Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time_C - The Truth of the Matter_022722

Deacon Tom Writes, 

“The Truth of the Matter” 

Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C

 Do you recall the 1963 movie, “It’s a Mad Mad Mad Mad World? It was a farcical comedy that brought some levity into our relatively simple lives back then. Today it seems that movie title all too accurately describes the world we are now living in: Mad... Mad... Mad. Confirmation of this can be found by putting on the evening news.

We all witness vast corruption and scandal in our world and in our church; we see political divisions and factions in a constant state of tension with both sides yelling and no one listening; we see families in distress because of broken relationships, drug and alcohol addictions, and a new alienation caused by the proliferation of technology that places in our hands the entire spectrum the good, the bad and the ugly for all to peruse and make their choice. We are indeed living in incredible times, the best and the worst as Dickens would say.

Today’s readings direct provide guidance on the choices we face. There is a clear recognition that the world has a different standard by which to measure success than we find in the teachings of Jesus. We all know the standards for success the world embraces... The world is enthralled with power and success with all its entrapments such as, fame, fortune, the display of extravagant wealth and the lifestyle that goes along with it. The world rewards succeed regardless of the costs and no matter what principles or people have to be compromised along the way. Isn’t it interesting how easily the faults of the rich and the famous are overlooked? People with these qualities will rise to the top and stay there. Yes, they are driven individuals who will succeed no matter the cost.

Today’s gospel lays out a dramatically different standard for Jesus’ disciples. It is a very simple standard. It is one Jesus observed in the beauty of nature. “A good tree does not bear rotten fruit, nor does a rotten tree bear good fruit.” This is pure wisdom by which we can measure the integrity of those attempting to gain influence in our lives.

We are at a critical point in the history of the world. There are many powerful voices seeking to influence our spiritual, political, and economic lives. How do we decide what voices to listen to; how do we know what people to support for political office; what standard can we rely upon to help us navigate the world of commerce upon which we depend for our security, comfort, and quality of life?

The lesson from nature, and Jesus, is simple. Look at the fruit! “You don’t get figs from a thorn bushes, you don’t gather grapes from brambles.” What kind of fruit are we producing?

Enjoy the day!
Deacon Tom

Previous reflections can be found at: www.deacontomwrites.com

Photo- Dalia at Enders Island, Connecticut

Looking for a good read this Lent? Try “Life of the Beloved” by Henri Nouwen. 

Or check out the “Francis Effect Podcast” to keep up with current contemporary conversations happening in our church.

Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time_C - Be the Change_022022

Deacon Tom Writes,

“Be the Change”

 Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C

Mahatma Gandhi, one of the great spiritual leaders of the twentieth century, lived and advised others seeking a better world to: “Be the change that you wish to see in the world.”

Twenty centuries earlier an itinerant preacher and prophet encouraged his followers to take a different approach to the wickedness of the world. It was a radical approach then... just as it was in Gandhi’s day; it was not just the road less traveled, but rather the road that had been inconceivable until Jesus introduced it. The ancient patterns of behavior of seeking revenge; the old “eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth” order of the day mentality needed to give way to a new mindset, a new way of resolving differences. Jesus and Ghandi both understood this. In today’s gospel, Jesus teaches some new and innovative ways on how to rise above the vicious and prevalent injustices of the time with this new teaching... “Offer no resistance to one who is evil” and “turn the other cheek.” Does this mean to yield to evil? Not at all!

Jesus’ radical new prescription to eradicate the plagues of hatred and discrimination is to “love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” Gandhi’s advice is similar. We are to introduce positive changes in the world by the ways in which we engage the world.... through the way of love, by showing compassion to those who are suffering, and forgiveness to those who have hurt us. Of course, this is much easier said than done.

There is a story told about the days following the North’s victory over the South in America’s Civil War. President Abraham Lincoln was being pressured by many of his generals and his politicians to completely destroy the Confederacy, to exact revenge on the enemies of the Union once and for all. Lincoln’s answer was classic. He responded to those calling for the annihilation of the South with these reconciling words: “Do I not destroy my enemies when I make them my friends”? Lincoln understood very well that violence only begets more violence. The cycle never ends. How could it in the absence of a new mindset, a new vision that lifts the victim and the vanquished to a higher level of social and moral consciousness?

Lincoln’s attitude toward reconciliation between the North and the South may have contributed to an attitude that perhaps helped fashion America’s treatment of our enemies in the twentieth century when, after the Second World War, the Marshall Plan sent massive humanitarian aid to Europe in order to lay the foundation for a world able to reconcile differences through mutual respect and an orderly process of dialogue rather than mutual destruction.

Embracing a new way of responding to problems that give rise to the endless cycle of violence that ravages peoples, cultures, and societies is a critical component of our faith. Through the Prophet Moses the Lord told his people to “Be holy, for I, the Lord, your God, am holy.” We are called to be holy as God is holy. Therefore, violence and revenge are not options. There is no better advocate for those who choose to follow in his footsteps than Christ who became a victim for us all and who suffered torture and death at the hands of violent people in order to show us the way of peace, forgiveness and reconciliation.

Let us take Christ’s words to heart and strive to put them into practice by “turning the other cheek” when others choose the way of violence and also by praying for those who do so.

~~~~~~~
I would like to recommend the book, Living Justice, by Thomas Massaro, S.J. as a great Lenten read on Catholic Social Teaching. Watching the News will never be the same!

Also, I highly recommend the Bible in a Year Podcast by Fr. Mike Schmitz. It doesn’t matter when you start! This is an excellent way to start a habit of reading scripture every day that will hopefully go beyond the season of Lent.

Enjoy the day!
Deacon Tom

Image: Flowers in the sand - Sanibel Island

Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time_C - Free to Choose_021122

Deacon Tom Writes, 

Free to Choose

Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C

Jeremiah is teaching the people about simple holiness that leads one to a life of happiness and a sense of security and well-being in the Lord. He uses some vivid images contrasting two opposing ways of life- the holy and the wretched. “Cursed is the one who trusts in human beings… (whose) heart turns away from the Lord.”  Why would one turn their back on the all-knowing, all-loving, all-powerful Lord of all and follow a stumbling fool walking in the dark? Not a good thing, Jeremiah says, for such a person is “like a barren bush in the desert that enjoys no change of season.”

On the other hand, the blessed person “is like a tree planted beside the waters that stretches out its roots to the stream…its leaves stay green; in the year of drought it shows no distress, but still bears fruit”. Seems rather a simple choice, doesn’t it? 

Jesus also uses contrasting ways of life in today’s readings from St. Luke’s account of the Beatitudes to teach about a life of holiness and blessedness on the one hand and a life of misery and woes on the other. We learn that blessedness is a state of being; it is an attitude with which we go through life. Being blessed is our state of mind when we realize that we can never be satisfied with the things of this world. Being blessed is not about what we have or don’t have, it is about knowing what constitutes the important things in life and choosing them: good relationships, simple living, humility, a prayerful spirit. 

Our readings today cause us to stop and evaluate our lives by looking to see how we are living them. Are our lives healthy and vibrant because we are rooted in virtuous living? Or are we going through a desert experience and withering away? The difference, I suspect, is what emphasis we place on God in our lives. The more God-centered our life, the more blessed we will be, in our hunger for the things that matter, in our finding comfort in our times of sorrow, in our persevering through our daily trials and struggles. 

Today’s readings would have us consider the quality of our spiritual lives based upon the path that we choose. Are our lives flourishing like a tree planted by a stream, fully alive, deep-rooted, a full canopy providing shade and comfort for those around us or, are we withered up and dying of thirst, rotting from the inside out as we go about our lives. It's our choice! Today we hear Saint Paul make the case that we have much to lose by choosing the wrong path as he reminds us that ...  “If Christ has not been raised, our faith is in vain; we are still in our sins…. And if for this life only we have hoped in Christ, we are the most pitiable people of all.” 

May we know in our hearts the simple truth that God has called us to the fullness of life in this world and in the next. By his grace we will make the right choice. 

Enjoy the day!

Deacon Tom 

Image Credit: Pinterest.com - Sermon on the Mount.catholicism.org

Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time_C - Depart From Me, Lord_020622

Deacon Tom Writes,

“Depart From Me, Lord” 

Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C

Simple amazement at catching a boatload of fish overwhelms Peter and gives him some insight into the person of Jesus. But Peter’s initial reaction is to resist Jesus telling him, “Depart from me, Lord.” Luke is the only Evangelist to record this episode from the early days of Jesus’ ministry and yet, this brief story speaks volumes not only about Peter’s call to serve God but our own as well. Like Isaiah in our first reading, we are very reluctant to put our shoulder to the task, claiming the obvious excuse that we are not worthy. And like Peter, we too often brush Jesus off or tell him to “hit the road.” To some extent, these are natural responses. We all know that we are sinners and can parrot Peter’s confession before the Lord, “I am a sinful man.” But God is patient, a characteristic essential for anglers, who casts out his line and waits for something to happen.

That waiting on God’s part is our to say yes to his invitation to divine life. God is calling us constantly from the day of our birth. He is calling us to be good children as we begin to form our consciences; he calls us to be good students and to learn about the wonders of the universe he has created; he calls us to build healthy, positive relationships with one another. God calls us into an intimate relationship with him through a sacramental life that nourishes us and draws us close to him through marriage and family life or as individuals who embrace a life of celibacy and or call the Holy Orders. God calls us into service to one another by the vocations that we choose: fireman, lawyer, teacher, janitor, soldier or those who profess vows as religious sisters or brothers, or as clergy be it as priest or deacon. We are all called to a specific task God has for us also, a task that only we can fulfill. And, our calling is not a one-time event. We are called each and every moment to live our lives faithfully by doing those things we have been called to do. We are especially called to be the best mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, and friends we can be to one another, for family is a calling that is special to God. It is through family life that God reveals the dynamic love of the Holy Trinity and enables us to share in God’s divine essence.

Today we reflect on the call that we have received from God and thank him for the love he has for each and every one of us. Yes, we are unworthy and we know that, but so does God. And do you know what? He doesn’t care! He loves us beyond our sinfulness, and he desires that we love him in return. And so, as we look forward to another day, another precious gift from God, let us keep these words from St. Paul to the Ephesians in our thoughts:

“I, then, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to live in a manner worthy of the call you have received.” Eph: 4:1.

Enjoy the day!
Deacon Tom

Image credit: Miraculous draught of fishes by Raphael