Take Nothing for the Journey

When we hear Jesus instruct His disciples not to take anything with them when they go on a journey they may have been slightly concerned.  Can you imagine if this were asked of us?  Don’t take a thing with you on vacation, business trip, or when you move to a new town!

There is strength in detachment from material items and that same strength in the poverty of spirit.  We are less concerned with the toys of the world and can focus on the people in our life and be present to the working of the Holy Spirit.

What Jesus is getting at here is that there is no room for distractions from what is important. If people hear the message and don’t listen; don’t waste your time trying to fill a cup that is full.  They won’t  hear it. It won’t sink in.

In the same way, if our cup is full of unnecessary things we won’t be able to allow the moment to take over.  We won’t hear the message.

There are messages for us at every moment.  Trust in the Divine Presence. Empty our vessels from unnecessary clutter so that we may hear the moment.

“Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.”

Friday Fourth Week of Lent

John 7: 1-2, 10: 25-30

John gives us a bit of insight here on the climate of the time.  It's hostile toward the community of believers.  Jesus understands what is going on and yet He still continues on the mission.

When we think about Christianity across the globe we are faced with similar problems.  People are killed and jailed every day because of their belief.  We face calvary in a very real way when we follow the way of the Lord.

We are also reminded that in God's time will all come to pass.  Be still and be firm in faith.  The final chapter has already been penned. 

The result of an all knowing ego based society will be one that separates, categorizes and tries to remove any perceived opposition.    

When Christ calls from the cross "forgive them" He is talking about you and me.  We persecute Him every time we persecute others.  When we isolate others, when we oppress others, when we hurt others.

He forgave us our trespasses, so, let us forgive our own faults so we may join Him in peace.

Wednesday Fourth Week of Lent

John 5:17-30

The work we do to build the kingdom on earth is an important mission.  Bringing others to Christ by our words and actions is the mission of the christian.  Jesus talks about the work he has to accomplish in the gospel and all the work finds its origin in the Father who sent the Son, who sends the Spirit, that is alive and working in you and me.  We can listen to the spirit or ignore it for our own selfish reasons.  "I'm not smart enough" "I'm not good enough" I'm not . . ." all true because without being open to the help of the spirit of God we can't do anything of His will.

Pope Francis was asked about those who are not in favor of his work with the direction of the church and His response is one to remember; "They do their work and I do mine."  

Striving to work for peace, and understanding, the message of the forgiving victim, for those in the world that are oppressed and marginalized requires seeing with the eye of God, hearing with His ear, working with His body, and you don't have to travel far to do it.

Recently, I was asked to explain two predominant cultural theories on truth and afterward the man said "yeah, I guess I can find a soup kitchen to work in." I told him to find the manger, seek Christ in your home, your school, your town and care for Him there.  

Our work is right where we are and we have much work to do before we die!!

 

Wednesday Third Week of Lent

Matthew 5:17-19

Today's gospel comes right after the Beatitudes.  Jesus is reminding us that He has not come to replace, but, to fulfill the law.

It would be a good practice to go over the beatitudes today and think about how Jesus transforms the Mosaic law into a real basic and worthy set of guidelines to keep us on track when we get confused, the beatitudes.

Jesus is transformative.  Jesus transforms the law into a real, practical, non judgmental way of living.  Following the gospel reading Jesus goes on to define how He has come to transform. 

All creation has access to the trinitarian Love that Jesus speaks about.  Once we understand the transformation from a damning, exclusionary, prejudicial Father that was in the old testament, we see the compassion, inclusive, non dual thinking, forgiving our enemy God that teaches us about all those things.

We learn what we are taught, by word and action.  Jesus teaches us that the law is fulfilled in Him and that following His word and action is a sure way to rest in peace.  Peace in this life and in our resurrection. 

Take some time today and go over the beatitudes.  I wish they hung on buildings instead of the ten commandments. 

Tuesday Week Two of Lent

Matthew 23:1-12

Week Two can be a time of purging and a time when the Holy spirit begins to reveal the real message of Lent and the false piety begins to fade.  Week two in the gospel is highlighted by the words of Jesus; "Do what they tell you to do, but don't follow their example."

Jesus knows that the religious leaders of the time placed harsher than necessary restrictions on the people, but their piety of instruction is to be followed.

"I fast and keep all of the Lenten observances"  but how do I treat my brother? Am I holding a grudge or remembering some bit of information that keeps me from a relationship with a brother or family member?  Do I forgive the faults of my life?  Am I keeping the Lenten observances and being mean and uncharitable toward the stranger and person of a different belief?  

Being a Christian requires an real emptying of oneself so we can be filled with Love.  God is Love.  We are created in the image of God.  We are created to Love. 

Week two of Lent and today's' gospel is a time to discover those sins and offenses, those habits and lack of charity we have deep within.  The beginning of Lent is Gods' way to say "What do you think keeps you from me?"  Week two is the time when God says "Here is what is keeping you from me."  Short temper, lying, not really keeping the fast etc.  

Dig in and root it out.  Be determined to empty the old vessel so that the Christ may fill us with the abundance of Love that He promised.

Lent is about being transformed into this wonderful person, we call human.  to Love those unlovable by society, to feed the hungry (not just chips and fish), clothe the naked (not with just a coat or hat) Visit those in hospitals and prison (not just behind physical bars and walls) 

Be still and let the movement of His Love fill our soul and rid us of the cancers of hate, fear, anxiety, control, and the lack of reverence of the Divine in humanity.

Thursday First week of Lent

Matthew 7: 7-12 

"Do to others what you would have them do to you" 

It is difficult for some people to get this concept down, however, it is the way to Peace.  Feed the hungry, not just with food for the body, but, with food for the soul.  A smile or a good morning to a suffer soul is a blessing from God.  To minister to the sick while we, too, are ministered to is the Trinity at work. 

Being human is harder than it seems because we are asked to think and act in a counter cultural way.  We are asked to show mercy to the sinner, but, too often we slide into the cultural way of thinking and that is to join the group, to be a part of a bully squad, so we are not bullied.  We bully in silence. 

Today, show Love and Mercy in times when we would act otherwise.  That's what we are working on during Lent.  Transforming our mind and heart.  

Jesus tells us to "Ask" and it will be given.  Ask for His Love to fill us that we might fill others. 

Reflection 2/12/17

Show me a sign.  Show me a sign that you are this person that you say that you are.  Prove that you are a king.  Prove to us that you are the Christ.  All of His earthly life Jesus was continually poked and prodded to reassure the righteous that He is who He says He is.

Jesus just fed a multitude of countrymen that heard he was healing people and they came to test Him further.  The Pharisees ask Jesus to reveal a sign that will undoubtedly prove that He is the Son of God.

Jesus healed many people and walked on water and that wasn't enough.  The people missed the mark, terribly, in thinking that Jesus came to heal the body or feed it, the reason was; that they may believe in the God that is father of the Son, born of a virgin woman.   Can we see the arrogance of thinking we know it all.  The same arrogance that we take from the tree of knowledge.  The devil played with words, twisted and manipulated the true meaning of the reason Eve wasn't to eat from the tree of knowledge.  Knowledge isn't bad, but, the danger is in the thinking we know it all.

The pharisees think they have all the answers and try to trap Jesus or get an "ah Ha" moment to prove to themselves they are right.  During the life of the Christ people were so focused on the physical healing that they miss the spiritual healing.

Jesus isn't impressed with their agenda and pays them little mind.  He lets them know that their generation will find no sign.  No sign will be found because no sign will be searched for, they know it all.  Arrogance is not capable of seeing beyond the mirror, the focus is closed, internal and exclusive.  Love is open, external, and inclusive

"He sighed from the depth of His Spirit"  as Jesus would in His last act of Love- open, external, and inclusive.

Humility

Today's gospel takes a moment to call attention to the taxes that were required for payment.  

Jesus is the King of Heaven and Earth and requires no monetary tax.  

Jesus requires love as the payment.  There is a series of letters written by a monk, Carlos Caretto, and these letters speak volumes about God's love and how solitude reveals His Love most. 

Jesus looks to Peter and tells him to take a coin out of a fishes mouth to pay the tax so there is no offense offered. 

Getting close to the Holy Spirit requires stillness and a willingness to be open. Jesus knew who He was and didn't find it necessary to fight about it.  For that matter, His whole life was spent in love.  

Parable after parable we hear Jesus teaching, but, it is always done with Love, not pride and arrogance. 

The lesson we need to take from this gospel: Humility. 

When we are teaching love, we must first love, to be an example of the one that loved us first.

Love is the key to the kingdom 

We can do NOTHING without Jesus. 

In Him, Rob Lopez, BSD.