Collecting Light | April 20, 2016

April 20, 2016

Yesterday’s gospel helped us focus on the voice of the shepherd and listening for his call. Today’s gospel gives us the image that Jesus is light. How does Jesus light up your world? Pay attention to those areas of your life that are dim and collect some light today to brighten those up. Here’s a poem to give you some food for thought. Have a blessed day.

Collecting Light

By Jen Bedison

The birds perform shamelessly singing,

                                    “Look at me! Look at me!”

                        like a child in a school play waving their arms to be seen.

My hair dances in the wind and glistens because

                                                stardust has been sprinkled

                                                                        by angels whispering my name – Brilliant.

There are diamonds in my friend’s eyes as she shares from her heart

                                                and water pools making the diamonds bling.

The trees stretch themselves high up and they sigh,

                                                “Ah, that feels so good.”

                                    They sparkle with praise for the God who created them in the

                                                                                                            arms of the Son.

The sun wraps me in a mantle of anointing and opens my cold

                                                so I can sing like the birds – shamelessly,

                                                and praise like the trees,

                                                and share with diamond eyes,

                                                and be brilliant like stardust

                                                                        because angels whisper my name

                                                                        and God is light

                                                                        and I collect it all.

Reading 1 ACTS 12:24—13:5A

The word of God continued to spread and grow. 

After Barnabas and Saul completed their relief mission,
they returned to Jerusalem,
taking with them John, who is called Mark. 

Now there were in the Church at Antioch prophets and teachers:
Barnabas, Symeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene,
Manaen who was a close friend of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. 
While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said,
“Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul
for the work to which I have called them.” 
Then, completing their fasting and prayer,
they laid hands on them and sent them off.

So they, sent forth by the Holy Spirit,
went down to Seleucia
and from there sailed to Cyprus. 
When they arrived in Salamis,
they proclaimed the word of God in the Jewish synagogues.

Responsorial Psalm PS 67:2-3, 5, 6 AND 8

R. (4) O God, let all the nations praise you!
or:
R. Alleluia.
May God have pity on us and bless us;
may he let his face shine upon us.
So may your way be known upon earth;
among all nations, your salvation.
R. O God, let all the nations praise you!
or:
R. Alleluia.
May the nations be glad and exult
because you rule the peoples in equity;
the nations on the earth you guide.
R. O God, let all the nations praise you!
or:
R. Alleluia.
May the peoples praise you, O God;
may all the peoples praise you!
May God bless us,
and may all the ends of the earth fear him!
R. O God, let all the nations praise you!
or:
R. Alleluia.

Alleluia JN 8:12

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
I am the light of the world, says the Lord;
whoever follows me will have the light of life.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel JN 12:44-50

Jesus cried out and said,
“Whoever believes in me believes not only in me
but also in the one who sent me,
and whoever sees me sees the one who sent me.
I came into the world as light,
so that everyone who believes in me might not remain in darkness. 
And if anyone hears my words and does not observe them,
I do not condemn him,
for I did not come to condemn the world but to save the world. 
Whoever rejects me and does not accept my words
has something to judge him: the word that I spoke,
it will condemn him on the last day,
because I did not speak on my own,
but the Father who sent me commanded me what to say and speak. 
And I know that his commandment is eternal life. 
So what I say, I say as the Father told me.”

The Voice | April 19, 2016

April 19, 2016

My dear friend, Norah, moved to Connecticut about 28 years ago and she and I have kept in touch via snail mail for many of those years, and now mostly through texting. I’ve been writing to her since I was 18 years old and if she were to have saved all my letters, the collection of them might indeed make quite the telling autobiography. There is no doubt that I express myself most effectively, most authentically, most intimately, and most eloquently through writing. There are times, however, more recently and frequently than ever, when I simply need to hear Norah’s voice and writing or texting just doesn’t cut it, so I will pick up the phone and actually call. The split second that we hear each other is an anointed moment that literally melts the heart. Hearing someone’s voice, especially once they’ve been gone from your daily life is powerful and sometimes even breath taking.

My grandpa died around Thanksgiving and when we were decorating for Christmas that year we came across one of those ornaments that recorded a message. I remember pressing the button and hearing grandpa’s voice for the first time since he died actually dropped me to my knees. I felt his presence in the room with me immediately and I could even smell his cologne. One sound of his voice reunited our spirits. The senses are powerful ways for us to connect to one another.

Jesus talks about this in today’s gospel, “My sheep hear my voice; I know them, and they follow me.” I often meditate on things like: What did Jesus’ voice sound like? Did he have an infectious laugh? When he sang in synagogue, did people get goose bumps? Was he a tenor or a baritone or a bass? Did he speak to the apostles differently and in more intimate tones than with the general population? Did his friends and disciples (and even his enemies) remember the sound of his voice after he died? What a special give that must have been to have known what their Savior sounded like, sang like, laughed like, cried like, whispered like. Obviously, we don’t have the same privilege of actually hearing him speak, but that does not mean that we are not his sheep and that we do know what he sounds like:

• ·      When a baby cries out
• ·      When a songbird calls
• ·      When your beloved tells you you’re beautiful
• ·      When your best friend laughs
• ·      When a room full of faithful hearts sing praise
• ·      When someone says, “I forgive you”
• ·      When a dear friend whispers a blessing in your ear
• ·      When the wind dances through the trees
• ·      When a wave caresses the shore
• ·      When your long lost friend picks up the phone

These tender listenings are The Voice of our Shepherd, gently drawing us into his embrace so that we can follow wherever he leads. Let’s pay attention to The Voice in our lives so that we can live this promise:

“I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish.

No one can take them out of my hand.

My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all,

and no one can take them out of the Father’s hand.  

The Father and I are one.”

Norah, I’m going to call sometime this week…FYI.

Reading 1 ACTS 11:19-26

Those who had been scattered by the persecution
that arose because of Stephen
went as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch,
preaching the word to no one but Jews.
There were some Cypriots and Cyrenians among them, however,
who came to Antioch and began to speak to the Greeks as well,
proclaiming the Lord Jesus. 
The hand of the Lord was with them
and a great number who believed turned to the Lord. 
The news about them reached the ears of the Church in Jerusalem,
and they sent Barnabas to go to Antioch.
When he arrived and saw the grace of God,
he rejoiced and encouraged them all
to remain faithful to the Lord in firmness of heart,
for he was a good man, filled with the Holy Spirit and faith.
And a large number of people was added to the Lord. 
Then he went to Tarsus to look for Saul,
and when he had found him he brought him to Antioch. 
For a whole year they met with the Church
and taught a large number of people,
and it was in Antioch that the disciples
were first called Christians.

Responsorial Psalm PS 87:1B-3, 4-5, 6-7

R. (117:1a) All you nations, praise the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
His foundation upon the holy mountains
the LORD loves:
The gates of Zion,
more than any dwelling of Jacob.
Glorious things are said of you,
O city of God!
R. All you nations, praise the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
I tell of Egypt and Babylon
among those who know the LORD;
Of Philistia, Tyre, Ethiopia:
“This man was born there.”
And of Zion they shall say:
“One and all were born in her;
And he who has established her
is the Most High LORD.”
R. All you nations, praise the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
They shall note, when the peoples are enrolled:
“This man was born there.”
And all shall sing, in their festive dance:
“My home is within you.”
R. All you nations, praise the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.

Alleluia JN 10:27

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
My sheep hear my voice, says the Lord;
I know them, and they follow me.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel JN 10:22-30

The feast of the Dedication was taking place in Jerusalem.
It was winter. 
And Jesus walked about in the temple area on the Portico of Solomon. 
So the Jews gathered around him and said to him,
“How long are you going to keep us in suspense? 
If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.” 
Jesus answered them, “I told you and you do not believe.
The works I do in my Father’s name testify to me.
But you do not believe, because you are not among my sheep.
My sheep hear my voice;
I know them, and they follow me. 
I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish. 
No one can take them out of my hand. 
My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all,
and no one can take them out of the Father’s hand. 
The Father and I are one.”

Above All | April 7, 2016

April 7, 2016

There’s a beautiful song by Michael W. Smith called Above All:

Above all powers

Above all kings

Above all nature and all created things

Above all wisdom and all the ways of man

You were here before the world began

Above all kingdoms

Above all thrones

Above all wonders the world has ever known

Above all wealth and treasures of the earth

There's no way to measure what you're worth

Crucified

Laid behind the stone

You lived to die

Rejected and alone

Like a rose trampled on the ground

You took the fall

And thought of me

Above all

I’m sure it came from the reading of today’s gospel where John the Baptist is teaching his own followers about Jesus and he says, “The one who comes from above is above all.”  Let’s take a look at what is happening right before today’s gospel begins. John the Baptist is testifying about whom Jesus is and he makes one thing very clear when he says, “I am NOT the Christ, but am sent ahead of him.” My brother gave me a card for my birthday this year that read: (Front) “Every now and then, someone amazing comes into your life and changes the world forever.” (Inside) “Calm down, it’s not you, it’s Jesus, but I’m sure he would want you to have a happy birthday.”  I’m sure John the Baptist had to say to his peeps more than once, “Calm down, it’s not me, it’s Jesus!”

The next thing John does in his testimony before our gospel begins (John 3:28-29) is to make the analogy that he is the Best Man at Jesus’ wedding. What a relatable image for all of us, right? We know that a best man’s job is to stand up as an official witness to the union between the groom and the bride, he plans the bachelor party (you know for a fact that there was plenty of wine and when they ran out…well the groom just makes more!!), the best man helps settle the groom’s nerves on the day of the wedding, he makes sure his bow tie is straight, his hair is combed, and the rings are not lost, and last, but not least, he gives the toast at the reception (and/or he plans and choreographs the flash mob that all the groomsmen will perform to a mash up medley of Broadway show tunes complete with hats, canes, and tap shoes, and obviously a 4 part acapella ending to bring the house down!) This last part may or may not be my own interpretation of a best man’s duties, however, the point is clear…a best man is chosen by the groom because the best man gets him and is the “best” at standing watch while the groom commits his life to his bride.

Today’s gospel is John the Baptist’s best man toast at the reception and his hook is that Jesus is “above all.” Now I am kind of picturing John the Baptist sitting at the piano, resting his club soda next to the tip jar (John the Baptist does not drink alcohol, of course), and singing the Michael W. Smith song Above All to his best friend and cousin as Jesus gazes lovingly into the eyes of his bride…the Church. What a beautiful scene for us to reflect on today. As you read the gospel, raise your coffee cup or your glass and picture Jesus’ best man honoring your spouse today.

I will end with the line that John the Baptist says right before our gospel begins (John 3: 30), “He must increase; I must decrease.” If I could tattoo this phrase on my heart, I would, because it gives Jesus permission to roam about unrestrained and when Jesus is unrestrained, I am powered by pure love. Let’s remember that “He does not ration his gift of the Spirit”, He gives all, He is all, and He is above all.  Have a blessed day.

Memorial of Saint John Baptist de la Salle, Priest
Lectionary: 270

Reading 1 ACTS 5:27-33

When the court officers had brought the Apostles in
and made them stand before the Sanhedrin,
the high priest questioned them,
“We gave you strict orders did we not,
to stop teaching in that name.
Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching
and want to bring this man’s blood upon us.”
But Peter and the Apostles said in reply,
“We must obey God rather than men. 
The God of our ancestors raised Jesus,
though you had him killed by hanging him on a tree.
God exalted him at his right hand as leader and savior
to grant Israel repentance and forgiveness of sins.
We are witnesses of these things,
as is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey him.”

When they heard this,
they became infuriated and wanted to put them to death.

Responsorial Psalm PS 34:2 AND 9, 17-18, 19-20

R. (7a) The Lord hears the cry of the poor.
or:
R. Alleluia.
I will bless the LORD at all times;
his praise shall be ever in my mouth.
Taste and see how good the LORD is;
blessed the man who takes refuge in him.
R. The Lord hears the cry of the poor.
or:
R. Alleluia.
The LORD confronts the evildoers,
to destroy remembrance of them from the earth.
When the just cry out, the LORD hears them,
and from all their distress he rescues them.
R. The Lord hears the cry of the poor.
or:
R. Alleluia.
The LORD is close to the brokenhearted;
and those who are crushed in spirit he saves.
Many are the troubles of the just man,
but out of them all the LORD delivers him.
R. The Lord hears the cry of the poor.
or:
R. Alleluia.

Alleluia JN 20:29

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
You believe in me, Thomas, because you have seen me, says the Lord;
blessed are those who have not seen, but still believe!
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel JN 3:31-36

The one who comes from above is above all.
The one who is of the earth is earthly and speaks of earthly things.
But the one who comes from heaven is above all.
He testifies to what he has seen and heard,
but no one accepts his testimony.
Whoever does accept his testimony certifies that God is trustworthy.
For the one whom God sent speaks the words of God.
He does not ration his gift of the Spirit.
The Father loves the Son and has given everything over to him.
Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life,
but whoever disobeys the Son will not see life,
but the wrath of God remains upon him.