Be With Me, Lord

Deacon Tom Writes,

“Be With Me Lord”

First Sunday of Lent, Year C

“Be with me Lord, when I am in trouble”. These words are from Psalm 91 that carries the heading “Security Under God’s Protection”. That’s solid advice to help get us started on the right foot this holy season. “Be with us, Lord” through the days and nights that lie ahead; “Be with us, Lord” to face the struggles that life has in store. Protect us from all our fears and anxieties… Keep us safe; watch over us; lead us; help us…to navigate the uncertainties and challenges that await us.

Think about our own experiences when problems arise. We turn to God in our time of need. That’s not unusual. It’s a wise person that asks for help before it’s too late! Jesus is a wise man and we see that he has a deep trust and confidence in God. He turns to God to support and sustain him during his ordeal in the desert as he confronts Satan. Luke hints at the source of Jesus’ confidence by telling us that Jesus did not go into the desert alone. Luke says he had a companion… that Jesus, “… was filled with the Holy Spirit” who reminded him that he was not alone during his temptation. The Holy Spirit was there throughout Jesus’ ministry as he revealed the Kingdom of God to the people of Israel and beyond. Jesus knew he could depend upon God to “Be with him” not only during his troubles but also, as he taught his disciples, God is with us “always”.

Lent is a very holy time to enrich our spiritual lives by deepening our relationship with God, to spend time developing and strengthening that relationship, as Jesus did, so that we have the confidence to know that God is always present, always willing to help us during the hard and sorrowful times and also to share our joy on the good days. That God is really present, that he really cares for us…. loves us more than we love ourselves is so often hard for us to believe; yet, it is true.

We come to this understanding by placing our hearts and minds in the presence of God and asking him… “Be with me, Lord”… now and forever.

Enjoy the day!

Deacon Tom

Depart From Me, Lord

Deacon Tom writes,

“Depart From Me, Lord”

Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C

Simple amazement at catching a boatload of fish overwhelms Peter and gives him some insight into the person of Jesus. But Peter’s initial reaction is to resist Jesus telling him, “Depart from me, Lord”. Luke is the only Evangelist to record this episode from the beginning of Jesus’ ministry and yet, this brief story speaks volumes about our own call to serve God. Like Peter, we too often tell Jesus to “hit the road”. To some extent, this is a natural response. We all know that we are sinners and can claim for ourselves Peter’s confession before the Lord, “I am a sinner”. But, God is patient, a characteristic essential for anglers, who casts out his line and waits for something to happen.

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

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

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

Enjoy the day!

Deacon Tom

Image: Miraculous draught of fishes by Raphael

How Deep Is Your Love?

Deacon Tom writes,

“How Deep Is Your Love”

Deacon Tom writes,

“How Deep Is Your Love?”

Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C

How easy it is to say, “I love you”. How easy it was for the people of Nazareth to speak highly of Jesus and to render a favorable opinion about the gracious words he spoke. It’s quite a different matter altogether to act with love toward the people we say we love or to respond to those gracious words Jesus speaks to us today as he did to the people in his hometown Synagogue, his friends and neighbors, the people who watched him grow from youth to a young man and iterant preacher and miracle worker.

St. Paul writes to the Corinthians about love. Couples often chose these words for their wedding ritual because they capture our hearts desire for genuine, selfless love. “Love is patient, love is kind” Paul says. If he were to stop there, we would have plenty to think about. We would have to work very hard to show those we say we love a patient love, a kind love. But Paul doesn’t stop with those two qualities. He goes on to say that there is much more to love than patience and kindness. He probes the very essence of love to reveal that at its very core, to love means to surrender oneself completely to the other. Love, Paul says, “is not pompous or rude; is not inflated and doesn’t seek its own interest; it is not quick-tempered nor does it brood over injury. Love does not rejoice over wrongdoing; it bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things”.

Love, then, is so much more than simply saying, “I love you”. It is the journey of a lifetime; one does not get there over night. Rather it is a slow process of letting go, of dying to self, of subjecting our very self-will to the will of others. And, should we really give some thought to this, we can’t love to the depth that Paul describes by ourselves. We need God’s grace to make any progress at all. For, if we are left to ourselves, we might act like the people of Jesus’ hometown who hear his “gracious” words and then, moments later, try to push him over the cliff. They just weren’t prepared to hear how abundant and liberating God’s love is and that his love goes out to all who search for him.

There is little doubt that God’s love remains a mystery. We will never completely understand the depth of divine love in this life, but we can experience it through the love of others. The deeper our love becomes, the more selfless our love will be and the closer we will come to the source of that love who is God and the better we will be at sharing that love with one another.

Enjoy the day!

Deacon Tom

Image:http://www.catholicfaithstore.com

One In Christ

Deacon Tom writes,

“One in Christ”

Third Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C

The devastation caused by natural disasters, the suffering of those traumatized by war and famine, seeing the miserable plight of children with swollen bellies due to hunger and disease on the nightly news overwhelms our senses. It is painful to watch these tragedies unfold, for, the truth is, our minds simply cannot grasp the horrific misery many of our brothers and sisters in Christ are enduring at this very moment. Consider what the Syrian people have experienced these many years. Imagine what it is like to lose everything you own in an instant when a tornado rips through your home. St. Paul tells us the reason we Christians feel the pain that others are experiencing is because we believe that we are all part of the one Body of Christ.

St. Paul recognized that we are intimately united with one another through Christ. His experience while on his way to Damascus to persecute those early followers of Christ helped formed this understanding. Recall the events of the Acts of the Apostles, Chapter 9 when Saul was blinded by a bright light and fell to the ground. He heard a voice say, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me”? When Saul asked who was speaking to him, he heard the response, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting”. Saul must have felt confused. He was on a mission to put an end to the fledgling body of Jesus’ followers, NOT Jesus, who was already dead. But after his conversion experience, those same followers Saul intended to kill would help him to become one of Christ’s greatest witnesses. And one of his many contributions to our faith is this understanding of the Mystical Body of Christ that we read today.

Because we Christians believe that we share this mystical union with one another, all of us suffer any and each time someone else suffers physically, mentally, or emotionally, whether the cause is natural or the result of our own misguided activities. Yes, we are all aware of the suffering and misery that thrives in our world today. And how are we as Christians to respond to the afflictions of refugees, or the victims of war…AIDS…poverty…injustice, etc. that ravage our brothers and sisters in Christ, all of whom we believe are made in the image and likeness of God? Certainly financial support is essential for food, medical supplies, and disease control. These items are most essential. But also, we cannot overlook our spiritual contributions – prayer, fasting, and time spent reflecting on how the suffering of people around the world is bound up with Our Lord’s redemptive suffering that frees us from death and restores us to everlasting life. In the end we need both the material and the spiritual contributions to help alleviate the suffering of so many of our brothers and sisters in Christ. Doing our small part will help us better understand ourselves as the mystical body and provide much needed assistance to those in need. And, therein lies tremendous hope for our broken and troubled world.

Enjoy the day!

Deacon Tom

Image: http://religion-cults.com/metanoia/cristo-cuerp-m.jpg

Water Into Wine ~ A Call To Be Transformed

Deacon Tom writes,

“Water into Wine”

Second Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C

The Wedding Feast at Cana is the third “epiphany” of our Lord in that it is the third official occasion in which Jesus’ identity is revealed to the world. The first revelation was recounted two weeks ago on the Feast of the Epiphany when the magi came from the far corners of the world to pay homage to the Christ Child. Last week was the Feast of the Baptism of Our Lord and Jesus is revealed as God’s beloved. Today at Cana Jesus reveals his power over the natural order by, of all things, changing water into wine.

Jesus is an agent of change. What was, ceases to be. What was not, comes into being. According to John, Jesus is the preexistent and Incarnate Word who comes to reveal the Father to us. Jesus comes to establish the Kingdom of God right here in our world through his creative and transforming works like this amazing miracle at Cana.

It is important for anyone who wants to experience a deeper spiritual life to be open to the transformative power of Christ. It’s difficult to make any significant changes in our lives let alone trying to break deep-seated habits or prejudices we’ve harbored for years. There are several reasons for this: first, because we don’t see them for the evils that they are, so we ignore them. Have you heard the expression, “De-nial is not just a river in Egypt?” Second, we are very good at putting off difficult changes until tomorrow. Tomorrow, of course, never comes.

Jesus’ ministry is one that invites us to change our lives. He does this by taking away our blindness, curing our paralyses, and giving us the opportunity to embrace new life. In other words, he empowers us to overcome the obstacles that hinder our spiritual growth. Jesus gives us the power to change; he gives us the living water of Baptism and the bread of life in the Eucharist. He gives us the power to come to know him though the abundant sacramental life that feeds and nourishes all who come to him.

Paul’s letter to the Corinthians reveals that the transformative work begun by Jesus is continued through the power of the Holy Spirit who lavishes God’s gifts upon us for the good of all. We all drink of the one Cup that has been filled with the “Good Wine” that Jesus has made available to all who come to him looking for God’s infinite love, mercy, and compassion.

Enjoy the day!

Deacon Tom

Image by Ranosonar

Christ Among Us

Deacon Tom writes,

Christ Among Us

The Baptism of the Lord, Year C

Today’s celebration of The Baptism of the Lord marks an end to another Christmas Season. I hope the peace and joy of the Christ Child touched you and your loved over the course of this holy time of year. You will notice that the white vestments that have signified these solemn days of Christmas will give way to green indicating a return to “Ordinary Time” as the liturgical calendar rolls forward.

On last Sunday we celebrated the Feast of the Epiphany of Our Lord. This Feast’s importance is centered on visit of the magi whose presence before the newborn King of the Jews makes known God’s loving plan of salvation for all the nations of the world. Yes, God who first revealed himself to the people of Israel now sends his Only Begotten Son into the world so all may know that God is near to all by virtue of the birth of Emmanuel, the presence of Christ among us.

In today’s gospel text Jesus comes to John to be baptized in the Jordan River, a second occasion where God is visibly living and active in our human family. God’s voice from on high proclaims and affirms Jesus his “Beloved Son” as the Holy Spirit descends in bodily form. Yes, today we experience the fullness of Trinitarian love fully present in the completely human person of Jesus.

The baptism of Jesus reveals the mystery of the presence of God in all of our lives. God comes to us when we are baptized just as he came to Jesus, filling us with his Spirit and claiming us as his own. We too become “his beloved”. How we experience being God’s “beloved”, however, depends upon us. This is what our journey of faith entails. It calls to deepen our awareness of the gift we have received and formulating an appropriate response to the one who loves us even, if we can imagine this, more than we love ourselves. Just as it would be virtually impossible to have a healthy and meaningful relationship in this life with someone we claim to love but then constantly ignore, so to with God. To be his “beloved” is to be in an intimate and trusting relationship with him, a union of trust and faithfulness that is mutually nourishing, beneficial, health, and supportive.

As we ease back into Ordinary Time, let us remember that we are God’s “beloved”, and seek every opportunity to act accordingly so that we may continue to grow in his love, deepen our relationship with Him, and to share the abundance of his love with everyone whose lives touch ours.

Enjoy the day!

Deacon Tom

Image Credit: Baptism-of-Christ.jpg/ by Davezelenka

Lighten the Load

Deacon Tom writes,

“Lighten the Load”

The Epiphany of the Lord, Year C

If you have taken a flight to go on vacation lately, then you know how difficult it is to get everything you need packed into your suitcase and not go over the 50-pound limit to avoid the surcharge. Sometimes you just can’t do it, so you have to leave that extra sweater or the additional pair of dress shoes you packed… just in case!

I wonder if the Magi had that problem. They didn’t know how long their journey would take nor what exactly they would need along the way. There was only so much that they could bring with them and there were no shopping malls along the way. They had to pack wisely if they wanted to find the one whom they were searching for, the newborn King of the Jews.

This journey of the Magi that announces the Good News of God’s salvation to the entire world invites us reflect on the journey of our lives. The Magi’s story prompts us to ponder the direction of our lives and asks us, “What it is that we are looking for in this life”? What is the object of our hearts’ desire that is driving us forward each day and that will completely satisfy us when we find it? Most of us recognized that our lives are so busy and cluttered at times that we often neglect those important things that give us the most joy and happiness. Suffering from that same condition, I have been asking myself what are the essential, absolute necessities I need to enjoy life. It comes down a single word…relationship. Relationship with my family, friends, and God are what matters most to me at this stage of my life. Perhaps the same is true for you also. 

There are so many activities that contribute to the busyness of our lives that don’t contribute to the quality of our lives, nor do they lead us to what is most important, a deeper relationship with those around us and God. If the choices we are making aren’t leading us to deeper, more profound relationships, then, these are the things we need to leave behind, just like we must leave some things behind when we pack for the airport. Life, as we are often reminded, is full of choices…and not all of them are good.

I hope that 2016 will give us all the opportunity to lighten the clutter of our lives and enable us to concentrate on improving the quality of our lives – spiritually, mentally and physically.

May God, who sent his son to be numbered among us, direct our hearts to his so we may experience the fullness of joy in this life and in the one to come. And, may God bless you and your loved ones in the new year, this very timely Year of Mercy.

Enjoy the day!

Deacon Tom

Reflection on the Holy Family

Deacon Tom writes,

“Reflection on the Holy Family”

The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph, Year C

The Feast that we celebrate today is a very special one for all who see family as the center not only of our physical lives but our spiritual ones as well. God’s unconditional love for us is revealed and reflected in the human family. The family is where we come to know and experience the deepest form of love – agape love, that sacrificing and selfless love - in an intimate way. The love of family surrounding us as we grow through infancy and childhood forms our behavior and determines how we will interact with those around us throughout our lives. In our effort to grow in our understanding of God, we begin to see that God’s self-revelation to us as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit is something that we see in the structure of our own families. As unfathomable as the mystery of God’s own nature is, we are, nevertheless, able to experience that divine nature in a limited way in the love we share first in our families, then with others.

If we have contemplated the life of the Holy Family, we might have noticed that it stands in marked contrast to many of the experiences of families today. Families are under so much stress with all the demands being made on parents who are often both working just to provide for everyday needs. Then there is all the running around – school activities, running back and forth to day care, music lessons, doctor’s appointments, getting the oil changed, yoga classes, or getting to the gym. Oh, and don’t forget getting to CRE and Mass too! There seems to be no end to the demands of contemporary family life. And, sadly, there are so many families that are unable to maintain the pace or withstand those stress and for them addiction, violence and abuse can become the order of the day.

Our kids are under a lot of pressure too, perhaps more today than in the past, as they strive to do well in school, to be the student athlete, and to star in the big play. Our active schedules leave very little time for families to enjoy quality time together, a time to share each other’s company, and where mom and dad can teach their children about virtuous living and help shape their character so that they can know how to live a moral life. Then there are the challenges poised by families separated by many miles and the difficulties encountered by single parents.

Isn’t it interesting that the people of antiquity were receptive to this notion of “Sabbath Rest” and set aside a complete day on which to rest from their labors and to replenish their spirits? Let’s face it, unless we are very disciplined people, we seldom schedule time to rest our bodies, renew our spirits, and develop lasting and binding ties to family and friends. And then there is this relatively new problem that we face today, our kids are susceptible to outside influences earlier today than ever before because of our high-tech society. And, as we see so often, it’s not always a good influence.

As we celebrate this Christmas Season let us do all we can to imitate the Holy Family that nourished Jesus in holiness and grace.

Enjoy the day!

Deacon Tom

Image Credit: Cindy Osborne Drayton University