Holy Thursday

The washing of the feet at our Lords' supper is the example of being human that we need to follow.  Using our mind to shed the "either-or" thinking and to explore and incorporate, and to eventually live by, non-dual thinking.  

It's not our fault, in so far as we are equipped with and taught the very basics as children.  We isolate into common groups, sports teams, pattern identification in school testing, it all became the system in which we operate with. 

Jesus came to show us that we can use another way to bring the Kingdom to us here.   It requires us to be empathetic, understanding, courageous, inclusive, and a person of action.

Washing the feet opens the door to a new way of thinking.  Serve, lead, work with, incorporate and include, advance the meaning and reason for the law.  It says that "I share in your life"  "We are equal"

Remember that the example of Christ and our response will shape the future and build a better world.

My brothers, "Be still" 

Tuesday of Holy Week

John 13: 21-33 36-38

When we look at the Passion we often think; "Man, Judas, what were you thinking?"  And yet when we gossip and back bite we do the same to Jesus.  We betray the divine in each other, we betray with the sweet words of a nice conversation that turns into the wrong kind of conversation.  We judge and sell each other to be popular or perhaps to get back at someone.

The gospel lets us know that Jesus is showing us how to respond to the betrayal, with food, with kindness, with suffering. 

Transforming the betrayal into redemption is what we are called to do.  When we have been talked about or scandalized we need to focus on Jesus dipping the morsel of food and then leaving the rest up to God.

We are called to be different in our approach and responses. 

Act with Love and Love will act.

"How Can This Be Possible?"

“How Can This Be Possible?”

How many times have we asked this question or stated, “It’s not possible.”

In today’s gospel, we are with Jesus and Nicodemus.  Jesus is tired after a long day and Nicodemus finds comfort in approaching Jesus at night so as not to be seen by the Jewish Pharisees. 

Jesus explains to Nicodemus that he needs to be born of water and spirit, a teaching the Pharisees were aware of by way of John the Baptizers message.

What does that mean to Nicodemus?  He’s a follower of Jesus and a teacher of the law and he isn’t clear in his understanding that the teaching of Moses and the serpent is one that is earthly and, even though it worked for the Israelites, the Son of God must also be gazed upon to be believed in by all.

Jesus’ death and resurrection mark the beginning of a new creation, a new way of belief, a new understanding that doesn’t abolish the law but clarifies the law. 

When Nicodemus asks the question “How can this be?” he is asking how is this going to fit into my plan and way of worship.  Jesus lets him know that this is going to require and deepening of his faith and not just a mere adjustment of some law.

An act of Faith in Jesus is what is being asked of Nicodemus and us. 

“Look upon the one that has be pierced for our offenses” and believe that “by His wounds we are healed” takes us past the serpent of Moses and places us in the Eternal salvation plan of Jesus.

            “And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert, so must the Son of Man be lifted up so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.”

Have Faith that we may have Eternal Life!

Magnify the Lord

 Reflection for The Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord 2016

Todays’ gospel brings us to the Annunciation of Jesus.  Mary, going about her daily activities and encounters the angel, Gabriel, who tells her that she, is now pregnant. 

I think of our spirituality like this annunciation from our baptism.  At baptism we are born with Christ and we die with Christ and within us resides this soul that has been consecrated to “image and likeness of God.” 

We are consecrated to bare this infant child, our infant spirituality, and fostering its growth.  We have to feed our soul and take care of it so that it remains pure as a virgin and “magnifies the Lord.”

That’s what confession is for and that’s how we return to that pure virgin soul that “magnifies the Lord.”  It’s our life with Christ, and it’s our life for Christ.

Let your soul magnify the Lord in your thoughts, words, and actions.

I Don't Believe

                                       Divine Mercy Sunday (Second Sunday of Easter 2016)

This reading from St. Johns’ Gospel reminds us of the great love Jesus has for us and freely gives of His Mercy.

Thomas has been coined “doubting Thomas” and I’m not so sure about the accuracy of that phrase.

Remember back in Chapter 11:16 when Jesus is summoned to go to Lazarus, who has been dead for several days and Thomas makes the statement

           

“Let us also go to die with him.” John 11:16

Remember that the Jews were just about to stone Jesus (John 10:31) and for the apostles to return to this hostile environment was an almost guarantee that there was going to be trouble.

Thomas isn’t worried about the trouble and John felt this was important enough, and made an impression deep enough, that he wanted to make sure he mentioned this in his account.

Lazarus is dead Jesus said so why in the world would Thomas want to return to a hostile environment unless he believed in the power of Christ and that He could be raised from the dead.

Well, they go back and Lazarus is raised from the dead.

So, here we are, another intimate setting and Jesus appears to them without Thomas being present. 

I’m not sure Thomas was doubting as much as he was hurt and being defensive, like what we do when we are being stubborn after our feelings get hurt.

Thomas said that he “won’t believe” unless he feels the wounds with his fingers, but, he will have to wait another week until that happens.

That must have been one long week.  Can we relate to this?  I can. When we do things for the wrong reasons we can feel betrayed or unappreciated and I wonder if that wasn’t a touch of what Thomas was feeling at that moment.

Thomas was ready to die for Jesus and the good news; yet, Jesus doesn’t make a point to appear to Thomas until after another week.

The idea is that purity of intention and working for God and the Love of Jesus doesn’t require us to see the fruits of our labor.

We need to trust that Jesus knows our hearts and that the purity of our work for the glory of God needs no earthly reward and we won’t even need Jesus to appear to “prove” He loves us.

Thomas may have been offended that he wasn’t present and Jesus lets him think about it for a week.

We know from John’s Gospel that Jesus does appear to him and comes through that stubborn “Locked door” to see his friends and that’s when Thomas makes that great profession of faith

            “My Lord and My God” John 20: 28

Our hearts may be locked with pains and disappointments in life; our hearts may be locked because Jesus didn’t respond to us quickly enough, no matter why the heart is locked, Jesus will come in and transform us in ways that we can’t even imagine.  His mercy is not restricted and has no boundary.

Jesus said to him, “Have you come to believe because you have seen me?  Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.” John 20:29

Believe that you may have Eternal Life.

None of Your Business

Reflection for April 2, 2016

Mary Magdalene is the first one that Jesus appears to in all four gospels and in Marks’ account he mentions that Jesus cast out seven demons from her.

Jesus could have appeared to anyone first, but He chose to appear to the one whom he cast out seven demons. 

Mary tells the others and no one believed her.  The eleven don’t believe until He appears to them at dinner and Jesus rebukes them for being hard of heart.

We work in prison ministry and we have met several men that have told us they weren’t guilty of the crime they were in jail for.  Can you imagine that? 

There are reasons that Jesus appears to Mary first, and one reason may be that she is the one that has the least amount of credibility because He knows the others can’t shed their prejudices in regard to Mary’s past. 

Maybe another is that she believes in His Love so deeply and genuinely that He comes to see her first.  Maybe she doubted the most of all the followers and He knew she needed that reassurance.

Whatever the reasons may be, Jesus transformed Mary’s life so drastically that she has an encounter with the Risen Christ and tells others.

It’s none of Mary’s business whether or not the people she told believed her and it isn’t our business whether or not people believe us.  Our responsibility is to spread the Love of God and the message of Christ in our actions.

It is also none of our business what God does with our life, our business is to do it!

"Come and Have Breakfast"

What a warm invitation we hear in today's gospel, "Come and Have Breakfast."

I'm on a retreat and stopped over a few days with my parents.  My parents are aged; mom is 72 and dad is 94.

To this day one of the traditions at my parents house is that mom loves to make breakfast for me and dad, and I don't dare disagree.

That brought me to today's Gospel and an understanding of how intimate a breakfast with loved ones and friends really is.  

Sharing breakfast over a charcoal fire after a long night of fishing, and unsucessful until the encounter they had with Jesus, must have been one of many memories and sharing.

There has been some time that has passed from the days of Jesus' death and resurrection, and this will be the first time that Jesus appears to Peter, who denied knowing Jesus over a charcoal fire.

Peter may have been wondering if Jesus was ever going to visit him after betraying him.  Peter may have been wondering that very night "Is He ever going to come and relieve me of this pain?" 

Jesus did come to Peter and did relieve him of his pain and what a breakfast that must have been. 

Then we have Johns' accounts of the events that are very clear and detailed after so many years that have passed;

                 "Even though there were so many, the net was not torn." 

This is a detail that made a lasting impression on a young man knowing well the fishermens lively-hood depends greatly on the condition of the nets.  Jesus, makes a point to fill the nets with so much food, and yet not too full to break them.

Over breakfast there is much to share and a lot to think about and Jesus takes the advantage and calms the mood.

Having breakfast with my parents, I can't help think that the memories that I experienced, memories of the many past breakfasts she cooked for me, were similiar to the ones the apostles had.  There must have been many fond memories that were shared that morning.  

Jesus knows just how much our nets can hold and He always gives us just enough. 

Peace I Leave You

Peace Be With You

Today's Gospel talks about the disciples recognizing Jesus in the breaking of the bread.  The disciples are still confused and troubled about the recent occurrences, but Jesus says something that is very familiar to them to help ease their minds.

            “Peace Be With You”

Jesus knows their hearts and minds are unsettled and when he asked them, why they are troubled, he goes right to the reason without delay.

“Look at my hands and my feet . . .” Jesus eats a piece of fish in front of them just to be sure they understood this was no trick

When we come before Christ in the Blessed Sacrament,  Jesus recites these same words, and so do we at Mass.

            “Peace I leave you My Peace I give you.”

That’s no ordinary Peace, this Peace is found in the breaking of the bread. The Blessed Sacrament holds within it all the food our soul needs for the journey of life.

Spend time in front of the Blessed Sacrament that you may come to know Peace and all the treasures unlocked by our communion with Jesus.

He never leaves us.  Jesus will never abandon us. We have His word