Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time_A - From Shame to Fame_070223

Deacon Tom Writes,

“From Shame to Fame”

Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A

The Shunammite Woman the Prophet Elisha visits today has a condition that she shares with other notable women in Sacred Scripture such as Sarai (Sarah) (Gn 16:1), Rebekah (Gn 25:21), Rachel (Gn 30:1), Manoah’s wife (Judges 13:2), Hannah (1 Sam 1:11), and Elizabeth, Mary’s cousin (Lk 1:6-7). They were women who were childless in their elder years.  For the women of antiquity having a child was not a matter of choice. It was a matter of necessity, so much so that for a married woman not to have a child was considered to be a defect. Being a childless Hebrew woman placed her in a shameful, unbearable place in her society where she was pitied and shunned by others. 

It is no surprise then, at least to people of faith, that given the hopelessness and desperation these women find themselves in (the men, apparently, did not share the humiliation and shame of their wives ... dah!!!), it is no wonder that we see the hand of God intervene in the plight of these women. For, in the words of Psalm 34, “The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”

We know what an important role these women played in Scripture.  Can you imagine how different our bible stories would be without Isaac, Jacob and Esau, Joseph and Benjamin, or Sampson, or Samuel, and even John the Baptist? Yet, all these amazing characters were the progeny of women who, at least for a time, thought that they were forgotten by God.

Elisha’s intervention on behalf of the Shunammite Woman when he prophesied that she would bear a son is part of the bigger picture in which our faith tells us that God has a plan for each one of us too, no matter how desperate a situation in which we find ourselves. It is a good plan, one for which another of the Major Prophets, Jeremiah writes, “For I know well the plans I have in mind for you—oracle of the LORD—plans for your welfare and not for woe, so as to give you a future of hope” (Jer 29:11). As distressed and hopeless as this situation was for these heroic women of the Bible, God was able to advance His plan for our benefit and to bring about a goodness that our limited minds could hardly conceive. The problem we face today is one of belief! Can we imagine that God still has the ability to bring about good from the apparent desperate and impossible situations we find ourselves in today?

If we are challenged by this thought, we can find some consolation in the fact that God is no stranger to working out the impossible for the good. In part that is the very nature of God, who is all good. With all the burdens and sadness that weigh upon our hearts we can find some consolation knowing that the Lord hears our prayers as He heard the prayers of these faithful women of antiquity and as He heard the prayers of His own Son in His time of need. And God, who is forever faithful, will answer each of our prayers in ways that are sure to amaze and bewilder even those who have been blessed with great faith.

Enjoy the day!

Deacon Tom 

Please Visit www.deaconspod.com and listen in as the three deacs engage in a contemporary conversation exploring the treasures our Catholic faith has to offer to those thinking of coming into or leaving it.

 

OTHER RESOURCE

 

Recommended Reading: A Concise History of the Catholic Church by Thomas Bokenkotter  has been one of the bestselling religious histories of the past two decades and a mainstay for scholars, students, and others looking for a definitive, accessible history of Catholicism. A good Summer Read!

 

Recommended YouTube Video: Authentic Happiness and Human Flourishing Series - Week Three - In this four-week series, Dean Steve Thomason draws on resources from Martin Seligman, Berne Brown and Richard Rohr, using scientific work to explore elements of human experience that lead to authentic happiness, flourishing and deep meaning, and set all that against a backdrop of the gospel as good news, inviting all people into the fullness of life.

 

Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, _C - Come, Follow Me_062622

Deacon Tom Writes,

“Come, Follow Me!”

Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C

We read several occasions today of people who wanted to follow those holy men who crossed their paths. First Elisha was willing to leave everything to follow in the footsteps of the Prophet Elijah. In the New Testament someone calls out to Jesus, ‘I will follow you wherever you go’”. It’s easy to understand how this happened. People were amazed at the miracles these men of God performed. In Jesus’ case people saw with their own eyes the great miracles that he worked; they witnessed firsthand the gentleness and great compassion with which he treated people, not just his own but non-Jews also. They personally experienced his genuineness and sincerity of heart. They felt welcomed and comfortable in his presence. And, they wanted to stay in that comfort zone as long as they could. At first glance it is easy to understand why they wanted to remain with Jesus. But remember, Jesus wasn’t peddling la dolce vita. Jesus tells them up front that following him would lead them on a challenging journey, “Foxes have dens and birds of the sky have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to rest his head.” In other words, Jesus wanted to spell out that the road ahead wouldn’t be easy, that to be a disciple, one must do as he did – pick up our crosses and follow him. 

We know that being a follower of Jesus is difficult. We don’t do a good job of denying ourselves or taking up our crosses, right? Having a discipleship mentality puts us at odds with the “real world” where all of our efforts go to build ourselves up, let everyone know just how great we are or show them how much we have accomplished. That’s really the only way to get ahead in life…this life, that is. The very fact that we strive so much to succeed puts us in direct competition with everyone else and it is those basic struggles of life that often breed resentments and envy, difficult vices that challenge and undermine our faith. They don’t have to, but truthfully, they often do. And, if the truth be told, this quest for power, success, egoism is the source of much misery and suffering for others. It seems that Paul had a crystal ball into these crazy days as he says, “if you go on biting and devouring one another, beware that you are not consumed by one another.” Paul raises a clarion call that we need to change our ways.... before it’s too late. 

So, what’s the secret to living an authentic Christian life in our day and age? One way is to distinguish between what we want and what we truly need. Our wants are generally insatiable. Our needs are fairly basic and so much more easily attainable. If we are able to seek only what we need, we can begin to imitate the spirit of simplicity and freedom of Jesus. With less focus on our own needs and concerns, perhaps we can increase our love for one another which puts us on track to practice the greatest commandment… loving God and our neighbors as ourselves. This is how we begin to deny ourselves and open ourselves to the good things that God has in store for us, those things not present in our world, but rather those treasures that flow from the superabundance of God’s grace that are for everyone and that last forever – everlasting… Joy, ……Peace, and Happiness. 

Enjoy the day!

Deacon Tom                                                                                                                         

Visit my Blog at: www.deacontomwrites.blogspot.com                                                           And tune into the www.deaconspod.com to hear a contemporary Catholic conversation exploring the treasures our faith has to offer.

                   Recommended Reading: Catholic Social Teaching - Our Best Kept Secret by                                 Edward P DeBerri and James Hug review the history of the Catholic Church's social                        teaching. 

Recommended Blog: The Francis Effect Podcast - is about the real world of politics and current events, seen through the lens of Catholic teaching and spirituality

Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time_C - Come, Follow Me!_063019

Deacon Tom Writes,

“Come, Follow Me!”

Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C

We read several occasions today of people who wanted to follow those holy men who crossed their paths. First Elisha was willing to leave everything to follow in the footsteps of the Prophet Elijah. In the New Testament someone calls out to Jesus, ‘I will follow you wherever you go’”. It’s easy to understand how this happened. People were amazed at the miracles these men of God performed. In Jesus’ case people saw with their own eyes the great miracles that he worked; they witnessed firsthand the gentleness and great compassion with which he treated people, not just his own but non-Jews also. They personally experienced his genuineness and sincerity of heart. They felt welcomed and comfortable in his presence. And, they wanted to stay in that comfort zone as long as they could. At first glance it is easy to understand why they wanted to remain with Jesus. But remember, Jesus wasn’t peddling la dolce vita. Jesus tells them up front that following him would lead them on a challenging journey, “Foxes have dens and birds of the sky have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to rest his head”. In other words, Jesus wanted to spell out that the road ahead wouldn’t be easy, that to be a disciple, one must do as he did – pick up our crosses and follow him. 

We know that being a follower of Jesus is difficult. We don’t do a good job of denying ourselves or taking up our crosses, right? Having a discipleship mentality puts us at odds with the “real world” where all of our efforts go to build ourselves up, let everyone know just how great we are or show them how much we have accomplished. That’s really the only way to get ahead in life…this life, that is. The very fact that we strive so much to succeed puts us in direct competition with everyone else and it is those basic struggles of life that often breed resentments and envy, difficult vices that challenge and undermine our faith. They don’t have to, but truthfully, they often do. 

So, what’s the secret to living an authentic Christian life in our day and age? One way is to distinguish between what we want and what we truly need. Our wants are generally insatiable. Our needs are fairly basic and so much more easily attainable. If we are able to seek only what we need, we can begin to imitate the spirit of simplicity and freedom of Jesus. With less focus on our own needs and concerns, perhaps we can increase our love for one another, which puts us on track to practice the greatest commandment… loving God and our neighbors as ourselves. This is how we begin to deny ourselves and open ourselves to the good things that God has in store for us, those things not present in our world, but rather those treasures that flow from the kingdom of God that are for everyone and that last forever – everlasting… Joy, ……Peace, and Happiness. 

Enjoy the day!

Deacon Tom

Built To Last

Image from - Flickr.com

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 dwelling among 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 Him.

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”.  We are rarely looking to seeing or experiencing God in any of our daily routines. 

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 its imprint within us.  If we think about it, that is, 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 Christian 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