"What do you want me to do for you?" The story of Bartimaeus is about disappointment, not wish fulfillment. Sure, Jesus cures one blind guy. But how many in that "sizable crowd" wanted a miracle too? Israel expected the deliverance promised by the prophets, but they weren't going to get that from Jesus either. He must have been one bummer of a dude. No wonder they nailed him to a tree. But that's the real Good News, isn't it? The Way is not some fantasy story for the lucky few, but rather the hidden grace of brokenness, fear, and hope that we all experience. The truth is that God already does for us what we need them to do. We just have to open our eyes and see it.
Sunday, October 28, 2012
Sunday, October 21, 2012
Twenty-ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time
"You do not know what you are asking." We pray for power and justice according to our terms, but God does not live by our terms. True power is mercy and true justice is sacrifice. The ways of Love appear as foolishness and failure to our eyes, but God can see far beyond our frame of vision. They do not want guardians of truth, nor do they desire servant-leaders for the people. They call us to be slaves to Love. Resist this call if you must, but be wary of the master you choose to serve instead, for her power is quickly exhausted and his justice does not linger long.
Sunday, October 14, 2012
Twenty-eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time
"It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for one who is rich to enter the kingdom of God." Jesus is preaching about attachment, not class warfare. We were created to cling to truth, grace, and one another. But we don't, do we? You don't need God's omniscience to know that we are a people obsessed with stuff; just watch an evening's worth of TV commercials. The more we possess, the more we believe we need, and the harder it is to let go of any of it. We have so much, and yet we are so very poor. It's all rather sad.
Sunday, October 7, 2012
Twenty-seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time
We were created to be together as "one flesh," but we let "real" life and all its obligations get in the way. Jesus tells us that we must "accept the kingdom of God like a child," for only a child is fool enough to believe in the power and reality of faith, hope, and love. Children get first kisses and first loves, then are expected to grow up and join the "rat race." Why? Youth knows that marriage is the property of poets, storytellers, and mystics. We adults are the ones who turn it over to the lawyers, politicians, theologians, and scientists. Divorce is simply the natural triumph of our jaded, rational maturity. But it doesn't have to be that way. True love is not a fairy tale; it's part of our Parent's design. And we don't need to be children to believe in it, just a foolish, childlike faith.
Sunday, September 30, 2012
Twenty-sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time
"The precepts of the Lord give joy to the heart." Why? Because God is not interested in short term profit or provincialism. We see in these readings cautionary tales of greed and jealousy. The ones who pursue "luxury and pleasure" with little regard to their impact upon the souls of our siblings or even themselves. What will those souls feel when the veil of our limited human vision has been lifted and they can see the entirety of the carnage they wrought? Can we conceive of a hell worse than that? And let us not forget the self-righteous ones who are angered by those who speak in God's name without the proper credentials. Are they really worried about God's reputation being bruised or is it their own ego they are concerned about? Does a self-proclaimed prophet denigrate the official ones or elevate the rest of us? The Parent of Moses, Jesus, you, and I is open, generous, and patient. Moses and Jesus strove to be their true children. What will you and I do?
Sunday, September 23, 2012
Twenty-fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Family is about putting your siblings first; attending to their needs before your own. Jesus does not demand radical things from us. He simply asks us to be the family that we already are, and for that we must kill him. He is like the crazy uncle at Thanksgiving, who speaks the truths no one wants to hear, that we try to laugh off, even though we long to be just like him, but we won't, because truth is too scary, so it's better to mock the old fool and live in fear, after all, who the hell is he to question our choices, our desires, I mean, look at the world we've created ...
Sunday, September 16, 2012
Twenty-fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time
"You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do." These words should give us pause. It wasn't just Peter who had false expectations of the Christ. If that was so during Jesus' own lifetime, how much more so is it today? There are lots of preachers, and politicians, with lots of details on the "works" God desires most, and the kinds of crosses we should "take up." What kind of faith are they encouraging us to live? And what kind of salvation are they promising in return?
Sunday, September 9, 2012
Twenty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time
We are the ones impressed by bright and shiny things, not God. Our groveling and pleading are pointless. She loves us because that is who he is, not because we give them presents. Jesus did not want our praise. He wants us to love as he loved. How else will God's "vindication" arrive? Who else can provide "divine recompense" if we refuse to? We must love our family without favoritism or conditions, for God's saving grace is meant for everyone, especially those who feel like they least deserve it. Is that really so difficult or complicated?
Sunday, September 2, 2012
Twenty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time
"'This people honors me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.' ... You disregard God's commandment but cling to human tradition." These words seem particularly appropriate as we enter into our political season. We know what God's Love demands of us, but we cling to our partisan ideologies instead. Enough! It is time to love our family, all of it.
Sunday, August 26, 2012
Twenty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time
"Be subordinate to one another out of reverence for Christ." We Americans cringe at the idea of being subordinate to someone. It offends our notions of freedom. But you cannot be in relationship with another unless you are willing to be subordinate to that other. How do you think the Trinity works? Yes, this is hard to accept. But if it is truth, where else can you go? "If it does not please you to serve the LORD, decide today whom you will serve." You have plenty of gods to choose from. So whom will it be? "As for me and my household, we will serve the LORD." Always.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)