Thursday, February 28, 2013

I am mesmerized today by the final verse from the first reading:

More tortuous than all else is the human heart,
beyond remedy; who can understand it?
I, the LORD, alone probe the mind
and test the heart,
To reward everyone according to his ways,
according to the merit of his deeds.

We are complex beings and there is nothing more intricate than the emotional component of our  human nature, that which we often refer to as our heart.  It has often been said that the distance between our head and our heart is 'a mile long.'  To many that sounds out a warning: "Don't go there!"  The 'heart' is at the very core of our ministry in Marriage Encounter:  identifying, accepting and sharing our feelings.  I love Fr. Bill's comparison of a feeling to a 'sneeze' -- they just happen.  We have no control over them.  They are a gift from a loving God and like any gift we must care for them with tenderness and use them to give honor and glory to our God.  The key to understanding the generosity of this gift is to realize how much our feelings  impact our attitudes and thus our behaviors.  We can change our attitudes and we are responsible for our behaviors.  This, I believe is the connection to the Gospel in today's readings.  

We, like the man in the Gospel might feel angry, resentful, annoyed, horrified, bitter, suspicious or even trapped if we awaken to find a poor beggar lying on our front doorstep, standing on our street corner, or enter into our office requesting help.  There is nothing wrong with those feelings.  Like a sneeze . . . . Identifying and accepting the feeling is a gift from God, inviting us to probe deeply to surface the underlying attitude.  Do we see ourselves as better than the beggar because we work hard in our job, or are frugal with what we spend so as to save for hard times ahead?  Are we more fortunate because we took advantage of the education offered to us, or accepted a job -- any job to be self-sufficient in life?  Do we have the attitude that you reap what you sow?  or is it an attitude that others will judge us by our associations?   if we give a handout this time, more will follow and we will ultimately get taken advantage of?  Does our attitude allow us to realize in the beggar a child of God, the body of Christ.  

Remember we can change our attitude and we are responsible for our behaviors.  Our Lord will reward everyone according to his ways, according to the merit of his deeds.

Love you!
MOM

Wednesday, February 27, 2013

These readings both speak to me of the need to be seen as important and how we become suspicious of anyone who seems to be getting more than their fair share of the pie. We crave recognition for what we have done.  Recognition, affirmation, 'Thank you, Jim!' 'Way to go!' -- these things are all important.  As I was writing this, the cat crawled up onto my chair; even Gus needs a little touch and affirmation!

I was just sharing this morning with our local ME Leadership that I wish people would sometimes send back a simple email -- Got it!  When they don't it is easy to let suspicion creep in -- they don't like me, or agree with me, . . . might as well 'eat worms.'  I, and I suspect many of us want to be recognized, to sit, "one at your right and the other on your left".  I won't go so far as to say that I am plotting against them, like the citizens of Judah and Jerusalem did against Jeremiah, but sometimes I do wonder if it is worth it and consider for a brief moment just throwing in the towel.

So, why don't we throw in the towel, Why don't we contrive a plot against them and destroy them by their very silence?  Deep down, I really do believe the words of the Gospel:

Rather, whoever wishes to be great among you shall be your servant;
whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave.
Just so, the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve
and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

We are called to a life of service and our recognition may not be in this world.  Even a simple 'Thank you!',  'Atta-boy!' or high-5 may be expecting too much.  If we ascribe to the virtue of humility being of service should be plenty.  Pie is over-rated and a skinny piece is better for my diet! 

Speaking of pie, Laura, I want the recipe for the pumpkin pie you made for Thanksgiving dinner -- I have a new pie crust I want to try out!

Tuesday, February 26, 2013

"Actions speak louder than words!"  or "Preach the Gospel, if necessary use words!"  These are quotes from some very good people in my life; my parents and para-phrased from St. Francis, my name-sake.

Therefore, do and observe all things whatsoever they tell you,
but do not follow their example.
For they preach but they do not practice.
They tie up heavy burdens hard to carry
and lay them on people’s shoulders,
but they will not lift a finger to move them.
All their works are performed to be seen.

I must admit, I think this is the first time I have read or heard "they tie up heavy burdens hard to carry and lay them on people's shoulders, but they will not lift a finger to move them." That grates like fingernails on a chalk board to me!  BUT, there are many times when I hear the gospel reading and I check it off my list -- 'yup, I do that!'  But do I really?  Do I take the words to heart and let them penetrate me to the very core?  or Do I incorporate the values and make them part of my life just when it is convenient?  

I know, yesterday I was very judgmental of your Daddy in the office.  I judge I was justified -- I still stand by my opinion, but that does not give me the right or an excuse to be judgmental.  I obviously in a pissed-off and self-righteous moment had forgotten the very Gospel of that day.  The one that I wrote was 'short and crisp and to the point' and should be memorized by all!  I ask your forgiveness and thank God for the gift of today and the opportunity to  take these scriptures to heart.  Today is a new day! 

Love you!

MOM

Monday, February 25, 2013

Wow! It is already Monday.  We had a great weekend, but I wish weekends lasted as long as weekdays!

When I read these OT readings, I feel grateful, blessed and encouraged that Jesus came to abolish the old law and establish a new law.  I sometimes forget that this is all these poor (pathetic) people know.  (Sometimes I even think 'Get over yourself!')  I so rejoice when we finally get to the New Testament.  It is probably good to be presented with the contrast between the 2 sets of readings.  It allows us to really appreciate the gift that we have been given in Christ's life and death and finally his resurrection.

I love the Gospel and I love that it is short, crisp and to the point.  It makes it so powerful!

Jesus said to his disciples:“Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.“Stop judging and you will not be judged.Stop condemning and you will not be condemned.Forgive and you will be forgiven.Give and gifts will be given to you;a good measure, packed together, shaken down, and overflowing,will be poured into your lap.For the measure with which you measurewill in return be measured out to you.”

Our gifts will be returned to us 1000-fold when we are charitable to others -- when we are kind, merciful, affirming and non-judgmental -- when we give of ourselves to others instead of judging.  We live in a world that is so judgmental, from peer pressure to the news on TV -- it is not just news, everything has to have a political spin and we so easily set up a cult of 'us vs. them.'  We have 'IT' and you don't!  We all have 'IT' -- the gift of God's saving grace in His Son!  What greater gift is there, What greater measure can we have of a loving God!  If we can only open our eyes and ears to see and accept God's tremendous love which we have been given in abundance.  If we could just see and treat each other as equally gifted and loved by God, we would all live in a land of plenty.  This is the way to end violence, to end oppression, to restore the dignity of the human being, to live in harmony.

Have a great week!

Love,

MOM

Second Sunday in Lent

http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/022413.cfm

I have to admit, these readings don't speak to me as much as the readings that built up to the end of this week. As we worked through the week we were reminded to accept and embrace God's presence in our life, then we were challenged to take that presence and becomes leaders of the church. Shepherd our flock through the grace and guidance of God's love. We end this week with a compilation of stories that foreshadow Jesus' true meaning here on earth and the new laws he plans to set fourth. Saturday's gospel is the gospel of the new covenant: Love thy neighbor as thyself, today's gospel reinforces the authority of that covenant through God's revelation to Peter and James that Jesus is indeed God's own son.

Both the Gospel and the readings have these images of darkness contrasted with light. The first reading states: "As the sun was about to set, a trance fell upon Abram, and a deep, terrifying darkness enveloped him." The Gospel states: "a cloud came and cast a shadow over them, and they became frightened when they entered the cloud." Both the darkness and the cloud bring terror to the people in the stories. God reaches out through the darkness and touches the hearts of the people to bring back the calm. What is the darkness that covers your life and prevents you from experiencing and feeling God's mercy and love? What distractions to we need to remove to be more connected to God's grace and love? I think these are two questions we will continue to wrestle with the rest of the Lenten season.

Have a good Sunday!
All my love
Laura

Friday February 22nd 2013

http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/022213.cfm

I think these readings fit so naturally after yesterday's reflections. Mom, I really love the images you pulled from the psalm, the prayer, and the Gospel. Yesterday we focused on welcoming God into our life, allowing for that loss of control and trusting that God's guidance will shape and direct our life in order to reconnect us with our creator. I think today's readings challenge us to become that guide, that take the graces we have received from God and shower them toward others. The passage that really struck me was:
                             
                               Tend the flock of God in your midst,
                                         overseeing not by constraint but willingly,
                                         as God would have it, not for shameful profit but eagerly.
                                         Do not lord it over those assigned to you,
                                         but be examples to the flock.

These words from the first reading really spoke to the teacher side of my identity. But I think they should act as guidance for what ever we called to do to better the kingdom. When I think about the trust my students instill in me and the relationships that are formed I am overwhelmed by the magnitude of my position as teacher. I have so much power to do good, but so much potential to do harm. I have always clung to the creation image of God as sculpture, elbows deep in the clay shaping God's creation to match God's own image: love. This set of readings missions us to be guides to the kingdom, not necessarily through words alone, but through our actions and interactions in the kingdom of God. We must remain open to God's love and grace and share that love with the kingdom.

Happy Friday!

Thursday, February 21, 2013

Why do we like Queen Esther let ourselves get into such a bind before we ask God for help.  To be seized with mortal anguish, an orphan and prostrate on the ground or stone slab floor and FINALLY coming to God for help seems so unnecessary when we believe in a God that is all loving as is so beautifully shared in the Gospel.  These readings remind me of how important it is to invite God to walk with us with our first waking breath.  I love reading the prayer of St. Ignatius of Loyola which we received on the back of a card when our current Bishop was introduced to the Diocese of Cheyenne.  I try to read it every morning as I begin my day:  

Jesus, may all that is you

flow into me.

May Your body and blood be

my food and my drink.

May Your passion and death

be my strength and my life.

With You by my side, enough has been given.

May the shelter I seek

be the shadow ofYour cross.

LORD, let me not run 

from the love which you offer,

But hold me safe

from the forces of evil.  

And on each of my dyings

shed Your light and Your love.

Keep calling me, LORD, until 

the day that, with Your saints,

I may praise You

Forever and ever.

AMEN

I often remind people that God comes to us in many ways if we open our eyes and ears to receive His call and input into our lives.  It can be the beggar on the street that softens our heart, a difficult encounter that graces us with the gift of patience, or for me, simply the humility to admit that I am in over my head and need to ask for help.  All of these experiences can provide growth, lift our hearts and lighten our step if we but see them as a gift from a loving God.   

Again, I love the Responsorial Psalm:  

When I called, you answered me; 

you built up strength within me . . .

forsake not the work of your hands.

R. Lord, on the day I called for help, you answered me.

If we really believe that God created us and knew us before we were born, how could we not trust that He will care for us in our time of need -- and not just then, but 'on the day I called for help, you answered me.'  If only our other requests for help could be that immediate.  As in the Gospel, we need to trust that when we ask for help we will not get our hand bitten -- especially if we invoke the assistance of a loving God in our request.  

I love the bottom line in the Gospel -- 'Do to others whatever you would have them do to you.'  Respond as God would, as you would like to be responded to when someone seeks you out for help -- no shaming or condescending attitude.  Allow yourself to be a conduit of the love of God in your response, realize the vulnerability in the one seeking help, see their request as a gift and treat it as a gift with the same tender kindness that God would offer to you.