"Whoever thinks he is standing secure should take care not to fall." Our Parent's kindness and mercy is nothing to be taken for granted. Of course, that does not stop us from trying. How often do we treat grace like a bottomless cookie jar or a "get out of jail free" card? But if our brother Moses was denied entry to the Promised Land for his sin, can we really assume that the Landlord will keep giving us one more year indefinitely? No, we need to find a sense of urgency when it comes to repentance. And we should probably devote a few of these forty days to the acquisition of gardening skills.
Sunday, February 28, 2016
Sunday, February 21, 2016
Second Sunday of Lent
Do you truly long to know our Parent's face? Do not answer now. Let that question steep in your heart for the remainder of these forty days, because it is not one to be taken lightly. God is not a cuddly pet or a drinking buddy. Our ancestors knew the wisdom of awe. They understood what they were dealing with. Do you? So pray hard this Lent. Because some things just cannot be unseen.
Sunday, February 14, 2016
First Sunday of Lent
Our Parent promises to be there with you whenever you are in distress. Just call upon them, and you shall know deliverance and glory. But do you trust them? How long will you wait to be brought "out of Egypt" before turning to some other god for assistance? And how long will you cling to faith once you get that first glimpse of your cross? Yes, these forty days are about recognizing that deliverance and glory come on God's time and terms. Not the easiest of lessons, but always a beautiful one.
Wednesday, February 10, 2016
Ash Wednesday
"Return to me with your whole heart." That is our invitation and our challenge for these forty days: to turn away from power and money and all our worldly concerns, and to turn towards our Parent and our siblings and the kingdom we all share. It is our annual opportunity to remember why we were created and to whom we will return. Lent is a gift. Let us welcome it with open arms and hearts.
Sunday, February 7, 2016
Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time
"Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, 'Whom shall I send? Who will go for us?'" It feels arrogant to claim such words. Perhaps that is why God chooses to deliver them to the unclean. I know my sin, and so I also know that my calling is not a reward. Call it a gift, a duty, a glorious burden, but never a reward. I am lowly, the least of their servants. But by their grace, I have been made useful. Wherever our Parent needs me, I will go. And whoever the audience, I will sing their praises.
Sunday, January 31, 2016
Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time
We are surrounded by prophets singing of salvation. But do they have love? Not the faux version sold by pop culture, comfort food for the soul sort of stuff, but the real thing. The kind that gets you run out of town for daring to rejoice with the truth. The kind that brings joy to your heart as you gird your loins, because you know what is coming and who has your back when it arrives. Does your favored prophet have that kind of love? And if not, why give them your vote, let alone your allegiance?
Sunday, January 24, 2016
Third Sunday in Ordinary Time
"Today this Scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing." Yet two millennia later, our world is still full of the poor, the captives, the blind, and the oppressed. Was our Brother delusional? Or have we been ignorant? And what do our answers mean during this new "year acceptable to the Lord" proclaimed by our bishops? Yes, we should bring wealth, health, and freedom to those brothers and sisters who lack them. But an even greater act of mercy would be to share the good news that such things are already ours, even if we refuse to see or feel them. So do not be sad when your efforts fail to fix the problems of the world. And do not weep for utopias that were never meant to be. No, rejoice today, for I bring to you glad tidings: the kingdom is here; the kingdom is now; the kingdom is yours for the taking.
Sunday, January 17, 2016
Second Sunday in Ordinary Time
"As a bridegroom rejoices in his bride so shall your God rejoice in you." But do we rejoice in our God? Do we honor them during the hard times? Do we love them in sickness and in death? Do we believe in them after the wine is long gone, along with the food and the water, and no miracle is in sight? Or are we just glorified gold diggers, holding onto our praise until we get some "marvelous deeds"? Yes, your Lover is offering you their hand and their kingdom. So what kind of spouse will you be?
Sunday, January 10, 2016
Feast of the Baptism of the Lord
Violence. Disease. Poverty. Natural Disasters. We have good reason to be anxious and afraid. And it is understandable that we seek comfort in practical solutions, in acts of mercy and social justice. But such "solutions" bring only fleeting peace, for the comfort we need cannot be produced, not even with rituals of water and oil. No, we need the Spirit and the fire she brings. A fire that burns into our hearts, consuming all the lies we tell ourselves about life. A fire that opens our eyes to something wonderful, something we previously might have mistaken for trash. A fire that showers us with sparks every day of our lives, if only we are willing to see. And if we do, we shall know comfort beyond measure, for we shall know hope. So let us bless the Spirit, dear souls, for she is great indeed!
Sunday, January 3, 2016
Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord
E pluribus unum. Out of many, one. The words are American, but the truth they speak of is ancient. It is the same truth as was revealed to the magi, Paul, and countless others down the ages: we are one people, one family. But will we choose to embrace this truth or fight against it? The voices of tribalism are legion: left, right, and center; champions of nativism and diversity alike. So many, too many, urge us to stay in our corners, our bubbles. Whether from fear of contamination or assimilation, we cling to superficial distinctions, while ignoring shared grace. These actions might suit the needs of the powers that be, of all sides, but they do not serve our family, no matter how much we pretty them up with the latest buzzwords. At the end of the day, we have a choice to make, just as the magi did. So what will ours be? Herod and his ilk or our Parent and theirs? Tribe or family? Many or one?
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