LORD your way;
trust in him, and he will act.
He will make justice dawn for you like the light;
bright as the noonday shall be your vindication.

LORD, broaden our palates. Let us taste and see your goodness!

4 Sept 2014 - foolproof

“Put out into deep water and lower your nets for a catch.”

We are invited to get out into deep waters today. But why? Because that is where the catch is. There are a million reasons for us to stay close to the shore. We sympathize with Peter:

Simon said in reply,
“Master, we have worked hard all night and have caught nothing,

The deep is effort when compared to shallow water. And we all have so much disappointment in our past. We make effort like our lives depend on it to no avail. Everything inside us tells us that this time will be no different. We may as well stay close to the shore. Why put in more effort just to be disappointed?

But this time is different. This time we move in response to the "word of God" and not just our own impulse. But even so, even in spite of this inspiration, it often seems like foolishness. This word seems foolish to us when it seems to tell us to try things we've tried before and expect different results. It is foolish when it tells us to leave the ninety-nine and go searching for one lost sheep. It is foolish when it tells us not to worry about tomorrow and instead to seek first the kingdom. It is foolish when it tells us to be last and the servant of all in order that we might be first. It is foolish when it tells us that we have to lose our lives in order to gain them. This is the foolishness embraced by Jesus when he does not deem equality with God something to be grasped but instead empties himself (cf. Phi. 2:6). It is the foolishness of the incarnation. It is the foolishness that does not come down from the cross even though to do so would be as easy as willing it. Thank God for this foolishness. And let us share it.

If anyone among you considers himself wise in this age,
let him become a fool, so as to become wise.

So let's get out into the deep. We have to be fools to do it. But God gives us the grace to become foolish enough to trust him. When we do so we find true wisdom. When we do not we are only left with this world's wisdom which is "foolishness in the eyes of God". That sort of wisdom only trips us up and paralyzes us.

God catches the wise in their own ruses,

The path up the mountain of the LORD requires that we trust in his wisdom and not our own. When we become fools in the eyes of the world and trust him he is able to make our hands sinless, our hearts clean, and our desires pure. When we embrace the foolishness of God miracles abound.

When they had done this, they caught a great number of fish
and their nets were tearing.

At your command, LORD, we become fools and lower our nets. We are astonished at your greatness. Help us to lay aside all distractions to follow your plan for us.

3 September 2014 - got milk?

Insert Mother-in-law Joke Here

We all have parts of us that are still immature. We have areas of our hearts that have not yet grown to the full stature of Christ (cf. Eph. 4:13). If God offers us milk and not solid food let us be grateful for the nourishment. Let's swallow our pride and receive.

Jesus is here to "proclaim the good news of the Kingdom of God".  He knows the purpose for which he is here. He won't turn aside or be dissuaded. He will bring the good work he begins in us to completion. We don't have to insist that he do it all at once because we can trust in his fidelity. We want to know that Jesus is the Christ and confess it just like Peter does. But we cannot take this revelation. We must receive it. Demons try to interfere. They appeal to our curiosity with half truths. Jesus keeps them quiet "because they knew he was the Christ". Jesus is indeed the Christ. But if we learn that fact from demons we will not learn it correctly. Indeed, it will seem an imposition rather than a gift. Let us be patient then. Jesus is here to convey this good news to us. He is focused. He knows his business. We can trust him with our process.

Jesus wants us to know our purpose as strongly as he knows his. We are watered as God's field and built into God's building so that we in turn may water and build as "God's co-workers". Sometimes we all want to turn aside to the comfortable and the familiar. These distraction try to prevent us from leaving and continue on our mission. Jesus wants us to know our purpose strongly enough that we are not distracted. There are healings that need to be done. There are demons that need to be cast out. And we are part of God's plan for that. When we engage in his plan we often feel like we have to do the whole thing ourselves. But we are a body. Each of us is a different part with a different gift. We are called to offer ourselves at specific times and places. One of us may be called to bless someone at one stage of his or her journey whereas another may be called to that same person before us, and another person again after. One waters and another gives the growth.

God knows us all. He is much better at being in charge of the universe than we are. He is able to deploy us according to our strengths.

From his fixed throne he beholds
all who dwell on the earth,
He who fashioned the heart of each,
he who knows all their works.

And so, LORD, water us. Build us. Transform us until your purpose for us fills our minds and hearts. Transform us until we rejoice in you and overflow with your praises.

Our soul waits for the LORD,
who is our help and our shield,
For in him our hearts rejoice;
in his holy name we trust.

2 Sept 2014 - focal pointed

Jesus invites us to know him. But we can't do it on our own. To understand what Peter understands, that he is the Christ, the Son of the Living God, we need something more than flesh and blood.

no one knows what pertains to God except the Spirit of God.

Jesus is with the Father from the beginning. He is with God and he is God (cf. Joh. 1:1). He is in the form of God (cf. Phi. 2:6). In "him dwells the whole fullness of the deity bodily" (cf. Col 2:9).  He is God blessed forever (cf. Rom. 9:5). Where would our human minds even begin? He is utterly without limits.  He is completely unbound by change. Yet he is not capricious. He is merciful and just. He is love itself. The incarnation makes this at once harder and easier to grasp. Now he looks like us. Now he accepts apparent limits by which God is not bound. He even accepts death. Yet here, within these limits, he reveals that the greatness of his love. It is love that only God can have.

To hold all these apparent contradictions within our minds at once we need help. Without help we will imagine a Jesus that is simply human and not God.  Or else we will imagine a God who will never choose to become man for us.  But the Spirit comes to our aid in our weakness.

We have not received the spirit of the world
but the Spirit who is from God,
so that we may understand the things freely given us by God.

Christ reveals to us everything that the Father tells him (cf. Joh. 15:15). But to do this he first has to give us his own mind.  Hence, "we have the mind of Christ." So how do we actually get that mind, practically? Well, we have it! Our minds are regenerated in baptism. We are "enlightened" by the waters of the Spirit. But we have to let that mind transform us. And Jesus helps us with this, too. It is by "the riches of his glory" that we are strengthened in this way (cf. Eph. 3:16).

He is the one who speaks with authority to the demons that still clamor for dominance within us. We all still have the voices of the old self trying to shout down the voice of Christ. May we not listen to those voices. Jesus enters our very minds so command all that is unclean within us to come out. We need fill our minds with his words so that the words of demons can find no room.

They were all amazed and said to one another,
“What is there about his word?
For with authority and power he commands the unclean spirits,
and they come out.”

We need to "take every thought captive to obey Christ" using the very strength he gives us to do so. Our focus determines so much. Jesus is within our hearts trying to shift our focus to God. Let us not stubbornly fixate on the words of demons who try to bring us down.

Finally, beloved, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

When we do this we join the crowds who are amazed at his word. We give him thanks and bless him.

Let all your works give you thanks, O LORD,
and let your faithful ones bless you.
Let them discourse of the glory of your Kingdom
and speak of your might.

1 Sept 2014 - amazing day

Jesus give us glad tidings today!  He wants to give us the freedom of the Sons of God, freedom from the fear of death that makes us slaves (cf. Heb. 2:15).  He wants to give us sight by being light for us in our darkness.  He wants the eyes of our hearts to be enlightened so that we can know the hope to which he calls us and so that we can know the greatness of his power at work in us.  The world tries to oppress us like Egypt oppresses the ancient Israelites.  It tries to tie us to systems that degrade us and sap the life from us.  Jesus sets us free!

But he doesn't do it in the way we expect.  His message isn't persuasive. It is powerful.  Are we ready for that difference?  We don't have a problem with power.  But we would prefer "sublimity of words or of wisdom" and instead we get "weakness and fear and much trembling", the weakness of the cross.  There is definitely power in his words.  No one ever spoke like this man, a Roman guard can't help by notice. Jesus telling the guards "I am" is enough to knock them backward to the ground (cf. Joh. 18:6).  Yes, his word has power. It is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword (cf. Heb. 4:16). But oddly, it won't allow itself to be enthroned alongside other earthly kings.  Strangely, it insists on moving toward the cross.

Event though his word is strange in that way it doesn't require prelude. It requires proclamation. It's strength is self-manifesting. When we listen we are "amazed at the gracious words that came from his mouth" but then we often we insist on human wisdom.  We begin to think in worldly terms.  We expect a long preamble explaining everything. We want to know exactly how cause leads to effect and again to cause. We start asking questions like, "Is this not the son of Joseph?"

The thing is to let the proclamation by fresh.  It is fulfilled in our hearing today. Now is the acceptable time! Today is the day of salvation (cf 2 Cor 6:2). But the more familiar with it we become the less we hear it today. Instead, we remember hearing it yesterday. And this is how we strip the word of its power.

This is why the psalmist approaches the word of God in the way he does.

How I love your law, O LORD!
It is my meditation all the day.

In quiet and in prayer the word is always waiting to speak itself afresh to us.  Let us not turn away from it. God himself wants to teach us (cf. 1 Joh. 2:27).

This morning God wants to fill us with faith in all of the promises of the prophet Isaiah for freedom and hope. And he wants this faith to rest on his power and not on our human wisdom. Listen, and be amazed!