You Don't Know What You've Got Till It's Gone

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Deacon Tom writes©

“You Don’t Know What You’ve Got Till It’s Gone”

Fourth Sunday of Lent

Imagine the sheer horror of you and your family being taken captive by an invading army and brought to a foreign country to live a life of servitude. Sorrowfully, this notion does not just fall within the realm of the imagination, for as we are all too aware, tragic events such as this are very much a contemporary reality. We can only imagine the terror of the 276 young women who were taken from their homes in Chibok, Nigera by Boko Haram, a terrorist organization based in northeast Nigeria.  Their whereabouts and condition is still unknown.  Suffering captivity and being taking away from home, family, and community is a terror that many innocent victims of war and violence have in common throughout history.

As captives we would be stricken by our loss, overcome by fear and grief as we realized that we would never see our homes again, never set foot in those places that give us spiritual comfort and precious memories or never experience the familiar, ordinary, and common joys that come from the bigger sense of family and community. Got the picture?  This is the lamenting that we hear in the Responsorial Psalm today. The people of Israel bemoaning, “How can we sing a song of the Lord in a foreign land?”  They longed to reconnect to the Temple and their homeland, those places that gave them their identity as the “People of God”. Reflecting on this captivity experience of the Jewish People recorded in Sacred Scripture and repeated throughout the ages by many people calls to mind the expression, “You don’t know what you’ve got till it’s gone.” In other words, we take so much for granted today… our health, our loved ones, our freedoms and our way of life to name a few. 

Given all that we have, it is no wonder that there are other ways to be held in captivity beyond being led away in chains. Our spirits can easily be taken captive. We can become prisoners because of all the changes and uncertainty in the air and the fears and anxiety they breed that paralyze us and take away our freedom. We may fear what the future holds in store; we may be worried about losing our job or fear what will happen if we lose our health care. Parents are concerned if they will be able to pay for college for the kids or how they will be able to take care of mom and dad. And on and on it goes.  Worries, anxieties, and fears combining like a thundering hoard taking control of our spirits and leading us off to places we do not want to go; stealing our ability to live in the present moment which is the only moment we really have… the eternal, present, now.

In looking at the worrisome times we are facing, we do well to look at these comforting words from Psalm 137. Captive Israel came to understand more deeply their longing for God. It was during this time of great suffering and trials, in the middle of their anxieties and fears, in their sense of desperation and hopelessness that they profoundly experienced that it was the great “I AM” for whom they longed, who was the deepest desire of their hearts.

The people of Israel regained their freedom once they turned their hearts and minds back to God. Once they knew what they had lost, they knew what they had to do to get it back.  That is the purpose of Lent…to rediscover the gift of God’s unconditional love for us and to rekindle that love within our hearts. 

Enjoy the day!

Deacon Tom  

This Little Light of Mine

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Deacon Tom writes ©

This Little Light of Mine

Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Casting out the demons from the man in the Synagogue in Capernaum is how Mark recounts the early days of Jesus’ ministry. The people who witnessed this event took it as a sign of Jesus’ authority. Today our world is still plagued by demons that seem to have adapted well to our circumstances. And they are just as real and destructive and pathetic today as they were in Jesus’ time. We know them by the fruit of their works: hunger, poverty, war, ignorance, etc. and they continue to raise havoc with many of our brothers and sisters, keeping them wrapped up in fear and seizing them with a perpetual sense of hopelessness.

How are we who claim to be disciples of Jesus respond to the evils we witness either on our media or in personal experiences? Or asked differently, how do practice our faith in a positive manner? Are we minimalists, adhering to the practice of attending Mass once on week on Sunday?  Or, do we go above and beyond the minimum by engaging in the corporal works of mercy – you remember them, don’t you? … feeding the hungry; giving drink to the thirsty; clothing the naked; sheltering the homeless; visiting the sick; ransoming the captive, burying the dead on the corporal side. Or, perhaps you prefer helping others on their spiritual journey by teaching them, counseling them through their doubts; w warning them they have wondered of the straight and narrow; bearing wrongs patiently; forgiving offenses willingly; comforting the afflicted; praying for the living and the dead.  St. Thomas Aquinas regarded the works of mercy as various forms of almsgiving. Furthermore, he considered these works to be a duty, an obligation we owe to one another predicated on the golden rule to do to others, as we would have them due to us.

There are many ways in which followers of Jesus can respond in a positive way to the evils we see and experience in our daily life. What is important is that we do something to respond to the many faces of evil in our world. Doing nothing is not an option! We know the scriptures. We know what Jesus asks of us. AND, we know the consequences of choosing to turn our heads. We find them spelled out clearly in Matthew 25:41:"Then he shall say to them also that shall be on his left hand: Depart from me, you cursed, in everlasting fire which was prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry, and you gave me not to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave me not to drink. I was a stranger, and you took me not in; naked, and you covered me not; sick and in prison, and you did not visit me", etc.

It is easy to be overwhelmed with all the evil that we see each day. It is easy to think that there is nothing we can do to change it… that the problem is too big and we don’t have the means to stop it. That way of thinking is the work of the devil. Apathy, indifference, inactivity, feelings of hopelessness, inadequacy, or that we are too old, or too young and the like on our part tips the scales even more in favor of the evil one. There is a saying that we should call to mind should such thinking enter our minds… “It is better to light a candle than to curse the darkness.” As friends of Jesus nothing could be more truthful. Christ is the light of the world who came to chase away the darkness, the chaos, the evil in the world. By his life and his ministry he set the example that we are to be lights too, to cast away the darkness and to resist the evils in our world, little by little, each and every day.  May we always be faithful in following his example.

Enjoy the day!

Deacon Tom

Time is Running Out

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Deacon Tom Writes ©

“Time is Running Out”

Third Sunday in Ordinary Time

Paul’s message to the Corinthians rings equally true for us today…  “Time is running out”. Who ever has enough time?  Ronald Rolheiser, OMI writes in his book, Against an Infinite Horizon, “In the torment of the insufficiency of everything attainable we come to understand that here, in this life, all symphonies remain unfinished”. What a sobering thought that reminds us that we all suffer from a chronic shortage of time. We will never live long enough to accomplish all that we want to do in this life.  This is the theme of the movie, The Bucket List.  Life is short! And life can take a dramatic turn once we realize that our days are numbered and that the clock is always running.  That's why it's so important for us to invest our time wisely while we can!  

Paul’s letter to the Corinthians wasn’t a lesson on time management!  He stresses the importance of using the time we have now wisely in light of a future event that he is quite sure will take place…the end of one era, and the beginning of a new one, when Christ will return in glory. This will be the final age when the things of this world will pass away and God’s kingdom will reign forever. The message St. Paul wants us to understand is that in order to prepare for this day, we need to live differently and act differently; we need to have a Christocentric mindset and view of the world; we need to live our lives as disciples of Jesus and not be in lock-step with the ways of the world. 

 

We look to Jesus to teach us how to be faithful to the gospel while living in this world. According to Mark the journey begins when we answer His call, as did His first disciples. Simon and Andrew, James and John dropped everything when Jesus invited them to “Come after me”. Jesus knew that time was critical and there was much work to be done. Nothing has changed!  There is still much work to be done and the clock is running as we wait for the kingdom of God to break forth on earth. A time when all Christ’s promises will come to pass and his followers will not have to worry about  "time running out”.

Enjoy the day… each and every one of them!

Deacon Tom

What Are We Looking For?

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Deacon Tom writes ©

What Are We Looking For?

Second Sunday of Ordinary Time, Year B

Today, through the words of Sacred Scripture, we are witnesses to Jesus’ baptism by John and the beginning of his public ministry. Some of John’s disciples, prompted perhaps by John’s identification of Jesus as the “Lamb of God”, leave John to become followers of Jesus. When Jesus notices them he wastes no time in confronting them about their motives asking, “What are you looking for?”  What a great question for us to reflect upon as we continue our faith journey in these new and challenging times.

The disciples did not hesitate in their response. They wanted to know where Jesus was staying. Simple enough isn’t it?  At least on the surface that is. How do we respond to the question raised in the gospel today? What are we looking for? 

I believe we all have the natural tendency to pursue those things that we desire most in life, those things that we believe will give us the greatest amount of happiness and joy. We want the good things this life has to offer… material success and good fortune, a prestigious career, the praise and adulation of others, good families and friends, ad infinitum. But, as we may have experienced so often in the past, once we have what we desire, the happiness that we imagined is seldom realized or, at best, is brief and fleeting. Soon disillusionment follows and we begin the chase all over again!

Does that mean we are never to achieve true happiness in this life? Not at all! In today’s Gospel Jesus, “the teacher”, gives us some practical advice on how to find and maintain a spirit of true AND lasting happiness in this life. He invites us to join him as he begins his public ministry, to “Come and…see” the marvelous things he has in store for those who tag along with him as he preaches the gospel, the Good-News of the dawning of the reign of God. In the Gospels Jesus teaches us that it is by deepening our personal relationship with him that we “Come and see” that only he can satisfy the innermost longings of our hearts. It is only through Christ that we can experience healthy and mutually beneficial relationships have a sense of well being, be satisfied with who we are and what we have and to thus be filled with a joy and a peace that the world cannot give.

As we begin this New Year, may we respond to Our Lord’s invitation to “Come and see” as did Samuel, James and John, Peter and the first disciples so that, like them, we too may discover the truth that, above all else, Jesus is our hearts greatest desire. 

Enjoy the day!

Deacon Tom

A Wonderful Mystery

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A Wonderful Mystery

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Deacon Tom writes ©

A Wonderful Mystery

Fourth Sunday of Advent, Year B

St. Paul uses the one word that succinctly summarizes this Advent Season and the most holy event it precedes, the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. The word he uses is “mystery”. The Mystery of the Incarnation, the mystery of God made man is the mystery of God’s abiding love for us. Because of this love, “Christ emptied himself and took the form of a slave, being born in the likeness of men” (Phil 2:7). Fully God, fully man, Jesus enters human history to reveal the fullness of God’s love for all creation.

We read today of two people who were drawn into this mystery of God’s self-revelation to the world. They are David and Mary. The Prophet Samuel tells us that David wants to build a dwelling for God. But God has other plans. Yes, David will establish a house for the Lord, but not in the way that David envisioned it. The household that the Lord will establish through David will be one that will last forever. It will be a household that includes Joseph and Mary and that finds its completion in Jesus who fulfills that promise by becoming a “dwelling place” for all.

On this Fourth Sunday of Advent our hearts are yearning for the Divine to come to us. We turn away from the noise and clatter to hear the deep silence within give way to the chant, “Come, come, Emanuel, come Emanuel”.

What is our heart’s desire this Christmas day?  What is it that will make us complete?  What will it take to fill our emptiness?  My guess is that material things can’t come close to satisfying the cravings of our human spirit. What we really want, what will satisfy our innermost longings are the gifts that only God can give us, such as: calming our restless spirits, consoling our loss of a loved one, filling us with an inner peace, bringing us true joy, and, perhaps, a bit of happiness. We are looking for help in to let go of old grudges and to jettison old hurts or memories. We are looking for spiritual or emotional comforts and healings.

It is not possible to imagine that the infant whose birth we await desires that we remain in the constant state of hopelessness and despair. On the contrary, He came to set us free from all that would keep us bound up. He came to proclaim, “release to the prisoners”. That includes freeing us from our own self-imposed bondage(s).

May the mystery of God’s love revealed in the Infant Jesus free us from all that keeps us from loving Him and from loving one another.

May you celebrate a wonderful Christmas and a Happy New Year filled with Christ’s Peace and Joy!

Deacon Tom

Rejoice

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Deacon Tom writes ©

"Rejoice"

Third Sunday of Advent, Year B

Jesus begins His ministry in Galilee quoting the words of the Prophet Isaiah that we hear today on this Third Sunday of Advent (remember Gaudete Sunday?).  They are worth reading again:

“The spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, because the LORD has anointed me; He has sent me to bring glad tidings to the poor, to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and release to the prisoners, to announce a year of favor from the LORD and a day of vindication by our God…” 

(IS 61:1- 2a)

This is the “Good News” that has been celebrated generation after generation since this prophesy was fulfilled by Christ 2000 years ago. Jesus is the one who brings us the good news that our captivity has come to and end, the good news that lifts our broken spirits pummeled by sickness, sin, and death. Jesus is the one who frees us from everything that imprisons us or has robbed us of our human dignity; Jesus restores our genuine freedom. Jesus comes to our rescue announcing that God’s favor is upon us. On our part, we wait in hope; we wait patiently for Emmanuel to come into our lives. So we wait… and watch.

Advent is a wonderful time of year. It is a season of hope and anticipation. It is even more so this year as we face so many challenges and difficulties of epic proportions. Our world has grown cold. It is a world very much in need of the “fire of God’s love”.

As we light the rose candle this Third Sunday of Advent, we rejoice in God’s nearness to us. We rejoice because the Light of Christ approaches and the days of darkness are coming to an end. We rejoice because Christ comes to fill us with the fire of His love. We rejoice because our time of deliverance is at hand. We rejoice because Our Savior comes to do what the world cannot do – give us the joy and happiness that can only come from Him; joy and happiness to be shared with one another; joy and happiness that will last forever.

Enjoy the day!

Deacon Tom  

Waiting in Hope

Deacon Tom writes ©

 “Waiting in Hope”

                         Second Sunday of Advent, Year B

Several weeks ago we read the Prophet Isaiah raising this prayer to God on behalf of God’s chosen ones:  “Oh that you would rend the heavens and come down”. Today we read from Isaiah again and he is instructing the people, “Fear not to cry out and say to the cities of Judah:  Here is your God!  Here comes with power the Lord God, who rules by His strong arm…”.

These two readings from Isaiah express a wonderful mystery of our faith, that God is with us right at this present moment, and yet, at the same time, we have not yet fully experienced His presence. Advent is a time to reflect on His presence in our daily lives and to know that there is more to come…And so, we wait in hope! We look ahead to the day when God’s fullness will totally reign in our hearts and in the world. We wait for that day when a new heaven and the new earth will replace the old order; we wait for the day when the justice, peace, and the realities of God’s kingdom replace the disharmony and chaos that are the dominant forces at work in our world today; we wait for our lives to be more complete and fulfilling.

Advent is a season of expectant hope. It is a time when we dream new dreams about becoming the person God has called us to be. It is a time when the spirit of hope leads us to new beginnings. Who do you want to be when that new heaven and new earth arrives?  Do you want to be a more caring person?  Do you want to be more gracious, more thankful, and more prayerful?  Or, perhaps, we want to leave behind memories of the past that are painful and full of sorrow. The beauty of Advent is that we get to fill in the blanks… and be filled with the hope that, with God’s help, we can accomplish all that we dare hope for. Advent is a time of waiting, a season of hope, for God to come into our lives and fill us with the true gifts of this season… peace, joy, love, those gifts that come from the Holy Spirit.

Each of us has the opportunity to reclaim Advent as a special time of hope. Each of us can make this a spiritual season by looking inward and hoping that the promises God holds in store for each one of us will become our reality… promises of newness, renewal, of our well being. That’s what hoping is all about. .

May this Advent journey be a time of new beginnings, new hopes, and new joys. May God’s gift of new life set us free to seek the giver and share the many gifts He has in store for those who place their hope in Him.

Enjoy the day and the Season!

Deacon Tom 

Can Anybody Help Me?

      Deacon Tom Writes ©

   “Can anybody help me?”

First Sunday of Advent, Year B 

There was a commercial on TV some time ago showing a man riding in circles on his new lawn mower while telling viewers about his financial problems.  It’s not that he was poor, quite the opposite.  He had a lot of money, he just didn’t know how to budget it…  In addition to the new lawn mower he had just purchased, he also complained of having bought a new car that he put in the new house and the list goes on. Now he is “up to his eyeballs in debt”.  As the focus of the camera narrows in on him,  he looks into it with glazy eyes and asks, “Can anybody help me?”  This is a sad but fairly accurate depiction of our human nature at work. We manage to dig quite a deep hole for ourselves before we recognize the trouble we are in and our need to ask for help.

Our spiritual lives can be very similar. In the reading from Isaiah on this First Sunday of Advent, the beginning of our new liturgical year, the prophet begs the Lord to come once more to the aid of His people who now humbly confess their sins… “Why did you let us wander, O Lord, from your ways and harden our hearts so that we fear you not?” the prophet asks.

The first step in solving a problem is to recognize that we have one, like the fellow in the commercial reaching out to “anybody” who might be able to help him with his financial problems. We do well to take this approach with our spiritual shortcomings and reach out to God and ask Him to “rend the heavens and come down” to our rescue.

The image of God as the potter and we the clay is a powerful one for us to explore this Advent. Just like clay in the hands of an artisan, God shapes and molds our lives…if we let Him. And that’s the key; God does not barge into our lives but rather waits for an invitation.  Advent is a time for us to realize that we need to invite Emmanuel into our lives and renew us from the inside out.

Let us invite God into our lives in a deeper and more intimate way this Advent Season so that He can mold us and fashion us into whatever beautiful vessel will be most fulfilling for us to accomplish His will, the plan He has in store for us. On our part, we need to be watchful so that we may recognize how God is constantly shaping us through the events, people and the always-changing circumstances of our lives.  This Advent let us be watchful for the many ways God comes to our rescue…

Enjoy the day and Happy New Year too!

Deacon Tom

Holy Space

Lateran Basilica, Rome 

Deacon Tom writes ©

"Holy Space"

Feast of the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica, Year A

Today we celebrate the Feast of the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica. It is dedicated to St. John the Baptist, St. John the Evangelist, and to Jesus Christ, our Savior. It became the Mother Church of Christendom around 313 AD when the Emperor Constantine gave it to the Bishop of Rome. Many Councils, referred to as Lateran Councils, were held within its walls in the early days of the church. It was there that much of the dogma of our faith that we profess today was formulated.

I have seen this beautiful church and indeed it has a lovely edifice. The architecture, the decorations, the adornments are beyond description. This is true for many of our basilicas and cathedrals. Many of our churches are a sight to behold. Yet, what gives them their real beauty is not the adornments. It’s not the gold and silver decorations, nor the renaissance paintings, nor the jeweled sacred vessels. What makes these grand structures so magnificent is the One in whose name and memory these houses of worship were built - the Lord, God Almighty.  

We know from our Old Testament history that David desired to build a house for the Lord and that his son, Solomon, is credited with building the magnificent Temple in Jerusalem. But buildings come and go. The temple that God wanted to establish among His people was made of human flesh. It was Christ, the God-Man. Salvation History is the story of God visiting His people and creating within them “holy space” that would be the living, breathing temples of His Holy Spirit.

Whenever we enter into this “holy space”, we come into a communal celebration to share in the banquet Christ has prepared for us through His sacrifice on Calvary. We enter into a mystery that is beyond us and that summons within us a faith that rises above our understanding. Within this “holy space” we are joined by other believers to be nourished by the Body and Blood of Christ and enlivened by the Words of Sacred Scripture. Then, reenergized by God’s love for us, we are commissioned to take our gifts out into the world and share them eagerly with everyone we meet. The gifts we receive inside our “holy spaces” will atrophy and die if we do not bring them to each and every person we encounter; if we do not used them in every situation we find ourselves, if they are not a part of all our decisions and judgments we make in the course of the day. We are the church, the living, breathing, holy spaces God desires to dwell within.

Enjoy the Day!

Deacon Tom 

All Souls are Called to be All Saints

300px-All Saints painting by Fra Angelico

Deacon Tom writes ©

"All Souls Are Called to be Saints"

The Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed (All Souls)

Celebration of the Feast of All Souls had its origin in the Benedictine Monastery in Cluny, France. In 998 A.D. Odilo, the Abbot, instructed his men to pray for the souls of the dead on the day after All Saints Day when the Church honored its Saints. This practice was quickly embraced by the faithful and by the 13^th century had spread to Rome. By the 14 century it was a universal feast of the church. Today we celebrate what is officially known as, “The Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed”, commonly known as “All Souls” day.

The arranging of All Saints Day and All Souls Day back to back gives us a great opportunity to reflect on our lives in light of our Christian vocation and our individual mortality. As we recall the lives of those who have gone before us, we can’t help but know that one day we will follow in their footsteps. What kind of life do we want to live? What spiritual legacy and witness do we want to leave? What did we learn from the lives of the Saints and the holy people have gone before us?  Do you see the wisdom of connecting the Feasts of All Saints and All Souls?  To make the relationship between these two feasts practical, we have to overcome a general misperception that the Feast of All Saints is only about paying homage to the great saints, the likes of St. Francis, St Augustine, St. Thomas or St. Peter. The Feast of All Saints encompasses a much wider vision.

 

Just after converting to Catholicism, Thomas Merton was asked by a friend what he wanted to be, now that he was Catholic. “I don’t know, I suppose I just want to be a good Catholic”, Merton replied. His friend came back with, “What you should say is that you want to be a saint!” Merton was dumbfounded. “How do you expect me to become a saint?” Merton asked him. To which his friend said: “All that is necessary to be a saint is to want to be one. Don’t you trust that God can make you what He created you to be, Thomas”?  Merton was silent.

These words must have taken root in Merton’s heart. For he would go on to become one of the great spiritual thinkers and writers of the last century, and, in the eyes of many, he was indeed a saint.

It’s good to recall these words of wisdom imparted to Merton by his friend because they speak so simply and profoundly to our calling as Catholic Christians. We should want to be saints. And to be a saint, all we need is to want to be a saint.

The Church elevates the lives of the Saints to give us a good example of ordinary people who have attainted extraordinary holiness.  These men and women have dedicated their lives to being witnesses of the faith through sacrifice, service, and prayer. Often they suffered great pain, rejection, torture, and, all too often, even death in professing their love and devotion to God. It is right that they be honored and their intercessions sought by the faithful throughout the ages.

At the same time, our church also recognizes the ordinary acts of courage and dedication on the part of those living the faith day in and day out… that is, the “All Souls”. We believe in the “Communion of Saints”, that body of believers who, in addition to those “major” Saints, have professed their faith in God by their daily perseverance and their constant prayers. Included in this group are our family, loved ones, and friends, all those people who got up every day, took care of their families, and lived a good life, struggled to do the right thing…one day at a time. When things were good, they were faithful…When things were bad…they were faithful. In remaining faithful in good times and in bad, they handed on to us the legacy of our faith, our Catholic “Tradition”.

As we remember our loved ones and those who have gone before us and their sacrifice, their witness encourages us to imitate the good example they gave us. We call them to mind now as they share their reward for hearing and responding to their call to be saints.  We turn to them that they may ask God to help us answer our call to holiness so we may join them when our pilgrimage on earth comes to an end.  

Enjoy the day!

Deacon Tom  

For Great is the Lord

William Blake's "The Ancient of Days" - http://en. wikipedia.org/wiki

Deacon Tom writes ©

“For Great is the Lord" - PS 96:4

Twenty-ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A

Have you ever had this experience: you were in a jam and needed some help, but all your friends, all the “go to” people in your life were busy with other important things and they couldn’t help you out?  Then, someone you never thought of comes to the rescue. Wow, you are totally amazed at how things worked out. You just know that God somehow had something to do with sending help during your time of need. 

The story of the liberation of the Hebrew Nation from captivity in Babylon at the hands of the Persian King Cyrus is a genuine sign of God using outside help in getting His plan accomplished in an amazing and awesome way. The Jews were in a hopeless situation; they were being held captive away from their home; their temple lay in ruin; their way of life altered forever. So they thought. Then Cyrus, the king of the Persians, defeats the Babylonians and comes to their aid. In 538 B.C. he issued an edict allowing the return of all the Hebrews to Jerusalem. Better yet, he ordered the rebuilding of the Temple and provided that the Israelites be given a royal subsidy from his treasury. He directed that the sacred vessels seized by the Babylonians when they destroyed the Temple should be sent back with the released captives. Finally, he urged all Israelites to contribute to the restoration of public worship. Isaiah tells how God took Cyrus’ right hand and led him, “subduing nations before him…opening doors before him and leaving the gates unbarred.”

We are often anxious and fearful when we confront many of the problems and difficulties in our lives, problems with our relationships, with our kids, our boss, or even fears of losing our jobs or our health. We struggle with forgiving those who have hurt us; we struggle with addictions and all sorts of impossible situations. Some even struggle with the teachings of our church. We ask ourselves, “How am I going to get through this?”  Or, “Where can I turn for help?” 

It’s always darkest before the dawn, they say. I am sure the Jews held captive in Babylon felt this way. But then God, who is the master of doing the impossible, comes to their rescue and turns their tears into laughter. Isaiah tells us today to keep the faith. There is no struggle or difficulty God cannot overcome!  There is no struggle or difficulty of ours that God does not want to overcome. We need to give our cares to God and wait faithfully, prayerfully, hopefully, and patiently for Him to come to our rescue while doing the best we can with the situation at hand.

Enjoy the Day!

Deacon Tom 

A Change of Mind

 Deacon Tom writes ©

"A Change of Mind"

Twenty-fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A

Most of us tend to dismiss the story we hear in today’s gospel. We don’t like its message; it rubs us the wrong way; it’s contrary to the way we were brought up and our sense of “fairness".  We rationalize that the person who puts in an 8-hour day should earn more than the person who shows up on the job an hour before quitting time. I confess that I would feel cheated if that happened to me. How about you?  Can you blame those who worked all day if they began to protest or for harboring a grudge against the landowner?

“God’s ways” are not “our ways” are they?  We know this in our heads. We know that God has a different way of seeing things. In today’s reading we see this element of justice from God’s viewpoint. We are a work-oriented society in America today. I say that grossly aware of the many unemployed and the chronic employment that we are experiencing. Work is essential to our economic survival and our personal identity. No work equals not only no money but also no identity. And once chronic unemployment sets in, one begins to suffer the degradation of the human spirit, which is a fully unjust condition.

Today we read about a landowner who continues to send workers into the field throughout the day. They work, and if you have ever worked on a harvest, you know they worked hard!  At the end of the day they must provide for their family. An hour’s wage isn’t going to provide adequately for the family. The landowner knows this… and so how does the landowner act?  With justice and compassion.  He pays the going daily wage to each and every worker regardless of the number of hours they spent under the sun.

Unjust? What if tomorrow you weren’t hired until 3 o’clock in the afternoon?  What if you were the recipient of this landowner generosity…. his sense of justice?  Would your attitude change if you were able to provide for your family in good times and lean times? 

Jesus teaches us in many ways that we have to rethink our attitudes in how we treat one another. God’s way is the best way to build and sustain a just society, one where everyone shares fairly in the work and rewards of labor. We see that intention and opportunity are as important as pure productivity in the kingdom for which Jesus laid the foundation. 

We see God in today’s scripture as one whose generosity is beyond our comprehension. We know from our knowledge of scripture that God is good to everyone, that “he makes his sun rise on the bad and the good, and causes rain to fall on the just and the unjust (MT 5:45).”  This is an amazing thought! For Jesus constantly challenges us to imitate Him and see things the way that God sees them and to act accordingly… with justice, mercy, and compassion.

God Bless you.

Enjoy the day!

Deacon Tom`