Fifth Sunday of Easter_C - Glory Days_051825

  

Deacon Tom writes,

Glory Days

Fifth Sunday of Easter, Year C

 

Today’s gospel has all the makings of a great Hollywood movie that begins on the night before Jesus dies. Jesus and his companions are nearing the end of their last meal together. Judas had just taken “the morsel… and left at once.” “The morsel,” we know, is the Eucharist, Jesus’ legacy to remain a “real presence” for his followers. Judas takes the Eucharist…then leaves.

 

When Judas leaves, Jesus brings this extraordinary Passover celebration to a dramatic close saying, “Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in him.” What intrigue! Jesus seems to infer that what’s about to happen, his betrayal, torture, and death, will somehow bring Glory to God! How unimaginable! Yet for God, all things are possible, even turning these horrific events into something that can and does reveal God’s glory!

 

How much our faith depends on this Truth, that “…with God, all things are possible.” That includes the fact that God took upon himself our human nature and all of our limitations and experiences to teach us how we might become like him in all ways. Jesus suffers the betrayal of a friend, gets convicted on trumped-up charges, suffers beatings and humiliations of all sorts that no one, let alone he deserves. Imagine, he knows all of this ahead of time and still chooses his suffering and death to teach us to love and forgive one another. And, because he sees what lies ahead as God’s Will, he accepts it all. In fact, he embraces it all knowing that doing God’s Will was all he desired to do in this life.

 

Jesus leaves his followers with a “Command,” not a request, not a “can you do me a favor... but a “Command” ... to “Love one another as I have loved you.” He sets our hearts and minds on God’s Will…. that we love one another as he loves us…. completely. Christ held nothing back. He emptied himself on our account…. That’s the standard he set, if we are to be disciples…. to embrace the disappointments, betrayals, broken promises and relationships, sickness and death…to take it all in, the good and the bad, and accept all that comes our way as Christ did, and to do so while remaining faithful to God’s promises that he is with us always, till the end of days. And yes, he sustains us through each and every one of them, through all the glory days of our lives... this one and the one to come.

 

Enjoy the day!

Deacon Tom

 

Please Visit www.deaconspod.com and listen in as the three deacons engage in a contemporary conversation exploring the treasures our Catholic faith has to offer to those on the threshold, those thinking of joining our Catholic Community or walking away from it.

 

 

Recommended Reading: The Saint's Guide to Happiness by Robert Ellsberg - suggests that some of the best people to show us are holy men and women throughout history—Learn who they are and the lessons they teach us.

 

Recommended YouTube Video: John Main and the Practice of Christian Meditation. A deep look into the practice of Christian Meditation by two masters: John Main and Laurence Freeman

Fifth Sunday of Easter_C - Glory Days_051522

Deacon Tom Writes,

“Glory Days”

Fifth Sunday of Easter, Year C

Today’s gospel has all the makings of a great Hollywood movie that begins on the night before Jesus dies. Jesus and his companions are nearing the end of their last meal together. Judas had just taken “the morsel… and left at once.” “The morsel,” we know, is the Eucharist, Jesus’ legacy to remain a “real presence” for his followers. Judas takes the Eucharist…then leaves.

When Judas leaves, Jesus brings this extraordinary Passover celebration to a dramatic close saying, “Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in him.” What intrigue! Jesus seems to infer that what’s about to happen, his betrayal, torture, and death, will somehow bring Glory to God! How unimaginable! Yet for God, all things are possible, even turning these horrific events into something that can and does reveal God’s glory!

How much our faith depends on this Truth, that “…with God, all things are possible.” That includes the fact that God took upon himself our human nature and all of our limitations and experiences to teach us how we might become like him in all ways. Jesus suffers the betrayal of a friend, gets convicted on trumped up charges, suffers beatings and humiliations of all sorts that no one, let alone he deserves. Imagine, he knows all of this ahead of time and still chooses his suffering and death to teach us to love and forgive one another. And, because he sees what lies ahead as God’s Will, he accepts it all. In fact, he embraces it all knowing that doing God’s Will was all he desired to do in this life.

Jesus leaves his followers with a “Command,” not a request, not a “can you do me a favor... but a “Command” ... to “Love one another as I have loved you.” He sets our hearts and minds on God’s Will…. that we love one another as he loves us…. completely. Christ held nothing back. He emptied himself on our account…. That’s the standard he set, if we are to be disciples…. to embrace the disappointments, betrayals, broken promises and relationships, sickness and death…to take it all in, the good and the bad, and accept all that comes our way as Christ did, and to do so while remaining faithful to God’s promises that he is with us always, till the end of days. And yes, he sustains us through each and every one of them, through all the glory days of our lives... this one and the one to come.

Enjoy the day!
Deacon Tom

Recommended Reading: The Saint's Guide to Happiness by Robert Ellsberg - suggests that some of the best people to show us are holy men and women throughout history—Learn who they are and the lessons they teach us.

Recommended Podcast: American Catholic History Podcast finds hidden gems and compelling stories in Catholic Americans who have contributed to America by virtue of their faith over the past three centuries.

Fifth Sunday of Easter_B - Simple Abundance_050221

Deacon Tom Writes,

“Simple Abundance” 

Fifth Sunday of Easter, Year B

In the gospel we hear the story of the “Vine and the Branches” that, not surprisingly, contains a message quite suited for us today. That message is this: if we live our lives trying to discern God’s Will for us and see ourselves connected with and dependent upon one another, a life of simple abundance awaits us. Not an abundance entirely of the material “stuff” this age of consumerism has spawned upon us, but rather, an abundance of those necessities that matter most for our overall “well-being”: mental, physical, spiritual, emotional and yes, even some of the material blessings that surround us!

We begin our journey to pursue the rich abundance the gospel speaks of in earnest when we realize that it is lacking in our lives. Simple abundance is a matter of choosing to live well-balanced lives that contribute and enhance the “well-being” of others. It is what Jesus taught His disciples to do when He said they must put others first and be the servants of all. This is the hardest challenge Christians face and, make no mistake about it, it is in actuality a… “dying to self”.

For most of us this doesn’t describe the current state of our spiritual journey. John’s gospel today reminds us that God calls us to “bear much fruit”, but we settle for so much less. Think about it!!! Would our God, who through Christ promised to raise us from the dead and share eternal life with us not also want us to experience some simple joy and happiness during this life that has more than its share of sadness and sorrows? I am sure that God wants us to share in the blessings this world has to offer, but we often settle for the glitter and trinkets, far lesser “stuff” while foregoing the spiritual riches we should be the focus of our lives.

God has truly set a banquet before us. It starts in this life and comes to completion, perfection in the next. We know that we can do nothing without Him, nor should we want to. For God desires to be a part of our life’s journey so He can fill us with His joy and peace, fruits that matter. And, He waits for us until that day comes when He, the harvest master, gathers to Himself the rich harvest of the fruit of our lives.

May our harvest be abundant and may the harvest master welcome us into His kingdom as His good and faithful servants at the end of the harvest.


Enjoy the day!
Deacon Tom

Fifth Sunday of Easter_A - All Is Well_051020

Deacon Tom Writes,

“All Is Well”

Fifth Sunday of Easter, Year A

The first lesson we hear in today’s readings gives us profound insight into a distinguishing characteristic of the calling we have received. The Apostles find themselves in a crisis. The material needs of some of the members of the fledging community are being ignored. It just so happens (doesn’t it always seem to be the case!) the needs being overlooked are those of a minority group composed of Greek widows. At that time, you may recall, widows were outcasts; they had no standing in the community, and were left on their own to fend for themselves and their children. This was a horrible situation, of course. We read today that this did not sit well with the Apostles. They knew they had to respond in a way that was consistent with the teachings Jesus had left them. Their logical solution...get some help. And thus we read that after some discernment, the Apostles chose the first six deacons upon whom they imposed the laying on of hands. The word deacon is derived from the Greek word diakonos, which literally means “through the dust” and is often translated as  “servant” or “waiter”. This ministry arose out of need to provide for both the spiritual and material needs of the community. Overcoming our worries about our temporal needs provides much comfort for our anxious and troubled hearts.

In the gospel, Jesus aims at soothing a much deeper worry that troubles our hearts that comes with the death of a loved one. I find this particular passage we hear today utterly amazing. This is part of the “Last Discourse” of Jesus we find in Chapter 14 of John’s gospel. Take some time to read it and reflect on it with this thought in mind: Jesus knows he is about to die. His own words to his disciples that he was going to Jerusalem where he would, "suffer greatly and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed and on the third day be raised”  (LK 9:22) were coming to fruition soon. Yet, with this unimaginable, overwhelming burden plaguing his own spirit, Jesus comforts his disciples. He tells them “Do not let your hearts be troubled.” These are powerful words from a man on death row whose concern is not about his own bleak situation, but about the well- being of his followers. Jesus’ hope is that his words put our troubled hearts at rest. We do not have to worry or be concerned about what will happen to him...or us when we face the most significant worry of our lives... what lies in store when we die.

There is no taking away the heartache we experience when someone we love dies. These words today are a comfort to east this grief by teaching us that God’s plan is to bring us home. Home, such a comforting word, symbolizes where we are all headed when this earthly life is over. In this Holy Thursday – Good Friday experience Jesus teaches us to follow His example. From his washing the feet of his disciples as an humble act of service to his placing his trust in and surrender to the divine Will of his Father, to his death upon the Cross, Jesus, the consummate teacher, gives us the best example possible on how to live life to the fullest, as we read last Sunday. In his last gathering with his friends he teaches us how we are to approach death: by placing our trust in God and living each day with the certainty that we are all on a journey and our final destination is our heavenly home.

So, “Do not let your hearts be troubled”. All Is Well! Even during this awful Corvid 19 pandemic. We see people literally following Jesus’ example: healing the sick, caring for the well being of others, being compassionate and sympathetic to those who have been affected by this virus. We continue to pray for those who are working in so many ways to help us all through this crisis and ask God to bless the work of their hands.

Lastly, Happy Mother’s Day to all mothers who are shining examples of self-sacrifice, love and humility to their families and friends. God Bless them with much joy and happiness.

Enjoy the day!

Deacon Tom

Simple Abundance

Deacon Tom Writes,

"Simple Abundance"

Fifth Sunday of Easter, Year B

In the gospel we hear the story of the “Vine and the Branches” that, not surprisingly, contains a message quite suited for us today. That message is this: if we live our lives trying to discern God’s Will for us and see ourselves connected with and dependent upon one another, a life of simple abundance awaits us. Not an abundance of the material “stuff” this age of consumerism has spawned upon us, but rather, an abundance of those necessities that matter most for our overall “well-being”: mental, physical, spiritual, emotional and yes, even material!

We begin our journey to pursue the rich abundance the gospel speaks of in earnest when we realize that it is lacking in our lives. Simple abundance is a matter of choosing to live well-balanced lives that contribute and enhance the “well-being” of others.  It is what Jesus taught his disciples to do when he said they must put others first and be the servants of all. This is the hardest challenge Christians face and, make no mistake about it, it is in actuality a… “dying to self”. 

For most of us this doesn’t describe the current state of our spiritual journey. John’s gospel today reminds us that God calls us to “bear much fruit”, but we settle for so much less. Think about it!!!  Would our God, who through Christ promised to raise us from the dead and share eternal life with us not also want us to experience some simple joy and happiness during this life that has more than its share of sadness and sorrows?  I am sure that God wants us to have these good things and more, but we often settle for the glitter and trinkets, far lesser “stuff”.

God has truly set a banquet before us. It starts in this life and comes to completion, perfection in the next. We know that we can do nothing without him, nor should we want to. For God desires to be a part of our life’s journey so he can fill us with his joy and peace, fruits that matter.   And, he waits for us until that day comes when he, the harvest master, gathers to himself the rich harvest of the fruit of our lives.

May our harvest be abundant and may the harvest master welcome us into his kingdom as his good and faithful servants.  

Enjoy the day!

Deacon Tom