14 October 2017 - an observation about observing

Today's Readings (Audio)

Jesus is calling us to hear the word of God. He himself is the word of God and when he speaks we have the opportunity to hear. Yet so often we don't really listen. The words are spoken but we don't observe them. They enter and exit our consciousness quickly without having any transformative effect on us. Yet the words Jesus speaks have power. They are able to cut to the heart. They can transform us if we observe them. We observe them like signposts guiding us toward the right path. We observe them by keeping them in mind, by remembering them, speaking them, and doing whatever we can to keep them in our mind's eye. Only observance within can allow us to be faithful in external observance.

Mary is doubly blessed. Hers is the womb that carries Jesus. Hers is the breast at which he is nursed. And she, more than any other human, hears the word of God and observes it. She is able to welcome the word so fully that she is the one in whom he takes on flesh. She treasures the word in her heart and so she lives a life of utter fidelity to that word. From beginning to end her secret is a humble acceptance of God's word to her.

The LORD tells us that he is a refuge for his people. We can hear that, think it is nice imagery, and forget it. Or we can actually take refuge in him. It is actually an invitation. There is power here to respond to the storms of life. But to unleash it we must hear and observe it.

The Holy Spirit is the fountain that flows from the house of the LORD. Let us drink from this stream so that we may abide forever. We drink from this fountain in both word, sacrament, community, and prayer. Most of us are almost dying of thirst. Fortunately there is no absence of water. We just need to listen.

Light dawns for the just;
and gladness, for the upright of heart.
Be glad in the LORD, you just,
and give thanks to his holy name.

13 October 2017 - kingdom come

Today's Readings (Audio)

The LORD Jesus and his Kingdom are among us. We see his finger out work. The sick are healed. Souls are set free. These fruits are so genuine as to bear out the claims of the one who works them. Crazy people can't do things like this. The lies of liars don't bring others to experience more authentic love joy and peace. But the LORD's power at work in the world does do this. What we see him do is something which we are not strong enough to do without him. We see him solving otherwise unsolvable problems. The problems go deeper than we tend to think. The enemy is actually holding many hearts in bondage. Only Jesus is strong enough to set us free.

But when one stronger than he attacks and overcomes him,
he takes away the armor on which he relied
and distributes the spoils.

In fact, without Jesus we just tend to make problems worse. We may help to get out the first demon but we leave a vacuum behind us that pulls in seven more. We have nothing with which to fill others in the absence of the pain and bondage that they currently experience. Only Jesus has the grace and spoils of the Holy Spirit to us. He fills us so full that there is no room for the enemy. He himself comes to dwell in us and he has overcome the world (See John 16:33).

With Jesus within us we need not fear the coming day of the LORD. He and he alone can make us ready.

Alas, the day!
for near is the day of the LORD,
and it comes as ruin from the Almighty.

With the demons cast out, with Jesus living inside of us through his Spirit, we need not fear the day of judgment. We already welcome the kingdom by welcoming Jesus, even before the great and terrible day when it comes in fullness.

But the LORD sits enthroned forever;
he has set up his throne for judgment.
He judges the world with justice;
he governs the peoples with equity.

12 October 2017 - keep asking

Today's Readings (Audio)

he will get up to give him whatever he needs
because of his persistence.

We need persistence. This means that for those things that really matter we can't just throw prayers at the wall to see if they stick. When we are convicted about something we need to pray relentlessly. We need to ask and keep asking. This is one thing which the Amplified Bible renders better:

So I say to you, ask and keep on asking, and it will be given to you; seek and keep on seeking, and you will find; knock and keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you

This verse about asking follows the parable about persistence for a reason. It is only if we ask with persistence that we receive. Who goes up to someone's door and knocks only a single time? Yet this is what we do with prayer. And then we run away, afraid, ultimately, that we're going to suffer the wrath of the one inside. But the one inside is not full of wrath. He wants us to come in. He wants us to really make up our minds about it and will not force us. In fact, he is knocking continuously on the doors of our hearts before we ever come to him. He loves us even while we are yet sinners. We ourselves know how to give good things to our children even though we are wicked. How much more does the Father want to pour out in abundance on us.

If you then, who are wicked,
know how to give good gifts to your children,
how much more will the Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit
to those who ask him?

The day is really coming when persistence will be rewarded and when those who seek more short term strategies for fulfillment will be disappointed.

But for you who fear my name, there will arise
the sun of justice with its healing rays.

Prayer is meant to reshape our will and conform it to God. It cannot achieve this end if it is just a weak and momentary thought. God is the one who teaches us to pray. It is his grace that gives us persistence and allows our hearts to be conformed to his. We have but to enter in.

He is like a tree
planted near running water,
That yields its fruit in due season,
and whose leaves never fade.
Whatever he does, prospers.

11 October 2017 - and mercy for all

Today's Readings (Audio)

It is so important that we learn to forgive. Jesus comes to us before we deserve it. He offers forgiveness before we ask for it. We must be willing to do the same for others. After having been shown so great a mercy, how can we possibly hold anything against anyone else?

and forgive us our sins
for we ourselves forgive everyone in debt to us

We cannot be like Jonah. He is so fixated on what he thinks the people of Nineveh deserve that he can't appreciate it when they receive God's mercy.

Jonah was greatly displeased
and became angry that God did not carry out the evil
he threatened against Nineveh.

We tell ourselves we're pursuing justice. We tell ourselves we're protecting our rights. And those are valid motivations. But that isn't really what we're doing. We aren't interested in justice so much as in condemnation for those who wrong us. We want more the mere balance restored. We want them to suffer for the wrongs they have done. It is a good thing that God does not feel the same way about us.

For you, O Lord, are good and forgiving,
abounding in kindness to all who call upon you.
Hearken, O LORD, to my prayer
and attend to the sound of my pleading.

The LORD is rich in mercy. The paradigm of his kingdom is one of mercy and forgiveness. In order for us to truly hallow the name of the Father and to welcome his kingdom we must be willing to welcome his mercy, not just for ourselves, but for all. This is the only way we ourselves can walk in his mercy. It is only by this mercy that we escape the final test.

All the nations you have made shall come
and worship you, O Lord,
and glorify your name.
For you are great, and you do wondrous deeds;
you alone are God.

10 October 2017 - at your feet

Today's Readings (Audio)

The Lord said to her in reply,
"Martha, Martha, you are anxious and worried about many things. 
There is need of only one thing. 
Mary has chosen the better part
and it will not be taken from her.

It is not too late. Let us go to the feet of Jesus, let us sit at his feet and listen to him speak.

"Forty days more and Nineveh shall be destroyed,"
when the people of Nineveh believed God;
they proclaimed a fast and all of them, great and small, 
put on sackcloth.

It is not too late. Let us turn aside from our evil way and from the violence we have in hand. God will relent and forgive and withhold his blazing wrath so that we shall not perish.

In patient mercy the LORD waits for us to come to him. He invites us ever nearer and nearer. 

Therefore, beloved, since you wait for these, be zealous to be found by him without spot or blemish, and at peace. And count the forbearance of our Lord as salvation. (see Second Peter 3:14-15)

The invitation is constant.

Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me. (see Revelation 3:20).

God invites us to turn aside from everything that is less than him. First we put aside evil and mortal sin. But even the legitimate goods of our lives must eventually take second place to him. For him it would be worth it to trade all consolation. The more we can put Jesus first in our lives, to simply be content to sit at his feet, the less that the world can take from us, and the more we will know the joy that only he can give.

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid (see John 14:27)

He waits patiently for us. Let us in turn learn to wait for him.

Let Israel wait for the LORD,
For with the LORD is kindness
and with him is plenteous redemption;
And he will redeem Israel
from all their iniquities.

9 October 2017 - mass transit

Today's Readings (Audio)

"Set out for the great city of Nineveh, and preach against it;
their wickedness has come up before me."
But Jonah made ready to flee to Tarshish away from the LORD.

God sends us to those in need. The people of Ninevah need to hear his message.

"Set out for the great city of Nineveh, and preach against it;
their wickedness has come up before me."
But Jonah made ready to flee to Tarshish away from the LORD.

The victim of the robbers is in need of help. Let us not flee from the call of the LORD nor cross to the road on the other side. The LORD asks us to widen our hearts to care about people and situations about which we are by nature indifferent or worse. This comes as a challenge to us. We feel like we have enough concerns already. We think we have to preserve our own purity and don't have time for these others. But Jesus leads by example. When we are half-dead from sin Jesus heals us by bearing our burden himself, by bandaging our wounds, by pouring the Eucharistic wine over us to heal us, and by entrusting us to his Church. We are much more profoundly unclean than the victim of the robbers. Jesus is much more pure than the priest and the Levite. Yet he does not hesitate to help us. 

It is best to heed God the first time he calls. But even if we do not he does not give up on us. He will do amazing and sometimes frightening things to set us on the path he intends for us. The lengths to which he will go to keep us on the right path should ultimately comfort us.

But the LORD sent a large fish, that swallowed Jonah;
and Jonah remained in the belly of the fish
three days and three nights.

God helps Jonah to let go of his own control over his life so that he can obey him and live inside of his will. If we cling too rigidly to our own control we may well find ourselves in the belly of a whale, brought back to the LORD's purpose for us, a purpose from which we all, at one time or another, try to run. This is a mercy, even though it can be severe. It is because the LORD refuses to leave anyone half dead on the side of the road. He doesn't want to allow us to be such people either. Let's help the first time. Let's cross to the victims of sin and violence and hate. Let us love them from our own resources. And if we find ourselves fleeing from such love, let us allow the LORD to bring us back.

Then I said, "I am banished from your sight!
yet would I again look upon your holy temple."

8 October 2017 - due season

Today's Readings (Audio)

There was a landowner who planted a vineyard,
put a hedge around it, dug a wine press in it, and built a tower. 
Then he leased it to tenants and went on a journey.
When vintage time drew near,
he sent his servants to the tenants to obtain his produce. 

What are we doing with our vineyard? We have much entrusted to us by the landowner. Do we remember that is where we get it from? Or do we use the vineyard for our own purposes and keep the produce to ourselves? The LORD gives gifts of time, talent, and treasure to us. He designates people in our lives for whom we have special responsibility. He sets us to tasks to which we are uniquely well suited. But we quickly seem to forget the why behind the what. It isn't just a matter of having and using God's gifts. We must use them as designed for them to function as intended. In other words, we can't just use them to build our personal happiness and comfort. We must use them for the sake of the kingdom.

He will put those wretched men to a wretched death
and lease his vineyard to other tenants
who will give him the produce at the proper times.

The Church on earth isn't meant, necessarily, to be the must comfortable Church. Nor is it meant to be the most entertaining. More than these, the Church is called to be fruitful. We are called to bear fruit in due season.

God gives us all we need for the task to which he calls us. The ground is fertile, cleared of stones, the vines are choice, there is a watchtower and a wine press. Yet, in spite of all of this, we can still end up with wild grapes if we don't apply due care and attention. Let's not try to do it alone. The landowner may be on a journey but the LORD is with us always and he is ready to help.

Once again, O LORD of hosts,
look down from heaven, and see;
take care of this vine,
and protect what your right hand has planted
the son of man whom you yourself made strong.

The more it seems like the landowner is away the more we need to remember that the vineyard is his and what his purpose is for it. We need to be able to entrust everything to him no matter whether he seems distant or near. 

Brothers and sisters:
Have no anxiety at all, but in everything,
by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving,
make your requests known to God.
Then the peace of God that surpasses all understanding
will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

When we work in accord with his purpose we do not cling too tightly to the fruit. We are able to offer back to God what he allows us to grow, knowing we will always have enough.