Decision Time

Deacon Tom writes

“Decision Time”

Twenty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B

“If it is displeasing to you to serve the LORD, decide today whom you will serve…” (Jos 24:15).  Joshua poses this demanding question to all the Israelites gathered at Shechem many years after they had entered the promised land.  The people responded, “… We will serve the Lord, our God, and will listen to his voice.” (Jos 24:24)  Today as we listen to this scripture passage, we are asked the same question!  And what is our response?

No generation has had an easy time answering this question.  Life has always been hard.  Finding God in the midst of all that life presents challenges all of us and eludes even those who strive to do so.  Who is God? What is my relationship with God? What does the Almighty ask of me so that I can answer this question honestly and with resolve?  These thoughtful questions are ones people have been asking themselves throughout the ages, questions, perhaps we have been asking too over the course of our spiritual journey. 

I find it helpful to reflect on a passage from St. John’s gospel to get a better understanding on “how to” serve God in the way that God desires.  It is the passage where Jesus washed the feet of his disciples and when he has finished, he asked them, “Do you realize what I have done for you?” Not certain how they, the apostles, should respond, Jesus continues… “I have given you a model to follow, so that as I have done for you, you should also do”.  (John 13:15)

Jesus, ever the teacher, gives us a very simple example of how we are to serve the Lord, Our God… by placing ourselves at the service of one another.  St. Paul gives us some further guidance when he instructs the Corinthians, “Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ”. (1COR 11:1)

This question about deciding whom we should serve is so very important today.  There are many activities competing for our time, our attention, money, and loyalty.  Our own individual choices we make in pursuit of happiness and the lure of the myriad of technological advances that fill every waking hour leave very little time for crucial activities such as spending quality family time together, engaging in meaningful reflection, finding time for solitude and reflection…

Scripture asks us today “…Whom we will serve”.  May God’s grace lead us so we may come to know, love and serve him in this life and in the life to come.

Enjoy the day!

Deacon Tom

Image credit: thronewatching.com

Give Thanks Always

Deacon Tom writes

"Give Thanks Always"

Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B

2,000 years ago St. Paul instructs the Ephesians “Watch carefully how you live, not as foolish persons but as wise”. He is concerned because “the days are evil”. Do we need to “Watch carefully” how we live today?  Do we need to heed Paul’s advice to the Ephesians and “give thanks always and for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God the Father”?  Yes, on both counts!

When it comes to our consumption of material goods, for instance, no matter how much “stuff” we have, we are more likely to complain than be thankful. That’s just the way it is. It’s one of the consequences of living in a consumer driven society. We have become accustomed to setting our expectations so high when it comes to material things. We want what we want when we want it!!!  We suffer from the psychological need for “Instant Gratification”, a condition arising from the unlimited desires within us. I think it is safe to say that Madison Avenue knows us better than we know ourselves. How sad is that?  Madison Avenue is able to shape our desires and mold our behavior from our early childhood. If you haven’t seen enough “Infomercial” watching your programs on TV, turn on the kids shows on Saturday morning…You will be amazed!

But our personal experience tells us that when we do get the things we want, it doesn’t take long for us to become disappointed with them. They are not what we expected… they didn’t match my other clothes… it doesn’t do what we wanted it to do…it broke soon after we got it home. And so goes the litany of disappointment.  Material things just aren’t capable of providing us with long-term joy and happiness. That’s the true nature of the things of this world.

Scripture draws heavily on the image of God as a parent. What father or mother does not want to see their children happy?  The real question to ask, of course, is what makes us happy?  We need the things of this world for sure. But we need to be “wise” in our choices. The wisdom that Paul insists upon in today’s reading is that we put God first in the choices we make by giving thanks to him for all that we receive. It is a thankful heart that God desires most and we shape that heart by realizing that all that we receive, all that we have, come from him and belong to him. Our lives, our families, our health, our jobs, our joys, desires, and plans are gifts he has shared with us and they are only a part of the bounty of what he has in store for us. Wise men and woman understand this reality and that understanding is what allows them to “Give Thanks Always”, every moment of the day, in good times and in hard times, on sunny days and the soft days when the due falls. This is the wisdom of the ages that enables those who seek it to live well and…  “advance in the way of understanding” by thanking and praising God at all times. 

Enjoy the day!

Deacon Tom

Image credit -  en.wikipedia.org

Imitation Is The Greatest Form Of Flattery!

Deacon Tom writes

“Imitation Is The Greatest Form Of Flattery”

Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B

Talk about setting a high standard for ourselves. Do you think St. Paul was serious when he told the people of Ephesus “to be imitators of God?  Ephesus was the third largest city in the Roman Empire and was home to a quarter of a million people when Paul arrived there to begin his missionary work. Paul set up his ministry in this city because it was the center of the Greco-Roman culture, drawing travelers from both worlds. His approach to teaching the people of Ephesus was focused, direct, and predicated on this core principle: Christianity requires a dramatic change in the way would be followers of Christ live every aspect of our lives. Christianity isn’t just being nice to one another or a polite way of living. Paul explains the conversion of heart that one must have to genuinely embrace the “ New Way” he was teaching. His instruction is simple, “All bitterness, fury, anger, shouting, and reviling must be removed from you, along with all malice. And be kind to one another, compassionate, forgiving one another as God has forgiven you in Christ”.

The image above was painted by Maryknoll Brother, Robert Lentz in an… “endeavor to see the Christ among the least of us, and to serve the Christ that lives in the margins of this world”.  Our faith challenges us to increase in our understanding of how we are called to love and serve the poor and marginalized in our time as did Christ in his, and…. to “have among yourselves the same attitude that is also yours in Christ Jesus”. Phil 2:5

Imitation is the greatest form of flattery as the saying goes. In our readings today, St. Paul is calling upon the people of Ephesus to embrace a new life, not just changing their behavior, but also taking on a new role model, Christ, who, as, “the way and the truth and the life” (Jn 14:6) showed us how we are to be “Imitators of God”.  It’s a worthy goal! And, it is certainly one that is difficult, sometimes seemingly impossible, but worthy and something to be strived for as we endure life’s challenges! 

Change is always difficult. Bad habits are hard to break. Paul speaks to us today, asking us to become God-like. This requires that we not only stop doing some things, like being bitter, angry, or uncivil. We must also start doing some other things, like being kind, forgiving each other, being compassionate; not necessarily in becoming prisoners for the cause or righteousness as much as using our many freedoms to serve God’s Will. To become more God-like is really a movement away from behaviors that are self-centered and replacing them with activities that are God-like and that demonstrate our concern and love for one another.

Be imitators of Christ today. Send a card to a sick friend; do a good deed for someone, a random act of kindness; tell someone you’re sorry for a hurt you may have caused; little by little letting go of self and becoming more and more “Imitators of God”.

Enjoy the day!

Deacon Tom

Photo Credit – Christ Of Maryknoll, Br Robert Lentz, OFM