Will Work For Food -

Deacon Tom Writes,

“Will Work for Food”

Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B

We are all too familiar with someone holding a sign that says, “WILL WORK FOR FOOD”. Perhaps some are scam artists but others are sincere and will do whatever they can to earn some money to buy food for the day. When you are hungry enough, you get desperate. Today in our first reading, the Israelites are desperate. They complain to Moses because they didn’t have enough to eat and longed to be back in Egypt where they had enough food… Imagine trading your freedom for a slice of bread!

God hears the cries of His people, which is a major theme of the Old Testament, and gives them their “daily portion” of bread from heaven in the form of manna to sustain them. It’s interesting to see that they received only a daily portion and that God tested them to see if they followed His instruction. You see, the manna only lasted one day.  If you gathered up more than your daily portion, “it became wormy and rotten”. (Ex 16:20)

This story from Exodus is a prelude to the Eucharistic banquet Jesus would institute at the Last Supper and that we have been called to share today. The bread from heaven given to the Jews in the desert was meant to nourish them for that day and that day only. They were not allowed to store it up for the future. No, they needed to experience the mystery of God’s presence and caring for them each and every day. And…. so do we!  

This idea that we need a daily encounter with the divine is “food” for thought. Unfortunately, most of us are not able to get to Mass on a daily basis to receive Holy Communion. In that case, we can always turn to Sacred Scripture for our daily bread. For that too is the source of the spiritual nourishment we need to cope with the challenges and difficulties we face in this life. In Scripture we can also find real food, food that will last and give us the strength and courage to live each day as it comes. For Christ’s presence in our lives is all that we hunger for, all that we need to fulfill every desire and longing of our hearts.  

Enjoy the day!

 Deacon Tom

Called To Be Worthy - 17th - July 29..

Deacon Tom Writes,

“Called To Be Worthy”

Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B

When the phone rings in the “bull-pen”, the relief pitcher knows exactly what he has to do. He has to go out to the mound, throw like there’s no tomorrow and get the batter out. That’s not easy to do, to put your heart into every pitch, but it an essential part of being a major league relief pitcher. Today St. Paul reminds Christians of their primary responsibility extolling to, “…live in a manner worthy of the call we have received…” which he then expresses as living lives in a spirit of “…humility and gentleness and patience”. In our efforts to follow Christ’s teachings we must make a serious effort to, “bear with one another though love, striving to preserve the unity of the spirit. Just like all successful relief pitchers, we who make a conscious decision to follow Christ, must put our hearts into every pitch… that is, we must strive to live each day mindful of the calling we have received. It is no wonder St. Paul compares himself to the good athlete who has, “competed well, finished the race; kept the faith.”

It’s so easy to say, “I’m not worthy” of this call (and that’s so very true). None of us are worthy! We know that we are damaged goods. We are fragile, broken, sinful people who often lack humility, gentleness, compassion, and patience. No argument there, right? What makes us worthy is the One who makes the call. Like the manager who picks up the phone and dials the “bull-pen”, Jesus has deemed us “worthy” to share in His love and mission for our world.

A good relief picture doesn’t get to the Major League without a lot of practice. It is the same for being a Christian. We need to practice every day; we need to practice being humble; we need to practice being gentle and patient; we need to practice being generous, forgiving, and long-suffering. There are many virtues that we need to practice. And the more we practice, the more we deepen our relationship with Christ and with one another to form “the one body and one spirit”, together seeking to live lives “worthy of the call” we have received. 

Enjoy the day!

Deacon Tom

The Good Shepherd

Deacon Tom Writes,

“The Good Shepherd”

Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B

God has a plan for our lives. Like any good plan, it’s designed to work, so that anyone who follows it will achieve the desired result. The trouble is that at some point along the way we get tired of following the plan God has laid out for us and we start doing things our way. What happens? We all have our stories, don’t we?

Jeremiah has to contend with some shepherds who have abandoned the plan God designed for them. As shepherds they were not protecting their flock. To the contrary, they were exposing them to the very dangers they should have been protecting them from. God sees this and will not stand for such an outrage. What does God do? He promises to send a real shepherd, to tend and care for his sheep, so that they no longer live in fear or be at risk, and to gather those who have strayed.

We know, of course, that Jesus is the promised Shepherd that Jeremiah foretold. Does Jesus live up to the standards that Jeremiah prophesied about Him? Very much so! Even a cursory reading of the four gospels provides ample evidence that Jesus is the “Good Shepherd”. For so often we read where Jesus teaches His followers not to be afraid and that He cares for the people God has entrusted to Him, curing them of their sickness, physical, spiritual, and mental; He feeds them physical and spiritual nourishment; He dispels the darkness by teaching them about the Kingdom of Heaven and about a life of virtue. And when things take a turn for the worse, He even dies for them, even those who did Him wrong! Jesus fulfills Jeremiah’s prophesy beyond imagination!

Is Jesus our “Good Shepherd”? Does He calm our fears? Nourish us? Protect us? Provide for our needs? Did His death save us? Does our relationship with Him change the course or events of our life? 

In today’s gospel, the “Good Shepherd” that Jeremiah prophesied would one day appear, calls His followers “to come away by themselves to a deserted place for a while”. There, within our deepest being, we can encounter the “Good Shepherd” and perhaps get to know Him better and thank Him for His guidance, protection and care.

Enjoy the Day!

Deacon Tom

Spread The Word

Deacon Tom Writes,

“Spread the Word”

Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B

In today’s first reading, Amaziah, the priest of Bethel, is attempting to run Amos out of town because he doesn’t like what Amos is prophesying about the King and the royal temple. Amos tries to defend himself claiming that he is no prophet… “but just a shepherd and dresser of sycamores” whom the Lord instructed, “to go prophesy to my people Israel”.

We often think that God finds great people to do His work...like Mother Teresa or Desmond Tutu or Dr. King. That’s not generally the case. More often God chooses ordinary people and then brings about great results through them. No one knew who Mother Teresa was when she first ventured off to Calcutta to take care of the undesirables there that she saw as God’s little ones. And few dared to claim that they were friends of Nelson Mandela or Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. when they were wasting away in their prison cells for inciting people’s consciences. Their unrelenting witness of the gospel values that formed the fabric of their lives led them to dedicate their lives to the cause of justice and social equality for all peoples. They committed their lives to upholding the life and dignity of each person, especially those who were suffering from the social sins of their day: poverty, discrimination, and injustice to name but a few. Their efforts made their names household words and legends in the pursuit of justice.

Today’s gospel has Jesus sending his handpicked Apostles out into the world to spread the “Good News” to all who would listen. Jesus entrusts his message to ordinary people… and they delivered‼ And so did the many faithful souls who followed in their footsteps, some famous like the great saints and so many others who are “known but to God.” These are the giants upon whose shoulders our faith has been built and handed down through the ages. Like the original Twelve, they were successful in carrying out the instructions they received. Now, in our time, we gather together to hear the Word of God and share in the Sacred Banquet that unites us all into the Mystical Body of Christ, so that we too might have the courage to stand up and make our voices heard as people working to make this world more peaceful and just and who see the image of Christ in all our brothers and sisters.

Today let us recall the precious gift of faith that we have received and the sacrifices of all those who have passed it on to us. Let us be mindful too of our responsibility to share the faith that we have received, a faith that is grounded in Word and in Sacrament and that calls us to… “do right and to love goodness, and to walk humbly with your God” (Mic 6:8).  For, just as the Prophet Amos was sent to the people of his time, so too we are sent today to share with others the good news of God's love, mercy, and compassion.

Enjoy the day!

Deacon Tom

Image credit sunserveyouth.wordpress.com

Obstinate of Heart

Deacon Tom Writes,

“Obstinate of Heart”

Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B

In our first reading, God sends the Prophet Ezekiel to put the Israelites on notice that they have become a “rebellious house”. They are a people who are “hard of face and obstinate of heart” because they have turned away from God and “rebelled against Him”. This is a theme we hear time and time again in the Old Testament. It is like the ebb and flow of the tides, this turning to and then away from God. The one thing that is constant throughout the ages though, is that God never does the turning away. He is always faithful to His people, always calling them to return to Him, to love and be loved by Him. And so God chooses Ezekiel to deliver the message that a “prophet has been among them”.

In today’s gospel, we see another prophet in the midst of God’s people. The prophet is Jesus; chosen by God, indeed, He is God! But, worker of miracles though He is, He is rejected by the people because they can’t get beyond their judging, skeptical hearts and minds that are closed to the truth; they are “obstinate of heart”! So we read that Jesus, “was not able to perform any mighty deeds there” and “He was “amazed at their lack of faith”.

Scripture points out to us today our tendency to resist the Holy. Indeed, God actually names the condition that plagues us. He refers to it as having and “obstinate heart”. An obstinate heart resists God’s invitation into the mystery of the divine presence. An obstinate heart is closed to the transformation that the divine presence is able to bring about. We develop this condition when we refuse to be open to an alternative way of thinking or seeing the reality around us. This is very much a part of our human condition. We all have a certain degree of obstinacy in us.

Interesting that St. Paul writes about a thorn being given to him. He prays that it be taken away, three times he say he specifically prayed to be relieved of this painful condition. But, apparently to no avail. What do you suppose was this suffering he carried? More importantly, why was it given him?

If you have ever suffered mentally, physically, or spiritually, you know that suffering changes us at the core of our being. Our own suffering has great capacity to open our hearts to be compassionate and empathetic to the pain and suffering of others. Personal suffering is therapeutic in alleviating the hardness of heart that is a natural consequence when our lives become selfish and self absorbed, when we lose track of the pain and suffering of those around us and of our neighbor as Jesus defined “who is our neighbor.” St Paul’s suffering and his prayers for relief force him to turn to God and place his trust in Him.

One remedy for overcoming an obstinate heart is prayer, opening our hearts and minds to Our Lord. This is the traditional way of letting God into our lives so we may be filed with His presence. Of course, the very desire for prayer comes from the grace of God whom Paul turned to in his time of Need. As opposed to our weakened human condition that causes us to flee God, God never abandons nor turns His back on us. Prayer will always turn the hardest and most obstinate of hearts to ones full of love and compassion.

Enjoy the day!

Deacon Tom

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

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

Become What You Receive

Deacon Tom Writes,

“Become What You Receive”

The Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ, Year B

(Corpus Christi)

“Behold what you are, become what you receive!” These words of wisdom from St. Augustine are intended to help us thoughtfully receive Holy Eucharist. They have been used to help us understand this central mystery of our faith from as far back as the middle of the fourth century. It is a daunting command. It causes us to think about the Sacrament we are receiving. “Become Christ-like!” Isn’t that what being a disciple of Christ is all about? 

Our Catholic Faith puts the Eucharist at the center of our faith. It is, according to our teaching, “the source and summit of our faith.” This is made evident in the Feast we celebrate today, The Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ also referred to as The Feast of Corpus Christi.

We are a sacramental people. Our spiritual well-being depends upon our participation in the sacramental life of the church and the grace that is derived from those sacraments. The image of Jesus gathering his disciples into a table fellowship is pure genius. We come to the table when we are hungry, when we need to be nourished. This is the reality of our human existence. Jesus takes the ordinary and gives it an extraordinary meaning by calling us to the table to be spiritually nourished, to have our spiritual hunger satisfied and to be united to him in a communion of hearts and desires….

Our unique Catholic understanding of the Eucharist is that it is fully the body, blood, soul, and divinity of Christ. The Catechism of the Catholic Church states, “The mode of Christ's presence under the Eucharistic species is unique. It raises the Eucharist above all the sacraments as "the perfection of the spiritual life and the end to which all the sacraments tend." In the most blessed sacrament of the Eucharist "the body and blood, together with the soul and divinity, of our Lord Jesus Christ and, therefore, the whole Christ is truly, really, and substantially contained." "This presence is called 'real' - by which is not intended to exclude the other types of presence as if they could not be 'real' too, but because it is presence in the fullest sense: that is to say, it is a substantial presence by which Christ, God and man, makes himself wholly and entirely present." CCC 1374

When we receive Holy Communion worthily, we truly become one with Christ. It is a very special moment, a time for us to reflect on Christ dwelling within us, for us to be in awe that the maker of heaven and earth would come and abide in us. Even more amazing is the fact that this is his plan, not ours!

Yes, “we are what we eat,” nutritionist tells us. The challenge we face as Catholics is to follow the instructions of St. Augustine and to “behold what we are and to become what we receive,” members of the one body of Christ who has become for us our spiritual food, the Bread of Life.

Enjoy the day!

Deacon Tom

Image from Flickr.com

Chosen, Blessed, and Sent

Deacon Tom Writes,

“Chosen, Blessed, and Sent”

 

The Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity, Year B

Several words from today’s reading become a treasure trove for our further reflection throughout the day or Lexio Divina as it known. They are: chosen, blessed, and sent. In the first reading Moses does the Lord’s bidding asking the people if they have ever known of a time or a people who have ever experienced or heard the voice of God. Were they aware of any god who had taken a people to Himself or saved them from their enemies with strong hands and outstretched arms? Not likely. The people to whom Moses speaks today are the people chosen by God. God chose His people so that He could be in relationship with them and they could be in relationship with Him. The condition: the people must choose the Lord too, by keeping the statutes and commandments that He sets out to insure that the relationship between God and His people is mutually beneficial, balanced, and productive. We are God’s chosen ones!

Those chosen by God and who live by the rules He laid out are blessed. That is the message we hear in the Psalm. God’s chosen ones are blessed with the knowledge and trust in God and in His ways. While the road may not be easy and challenges many, God’s chosen ones will persevere and never face their difficulties alone.

The reading from the Letter to the Romans goes beyond our sense of being chosen and blessed to say that those who are called by God take on the remarkable status of “sons of God” who receive a spirit of adoption so as to call God, “Abba, Father”. And, there is a rich inheritance that goes along with being adopted by the Father. We are so blessed to have been chosen as Children of God who stand to inherit eternal life if we remain faithful to our calling and our blessedness.

And finally, aware that we have been chosen and blessed, how can we not be animated to share our story with others. We too have been sent to spread the good news to others so they can enjoy the abundant riches we have received from the one who has chosen, blessed, and sent us to spread the good news of God’s love, mercy, and compassion.  

Remember, we are all chosen, blessed, and sent. Have a great trip!

Enjoy the day!

Deacon Tom

Since the Beginning of Time

Deacon Tom Writes,

Since the Beginning of Time

The Feast of Pentecost, Year B

Mass During the Day

Christ’s gift of the Holy Spirit to his disciples that we celebrate in today’s Feast of Pentecost completes Christ’s Pascal Mystery. The Trinity is completely revealed as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Jesus’ ascension into heaven signals the beginning of the time of the Church. With Pentecost we celebrate the dawning of a new era as the Church is born and receives the Holy Spirit to guide and testify to all truth as Jesus had taught during His ministry.

The Holy Spirit began His mission within the church on that first Pentecost, but it is not as if the Spirit of God has been sitting on the sidelines with nothing to do up until then. Since the beginning of time the Holy Spirit has been busy at work in our world. Here are some of the accomplishments of the Holy Spirit:

In the opening words of the Book of Genesis we find a “Mighty Wind, that is, the Holy Spirit, sweeping over the formless wasteland, bringing order out of chaos, generating the creative process that formed the universe and filled our world with life.

In Genesis 1:26 the Spirit gives life to the dust from which we are all made and shares his very divine image with us as is written, “ Let us make man in our image and likeness”.

In the Book of Wisdom the Holy Spirit is personified as wisdom itself. In Wisdom 9:9 we read, “ Now with you is Wisdom, who knows your works and was present when you made the world; Who understands what is pleasing in your eyes and what is conformable with your commands”. Verse 11continues… “For she (Wisdom) knows and understands all things, and will guide me discreetly in my affairs and safeguard me by her glory”.

The Holy Spirit is the Wisdom of God that is evident in all creation. We know from all of our teachings that God is faithful to His promises, and He has promised to send His Spirit to all who ask Him to do so. And so, we wait for the Holy Spirit to continue the work Jesus told us the Spirit of God would do when he arrives...  "But when he comes, the Spirit of truth, he will guide you to all truth. He will not speak on his own, but he will speak what he hears, and will declare to you the things that are coming" (John 16:13).  And so, on this Pentecost, at this time when people around our world are in such dire straits and in such need of God's Truth, it is fitting to raise our minds and hearts and voices to invite the Holy Spirit into our lives to guide and protect us and to give us, and those who rule over us, the Wisdom of God by praying:

Come Holy Spirit,

Fill the Hearts of your faithful

And kindle in them the fire of your love.

Send forth your Spirit

And they shall be created

And You shall renew the face of the earth.

O, God, who by the light of the Holy Spirit

Did instruct the hearts of the faithful,

Grant that by the same Holy Spirit

We may be made truly wise

And rejoice in His consolation

Through Christ, Our Lord,

Amen

Enjoy the day!

Deacon Tom

Image Credit: 26120210_hand_holding_earth: elements-furnished-by-nasa_ on_123rf_com