What's Annoying About God

Sunday's Gospel is Matthew 13: 24-43--the parable about the weeds among the wheat.  I wrote about that the other day.  Well.  I'm still reflecting on it.  I couldn't wait for the wheat and weeds to grow enough for me to distinguish one from the other.  The garden would have been overwhelmed with weeds.  So I put black landscaping cover over it.  I'm not divine.  I don't have God's patience.  In fact, God is so patient, it's annoying.  I can't wait.

In fact, I kind of think that when I was putting down that landscape covering I was talking to God and showing Him how I want Him to act.  "See, I want things fixed now."

I know I don't have the full picture on life and God does.  But I know the future of my garden in three months and I judged not to let the weeds grow.  God's timing is supposed to be perfect but to me it's always maddening slow.  As I said previously, I'm not divine.  I don't have His patience.  

The Cost of Discipleship

Isaiah 50: 4-7    Psalm 22: 8-9, 17-18, 19-20, 23-24    Phil. 2: 6-11    Mark 14: 1-15: 47  or  15: 1-39

 

And being found in appearance as a man,
    he humbled himself
    by becoming obedient to death—
        even death on a cross!    Philippians 2: 8

In all these readings we learn that if we are to follow the Lord, we will meet opposition and may suffer dearly for it.  The prophet in exile suffered mocking and beatings. The psalm expresses feelings of abandonment. Paul tells us in Philippians that Jesus lowers Himself to be a slave.  Finally, Mark relates the story of Jesus' betrayal and passion.

Following the Lord is not easy.  No wonder we Catholics hang crucifixes in our homes and wear crosses on our necks.  Don't forget.  To be a follower of Jesus means you will suffer.  

But these readings also urge us to remain faithful.  Isaiah knows he can rely on the Lord.  The psalm singer ends the psalm by praising the Lord.  And Paul and Mark look towards the Resurrection.  

By following the way of the Lord we know that whatever befalls us, in the end, we will be saved.  

A Cloistered Brother Reflects on Matthew 20: 17-28

Gus writes a reflection.

Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem… Matt. 20: 18

Christ invites us to journey with Him “Going up to Jerusalem.” Wholeheartedly embracing God’s call to obedience, through prayer, fasting, and acts of mercy, as symbols of our repentance, is the way.

Absolution should pave our way towards genuine repentance.  We need to put away the old self of our former way of life, corrupted through deceitful desires, and be renewed in the spirit of our minds, and put on the new self, created in God’s way in righteousness and holiness…  Eph. 4: 22-24.

The apostles didn’t understand what being a disciple entailed.  James and John must have thought “Going Up to Jerusalem” meant going to claim the Messiah’s throne.  Their mother asked Jesus to have them sit next to Him when He came into His kingdom (Matt. 20: 21).  Then the other apostles clamored to sit next to Jesus, too.  (Matt. 20: 24)

Journeying toward the heavenly kingdom impels us to share Jesus’ fate. Every one of the apostles will carry a specific cross.  They all die an ignoble death.

Are you ready for the journey?  

What is your cross?  

Can you follow Jesus all the way up to Jerusalem? 

If I Might Interject: Reflections for the Struggling

If I Might Interject: Reflections for the Struggling: There are a certain set of Catholics who began by supporting Pope Francis but reached a point where certain news had them stop.  David Wanat, the author of this reflection ask you to stop and think deeper than knee jerk tweets and headlines.

The Branch on the Vine

Vincent Lataste 

My "cloistered brothers" and I follow the spirituality of Bl. Jean-Joseph Lataste, OP.  Sunday, we had a visit from the grand great-nephew of Bl. Lataste, Vincent Lataste.  He is a vigneron.  His vineyard is in France and he is working towards distributing his wine in the USA.  One of my "cloistered brothers" was moved enough by Vincent's visit to write this beautiful reflection.

Visiting the Vines

By James Keown

As a child, our family lived for a short time in the country. Tucked into one edge of our property was a small collection of grape vines growing around a row of raised wooden posts. I loved sneaking into the patch in the summer to pick my fill of grapes. While I gorged myself, I would use my fingers to trace the vines as they twisted and tucked around one another to firmly latch onto the old wood.

The Gospel for this past Sunday tells us, "I am the true vine, and my father is the vine grower." Vincent Lataste has a lot more experience with vines than me. He is a vineyard owner and wine maker from France currently living in Boston, Massachusetts. For Sunday's Mass, Vincent traveled forty minutes south of Boston to  join the members of the lay Dominican "Our Lady of Mercy" chapter inside the prison MCI-Norfolk. How appropriate it was for the chapter to host a vineyard owner on the day the Gospel speaks of God being a vine grower. But Vincent is not simply a wine maker. Vincent is the great grand nephew of Blessed Jean Joseph Lataste, the founder of the Bethany Community in France. 

The lay order of Dominicans living inside MCI-Norfolk grew from the vines Blessed Father Lataste planted in France after his transformative visit to celebrate Mass inside Cadillac prison in the 1800s. Our Lady of Mercy represents one of the many fruits of Blessed Father Lataste's work. For several years, the Norfolk community has added its voice to the petition for Blessed Father Lataste to be named a Saint by the Catholic Church. Recently, the Church beatified Father Lataste at a ceremony in Cadillac France. It was there Vincent Lataste met Dominican members who volunteered inside the prison.

Following Sunday's Mass, Vincent fielded questions from chapter members about his life in France and about being a member of the Lataste family in Cadillac. Many of the Norfolk members were also very interested to learn more about Vincent's work. Watching and Listening to Vincent answer our regular life questions felt a bit surreal. 

Even though Father Lataste lived in the 19th Century, I have never felt any closer to him than St. Dominic who lived 800 years ago. That was until Sunday. Sitting with Vincent, my mind could see bits of Father Lataste in his face. One member even passed around a picture of Father Lataste so everyone could do their own analysis. And as I listened to Vincent answer our questions and laugh at our jokes, I wondered how much of Father Lataste's voice survived in Vincent. What was clear to me, was that Father Lataste's heart clearly beat inside Vincent. Why else would a vine grower from France spend a sunny spring Sunday sitting on a dark and dusty stage inside an American prison? Through Vincent, I saw Blessed Father Lataste clearer. In one short afternoon, the long-departed priest became present to me. In Bleesed Father Lataste's great grand nephew, I saw a spirit that must have been similar to the one that formed the original Bethany chapter in Cadillac 150 years ago.

The Gospel reminds us, "I am the vine, you are the branches. Whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit." But even an amateur grape grower like myself knows that any crop that is neglected will eventually wither. Vincent Lataste's trip to visit with the Our Lady of Mercy chapter was a business trip. Inside the state prison in Norfolk, Vincent the vineyard keeper checked the vines planted by his family as any good vine grower would do. He made sure our braches were strong and firmly attached to the wood. He nourished us with his visit and made a hopeful Saint feel much closer.

Lectio Divina for Matt. 19: 23-30

Lectio

Jesus said to his disciples: “Amen, I say to you, it will be hard for one who is rich to enter the Kingdom of heaven. Again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for one who is rich to enter the Kingdom of God.” When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and said, “Who then can be saved?” Jesus looked at them and said, “For men this is impossible, but for God all things are possible.” Then Peter said to him in reply, “We have given up everything and followed you. What will there be for us?” Jesus said to them, “Amen, I say to you that you who have followed me, in the new age, when the Son of Man is seated on his throne of glory, will yourselves sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has given up houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands for the sake of my name will receive a hundred times more, and will inherit eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last will be first.”  (Mt 19:23-30)

Studium

In the beginning of this discourse, Matt. 19: 16-23, speaks of the rich man who departs from Jesus because of his attachment to his worldly goods. Remember that Jesus is speaking to his poor disciples, who needed to be reconciled to their position in life. They should be content that they don’t have the temptations of those born into wealth and prominent social positions. Note the word, Amen. The following admonishment is important: “Amen, I say to you, it will be hard for one who is rich to enter the Kingdom of heaven.” And in case you missed it—it’s repeated Again! “ Again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for one who is rich to enter the Kingdom of God.”

Did you take note? The way to heaven is the narrow road with the small gate that the poor can walk through, but not the prosperous man with a camel burdened with goods, especially if that prosperous man refuses to get off his camel and get rid of some of his goods. He can’t walk through the gate heavily laden with so much unnecessary wealth.

Rich people have great temptations to resist. Many demands turn them away from opportunities to help others. It takes the grace of God for a rich man to enter the gate.

The Apostles were surprised at Jesus’ assessment of the rich. They asked “Who then can be saved?” Jesus’ reply was to tell them that only with God, can people be saved. Mankind can’t save the soul, neither in itself, nor in any one else, but with God all things are possible.

Peter then asks about the apostles’ salvation, after all, they have nothing because they left everything behind to follow Jesus. If you think about this you will come to see that they couldn’t have left everything, after all, they had families to provide for. They had renounced all. Nowhere does it say that the apostles gave everything they had to the poor, or sold their goods and gave to the poor. They walked away in renouncing everything to honor and serve Jesus. They trusted Him.

Jesus in response tells them that they will sit on twelve thrones, when He comes, again. They will join Jesus. In fact, all who sacrifice for Jesus will be rewarded. Don’t be surprised to see the rich man last, and the poor man, first.

Meditatio

When my three children were young, I would sometimes hear this refrain:

First is worst. Second is best. Third wins the treasure chest!

Needless to say, the first child did not compose this verse. However, it brings to mind that human desire to be the first, to be the best, and/or win a treasure chest. According to Thomas Aquinas, God created us this way, i.e., to always search for happiness. We find satisfaction in our search, only in God. God is the treasure chest. Only in God is perfect happiness. What happiness we have on earth is imperfect, compared to what God has to offer.

It is impossible for any created good to constitute man’s happiness. For happiness is that perfect good which entirely satisfies one’s desire; otherwise it would not be the ultimate end, if something yet remained to be desired. Now the object of the will, i.e., of man’s desire, is what is universally good; just as the object of the intellect is what is universally true. Hence it is evident that nothing can satisfy man’s will, except what is universally good. This is to be found, not in any creature, but in God alone, because every creature has only participated goodness. Therefore, God alone can satisfy the will of man, according to the words of the Psalms (102:5): “Who alone satisfies your desire with good things.” Therefore, God alone constitutes man’s happiness.” (Summa Theologica Part 2. Q.1. Article 8)

Don’t waste any time worrying that you don’t have the best of any material wealth, or achievement. “You can’t take it with you”, anyway. Be satisfied that our good God provides you with what you need. Trust the Father, as the apostles trusted Jesus.

Oratio

My Beloved, I know that you love me. Your suffering and death proved Your love. The Eucharist is proof of your everlasting care over us. Help me never to doubt your care and love. May I receive the grace of perseverance and fortitude. I desire to be with You, always.

Contemplatio: 

Many who are first will be last, and the last will be first.  As long as I am with You, my Love.

Omnipresence

MEK drawing

How do we know when we are truly encountering God is one of those quick quips, Bishop Robert Barron is famous for, in his Word on Fire videos.  What grabbed my attention was his statement that you can’t see God, straight on, with our eyes.  Rather, we see Him out of the corner of our eyes.  I love this because this is exactly how I go through my day.  I’ve been thinking of it as a “double take”.  I see Him and realize it, and quickly look back to catch Him.

When I wake and my first conscious task is feeding the cat, and she’s figuring eighting around and in between my legs, I feel His order, His plan, and figure eight my needs around Him.  I need to be petted, cuddled, loved and fed.

When my husband cares for my breakfast needs and asks and shows concern, as we make our plans for the day.  His eyes are Your eyes.  His love mimics God’s.

At Mass, oh yes, here we meet and share our love.  The community is Your active Mystical Body.  Our angels surround Your altar.  The priest is You.  My offerings are carried above.  Your Eucharist is in my hand.  I could stare at You, forever.  I taste Your Love as we join our love.  I am blessed.  Here, You are not in the corner of my eye, not a “double take”, You are truly here, truly present, and truly mine.  We share our love in the most intimate way.  I am so blessed.

The rest of the day is seen out of the corner of my eyes, as I see kindness, parental love, honest labor, etc.  Sometimes, I “double take” when I see crosses in mail posts, clothes lines, street traffic signs, window panes, etc. I am reminded of You.  I see You.  I see Your Love for me.

How can I not encounter You when You are everywhere?  

Lectio Divina for the Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time Year C

The Gospel reading for today is from Luke 9: 51-62.  But this Lectio Divina is Luke: 9: 51-56.

Lectio

When the days for Jesus' being taken up were fulfilled, He resolutely determined to journey to Jerusalem and He sent messengers ahead of Him. On the way they entered a Samaritan village to prepare for His reception there, but they would not welcome Him because the destination of His journey was Jerusalem.  When the disciples James and John saw this they asked, "Lord, do You want us to call down fire from heaven to consume them?"  Jesus turned and rebuked them, and they journey to another village.

Studium

Hostilities and disagreements about proper worship dot the centuries-long history of relationships between the Judeans and Samaritans.  In the first century, B.C.  Pompey rebuilt Samaria and Herod built a city there that included a temple to Caesar Augustus.  This did not endear the Samaritans to the Jews.  Later events make matters worse, i.e., Samaritan vandalism of the Jerusalem temple in A.D. 6 and 9, murder of a Judean pilgrim en route to Jerusalem in 51 A.D. and the subsequent retaliation of a massacre of Samaritans.

Meditatio

Does not this vile animosity remind you of the world, today?  Liberals against conservatives, Muslims terrorists against Western values,  citizens against immigrants, Constitutionalists against reformers, pro-lifers against abortionists, etc..  When Jesus turns and rebukes His disciples for wanting to call down fire from heaven upon the inhospitable Samaritans (Luke 9:56)  He is rejecting the old "eye for eye, tooth for tooth" laws proscribed in Leviticus.  Jesus, later on will have the good Samaritan save the day for the wounded man, whom the priest and Levite ignore (Luke 10:25-37).  Jesus is witnessing to respect neighbors and reconcile our differences.  There is more than one way to live and worship God and we are to respect all of them.

Oratio

Lord, may we have the graces of wisdom and understanding, for those who are different from us.  May we help towards reconciliation between all who love You.  Help us not to allow cultural and historical differences to divide us.  May we all serve You.  May we all love You.  I ask this in the name of Jesus Who taught us this.

Contemplatio

Lord, Jesus Christ, help me be Your instrument today.

The Tyranny of Time

Time is a tyrant.  We cannot escape it.  As children, our parents made sure we kids were where we were supposed to be.  We had no choice!  As teens, we had school time schedules, parental obligatory times, social times and hopefully, some personal time.  As adults, we have all of the above PLUS work schedules, family demands, and religious obligations.  As senior citizens, time still tyrannizes.  We have our immediate personal demands--medical, social, religious, PLUS more family demands than ever,because we may be taking care of a loved one, and attending ALL the grandchildren's sports and other recreational events.

And believe this; it's not important.  The only important time we should be paying attention to is the "hour of our death."

"Oh yeah."  "That."

All in the first paragraph is transitory.  None of it lasts.  The only constant is God.  And there will be a time when we will meet Him.  The author, Alice Camille, in her book, Listening to God's Word, explains that all the Gospel writers try to get across this immediacy of the time we will encounter God:

Mark--uses "immediately", 42 times in his Gospel

Luke--uses "today", Luke 4:21

Mathew--uses "now", Matt. 2:15

John--uses mostly "the hour", "eternal life," and "that day."

Since the concept of time that we live by in the first paragraph will pass, let's adopt the attitude of regarding time as a friend--a constant friend.  Life is a journey and time accompanies us until that very important last hour of our death.

Your Safe Place

You must always come in when it rains.  You never know what wet clothes can do.  I mean keeping them on will give you a chill.  And your hair is ruined.

You need a safety place—a place to return to when the clouds open up and attack.  This is the place where you can wait out the rain.

The same is true when trouble attacks you spiritually.  Get out of that mood.  Run to your safe place.  Jesus holds the door open for you.  And this place doesn’t have to be physical.  It can be like St. Catherine of Siena’s cell.  She had an interior place to retreat to when she felt the rain.  That’s what you need.  Otherwise, you’re all wet.

Buddy

                     Buddy
                        by

Buddy by MEK

                     MEK

I wonder where you went my furry friend,
I remember days of my youth,
running through the woods
faster than anyone should,
my poor mother always thought
that I was up to no good...
Visions remain of days in the sun,
bursting through the canopy of green,
Maine pines so thick and cool,
it was nature's school,
Seeing you bound through the grass so high,
the scent of the apple orchards filled the sky,
mingled with the sounds of the dragonfly,
talk about a natural high...
Now I wonder why dog can't say goodbye
you live forever with the little boy inside...

*Source: Pencil in the Hole by MEK

The Important New Year's Resolution

Today, January 2, 2015, everyone is talking about the New Year's resolutions that they've made.  Most of them seem to revolve around "getting more exercise,"  "starting a diet," etc.  What good does it do to be an ideal weight, have a buff body, exercise your heart, keep your blood pressure and cholesterol low, when everyone dies anyway.  Don't you think it would be better to get and keep your soul in good condition?

Personally, I'm doing them all.  I need to liver longer to get my soul in shape.

The Holiday that Keeps Giving

When we brought my granddaughter to Jordan Furniture's Enchanted Village, she had a good time, just as we expected.  I thought of the Enchanted Village, the same as I thought of Disney World.  Things and places that are geared for children, are wasted on children.  Isn't school wasted on them?  The children just don't appreciate what goes into making an event, a place, etc..  They enjoy according to their own level of enjoyment.  Adults enjoy even more.  The adult level of understanding, frame of reference, etc., allow for more grateful appreciation.

Christmas is the exception.  There are so many levels to view Christmas, that there's something for everybody.  Today, even in my late age, the fact of the Incarnation inspires such a depth of awe, that I don't have the vocabulary, nor wherewithal to express what I feel.

When I saw my infant granddaughter's eyes round into circled amazement upon looking at her first Christmas experience, I felt her understanding confirm mine.  Should I say, my understanding confirms hers?

And Christmas isn't just one day.  Advent doesn't end.  Christmas is a journey itself.  Our level of reaching the Christ child takes a lifetime.  Ponder that thought.

It's Nice to be Wanted, But...

As I was preparing the readings for the Twenty-fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time, the second reading had much for me to reflect upon.  It's Philippians 1:20c-24, 27a.  I too, as Paul, am looking forward to seeing Jesus.  In other words, I'm looking forward to death.  But like Paul, I know that others need me.  So I leave it up to God.  He knows best.  I trust Him.

This morning, as I proclaimed this second reading, I thought of the Mass celebrant, Father Jack.  I bet he also is looking forward to seeing Jesus, yet we parishioners love and need him.  The Archdiocese of Boston needs him.

When you think of it, every Lay Dominican is in the same boat.  We are looking forward to meeting Jesus, yet as lay people, we have families and obligations that need us.

 The same could be true of all people who take their religion seriously, couldn't it?

The Guardian at the Gate

A reflection by MEK and the drawing, too.

Too Late

I've learn to hold the darkness within...the balance of truth, armored against, my own animalistic whim, something man has labeled as sin...polar opposites, good is reverse.  Live or evil, which is the curse, the game's played out...through the whole universe, day after day, till we ride, in that long black hearse...Thankful for being a simple man, Glad I don't have to judge this cosmic plan...Only wish I could understand...how my struggle fits into GOD'S plan, I, like the guardian at the gate, hoping my effort isn't to late...

Walking Along the Beach

from MEK's Pencil in the Hole

A little gray seal followed me while I walked the beach, this morning.  I saw his little spaniel like snout pop out of a wave, as I scanned the varying colors of the water.  I shouted “Good morning,” and laughed as he dove under a wave. 

  I was going to skip a rock across the surface of the water, but I didn't want to scare away my little friend.  My son, so far this year, holds the “rock skipping” record at nine jumps.  He did that, this weekend, with me as a witness.  I was alone, so that was another reason, not to skip the rock on the surface.  Who’d back up my claim to breaking the new “rock skipping” record?

Instead, I started my Rosary.  I was praying in thanksgiving for bringing hubby home safely yesterday, for a beautiful morning, for reacquainting my senses with the ocean, for life—glorious life.  There’s a plethora of seaside life, on the beach.  When I came back home, I looked up some of the plant life; I’d forgotten about since last summer.  The fish and mammals (seals), and periwinkles, etc., even the sand dunes have life.   God is such a show off.

 

Walking the beach and praying, thanks be to God.

Day Off

Languid reflections mirror your resting image,
Hushed lapping sounds as the water gently kisses your hull,
Quietly the day of rest is spent,
breath deeply the joy of relaxation,
no tension, no stress, no billowing waves,
no bellowing calls, no fish to haul,
Gently rocking at the dock,
Warming breezes waft in the early morning sun,
peace has come, no work to be done,
No stress to overcome,
nothing better than a day
spent with your loved ones A Day Off...
    * Pic and reflection from MEK's Pencil in the Hole

Sunday Morning Reflection

This morning's Morning Prayer's Reading, Acts 10:40-43, had the answer to my question about whether or not the whole world could see the Ascension.  "God raised up Jesus on the third day and granted that he be seen, not by all, but only by such witnesses as had been chosen beforehand by God...".

Am I right in concluding that at Jesus' Second Coming, it will be the same?  Christ, Son of the living God, have mercy on us.

Father Kevin this morning talked about unity.  He said Jesus' last words were about unity.   

The First Word:
“Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they’re doing.”
(Luke 23:34)

The Second Word:
“I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise.”
(Luke 23:43)

The Third Word:
“Dear woman, here is your son.”
(John 19:26)

The Fourth Word:
“My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?”
(Mark 15:34)

The Fifth Word:
“I am thirsty.”
(John 19:28)

The Sixth Word:
“It is finished!”
(John 19:30)

The Seventh Word:
“Father, I entrust my spirit into your hands!”
(Luke 23:46)

 I don't see anything about unity.  There's lots of important reflections here, but none would be about unity.  Oh well, I probably didn't listen to everything.  Mea culpa.  Mea culpa.

My favorite "last words of Jesus,"  is telling the prisoner that he would be with Jesus in paradise.  A convicted criminal is the only one Jesus promised paradise.  This image should be on a banner for the beatification of Pere Lataste, (Pere Lataste will be beatified in TWO weeks!)

h/t http://www.patheos.com/blogs/markdroberts/series/the-seven-last-words-of-christ-reflections-for-holy-week/