Wednesday, October 30, 2013

reflections on Luke 19:1-10

The biggest crowd I can imagine is St. Peter's Square in Rome during a General Audience. Instead of the Holy Father, Francis, it is Jesus of Nazareth teaching the crowd. I listen eagerly to His words but He can't see me among nine thousand people. All of a sudden, however, I look up and there is Jesus. "I have come to be with you." I reply with an astonished, "Who, me?" Yes, he is looking directly at me and smiling. He is inviting himself to my home. My first thought is that I left the house in such a hurry that the breakfast dishes are still in the sink, the laundry to be folded is on the couch and that mark of all civilization, the made bed, is not done. Please, Lord, come tomorrow so I can be ready to receive you worthily... He tells me that I am already 'worthy' for His love has made me special. He wants to come now. He doesn't seem to notice the external disorder, but invites me to share the secret darknesses in my heart. "I have come to heal and save what is in danger of being lost and to brind peace and joy." As I give him full access to my heart I gratefully notice his gentle walk that does not embarrass but only increases my love and trust.... I cry each day, "Come Lord Jesus!"

Wednesday, October 23, 2013

Reflections on Luke 18:9-14

Since this Gospel was written we have heard many times the phrase: "..whoever exaltss himself will be humbled, and the one who humbles himself will be exalted." We all know people who "take the last place" or who say, "I don't deserve praise" and embarass the one who tries to give them a sincere compliment. I remember a very good cook whose every meal was a delight. When I sincerely thanked and complimented her for about the third time she seemed angry. "I don't do it for the praise so you shouldn't praise me." I was startled by that reaction and replied that I NEEDED to acknowledge her talent because I knew her gift ultimately came from God. We learned that humility is truth. It is also a gift from God. If we fake it because we want people to praise more or for some other reason, perhaps a habit, it comes across strange. It cannot be faked. In the parable, Jesus is not criticizing the pharisee for the good he does, but because he thought that makes him better than the near bye tax collector. In a healthy examination of conscience we must begin by examining and thanking God for the good he has allowed us to do, and then to ask light to see our failures and sins, knowing that both the strength for the good and the forgiveness for the sin are pure gifts of his love. Pope Francis insists that we must constantly walk with Jesus, not just thinking of him when we need something from him... That is the secret of peace and joy and it is free!

Thursday, October 10, 2013

Reflections on Luke 17:11-19

We have been worshiping Jesus as the Son of God for two thousand years. It is easy to forget that he had and has a human heart with feelings. In the Breviary recited by priests, religious and some lay persons there is a lovely prayer which I will paraphrase... "though the entire universe is yours you still delight in such tokens as human beings can give...." Yes, Jesus DELIGHTS in what we say and ask, but I think, especially, in our thanks. When we are grateful we give joy to the object of our gratitude, but that is almost nothing compared with what happens in our own hearts. We become humble, gentle, peaceful. We relax because others are also doing good. The functioning of the world is not exclusively on our shoulders. The most spiritual thing that humans who are non believers do is thank... They thank those they love as we all do. The greatest joy, however, is to thank the Creator of the Universe, for the sunrise or sunset, for life, for each new day, for the squirrel that does remarkable acrobatics on the very tip of a branch of an oak tree. We can change the world, our family, our community, and ourselves by just being generous with expressions of sincere thankfulness.

Wednesday, October 2, 2013

Reflections on Luke 17:5 - 10

The disciples ask the Lord to increase their faith. That is a good thing, isn't it? That is a prayer that we ourselves might have made several times over a life time. Why does there seem to be an implied criticism in Jesus' reply? I think He was responding to the why they wanted more faith. Did they want to become miracle workers famous throughout the land? Did they want to feel better in moments of stress or fear? Was their idea of faith as a remedy for life's hardships or a tool to increase one's status? Jesus seems to be saying that faith is not a quantity ... the more the more powerful. Faith the size of a mustard seed will already do the impossible. But faith is the gift of the Holy Spirit and it is given for the Kingdom, for the salvation of the receiver and the fruitfulness of his witness. Faith that is self-serving is not from God and it is a false faith. Faith increases according to our love of God and neighbor. It is the reward for self-emptying, for caring, forgiveness, compassion, goodness and brings peace and joy. We perhaps do not need more faith but a genuine faith rooted in the love of God. It requires study, getting to know God through reading daily from Sacred Scripture and sound spiritual books. Second it requires reflection, prayer howeverlong or short, but a contact with God, and then third, it requires action-- some loving service according to our state in life. These can all be "the size of mustard seeds" but they must be regular and consistant... and faith the gift of God will grow in our hearts opening a vision of an every larger and more beautiful horizon.