Twenty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time - Musical Chairs_090119

Deacon Tom Writes,

Musical Chairs

Twenty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C

The image Jesus often uses to describe the Kingdom of God is that of a banquet.  Today is a good example.  Jesus is invited to a dinner party by one of the leading Pharisees.  The Gospel opens by saying that … “people were observing him”.    That’s an interesting use of words since what it really means is that “everybody” was watching Him.  That’s because Jesus is the outsider.  He is the one that is not one of them.  These other guests make up the power elite that keeps the system working …for them and to suit their purposes.   Jesus is well aware of this and in turn He is observing them as well. 

It is easy for Jesus to recognize the dynamics at work as the guest begin to be seated.  Everyone wants the best seat in the house… at the head table.  We can imagine many people lunging for few seats, an ancient version of “musical chairs”…. with or without the music. Jesus completely understands that getting some form of recognition, even if it is only a better seat than someone else, is an absolute necessity for an immature and self-absorbed ego.  And so, perhaps as the dinner guests are working their way to the head table, Jesus gives them a lesson on humility, on what it means to have a healthy, mature and appropriate understanding of who we are. 

When we have this understanding about ourselves, Jesus teaches, only then are we are able to enjoy genuine guest parties, where we invite our friends regardless of their ability reciprocate. We are able to enjoy one another’s company because we no longer have to put ourselves above them or compete with them to satisfy our egos.

The table fellowship that Jesus envisioned He has passed on to us in the gift of the Eucharist. Here at the table of the Lord we share in the Body and Blood of Christ and we become one in Him, putting aside all that divides us… race, color, economic status, everything, even our pride and our egos.  We come to the table of the Lord as we are… broken, sorrowful, hungry and longing to be nourished, healed and forgiven; and, we are humbled to discover that at God’s table…… there are plenty of seats for everyone!

Enjoy the day!

Deacon Tom

Twenty first Sunday in Ordinary Time_C - On the Outside Looking In_082519

Deacon Tom Writes,

“On the Outside Looking In”

Twenty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C

Today we find the Lord busy gathering people from all the nations, bringing them from east and west, north and south to recline at his table. All are invited to the feast. All are welcomed to the celebration; no reservations are required! Jesus, however, indicates that we have to do a little more than show up ready to eat. We need to acknowledge the invitation we receive to participate in God’s kingdom by sending back the R.S.V.P. Yes, it seems that we have to act on our desire to participate in this wonderful banquet the Lord has prepared for us by living good and wholesome lives.

It is so easy to say to ourselves that God loves us “Unconditionally” and then go on living lives unworthy of that love. Today’s gospel gives us cause to rethink that behavior. Jesus makes it clear that following him is difficult, therefore, the reference to the “narrow gate”. Those who are not “strong enough” to walk the narrow path, that is, those who live morally shallow or self-absorbed lives, find themselves “on the outside looking in” when it’s time to enjoy this great celebration the Master has prepared.

We all make choices in life, and all of the choices we make have consequences. We are so blessed to have the freedom to engage in virtually unlimited activity and to do pretty much as we please. With such great freedom, we run the risk of making the wrong choices and there can be dire consequences. Making bad choices that complicate our lives and create problems for ourselves and those we love is tragic enough. What about the choices we make that threaten our eternal life? The image Jesus presents today drives home that point effectively.

We don’t want to miss out on eternal life, as hard as that is for us to imagine living, as we do, in a physical, material world. But we do know that St. Paul tries to describe it for us when he says, “What eye has not seen, and ear has not heard, and what has not entered the human heart, what God has prepared for those who love him."     (1 Cor. 2:9)

If we could only live each moment of our lives as if the banquet of eternal life was to begin tonight, we would never have to worry about being on the outside looking in!

Enjoy the day!

Deacon Tom

Image Credit: Becky Johnson - - On The Outside Looking In - steel and glass

Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time_C - Between A Rock and a Hard Spot!_081819

Deacon Tom Writes,

“Between a Rock and a Hard Spot”

Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C

Jeremiah finds himself in a tight spot. He is accused of “demoralizing the soldiers who are left in the city”. The princes want to put him to death. The charges are correct: Jeremiah has been demoralizing the soldiers and all who remained in Jerusalem. Jeremiah disheartened the inhabitants of the city because he told them the Truth…He spoke the words that God wanted them to hear… that everyone who remained in the city would die. It seems that the false prophets, i.e. the liars, were telling the people that there was no need to worry, that everything would be fine; Jerusalem would be safe because their enemy would break off their siege and withdraw from the city. The false prophets were convincing because… the people wanted to believe them. They wanted to be lied to in order to keep the status quo and life as usual. The people wanted to continue on their evil ways and shun the prophet Jeremiah who spoke the Truth.

Well, as we read today, those who were unwilling to listen to the truth, i.e. God’s Word, toss Jeremiah into a dry cistern so that he would die. But, God comes to his aid and Jeremiah is rescued and continues as God’s messenger to a reluctant people.

Today the Word of God remains unfashionable. We turn our backs on him in order to pay homage to the false prophets of our day who say all the right words that keep us snug and comfortable in the cozy world we have fashioned around us. God’s Word calls us out from our comfort zone so we can find “life in the fullest” just as Jeremiah struggled to encourage the people of his day to be faithful to God’s ways.

God’s Word is always relevant. It speaks to us today as it has to the people throughout the millennia. The challenge for us is to discern what God is saying and then to live life that way. That’s how we will find true happiness in our troubled and chaotic world and dispense with the false prophets who would lead us astray from all that God has in store for those who love him.

Enjoy the day!

Deacon Tom

Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time_C - Companions For The Journey_081119

                 Faithfulness                   Praise                         Service

Deacon Tom Writes,

“Companions For The Journey ”

Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C

The readings today give us a practical guide to good living. First, there’s the matter of faith. You need it! Like the ancient people that God called out of bondage in Egypt, we need faith to get us through the hardships and the adversities of this life. Let’s face it. We’re fine as long as things are going our way. We enjoy the good times, the happy moments when we celebrate birthdays, graduations, weddings and anniversaries. We delight when we are successful in moving up the corporate ladder and get the big promotion. But those days of disappointment when things don’t work our right, when relationships fall apart or end, when we lose loved ones……..that’s when faith, if we have fostered and nourished it, enables us to endure and eventually to heal. Faith is a life long friend and companion, that enables us to live life to the fullest, in good times ….. and in bad.

The Responsorial Psalm invites us to recognize the blessings we have received and to give thanks and praise to God. He has called us into an intimate relationship with Him to share in His love and goodness. In doing so He fills the deepest longings and desires of our hearts that helps us grow in faith in Him and trust in His works. 

The gospel reminds us of what we should bring into this relationship, namely…. attentiveness and faithfulness. God requires that we be diligent servants… Always mindful of what the master wants done; always faithful to do what is required. 

Some say that life is a mystery and there is a lot of truth in that statement. The same can be said about faith. There is a mysterious element to it that awakens our need to praise and give thanks to God, and moves us to be faithful and attentive servants. Like essential nutrients, these ingredients aid us in living good spiritual lives. They enable us to give mature and effective witness to the world that we are Disciples of Christ.

Jesus knows how difficult it will be to live according to the high standards He has set. So, once again He reassures us and tells not to be afraid. Words to comfort us and encourage us to persevere in our efforts to live good lives of faithfulness, praise and service.

Enjoy the day!

Deacon Tom