More Excellent (Dude) | January 31 2016

January 31, 2016

Today’s second ready is one of those that we have probably heard over and over again. In fact, some of us may even have this one memorized (not a strong suit for Catholics!). It might be Paul’s most poetic and thoughtful writing and well…and one of the many reasons why he is my boyfriend. This reading has become somewhat trite and cliché because it is read at most weddings, printed on greeting cards, used as wall decorations, and since we have heard it so many times, it might be like a cup of lukewarm coffee at this point (I mean I’ll still drink it because it’s coffee, but I won’t celebrate it like I would a fresh hot cup of goodness). Let’s look at it with new eyes today.

First, Paul encourages us to strive eagerly for the greatest spiritual gifts. Think about whatever it is that you are personally passionate about: Music? Sports? Writing? Career? Education? And how do you strive eagerly to flourish in that passion? We should put at least that much effort into growing spiritually as well so that the gifts of wisdom, understanding, knowledge, good counsel, courage, piety, and awe and wonder will strengthen within us. Sounds simple, but we know it is not and I personally need a wake up call this day to spiritual eagerness.

Then Paul says that striving eagerly for spiritual gifts is a great start, but he knows a more excellent way (I can’t help giving Paul a surfer dude accent when he says “more excellent”. I always insert the word “dude” in there because it makes me laugh! Sorry, I digress.) But then he does a bit of a self-inventory, which I invite each of us to do right now…

·      If I speak in human and angelic tongues, but do not have love, I am a resounding gong or a clashing cymbal.

·      And if I have the gift of prophecy, and comprehend all mysteries and all knowledge; if I have all faith so as to move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.

·      If I give away everything I own, and if I hand my body over so that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.

Finally, to make sure that we truly understand this word “love”, he spells it out in very specific ways. I wonder what exactly was going on in his life at the time when he wrote this. I know that when I write I have no choice but to write from my own personal experience and place in life and I imagine Paul did the same. So, was there a relationship in turmoil and/or was he in a relationship that modeled this kind of excellent love? Either way, Paul knew about the absence of true love AND the presence of true love and I think it is safe to assume that each one of us does too. So let’s do another self-check with his definitions of love and if we are lacking in any, may we commit ourselves to seeking these things eagerly. The tricky part about this passage on love is that we now kind of only think it applies to marriage because we hear it at all the weddings, but Paul (a single guy) was writing this as a way for us to interact with everyone and Jesus (another single guy) would concur. I need this self-check more than anyone right now as I have noticed myself lacking in patience and kindness and several other things that love is supposed to be. I want to strive eagerly for the greatest spiritual gifts and love is the beginning of them all so…

1.     First read the passage as it is.

2.     Then read the passage and swap out the word “love” with God.

3.     Read it again and swap out the word “love” with the name of someone in your life that loves you (your spouse, your beloved, your best friend, your parent, etc.). Do this as many times as you need with various people’s names if you want.

4.     Finally read it again and swap out the word “love” with your own name.  

Love is patient, love is kind.

Love is not jealous, love is not pompous,

Love is not inflated, love is not rude,

love does not seek its own interests,

love is not quick-tempered, love does not brood over injury,

love does not rejoice over wrongdoing

but rejoices with the truth.

Love bears all things, believes all things,

hopes all things, endures all things.

Perhaps you’d like to make a personal list of the above definitions that are currently a challenge or lacking for you. Pray them as a mantra, over and over again. Then give thanks for those that are strong in your life and bless whomever it is that you included in your meditation today. I pray that we are intentional in growing our spiritual gifts. I pray that the partial in us steadily passes with each day as we recommit ourselves to Christ and as we grow in those virtues that will make us perfect someday: faith, hope, and love. And please remember that love NEVER fails.

Reading 1 JER 1:4-5, 17-19

The word of the LORD came to me, saying:
Before I formed you in the womb I knew you,
before you were born I dedicated you,
a prophet to the nations I appointed you.

But do you gird your loins;
stand up and tell them
all that I command you.
Be not crushed on their account,
as though I would leave you crushed before them;
for it is I this day
who have made you a fortified city,
a pillar of iron, a wall of brass,
against the whole land:
against Judah’s kings and princes,
against its priests and people.
They will fight against you but not prevail over you,
for I am with you to deliver you, says the LORD.

Responsorial Psalm PS 71:1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 15-17

R. (cf. 15ab) I will sing of your salvation.
In you, O LORD, I take refuge;
let me never be put to shame.
In your justice rescue me, and deliver me;
incline your ear to me, and save me.
R. I will sing of your salvation.
Be my rock of refuge,
a stronghold to give me safety,
for you are my rock and my fortress.
O my God, rescue me from the hand of the wicked.
R. I will sing of your salvation.
For you are my hope, O Lord;
my trust, O God, from my youth.
On you I depend from birth;
from my mother’s womb you are my strength.
R. I will sing of your salvation.
My mouth shall declare your justice,
day by day your salvation.
O God, you have taught me from my youth,
and till the present I proclaim your wondrous deeds.
R. I will sing of your salvation.

Reading 2 1 COR 12:31—13:13

Brothers and sisters:
Strive eagerly for the greatest spiritual gifts.
But I shall show you a still more excellent way.

If I speak in human and angelic tongues,
but do not have love,
I am a resounding gong or a clashing cymbal.
And if I have the gift of prophecy,
and comprehend all mysteries and all knowledge;
if I have all faith so as to move mountains,
but do not have love, I am nothing.
If I give away everything I own,
and if I hand my body over so that I may boast,
but do not have love, I gain nothing.

Love is patient, love is kind.
It is not jealous, it is not pompous,
It is not inflated, it is not rude,
it does not seek its own interests,
it is not quick-tempered, it does not brood over injury,
it does not rejoice over wrongdoing
but rejoices with the truth.
It bears all things, believes all things,
hopes all things, endures all things.

Love never fails.
If there are prophecies, they will be brought to nothing;
if tongues, they will cease;
if knowledge, it will be brought to nothing.
For we know partially and we prophesy partially,
but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away.
When I was a child, I used to talk as a child,
think as a child, reason as a child;
when I became a man, I put aside childish things.
At present we see indistinctly, as in a mirror,
but then face to face.
At present I know partially;
then I shall know fully, as I am fully known.
So faith, hope, love remain, these three;
but the greatest of these is love.

Alleluia LK 4:18

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
The Lord sent me to bring glad tidings to the poor,
to proclaim liberty to captives.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel LK 4:21-30

Jesus began speaking in the synagogue, saying:
“Today this Scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing.”
And all spoke highly of him
and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his mouth. 
They also asked, “Isn’t this the son of Joseph?”
He said to them, “Surely you will quote me this proverb,
‘Physician, cure yourself,’ and say,
‘Do here in your native place
the things that we heard were done in Capernaum.’”
And he said, “Amen, I say to you,
no prophet is accepted in his own native place.
Indeed, I tell you,
there were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah
when the sky was closed for three and a half years
and a severe famine spread over the entire land.
It was to none of these that Elijah was sent,
but only to a widow in Zarephath in the land of Sidon.
Again, there were many lepers in Israel
during the time of Elisha the prophet;
yet not one of them was cleansed, but only Naaman the Syrian.”
When the people in the synagogue heard this,
they were all filled with fury.
They rose up, drove him out of the town,
and led him to the brow of the hill
on which their town had been built,
to hurl him down headlong.
But Jesus passed through the midst of them and went away.

If The Boat’s A Rockin’ Don’t Come Knockin’ | January 30, 2016

January 30, 2016

“As evening drew on, Jesus said, ‘Let us cross to the other side.’” Raise your hand if you have ever been in a situation that drew on and on and you just wanted to cross over to the other side. Isn’t it good to know that Jesus understands? “Leaving the crowd, they took Jesus with them in the boat just as he was.” I like the “just as he was” clarification because it implies that kind of spontaneity or living in the Spirit that does not involve packing a bag, or snacks, or making a run to Target to get some things for your trip, or even grabbing a jacket…”just as you are” means no luggage. I get it. I am away right now as a result of an immediate need to come out on the other side of something and while I did pack a bag (a girl needs clean underwear, you know), I am “just as I am” because quite honestly that is all I have right now. Raise your hand if you have ever felt like you have nothing really to give and all you can do is just show up.

“A violent squall came up and waves were breaking over the boat, so that it was already filling up.” I lived on a sailboat for two years when I was first married. Living on a boat was probably one of the best adventures of my life and being lullabied by the gentle rocking of the sea is by far the best way to sleep, (“Jesus was in the stern, asleep on a cushion.”) however, when the sea is angry and your tiny boat must climb those daunting swells that tower over your baby-sized vessel, it is indeed terrifying. There is a bit of an off color colloquialism among “boat people”, “if the boat’s a rockin’, don’t come knockin’!” Unfortunately, I think we also apply that statement to regular life. Let’s face it, no one wants to deal with someone with lots of baggage, or drama, or when a violent squall comes along. I think that is why we feel like we need to keep our problems to ourselves and we feel guilty for burdening our friends with our crap. But, I love love love Jesus in today’s gospel because he slept peacefully through the whole damn storm! Nothing can disturb someone who knows true peace, even a boat-tossing tempest. When we are at peace, we also rest on a comfy cushion (like Jesus did) of confidence during our own storms and when our friends are in turmoil as well. Where does that kind of peace come from? One sentence: “Come, Holy Spirit.” We have to live in the Spirit who is the rushing wind, who is our very own breath, who is the consuming fire, who is the gentle whisper of our hearts, who is the water on which we are called to walk.

When we lack the peace given to us by the Spirit, however, all we have to do is wake up the Lord and ask, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” “Jesus, do you not care that all my friends have abandoned me?” “Lord, do you not care that I am in despair?” “Master, do you not care that the darkness has entered in?” “Savior, do you not care that my mom has cancer?” “Beloved, do you not care that my dad is suffering?” Then guess what? “He woke up, rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, ‘Quiet! Be still!’ The wind ceased and there was great calm.” Why were we ever terrified anyway? Jesus is resting on a comfy cushion just waiting for us to wake him up with our pleadings so that he can calm whatever storm we are in. He might not take away the issue, but only he can calm the waters that terrify us. He says, “when the boat’s a rockin’ I come knockin’, but you have to let me in!” Today is a day for us to renew our faith, which means we need to trust that Jesus will bring the peace that we desperately need so that the storms of our lives will not shake us.

Reading 1 2 SM 12:1-7A, 10-17

The LORD sent Nathan to David, and when he came to him,
Nathan said: “Judge this case for me!
In a certain town there were two men, one rich, the other poor.
The rich man had flocks and herds in great numbers.
But the poor man had nothing at all 
except one little ewe lamb that he had bought.
He nourished her, and she grew up with him and his children.
She shared the little food he had 
and drank from his cup and slept in his bosom.
She was like a daughter to him.
Now, the rich man received a visitor, 
but he would not take from his own flocks and herds 
to prepare a meal for the wayfarer who had come to him.
Instead he took the poor man’s ewe lamb 
and made a meal of it for his visitor.”
David grew very angry with that man and said to him: 
“As the LORD lives, the man who has done this merits death!
He shall restore the ewe lamb fourfold 
because he has done this and has had no pity.”

Then Nathan said to David: “You are the man!
Thus says the LORD God of Israel:
‘The sword shall never depart from your house, 
because you have despised me 
and have taken the wife of Uriah to be your wife.’
Thus says the LORD:
‘I will bring evil upon you out of your own house.
I will take your wives while you live to see it, 
and will give them to your neighbor.
He shall lie with your wives in broad daylight.
You have done this deed in secret, 
but I will bring it about in the presence of all Israel, 
and with the sun looking down.’”

Then David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the LORD.”
Nathan answered David: “The LORD on his part has forgiven your sin:
you shall not die.
But since you have utterly spurned the LORD by this deed, 
the child born to you must surely die.”
Then Nathan returned to his house.

The LORD struck the child that the wife of Uriah had borne to David, 
and it became desperately ill.
David besought God for the child.
He kept a fast, retiring for the night 
to lie on the ground clothed in sackcloth.
The elders of his house stood beside him 
urging him to rise from the ground; but he would not, 
nor would he take food with them.

Responsorial Psalm PS 51:12-13, 14-15, 16-17

R. (12a) Create a clean heart in me, O God.
A clean heart create for me, O God,
and a steadfast spirit renew within me.
Cast me not out from your presence,
and your Holy Spirit take not from me.
R. Create a clean heart in me, O God.
Give me back the joy of your salvation,
and a willing spirit sustain in me.
I will teach transgressors your ways,
and sinners shall return to you.
R. Create a clean heart in me, O God.
Free me from blood guilt, O God, my saving God;
then my tongue shall revel in your justice.
O Lord, open my lips,
and my mouth shall proclaim your praise.
R. Create a clean heart in me, O God.

Alleluia JN 3:16

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
God so loved the world that he gave his only-begotten Son,
so that everyone who believes in him might have eternal life.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel MK 4:35-41

On that day, as evening drew on, Jesus said to his disciples:
“Let us cross to the other side.”
Leaving the crowd, they took Jesus with them in the boat just as he was.
And other boats were with him.
A violent squall came up and waves were breaking over the boat,
so that it was already filling up.
Jesus was in the stern, asleep on a cushion.
They woke him and said to him,
“Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?”
He woke up,
rebuked the wind, 
and said to the sea, “Quiet! Be still!”
The wind ceased and there was great calm.
Then he asked them, “Why are you terrified?
Do you not yet have faith?”
They were filled with great awe and said to one another,
“Who then is this whom even wind and sea obey?”

I Am The Way, The Truth, And The Life Of The Party | January 18, 2016

January 18, 2016

One of my favorite things to teach my teens is about Sundays in Lent. It blows their mind that they are not only “allowed” to break their Lenten fast on Sundays, but kind of encouraged to, because no matter what the season, we celebrate resurrection or Easter every Sunday, sometimes with toned down Gloria’s and Alleluias, but indeed every Sunday IS resurrection day! Today’s gospel runs in that same vein.

The eagle eyed Pharisees had already started their H.R. file of write-ups against Jesus. This time they observed that he and his disciples did not fast properly like John’s disciples did. How perfect for them to have chosen John to compare and contrast Jesus, because John was the only one who truly understood who Jesus was and had been shouting it at the top of his wookiee outfit wearing, bug eating, desert rat lungs for a long while. They obviously missed John’s message. I know a lot of times I miss the message that is being yelled into my heart because I am distracted by what others are doing to not doing. Ugh.

Jesus loves a good set up and the Pharisees often seem to be the ones that provide him with one. Let that be a lesson to us that scrutiny and negativity can be avenues for grace and teaching to flow if we live in the spirit and allow God to do His work in us. Jesus basically told them that the whole reason for fasting is to come to the feast hungry and ready to be filled, but HE WAS THE FEAST and while he was present there would be no need to fast. Basically, I am the way, the truth, and the life OF THE PARTY, says the Lord!! So don’t refuse my food for your soul, don’t refuse my living water, don’t refuse the abundant wine of joy that I serve, don’t refuse to dance to the music that I sing, don’t refuse to listen to the stories that I tell, don’t refuse the invitation to the party, don’t refuse the banquet that I have set before you. There will be a time when fasting will be necessary to train your will, to discipline your appetites, to teach you how to wait patiently, to show you what famine feels like so that you will long for the feast of heaven, but that time is not right now because the party is here! I just LOVE party Jesus!

A little side note…he is trying to teach them that a new covenant is being offered to them and HE is that new covenant, but he uses two analogies for that concept. The first is directed toward women as he uses a very feminine image, “No one sews a piece of unshrunken cloth on an old cloak. If he does, its fullness pulls away, the new from the old, and the tear gets worse.” Women would understand this reference to garments because they sew. The second analogy is directed to the men using a very masculine image, “Likewise, no one pours new wine into old wineskins. Otherwise, the wine will burst the skins, and both the wine and the skins are ruined. Rather, new wine is poured into fresh wineskins.” Men would understand this reference because they drink. Everyone is invited to the Jesus party!!! He made it very clear with both analogies and I can just imagine how special the women must have felt that Jesus was also reaching out to them with a message of hope and love. I just LOVE equal opportunity Jesus!

Today’s gospel reminds us that Jesus wants us to have life to the fullest and the only way we can truly do that is with him at the center of our hearts. Life with Jesus is a party and we will always be satisfied if we but stay close to him. Let’s fast from the things that are not of God and feast on the things that bring us closer to him, such as scripture, prayer, Eucharist, and love, love, love, love, love. Party on friends!!!

Reading 1 1 SM 15:16-23

Samuel said to Saul:
“Stop! Let me tell you what the LORD said to me last night.”
Saul replied, “Speak!” 
Samuel then said: “Though little in your own esteem,
are you not leader of the tribes of Israel?
The LORD anointed you king of Israel and sent you on a mission, saying,
‘Go and put the sinful Amalekites under a ban of destruction.
Fight against them until you have exterminated them.’
Why then have you disobeyed the LORD?
You have pounced on the spoil, thus displeasing the LORD.”
Saul answered Samuel: “I did indeed obey the LORD
and fulfill the mission on which the LORD sent me.
I have brought back Agag, and I have destroyed Amalek under the ban.
But from the spoil the men took sheep and oxen,
the best of what had been banned,
to sacrifice to the LORD their God in Gilgal.”
But Samuel said:
“Does the LORD so delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices
as in obedience to the command of the LORD?
Obedience is better than sacrifice,
and submission than the fat of rams.
For a sin like divination is rebellion,
and presumption is the crime of idolatry.
Because you have rejected the command of the LORD,
he, too, has rejected you as ruler.”

Responsorial Psalm PS 50:8-9, 16BC-17, 21 AND 23

R. (23b) To the upright I will show the saving power of God.
“Not for your sacrifices do I rebuke you,
for your burnt offerings are before me always.
I take from your house no bullock,
no goats out of your fold.”
R. To the upright I will show the saving power of God.
“Why do you recite my statutes,
and profess my covenant with your mouth,
Though you hate discipline
and cast my words behind you?”
R. To the upright I will show the saving power of God.
“When you do these things, shall I be deaf to it?
Or do you think that I am like yourself?
I will correct you by drawing them up before your eyes.
He that offers praise as a sacrifice glorifies me;
and to him that goes the right way I will show the salvation of God.”
R. To the upright I will show the saving power of God.

Responsorial Psalm HEB 4:12

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
The word of God is living and effective,
able to discern reflections and thoughts of the heart.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel MK 2:18-22

The disciples of John and of the Pharisees were accustomed to fast.
People came to Jesus and objected,
“Why do the disciples of John and the disciples of the Pharisees fast,
but your disciples do not fast?”
Jesus answered them,
“Can the wedding guests fast while the bridegroom is with them?
As long as they have the bridegroom with them they cannot fast.
But the days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them,
and then they will fast on that day.
No one sews a piece of unshrunken cloth on an old cloak.
If he does, its fullness pulls away,
the new from the old, and the tear gets worse.
Likewise, no one pours new wine into old wineskins.
Otherwise, the wine will burst the skins,
and both the wine and the skins are ruined.
Rather, new wine is poured into fresh wineskins.”