Today we shall sing these words, "Your presence, O LORD, I seek. Hide not your face from me." But after we do, how many of us will look around and see that face staring right back at us? Far too few, unfortunately. Some will close their eyes and wait for the miraculous. Others will stare at their shoes and hope that God is not really listening. But a few, far too few, will look and see God right there in our brothers and sisters struggling to love as best they can. We do not need to vacate this planet to become a citizen of heaven. We do not need to wait for the end times to witness God's glory in one another. But we do need to help our family open their eyes and raise their heads.
Sunday, February 24, 2013
Friday, February 22, 2013
Feast of the Chair of Saint Peter, Apostle
How fortuitous that we should celebrate this feast as the Church prepares to elect a new occupant for said chair. Today's readings remind us that when Jesus gave "the keys to the Kingdom of heaven" to Peter, he was hiring a shepherd, not a doorman. Peter and his successors are tasked with getting us into heaven, not keeping us out. And not just some of us, but every last one of us. So let us pray for a Church and a pope who will eagerly and kindly serve all of God's flock.
Sunday, February 17, 2013
First Sunday of Lent
We are not strangers to this temptation, for all of these scenes are but one temptation, one we have a more difficult time resisting than our brother Jesus: to bend God's will into a fulfillment of our own desires. God's path is too hard, so we do whatever's necessary to make the journey more luxurious. God's path takes too long, so we cut deals with whomever we can to create the true utopia. God's path is too mysterious, so we walk away from her when he won't prove their love to our satisfaction. Oh, we do all this under the flag of goodness and righteousness, but the problem is that neither our luxuries nor our utopias seem to last very long, so inevitably we're left in the dark and cold struggling to find our way back. There are no shortcuts around God's will, no matter how appealing they be.
Wednesday, February 13, 2013
Ash Wednesday
Today, the Church marks us for all to see. And yet, Jesus tells us in the Gospel that we should not wear our faith on our sleeves, or our foreheads for that matter. The Church picked the readings, so why the double message? Perhaps it is to remind us that these ashes are not for our co-workers, our neighbors, or any of the strangers we meet today. They are for ourselves. They are not meant to be worn on our skin for a few hours. They are supposed to reside in our hearts for the next forty days. So you might as well wash them off quickly, for God knows if they truly stuck.
Sunday, February 10, 2013
Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Isaiah. Paul. Peter. Time after time, God chooses the sinner, not the perfect, to be their prophets. Is she a sucker for a good redemption story? Or maybe he just finds them to be more fun to work with? Perhaps they are the only ones who can see grace in all its glory. Whatever the reason, it certainly looks like preference, not coincidence. And that is good news indeed! For if God chose them, then he could choose us as well. "Whom shall I send? Who will go for us?" Here I am, I say; send me!
Sunday, February 3, 2013
Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time
It's all about love. The prophet's job is to speak the Truth of Love. So why then does the prophet face rejection? Because we don't understand love any better than those who drove Jesus out of Nazareth. Do we believe in the kind of love of which Paul speaks, or the fantasy of butterflies, rainbows, and all things sparkly? When we are injured by another, do we follow the path of revenge or redemption? When we are the ones causing harm, do we seek out denial or atonement? When confronted with evil, do we turn away and engage in happy talk or look it squarely in the eye and place our trust in grace? Do we embrace only the likable or even the ugliest of God's children? Does love mean for a few, or for some, or for many, or for every last one of our brothers and sisters? And when we fail to love, do we accept reality or dare to hope? Yes, "Love never fails," because God never fails.
Sunday, January 27, 2013
Third Sunday in Ordinary Time
"Today this Scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing." How many of us would be bold enough to utter these words? And yet, did the Spirit not descend upon us as we were anointed in Confirmation of our baptismal vows? Are the poor, the captives, the blind, and the oppressed no longer children of our Parent? Are we under no obligation to bring freedom, vision, and good news to our brothers and sisters? Is it not our duty to shout from the rooftops about the grace all around us that our siblings refuse to acknowledge? I pray that we are as bold as our Brother.
Sunday, January 20, 2013
Second Sunday in Ordinary Time
Why was Jesus hesitant at Cana? He foresaw the outcome: "His disciples began to believe in him." He knew how impressed we are by flashes and bangs, and that from then on miracles would become the required element for purveyors of faith. Even today, a saint isn't really a saint until he or she has performed a couple of miracles. What nonsense! If you're waiting for a little razzle-dazzle before you will listen to the voice of God, you're going to be very disappointed.
Sunday, January 13, 2013
Feast of the Baptism of the Lord
“You are my beloved Child; with you I am well pleased.” These words were not for Jesus alone. They were meant for him to share. In Baptism, you and I are claimed for all time by our Parent. We are not family because of some random cosmic lottery. We are chosen.
Sunday, January 6, 2013
Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord
Oh, how we love our tribes. They give us strength and identity. They make us special. But today, our Parent tells us that the era of tribalism is over. The Truth, whether we like it or not, is that we are one people, one family. It is not easy to let go of the tribe. We may feel weak and vulnerable. But if God was willing to become an infant to deliver the message, what excuse could we possibly come up with that justifies our failure to reach across the divide and grab hold of our brothers and sisters?
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