"The last shall be first"--A Halloween Lesson

An argument arose among the Apostles about which of them was the greatest.  Jesus, who looks into our hearts and knows what our intentions are, simply placed a child in their midst and stated that "whoever receives this child in My name receives Me and whoever receives Me receives the One who sent Me." (Luke 9:48)

I have to wonder if the Apostles weren’t as thick as bricks sometimes!  In this case, it sounds like John doesn’t understand, because he starts up with another question that to me sounds like he’s competing for Jesus’ notice with everybody else.  He says he has seen someone “not a follower like us” who is driving out demons in Jesus’ name, thinking that Jesus will rebuke him, but instead He replies, “Do not prevent him, for whoever is not against you is for you.” (Luke 9:46-50)

One must never be deceived by one's status or accomplishments. That is how Satan tried to drive a wedge between Job and God.  Satan failed, even though he went to such great lengths and reduced Job to a state of helplessness.

Often, we seem to forget this very important teaching of Jesus.  We assume that if someone is not Catholic or Christian in a way that we recognize, they cannot help us, or they oppose us.  While this may be true in some cases, in many cases the opposite is true.  Those who do not hinder us, help us in our mission much.  Today we have so many who are ready to bring suit against us for speaking out in faith--so many ready to take offense at our belief—ready to tell us of our foolishness and our naïveté.

But there are a great many whose prayers join with ours.  A great many people support what we do, but do not necessarily have the mission (or perhaps the courage, as it is in my case) to go out in the forefront of the battle.  Nevertheless, they quietly support our efforts with their prayers.

There are others as well; for instance, atheists who oppose the death penalty for the fetus in the womb—perhaps unlikely companions in being a voice for the voiceless.  For this service God blesses them; and even if they do not join us in prayer outside abortion clinics or make no public display at all, they do not oppose us, and they work in their own ways to accomplish the same end.

We should not assume that Protestant, Jewish, Islamic, Buddhist, Taoist, Hindu, or any of our brothers and sisters who do not aid us directly, necessarily oppose us.  Certainly some do, but not all.  And most are looking for the same thing we are.

We should strive to be supporters, not superstars.  Jesus said, "For the one who is least among all of you is the one who is the greatest" (Luke 9:48).  Only then will we be able to do as the Proverbs directs, "Incline your ear to me and listen to my teaching" (Proverbs 22: 17). 

If we are "arguing" about who is the greatest, we are not listening.

I am reminded of a lesson that I learned many, many years ago as a child out trick-or-treating on Halloween night with my brother Tom, my best friend Cal, and 3 or 4 of the other neighborhood kids.  This was in the day when it was still considered safe to let your 10, 11, and 12-year-old kids run around an unknown neighborhood in the dark (as long as you stayed together)!

We were out to get as much candy as we could: which is, incidentally, the whole idea of Halloween!  We all carried pillowcases to put our "stash" into. Our objective was to fill the pillowcases and then go back to the house and sort it out into what we liked and didn't like and trade with one another until everybody was satisfied with the booty.

As happens with kids who are together for any real length of time, some tempers flared and envy over who was getting more candy, who had the better costume, and even who shouted "Trick or Treat" the loudest were the cause of the tantrums.  I'll admit that I was a part of the problem until it came time to knock on the next door.  Then I was "all business" and the arguments had to stop.  After all, who would give candy to kids who were not behaving well?

Some in our "gang" didn't know when to stop however, and when we knocked on the door of one particularly mean-looking guy there was so much arguing going on that no one remembered to yell "Trick or Treat"!

The man asked in a booming voice, "Who's in charge of this group? Who's your leader?"  Everybody else was trying to claim the position, but I was afraid the “leader” would be in some sort of trouble, and I didn’t want that for myself or my brother.  I don’t know where the courage came from, but I only said, "Trick or Treat!" in the smallest voice I could muster, from about 5 feet behind the others.

The guy let out a huge laugh and said to me, "I can see you’re the leader! Only a real leader would stand at the back of the pack and come up with a plan to ACT like one and get the job done!"  He said it was easy to tell, “because ‘For the one who is least among all of you is the one who is the greatest!’", and you were the only one not claiming to be the leader.”    Then he said, "Since you're the leader, I'm going to give you the candy for your group and let you decide how to share it."  Here I was, only trying to see how much candy I could get, wearing a stupid costume I'm sure I was embarrassed to be wearing, trying not to be stand out, and this guy calls me a leader and throws responsibility my way as well! 

I was "taking the lowest place at the table" and I was "invited up to a place of honor" (Luke 14: 7-14).  By doing that, the man at the door that Halloween night taught me that from humility comes strength of character.  

Archangels to Protect, Announce, and Guide

Angels—messengers from God who help carry out various aspects of God's salvation plan —appear frequently in Scripture, but only Michael, Gabriel and Raphael are named.  Each of the archangels performs a different mission in Scripture: Michael protects; Gabriel announces; Raphael guides.

Michael’s name means “who is like God.”  God gave Michael the responsibility of protecting us as God protects us.  Michael appears in Daniel’s vision as “the great prince” (Daniel 10:13) who defends Israel against its enemies; in the Book of Revelation, he leads God’s armies to final victory over the forces of evil (Revelation 12: 7-9).  

Gabriel’s name means “hero of God.”  Gabriel is God’s hero because he communicates God’s message to people.  Gabriel also makes an appearance in Daniel’s visions, announcing Michael’s role in God’s plan (Daniel 10:10-14).  His best-known appearances are an encounter with a young Jewish girl named Mary, who consents to bear the Messiah (Luke 1: 26-38), and when he announces the birth of John the Baptist to Zechariah and Elizabeth (Luke 1:19).

Raphael’s name means “God has healed.”  Raphael’s activity is confined to the Old Testament story of Tobit, beginning in Chapter Five.  There he appears to guide Tobit’s son Tobiah through a series of fantastic adventures which lead to a threefold happy ending: Tobiah’s marriage to Sarah, the healing of Tobit’s blindness, and the restoration of the family fortune.  

On the feast day of the archangels, we remember that God’s messengers guide us in our journey to everlasting life with our Father.  We can pray to Michael when we face temptation.  We can ask to Gabriel to help us say “yes” to God as Mary did so many years ago.  We can pray to Raphael when we are ill or know someone who is in need of healing.

We honor the archangels as saints. They remind us that God is always with us and that God loves so much about us that he gives us special helpers to light and guide us to him.

In an earlier time of our history, inexplicable events were believed due to the actions of spiritual beings.  But that thought has given way to an increasingly secular and scientific world view and a different sense of cause and effect.  Yet believers still experience God’s protection, communication, and guidance in ways which defy description.  We cannot—no, we MUST NOT—dismiss angels too lightly.

Love and Fear cannot co-exist

"But they did not understand this saying ..." (Luke 9:43b-45)

Jesus told his Apostles something very important, something they needed to understand and prepare for, something that would change their lives fundamentally, transforming them completely.  But they didn't understand what was said, and they were also too afraid to ask what it meant; they were frightened of its implications.  It reminds me of those situations where we cover our ears and hum or whistle, to drown out any possibility of our hearing something we don’t want to hear.

The Apostles finally came to understand, with the help of the Holy Spirit, that the death of Jesus was for the whole world and would transform it forever.  I wonder if they would have come to realize this sooner if they had not been afraid to ask.

Do you sometimes read something in the Word or listen to a homily that sounds hard, or daunting, or frightening?  I absolutely do!  Do you gloss over it, subduing it with prayer and other reading, rushing to another passage?  Yep, me again!

Instead, rather than being afraid, why not turn to the Author of Life and ask Him to explain it?  You might be surprised at what you hear.

I find that when I come across something while reading my Bible that disturbs me, it's usually the message I most need to hear. I have to learn to stop and listen and ask for an explanation. Who knows? In time the explanation may come and give me cause to rejoice in what God has in store for me!

After all, every word of the Bible tells us of a deep and abiding love and faithfulness on the part of God. And where love exists, fear cannot abide.

Trying to see Jesus

Herod was ‘perplexed’ about who Jesus ‘really’ was.  He was so concerned, the Gospel says, that he kept trying to see Jesus (Luke 9:9).  

Why did Herod want to see Him?  I think it may have been out of curiosity or more probably fear that it was John the Baptist, or some other prophet that had come back to life that was going to give him a hard time for his sins.  More importantly, where did he look for Him?

We might also ask ourselves why we want to seek Christ.  Is it for understanding, consolation, healing, love, or maybe reparation?  Or are we trying to find Him simply to know where He is, so we can try to hide our sins from Him?  *Spoiler alert:  It’s impossible that He won’t know us and our sins.  That still won’t stop many from trying.

And if we are looking for Christ, where do we look for Him?  Do we seek Him in our government?  In the mainstream media?  Social media?  Most of the time, I submit, these places do their damnedest to hide Jesus at every turn.  If we are not finding Jesus as much as we would like, maybe it is because we are looking for Him in the wrong places.

Admit it or not, we all keep trying to see Him – sometimes with more success than other.  How often do we search and cry out asking where is God?  I firmly believe that throughout my life, throughout all the struggles, disappointments, and losses, God was always there.  My mother set that example for me.  I watched her: always faithful, no matter what, that God was there.  When my Dad died.  When my brothers died.  Any time there was a death or illness in my mother’s ‘circle of influence’, she turned even more to prayer.  She never doubted for an instant that her God was there for her and that her loved ones were in the arms of Jesus.  Her unfailing faith taught me to believe in a God that would always support me and walk with me.  When she passed away at 95 years old, the little prayer book with the daily prayers she always said was on the table by the hospital bed.  She had a rosary collection with over 100 rosaries from all over the world that she requested I give out to anyone who asked after she died.  That image is still so powerful to me 5 years after she passed away!

So, throughout my life in both good times and no so good, I knew (and know) that God is with me.  It fosters an attitude of gratitude in my many blessings – I see that God created a beautiful world that continues to awe me, literally from sea to shining sea.  I see God in the faces of my children and grandchildren.  I see God in all the loving actions of my wife.  I try to find (and see) God in all things.  When I forget this and start seeing the negatives of everything around me, I am gently called back to my loving, all-present God.  A special song will play, a star twinkle more brightly, a person will reach out, a flower bloom at just the right time – I am reminded that God and my BFF Jesus are always there by my side no matter how cloudy things look.   When my heart and mind are in the right place, the world is truly a beautiful place full of good things, good places, and good people.  I am reminded that this loving, all-present God that I long to see is merciful and always sees and accepts me as a beloved sinner.  So . . .  I will keep trying to see Him.  

A funny, poignant experience

I thought I was going to be late.  I was pulling up to the Cathedral at 6:29 for the 6:30 a.m. mass.  I was surprised to see 25-30 people sitting and standing on the front steps instead of in the church.  Two of the men I saw I know as sacristans (those who get the church ready for mass each morning).  There was also 3 of the local Dominican sisters who were there to attend mass.

There were different discussions about a possible key snafu and one of the sacristans said he was unable to do the key exchange last night; with whom wasn’t clear to me.  “But don’t worry, Father will open everything up when he gets here.”, one of them said with a wink, “Unless he oversleeps again!”

This experience was both very humorous and poignant.  The camaraderie of the crowd was, to me, what I sometimes imagine it was like when the Apostles and the early disciples were sitting around waiting for Jesus to return from one of His solitary prayer moments.  There was a lot of idle chatter about health, the weather, and so on; but it was tinged with a anxiousness to have Jesus present with us in the Eucharist.

A couple of people were a little testy, wondering why there weren’t contingency plans in place.  But Catholics are nothing, if not joyful in the face of adversity!

One of the men present had his knee all bandaged up, and was lamenting to another:  “The doctor thought he fixed it, but it looks like he has to go back in.”  To which the other guy said, laughing, “You know, if you had the faith of a mustard seed that would be healed by now!” (Luke 17:6, Matthew 17:20)  The whole crowd laughed out loud at the good-natured ribbing between the two men.

Just then, a younger man walked up, looked at the crowd, and knocked on the door.  A voice out of the crowd said, “Jesus said ‘knock and the door will be opened’ (Matthew 7:7, Luke 11:9), but that’s not true today!”  Another  voice sang “Knock knock knockin’ on Heaven’s door” (Guns N Roses), then one of the Sisters chimed in with “I hear you knockin’ but you can’t come in! No no no no!”  (Dave Edmunds)

Then, a couple of people got tired of waiting or were running late for work, and started leaving.  One of the sacristans said, to no one in particular, “...they all left him and fled.” (Mark 14:50) Someone else in the crowd said, “Do you think we should leave, too?”  The only response I could think of was , “To whom shall we go?” (John 6: 67,68)

At that, we heard the door opening from the inside, then Father appeared in the doorway apologetically, and those of us who were left let out a cheer.

I looked at the time, and it was 6:40.  Only 10 minutes late.  A wave of sadness came over me for those who didn’t have enough patience to wait a mere 10 minutes to experience the miracle of the Eucharist.  And then another wave of guilt hit me, because I had judged those who left without knowing their reasons for doing so.

I really have to work on that!

Traveling Light

The Gospel for today amused me when I read it the first time, especially when Jesus says, “Take nothing for the journey.” (Luke 9:1-6)   Whenever my family or I travel anywhere, if even for just a couple of days, it seems we take more than we need in the way of clothing, food, and ‘accessories’.  I’m not complaining; I was also taught from a very young age to ‘Be Prepared’ (Thanks, Boy Scouts!).  I’ve become spoiled though and would have a very tough time following Jesus’ direction to “take…neither walking stick, nor sack, nor food, nor money, and let no one take a second tunic.”

Why is “traveling light” so important on the mission He is sending the Apostles on?  I have a theory on that.  Jesus is doing several things.

He is teaching trust

God is utterly reliable. When you are doing His work, what you need to see it through is miraculously provided. We see this time after time in the Bible and the stories of the saints.

He’s teaching us how to leave things behind

It’s hard to go on a trip without every one of those things around us that give us comfort and security. Our comfort and security are to be in the Lord alone. He is the source of all comfort.

Jesus is reminding us of our ultimate destination and final home

On that journey we will travel without walking stick, without a second tunic, without food, without anything we are accustomed to. We will be entering an unknown land through an unknown way.  If we have become used to traveling in this way, that final Journey will become so much easier.

Sharing the Light of Our Baptism

Light is a powerful image of how we are to live our faith.  God gives each of us a charism which has the potential to bring light to the world.  Jesus reminds us that we are expected to put our faith into practice (Luke 8: 16-18) and we do this by using our God-given gifts, talents and charism.   We are the igniters of our lights and they only begin to shine when we answer the call from the community and/or God.   We grow and discover new gifts throughout our lifetimes.  

If we imagine joining our light with the light of others, and the world is flooded with generous, grace-filled goodness, the power is almost incomprehensible.  “No one who lights a lamp conceals it with a vessel or sets it under a bed; rather… places it on a lampstand so that those who enter may see the light.”  (Luke 8:16)

If we are not igniting the fire of our light, then our charism may fade, and the light may start to flicker; even be extinguished.   Jesus emphasizes this when He says: “To anyone who has, more will be given, and from the one who has not, even what they seem to have will be taken away.” (Luke 8:18)

When a child is baptized the parents and Godparents, family and friends, and possibly other parishioners gather for the ceremony.  The parents are asked by the priest if they understand the responsibility of the baptism and raising their child “as Christ taught us, by loving God and our neighbor.”

During the Sacrament, the child (and parents or Godparents) is given a baptismal candle with a flame shared from the Easter candle.  The pastor reminds everyone that our faith, like that flame, “is entrusted to you to be kept burning brightly. This child of yours has been enlightened by Christ.  She is to walk always as a child of the light.”

Our faith, our baptism, has been entrusted to each one of us to keep the flame burning brightly.  It’s not just our own faith lives that are kept aflame, but we have a responsibility as a member of the Christian community to keep that flame alive for each other.

How do we live our lives as Christians?  Pope Francis says about this gospel that the light we find in Jesus’ teachings comes from our love for the poor and for our neighbor.  This commitment, Francis says, takes place in our daily lives and in the here and now.  “Never put off the good,” Francis reminds us.  “The good is today, and if you do not do it today, tomorrow it will not be there. Do not conceal the good for tomorrow.”

He adds, “Do not say to your neighbor: ‘Yes, go, go, go... then pass again and I will give it to you tomorrow.’  If you have with you now what the person is asking for … do not make the needy person wait.”

What can we do with this day we have been given?  Today, how do we carry the light of our baptism?  How do we share it with others? Who will we encounter in our life today who needs to see the light of our Christian love shining?  What kind of example do we set for others in our community?

It begins with our neighbors and the poor, Francis reminds us.  Those we encounter each day.  Those we avoid each day.  Those who are in pain and suffering.  Jesus shows us the light and asks us to carry that light and love to those around us.

Sound advice

“First of all, I ask that supplications, prayers, petitions, and thanksgivings be offered for everyone, for kings and for all in authority, that we may lead a quiet and tranquil life in all devotion and dignity.” (1 Timothy 2: 1-2)

I think it’s interesting that Paul says to pray for everyone, then takes it even further by singling out kings and all in authority, as though they are in extra need of attention.  He doesn’t say to pray just for those whose politics we agree with or who we think are great people.  He says everyone.  Donald Trump?  Check.  Joe Biden?  Check.  Mike Pence?  Check.  Nancy Pelosi?  Check.  Vladimir Putin?  Check.  My worthless, no good neighbor who can’t stop his dog from barking at all hours of the night?  Check.  That so and so boss who passed me over for a promotion or is always on my case?  Yep.  Everyone!

I had such a boss one time.  He was very egotistical and demanding.  He also got a special thrill from belittling those that worked for him, including me.  He did everything he could to stifle my advancement and made no attempt to hide the fact he was out to either demote or fire me.  Since I had a reputation for following company policy, he never could find anything to justify either of those.  So he would set unreasonable goals for me that were nearly impossible to comply with.  I found myself hating him.  I didn’t like the feeling.  I told my oldest brother about my concerns and he shocked me with his simple solution.  “Pray for him.”, he said.  “Let him know you are praying for him.  Even if he doesn’t appreciate it, your own heart will start to soften for him and his actions toward you won’t matter anymore!”  I took his advice, and within days the prayers led to ‘a quiet and tranquil life’ at work and at home.

A bonus to following Paul’s advice is that it also leads to a real desire for mercy and forgiveness.  I can truly say I hold no grudges or malice toward anyone in my life.  I simply have no room in my heart for hate.    

“To pray is to stand spiritually before God in our heart in glorification, thanksgiving, supplication, and contrite penitence.  Everything must be spiritual.  The root of all prayer is devout fear of God; from this comes belief about God and faith in Him, submission of oneself to God, hope in God, and cleaving to Him with the feeling of love, in oblivion of all created things.  When prayer is powerful, all these spiritual feelings and movements are present in the heart with corresponding vigor.”  (Theophan the Recluse)

Simply put, we must pray because prayer is tied to the whole point of our existence, which is union with God.  The Father teaches us this in the Old Testament.  With just a quick look at the Psalms alone we find a juxtaposition of the life of the godly with the life of the ungodly relative to prayer.  We are exhorted to meditate day and night.

“Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the troublesome; but his will is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night.  He shall be like a tree planted by streams of waters, that produces its fruit in its season; and his leaf shall not wither, and whatever he does shall prosper…for the Lord knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the ungodly shall perish”.  (Psalm 1)

We know that prayer is tied to the whole purpose of our existence because the Son taught us to pray in the New Testament.  First, even as God, He set the example for us by praying.  “Now in the morning, having risen a long while before daylight, He went out and departed to a solitary place; and there He prayed.”  (Mark 1:35)  Second, He showed us how to pray.  Not only did He find a solitary place in order to be free from distraction, but He also did it early in the morning to demonstrate that prayer should be our highest priority and the conduit through which we help others.

We know that prayer is tied to the whole purpose of our existence because the Holy Spirit is with us to this day, teaching us all we need to know through prayer.  “These things I have spoken to you while being present with you.  But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name.  He will teach you all these things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I have said to you.  Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you.  Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” (John 14:25-27)

Got a few minutes?

"Follow me." (Matthew 9: 9-13)

At these words from Jesus, Matthew got up from what he was doing, I presume quitting his cushy tax collector job without notice and with no real plan other than to follow Jesus.  Here he was, a man reviled by all, and likely a man mired in sin and in the exploitation of the poor and powerless; in short, a man who had it made in the ancient world.  But such was (and IS—to those who will listen) the power of the voice of Christ; such was the joy of the service of Jesus that at one word from Him, this man was willing to give up everything.

We should recall Matthew’s action each time we drag our feet in one form of service or another. Each time the Lord asks us to smile at someone, speak to someone, have coffee with someone, feed someone, help in any way that lies within our power—we should recall this man who gave up everything to follow Jesus. He gave it up at a word and left all to be with Jesus.  So surely, we can follow with a service less drastic, with a task much less onerous.  Surely, when we remember what the great saints and apostles sacrificed for us, we can afford the little sacrifice of some of our time.

I am reminded of a true act of selfless love that I was the recipient of many years ago in Bakersfield after an extremely difficult day at work.  It was a Friday and I went to a very good Italian restaurant for some linguini and clams.  I was led to my table for one and sat down.  I barely noticed the couple who were sitting across the aisle from me, as I was busy solving my crossword puzzles as I ate; so I wasn’t aware they were watching me.  As they left though, they looked my way, and bid me goodbye with a look of familiarity.  I thought that was a little odd considering I had never seen them before (that I know of) and I probably wouldn’t see them again.  But I returned their friendly goodbye and went back to my crosswords. I finished my meal and patiently waited for the waitress to bring me the check.

Ten minutes passed. Then twenty. After a half-hour, I said to the waitress, “I’m sorry. I must have eaten my check, because I’m sure you brought it out while I had my head buried in my book!”

She laughed and said, “The couple who were sitting across from you paid your check.  And your tip! You’re all done!”  I asked her why they would do that—did I look homeless or indigent in some way?  She again laughed and replied that they are frequent customers who pay for others’ meals quite regularly!  I asked her if she knew their names—she didn’t.  I told her to please thank them the next time she sees them and tell them that I will pray for them and ask God to bless them for their generosity.

That was an example of simple love of neighbor.  I realize not everyone is in a financial position to do what this couple did for me, but we can offer a lot of service to the less fortunate simply by giving up a few minutes to an hour each day in prayer for them. If we all spent just a little more time praying for one another rather than preying on one another, we would see the world with a lot more optimism.

Thank God for women!

“For the love of money is the root of all evils, and some people in their desire for it have strayed from the faith and have pierced themselves with many pains.” ( 1 Tm 6:2c-12)

My first inclination was to write a meditation on this verse today.  It’s one of those Bible verses that everyone knows, but most don’t want to attribute it to the Bible because they’ll probably have to admit that they are one of those who has ‘strayed from the faith’ in pursuit of wealth.

But then I read the Gospel (Luke 8: 1-3):

“Jesus journeyed from one town and village to another, preaching and proclaiming the good news of the Kingdom of God.

Accompanying him were the Twelve and some women who had been cured of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, Joanna, the wife of Herod’s steward Chuza, Susanna, and many others who provided for them out of their resources.”

It’s two sentences; the first telling us that Jesus was proclaiming the Good News.  The second sentence is longer and reminded me of the importance of women not only in furthering Jesus’ mission, but the importance of the women in my own life. 

Thank God for the women in my life, starting with my mother Angela and my wife’s mother “GPat”, without whom Marilyn nor I would have life.

Thank God for Marilyn, who He blessed me with to teach me how to be a loving husband. 

Thank God for my daughters Alicia and Sarah, whom He sent to teach me how to be a loving father.

Thank God for my granddaughters Liliana, Josephine, and Paloma.  I am absolutely convinced He blessed me with them to teach me about pure joy and to show me the face of innocence.   

Thank God for my sisters-in-law; my brothers’ wives Sylvia, Marilyn, Janie, Wendy and Dottie, and my wife’s sisters Carolyn and Vickie, all of whom have supported me more times than I can list here.

And of course, I thank God for OUR Mother, Mary, the Mother of Jesus.  She's put in more than a couple of good words to her Son for me over the years. 

Thanks to all of you, ladies!  I can't begin to tell you how much I appreciate all of you!  Well, I can BEGIN, I just can't finish!

Encouragement and Perseverance

When I read the Epistle (1 Timothy 4:12-16) for this morning’s Mass, it struck a chord within me.  I realize it was St. Paul writing a letter of encouragement and perseverance to his protégé’ Timothy, but he could have been speaking to any one of us, as well.  He wrote:

“Let no one have contempt for your youth, but set an example for those who believe, in speech, conduct, love, faith, and purity.

Until I arrive, attend to the reading, exhortation, and teaching.

Do not neglect the gift you have, which was conferred on you through the prophetic word with the imposition of hands by the presbyterate.

Be diligent in these matters, be absorbed in them, so that your progress may be evident to everyone.

Attend to yourself and to your teaching; persevere in both tasks, for by doing so you will save both yourself and those who listen to you.”

One of the duties of my former job was to train managers in everything from basic customer service to housekeeping to the more intricate facets of management like leadership and organization.  I’m proud to say that most of the men and women I trained became my friends and I could depend on them to say what they felt. They truly let their "yes mean yes" and their "no mean no" (Matthew 5:37), and I encouraged that because it makes a relationship stronger.  One time, at one of our monthly meetings, the topic of my training methods came up.  One of the GMs made an off-hand remark, saying "Steve is a good trainer, but he gets really grumpy and short with you when you don't learn fast enough."  This got a laugh out of the group (and I joined in with them), but I put that little bit of information away, thinking a little self-reflection was in order.

A little later at the same meeting, I was doing a "hands-on" demonstration of a procedure that I often had to do in my position out in the field.  I would have to drill out tumblers from locks and open storage room doors before I could auction goods that had been stored and the customers had not paid.  I had to have a witness when I did this. That job usually fell to one of the managers I was training that day.  As I was demonstrating the lock removal procedure, one of the guys who had watch me drill a lot of locks said, "Steve, that's not how you do it. You have to use the "Catholic language".  I looked quizzically at him and he said, "You know, when you swear at the MF'n customer for not paying his bill or for not putting the lock on the right way that will make it easier to drill, or you'll swear at the lock for being too difficult to open once you've drilled it." This again got a huge roar of laughter and a lot of nodding heads as the rest of the team agreed with his assessment of my demeanor when faced with frustration.

It made me take a deeper look at myself and the pride I take in being a Catholic.  Is this the picture I want to paint for others as to how Catholics behave?  I was ashamed.  Since then, I have truly tried to think before I speak and ask Jesus to send the Holy Spirit to help me remember that, just as I see Christ in others, others should be able to see Christ in me.  It’s really hard sometimes and I fail, but that’s what the Sacrament of Confession is for.

Words matter

Words matter.  They help provide us with a way to grasp what is often beyond our ordinary ability to comprehend. There is a word in the Psalm response today that describes the works of the Lord and says they are "great and exquisite."

Exquisiteis not often used in our everyday speech. It isn't about just any old, run-of-the-mill, familiar, or common thing. Instead, it conjures up an image of something beyond the ordinary and leads us to enjoy the particular, precise, flawless characteristics of the object it describes.

How fitting then that a word like exquisiteis used to describe God's greatness, for isn't He great and wonderful, Who made you to know the greatness of His exquisitepower and the exquisitenessof His love?

In the first reading, Paul is writing to Timothy – his great friend, sometime emissary and devoted convert – saying that he hopes to visit him soon, but that if Paul is delayed to take comfort in the good works they are doing together. In the Gospel (Luke 7:31-39) Jesus seems almost wistful as He notes the rejection that both He and John the Baptist faced, but ends with the striking line: “But wisdom is vindicated by all her children.”

If we give to the poor and protect the innocent and oppose those who would exploit the poor and the powerless, then we are looked upon with suspicion by people who wonder what it is we want. If we speak the name of God, half the people we meet despise us for our weakness in dependence upon Him, and the other half despise us because we are trying to force "our God" upon them. 

"But wisdom is vindicated by all her children."Better a fool for Christ than a fool for our society as it stands now. Better to be thought a hypocrite, than to join those who criticize and become one. How much better to spread love to those who cannot love and be despised for it, than to spread hatred and destruction and be either hated or loved.

Jesus lived in a time of divided people, and we are still and profoundly a divided people. But let each of us who hears, who prays, who loves God to be a person of single heart—not divided, half against God because we are told by the wisdom of this world that we are fools to trust Him. Better that folly than the folly of those who can trust only in the perishable—in the empires that turn to dust and the gold that cannot go beyond the grave.

Both Paul and Jesus are acutely aware of the strains of earthly existence and the pressure it was putting on their relationships. So they wrote and spoke about it to comfort their friends and perhaps even to comfort themselves.

“But wisdom is vindicated by all her children.”I hope that holds true for me.

Moved with pity to action

When the Lord saw her, he was moved with pity for her and said to her, “Do not weep.” (Luke 7:13)

This verse struck a chord within me this morning when I heard it at Mass.  It reminded me that we are supposed to be ‘moved’ by pity.  Pity is synonymous with compassion.  In fact the Webster Dictionary defines pity as “the feeling of sorrow and compassion caused by the suffering and misfortunes of others.”  But I think it’s more than just a feeling.  It’s a call to action.  The word compassion means ‘to share in the sufferings of another’.   To have sympathy for someone who is suffering is just not enough.  We have to do whatever we can to take some of the suffering upon ourselves and make it easier for our neighbor to cope.

I was 11 years old and in the Boy Scouts.  It was going to be my first hiking and camping trip. Ken Jansen, the kid down the street and a good friend, was already in the troop.  He and I spent hours together while he showed me how to tie all of the knots I had to know to become a Tenderfoot.  Then he told me all about camping.  I would have to have a pack with a frame (which was a relatively new concept in those days, but quite common now) and, of course, a good sleeping bag.

Since we didn't have a lot of money, I used a hand-me-down pack from my brother Bob's days in the Scouts.  It had "Bob Farnsworth" written on the flap.  I crossed out the "Bob" and wrote "Steve".  I also had to use an old sleeping bag.  Ken and I built a frame assembly for the pack out of a lightweight wood (I think it was made out of 1/4" x 1" furring strips) in his back yard.  I was so proud of myself for my ingenuity and could hardly wait to try it out.

The hike was a 10-mile hike; 5 miles in, 5 miles out. Everything looked good. I had everything I needed, and everyone said they thought my pack frame was terrific.  We left early on Saturday morning from Our Lady of Lourdes Church, which was the sponsor of our troop.  Since I was the new scout, I rode with the scoutmaster, Dr. Haughey and his son Mike, who was the Senior Patrol Leader. There were other kids too, and we were all excited for the weekend!

It only took about an hour or so to get to the trailhead, which was near Sunland, California. We split up into "patrols" and each of us was assigned a "buddy". Of course, since Ken and I were good friends, we chose each other as buddies. We were supposed to stick together like glue for the duration of the camping trip.

Ken was a good hiker, with a good pace. It was very difficult to keep up with him. It didn't help that the frame I had built was falling apart with every step I took. In addition, the knots I had worked so hard to learn and that held my sleeping bag to my pack came loose and I had to carry the bag separately, like a bag of groceries. About a mile into the trip, I was close to tears.  I was not prepared for the weight of the pack, the destruction of my frame, or the pace of my “buddy”.

Mike saw the problems I was having and was “moved to pity” for me.  He then gave me a lesson in leadership, but most of all compassion that I will never forget.  Instead of berating me for not being able to carry my share of the load, he had the entire patrol stop right on the trail. He dissected his pack and showed each of us how he packed his own supplies and why.  Then he had each of us do the same. Of course, since I was the only one that didn't have a frame to attach my sleeping bag to, he showed me the proper way to tie it to the pack, under the top flap.

Some of the other boys were making fun of me for being so slow and unable to carry such a heavy pack. Mike made it clear that this was unacceptable behavior and that the only way somebody learns is through his mistakes. He asked each one of the other guys to come up with one idea each that would help me make it through the weekend.  When we started out on the trail again, he asked me if we could trade packs!  Since his outfit was state-of-the-art, I didn't refuse.  What a difference!  Then, he set a pace that ALL of us could follow the rest of the way in, singing songs with a cadence that made it seem easier and before we knew it, we had arrived.  It was on this trip that I learned the song “A Hundred Bottles of Beer.”

Mike decided to take me "under his wings" and for the rest of the weekend we were buddies. After that trip, I was inspired to save every penny I could and buy the right camping gear before we went out again.  With a little help from my mom and dad through a raise in my allowance, I made it happen.

Because of Mike's example of compassion and leadership, my years in the Boy Scouts were some of the most enjoyable of my life. In time, I even became the Senior Patrol Leader of the troop, and I was able to lead and teach the younger scouts in the same way Mike taught me on that first outing.

Compassion is a Good Place to Start

St. Thomas Aquinas taught that compassion is the most important characteristic of God and the quality that most fully reveals to us who God is. He said that God’s power is a power of compassion, and that we who are made in the image of God are most like God when we show compassion. This is one way of understanding the crowd’s proclamation about Jesus at the end of today’s gospel (Luke 7:11-17): “God has visited his people.” God continues to visit his people when we extend to others—especially the most distraught and desolate—the compassion that God in Christ has shown to us.  If we start with compassion, who knows what miracles might follow?  Maybe faith?

Having faith in God will help us in life to answer our prayers, comfort us in times of need, and help us celebrate in times of joyfulness. But what is the real meaning of faith, and why is it necessary to have a strong faith in our lives?

“Of mercy and judgment I will sing; to you, O LORD, I will sing praise.”  (Psalms 101:1)

This psalm gives us direction to help us find our faith in God.  In order to find and strengthen our faith, we must be loving and make good choices and judgments. Without this, our song of faith would not be full of melodious and beautiful sounds. Instead, it would be lacking in the right pitch or tune.

In the end, the trust that we have placed in God depends on the strength of our faith that we have in him. Again, in today’s gospel Jesus performed one of his many miracles in bringing the dead to life.  This is a very powerful gospel to those who are mourning the death of a loved one.  It illustrates Jesus’ comforting touch to the woman who had just lost her only son.  Anyone who has lost a loved one can empathize with the widow at Nain.  I know I can.   Jesus’ healing touch in Luke’s gospel comforts me to know that, with a strong faith, I can be confident that my grandparents, my mom and dad and the brothers who have preceded me to their homecoming with Jesus continue to walk with me every day.  In fact, I think of them often and sometimes ask for their intercession when I’m having a particularly frustrating day. 

We can bring the “healing touch” of Jesus to others through our witness of our faith in Him.  I have experienced this first-hand on many occasions; I’m sure you have, too.  How many times have you cheered up someone who was “down”, by simply listening to and praying with them?  Lots of times, I bet.  It’s just that we don’t recognize Jesus working through us in this way most of the time.  

Faith is an important aspect of life that not only helps us get past the hardships that we all endure, but also lets us celebrate the beautiful lives that we live. A question to ask ourselves is, “Do we truly have faith in God and what can we do to strengthen our faith?”

Humility, faith and mercy are intertwined

Sometimes, it’s hard to have faith. We are rational, scientific, and want tangible proof or explanations for everything.  But the centurion in Luke’s gospel (Luke 7:1-10) was not like this - he had incredible faith in Jesus.  He came to Jesus, humbled, and just stated a fact, “my servant is suffering”.  He didn't ask Jesus to cure him, he just had faith that Jesus would know what needed to be done.  Many of us, myself included, seem to think we know what we need.  Instead of telling Jesus how it is and trusting that He will provide and care for us, we ask for things.  We ask for that new job, for money, for things that we think will make us happy.  But that’s not what we’re called to do.  We must have faith that Jesus has the right answers and the right timing.  We might not know what we really need, or when something should happen.  As scary as it is, we need to trust that our loving God will take care of us, because He knows what’s best for us.  Some of God’s greatest gifts are unanswered prayers.  Jesus is the mediator between God and humankind. With a word from Jesus, God's will is done.

In the first reading at Mass today we are told that we need to pray for all those in authority. With great power comes great responsibility, and we should pray for our leaders to take that responsibility seriously. We pray that those in authority are good leaders, wield their power responsibly, and keep the well-being of their people in mind. They do have authority. They do have power. They can affect the lives of their people, so we pray they are good and wise leaders and use their power well.

Too often in our life of prayer we pray as if we have a right to God’s grace.  This is a profound mistake.  We must seek to follow the centurion’s example by understanding that we do not have a right to anything from our Lord.  Humility, faith and mercy are intertwined.  The humble profession of that truth was an act of great faith on the centurion’s part, a “man of authority”.  The result was that mercy was sent forth upon the centurion and his servant.

This humble acknowledgment is the necessary foundation for the reception of the abundant mercy of God.  Mercy is a gift, not a right.  But the good news is that God’s heart burns with a desire to pour forth that gift.  Acknowledging mercy as an absolute gift, to which we have no right, unleashes its power in our lives.  Understanding this humble truth is a profession of faith in God’s mercy and delights His heart abundantly.

Role Playing

It is a beautiful day and the sun is shining.  You have been following Jesus around for a while now, but you can't understand why He wants to spend an evening with the tax collector, Matthew.  Your friends are next to you as you sit and listen to Him.  He begins to tell a story.  He tells you to imagine everything He says.

“A man has two sons. The younger one decides he wants his inheritance.  Now.  So the father gives this son what he would eventually inherit.  The son packs up all his belongings and leaves for the city.”



The rabbi says, “Imagine you are the son”.  Jesus continues with his tale.



“You love city life.  You love the lights, the fast pace, the action.  You go to bars, stay out all hours, and party very hard. Eventually, you spend everything you inherited.  You are wiped out.  Your money is gone.  You find yourself on the streets without a place to live, or food to eat. So you look for a job.  The only job you can find is as a laborer on a farm.  But it still doesn’t pay enough for groceries or rent, and it’s very strenuous. You have to feed your hunger with food intended for the pigs, and sleep in the sty with them. Now you’re lying there among the pigs, hungry and thinking of home; the bed, the warmth, the food, the security. It’s time to make a decision.”



Jesus looks at you directly, raises and eyebrow, and smiles.



You’ll go back home and ask your dad to take you back.  You’re willing to work for your dad like a hired hand, because your dad treats his laborers better than the farmer you’re working for now. You start the trip back home, wondering if he will take you back.”



You don’t even notice your friends around you anymore.  It’s just you.  And Jesus.



“You’re almost home.  Down the road your father sees you coming.  He runs to you, with his arms outstretched.  Tears are running down his face and yours.  You both hug one another, as you ask for forgiveness. Your dad responds with unconditional love and mercy, telling one of his ranch hands to fetch some clean clothes, new shoes, and a ring to put on your finger.  Then he instructs another to prepare the finest calf for a feast and invite everyone they know to help celebrate.”



Jesus says,



“Now imagine you are the older son, arriving in the midst of the commotion at the house.  You ask one of laborers, ‘What’s going on?’  You are told, ‘Your brother has come home, and your dad is so happy that he is throwing the biggest party he has ever had!’

‘What?!’ you respond, ‘For my brother who took off with dad's money and left me to take care of everything?’

You refuse to go into the house, your anger is so great.”



Jesus smiles with understanding at your discomfort now.  Then He goes back to His parable.



“Your father sees you outside and comes out to talk to you.  ‘Isn't it great that your brother is back?’, he asks.

To which you reply, ‘You really aren't taking him back are you?  He left us, remember?  Remember the pain, the hurt, the anger?  How can you just forget all that? I'm the one who stayed!  But you've never thrown me such an extravagant party!’

Your father looks into your eyes with the love you have recognized since the day you were born. He replies, ‘You are right, it was very painful when your brother left. But he is back now, and I want to rejoice that he finally came to his senses.  Listen, I know you have always been there for me—everything I own is yours.  Don't ever forget that.  I haven't forgotten.  But we have to celebrate and rejoice.  This brother of yours was dead and he has come back to life. He was lost and is found.’"



Jesus calls you back from the story.  He looks at you.  You look at him.

He asks you, "Which son is more like you?"