Built To Last

Deacon Tom Writes,

“Built To Last”

Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B

The author of the Book of Wisdom writes, “God formed man (and woman) to be imperishable…in the image of His own nature”. In Jesus we get to see the image of God living, working, eating, and praying with His people. Jesus is tireless in preaching the kingdom of God. Mark relates numerous stories of Jesus working miracles as he encounters people who needed to be healed, reconciled, and fed. Today’s readings contain several such miracles. After curing the man who was possessed, Jesus crosses the lake and encounters Jairus who implores him to come to his house where his daughter lies near death. But, as Jesus begins his journey, he senses “power had gone out from him”, power that had been usurped by the hemorrhaging woman who found herself healed.

Jesus brings about much healing in Mark’s Gospel. It seems as if Jesus is rushing off from one miracle to another the way Mark recounts it! It is interesting to note that the word that Mark uses for the “healing” is the Greek word “sōzō”, a word that not only means “to heal” but also “to save”. In other words, Jesus not only heals people from their sickness but also he saves and restores them to the original state they were created, as “imperishable” beings… made in the image and likeness of God and destined to share eternity with the Divine Godhead.

A challenge we face in our busy lives is that there are so many activities and so much technology available to entertain us that we have little time for spiritual reflection or very little time to probe the deeper meanings of our human experiences for that matter. And so we go from one activity to another, from work to recreation. We get a little sleep, cut the grass, do the shopping, and bring the kids to this activity or that sport. We are so fatigued at the end of the day, we go to sleep only to rise the next morning and begin all over again. We seldom give any conscious thought to key spiritual aspects of our lives such as our mortality or what lies ahead when we die. For most people, this is “living the dream”. But is it really? We hardly notice our neighbor or experience God in any of our activities of daily living. How are we to be God’s instruments spreading the Good News of God’s Kingdom where we are the ones with the power to heal, chase out demons, ease the suffering and grief of those around us in light of the hectic pace of our lives?

Yet, I believe, we all long to experience the presence of God that touches and heals us and brings us His salvation. But in order to find that calming peace and healing presence, we must first look to find God’s presence in the ordinary…in the mundane… in the routine and boring events that are the bulk of our day-to-day lives. We must, as St. Ignatius discovered, “find God in all things” if we are to experience the divine and to recognize God’s imprint upon us. If we take the time to think about it, we have already entered into eternity. Life for those who believe will be changed, not ended, as proclaimed in our Funeral Liturgy. For, as the Book of Wisdom reminds us today, we were made in the image of God’s own nature. So then, we can believe and trust that we have been made to go the distance. We were, as it were, “built to last”! So, once we have lived and spread the Good News in this life, we can look forward to celebrating it forever in the life to come!

Enjoy the day!

Deacon Tom

You Light Up My Life (Nativity of John the Baptist) June 24

Deacon Tom Writes.

 “You Light Up My Life”

Solemnity of the Nativity of Saint John the Baptist - Mass during the Day, Year B

In our first reading the prophet Isaiah says that God will make of him “a light to the nations that my salvation will reach to the ends of the earth”. It is extraordinary that God singles out people to play a unique role in Salvation History. Today on this Feast of the Nativity of John the Baptist we recall how God used John as His instrument to “Prepare the way of the Lord”. The gospel tells the story of John’s birth.

Following that notion that God chooses individuals to suit His purpose, we are familiar with the story of St. Paul and, how after his conversion, he becomes an avid witness to the gospel, spreading the good news of our salvation through much of the ancient world. In his letter to the Ephesians St. Paul asks them to pray for him that he might be able to, “open (his) mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel for which I am an ambassador in chains, so that I may have the courage to speak as I must” (EPH 6:19).

Isaiah, St. John, and St. Paul are courageous men of faith and their accomplishments are remarkable. In reality, however, we are all called by God to be His instruments in making known His saving work. We are called to add our own testimony of how God is working in our lives, helping us not only during those difficult times but also when things are going well and we are enjoying the good things God has given us.

We don’t need to suffer martyrdom to be a witness of our faith. Living simple, holy lives is sufficient. Witness in the form of living the beatitudes, being authentic in living the words of the “Our Father” by forgiving others who “trespass against us”, by praising God and thanking Him for “Our daily bread” keeps us rooted in the spiritual realm and is the source of the light that we called to reflect in the world.

Like Isaiah, Jesus, John and Paul, let that light who illumines our lives shine brightly, “that (others) may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father” (MT 5:16).

Have a fun and safe summer!!

Deacon Tom

Called To Be Courageous

Deacon Tom Writes,

“Called to Be Courageous”

Eleventh Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B

Courageous may indeed accurately describe the person who “walks by faith, not by sight.” But, first it is helpful to describe what we mean by “faith.” By professing that we are Catholics we take on the obligation to live according to the standards Jesus demonstrated in the Gospels. In the simplest of terms it means that we put our heart and soul into living each day mindful of the calling that we have received; our trust is in God and His will for us. Sure, we do the best we can; we make our plans; we put our best foot forward; we navigate the day with a particular vision that keep us mindful of the inherent dignity of the other person; we are immersed in the belief that “everyone” is our “neighbor”; we don’t ignore that we have done some things that we are not proud of and have hurt others and so we are aware of our sinful nature that is much in need of God’s mercy and forgiveness. Walking by faith means we put forth our best effort and then depend upon God for the outcome. This is courageous living as St. Paul explains to the Corinthians but it is not without its reward that awaits us when we “appear before the judgment seat of Christ”.

It takes courage to give witness to the gospel of Christ by living each day in accordance with the values Christ taught us. Being a follower of Christ is easier said than done. It’s easier to preach ten sermons than to live one, as the saying goes!

St. Paul was on to something when he spoke of the courage it takes to live a life of faith. It takes courage to have one foot planted firmly here in this world, in terra firma as they say, and the other foot planted in that spiritual realm, the kingdom of God, that Christ preached to help govern and direct our lives. People of faith face much difficulty trying to manage their responsibilities, in attempting to balance the realities of this world…the need to provide for family, to pay the mortgage, to save for college for the kids, and taking care of ageing parents all while living virtuous lives that reflect the gospel values.

It takes courage to face our own struggles and at the same time to reach out and help others who face their own set of challenges and difficulties. It takes courage to visit the soup kitchen each week and not feel helpless in the face of the endless need. It takes courage to work for peace and justice with all that we see happening in our communities and in the world. It takes courage to seek the “Truth” of the gospel and to live according to, “the Way, the Truth, and the Life.” It takes courage “love neighbor as ourself” and to stand by and up for the immigrant, the marginalized, the outcast. It takes courage to recall that Jesus’ table fellowship with these very people was the reason He was put to death. Yet, our faith constantly encourages us to be courageous and not lose heart in the face of the obstacles we encounter even when we find ourselves at odds with the world. For Jesus was politically savvy enough to warn His disciples, “If the world hates you, realize that it hated me first”. (John 15:18)

It is so important as Catholics to be constantly aware of God’s love and to remember that God’s grace is always at work in us, giving us the courage to persevere in our faith. Aware of God’s love and presence in our lives, we are then better able to love and serve Him by loving one another.

A Happy Father’s day to all the fathers, grandfathers, and soon to be fathers!

Enjoy the moment!

Deacon Tom

The Blame Game

Deacon Tom Writes,

“The Blame Game”

Tenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B

When trouble strikes, the one thing we can count on is there will be plenty of excuses and finger pointing. It is part our very nature. We see it at the very beginning of the creation story. The reading from Genesis today reminds us that God set out one simple rule for life in the garden and it didn’t take long for that rule to be violated. Don’t eat fruit! Simple enough but it was still too difficult for our first parents to follow. Admittedly, they had some help in breaking the rule. Yet, when all was said and done the man blamed the woman and the woman blamed the serpent. Denying the responsibility for their misdeeds and placing it on someone else didn’t change the punishment they incurred. But it did form pattern of behavior that would be passed on to all future generations. We call that behavior Original Sin. And we, like our parents, have become good at passing the buck.

We put much of our energy in blaming others, looking for excuses for our shortcomings, our failures, and our sins. Our egos have developed ‘thick skins’ in order for us not to feel the guilt that is the natural consequence of our wrongdoing. Our conscience is what moves us to feel sorry for our transgressions but if our conscience becomes disordered, ones life becomes totally out of control. Sadly history documents far too many examples of the suffering and havoc done to innocent victims by those whose consciences have dulled.

What reason could there be for such a pathetic condition as living with a warped conscience? Could it be the same influence that was present in the garden that tripped up our first parents?  In the gospel Jesus recognized the influence Beelzebul had and continues to have on the lives of all who have ever lived and that is perhaps why He points to the power Satan has over the world: the power to deceive and distort the “Truth.”

Satan is always in attack mode: destroying the truth, conflicting the truth, blurring the line between what is true and what is untrue, changing the name of what are “lies” to “alternate facts”. The father of lies does is very effective at what he does. After all, our first parents fell for this lock, stock, and barrel. And human history has recorded the painful consequences humanity has suffered throughout its pages.

It’s time to choose sides, Jesus tells us today. Choose to be a part of Jesus’ extended family: mothers, brother, fathers, and sisters living in harmony with Jesus who is the “Way, the Truth, and the Life.”

Enjoy the day,

Deacon Tom