I Can Only Imagine

October 30, 2018

I am sure we have all dreamt about heaven. One of my favorite songs is I Can Only Imaginebecause it paints a picture of arriving in heaven. “Surrounded by your Glory, what will my heart feel? Will I dance for you Jesus, or in awe of you be still? Will I stand in your presence, or to my knees will I fall? Will I sing ‘Hallelujah’; will I be able to speak at all? I can only imagine.” It seems like the disciples in today’s gospel were also dreaming of heaven and who better to ask about it than the one who created it! It seems like Jesus wants to be extremely thoughtful in his answering this question, as I’m sure it is one of those quandaries, “how do you describe something that is indescribable?”  His thoughtfulness brings about two separate images, one that the men of his time would be able to relate to, and one that the women of his time could relate to. I appreciate that right off the bat we know that heaven is open to all. 

The first image is that of a man that plants a tiny little mustard seed in the garden and when that seed is fully grown it becomes so large and abundant that it becomes a place of shelter for the birds of the sky. I love that heaven has the potential to grow from something so tiny and small into something that becomes respite for the homeless and shelter from the storm. It seems to me that Jesus might be indicating that heaven is a current reality, living, growing, and spreading right here among us, and not some far off in the future destination. Can we cultivate heaven on earth? Seems like Jesus has thoughtfully shown us that yes we can. 

The next image is that of a woman using yeast to leaven dough. This is yet another earthly image of growing, spreading, widening, and rising. I don’t bake, however, I do watch The Great British Baking Show(best show ever!) and one thing I’ve learned about bread making is that it needs to be proofed. Once the loaves are kneaded and shaped, they are left for a particular amount of time to give the yeast a chance to transform (or ferment), and in that transformation, the dough rises. Don’t ask me why, it’s scientific! I do love this idea that the “proofing” of heaven happens when we become transformed. Again, it seems like it is a now thing rather than a someday thing. Once heaven is proofed and the dough is ready, it can feed and nourish. 

Both images suggest that heaven can grow, rise, spread, and widen, and both images also suggest that it takes time, patience, and careful nurturing. We must allow the seeds and the yeast to go through the process of becoming and this requires some thoughtful and intentional attention. We are all in the process of becoming aren’t we? We can cultivate heaven in our being rest for the weary, the lowly, the homeless, the unloved, and we can proof it in our feeding others with our transformed hearts and minds. It most definitely seems like an “on earth as it is in heaven” commissioning doesn’t it? The kingdom of God is at hand and we have the means to let it grow, rise, and spread. It is open to all and it is for all of us to imagine so that we can become it. The manifestation of heaven is in our providing for one another. Let’s let heaven rise among us today!! And it is well with my soul. 

Reading 1 EPH 5:21-33

Brothers and sisters:
Be subordinate to one another out of reverence for Christ.
Wives should be subordinate to their husbands as to the Lord.
For the husband is head of his wife
just as Christ is head of the Church,
he himself the savior of the Body.
As the Church is subordinate to Christ,
so wives should be subordinate to their husbands in everything.
Husbands, love your wives,
even as Christ loved the Church
and handed himself over for her to sanctify her,
cleansing her by the bath of water with the word,
that he might present to himself the Church in splendor,
without spot or wrinkle or any such thing,
that she might be holy and without blemish.
So also husbands should love their wives as their own bodies.
He who loves his wife loves himself.
For no one hates his own flesh
but rather nourishes and cherishes it,
even as Christ does the Church,
because we are members of his Body.

For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother
and be joined to his wife,
and the two shall become one flesh.

This is a great mystery,
but I speak in reference to Christ and the Church.
In any case, each one of you should love his wife as himself,
and the wife should respect her husband.

Responsorial Psalm PS 128:1-2, 3, 4-5

R. (1a) Blessed are those who fear the Lord.
Blessed are you who fear the LORD,
who walk in his ways!
For you shall eat the fruit of your handiwork;
blessed shall you be, and favored.
R. Blessed are those who fear the Lord.
Your wife shall be like a fruitful vine
in the recesses of your home;
Your children like olive plants
around your table.
R. Blessed are those who fear the Lord.
Behold, thus is the man blessed
who fears the LORD.
The LORD bless you from Zion:
may you see the prosperity of Jerusalem
all the days of your life.
R. Blessed are those who fear the Lord.

Alleluia SEE MT 11:25

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Blessed are you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth;
You have revealed to little ones the mysteries of the Kingdom.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel LK 13:18-21

Jesus said, "What is the Kingdom of God like?
To what can I compare it?
It is like a mustard seed that a man took and planted in the garden.
When it was fully grown, it became a large bush
and 'the birds of the sky dwelt in its branches.'"

Again he said, "To what shall I compare the Kingdom of God?
It is like yeast that a woman took
and mixed in with three measures of wheat flour
until the whole batch of dough was leavened."

Crippled

October 29, 2018

Have you ever been “crippled” by something? Ugly circumstances? Depression? Anxiety? Self-loathing? Illness? Negativity? Shame? Hurt? Today’s gospel tells us that Jesus sees us, he calls us, and he sets us free from the things that cripple us. Jesus was teaching in the synagogue and he noticed a woman who wore her affliction on the outside. She was completely bent over. I know a lot of times I am able to fake it until I make it when I am afflicted with the things that bend me over in fear or shame, but there are those days when my closest friends and family just see it on my face. They’ll say things like, “Are you OK?” or “You look tired”, and then I know that they recognize my affliction. The first thing Jesus did was to notice her. He sees us, friends, because he is always gazing upon us. After he sees her, he calls her, and he says, “Woman, you are set free from your infirmity.” He sees us in our infirmity, he calls us (by name) and he says, “You are set free.” After he spoke The Word, he touched her, and she stood up immediately. He sees us, he calls us, he gives us his Word, and he enters into personal touching relationship with us so that we can stand immediately and be set free. 

Of course these tremendous healing stories always have a bit of a twist. The religious leaders accuse him of “working” on the Sabbath, which is a very strict no no. It is one of those religious rules that has evolved over time into an exaggerated and misinterpreted manifestation of keeping the Sabbath holy. For example, some super Orthodox Jewish households have their lights on timers so that they don’t even have to flip the lights on the Sabbath because that is considered work. Doesn’t it seem strange they did not have a problem with Jesus teaching on the Sabbath, just with his performing miracles? I think Jesus has a deeper message than that for us. Looking at one another with compassion, speaking life to one another, and becoming set free from our crippling spirits is not work, but a daily way of life for those that have been seen and touched by Jesus Christ. These are not labors, but the very holiness that keeps the Sabbath holy. The Sabbath is a time to rest in the Lord, to hear The Word, and to receive the miraculous. 

Jesus tells us today that the very reason we even have a Holy day is for people to be set free from their crippling spirits. This is the fruit of the Sabbath, not the labor. We are called today on many levels: to be seen by Christ, to be called by name, and to be set free. We are also commissioned today to see each other, to bring one another to Christ, and to speak life into the darkness that bends us over in affliction. This is not work, but life itself if we know Christ, and it is well with my soul. 

Reading 1 EPH 4:32–5:8

Brothers and sisters:
Be kind to one another, compassionate,
forgiving one another as God has forgiven you in Christ.

Be imitators of God, as beloved children, and live in love,
as Christ loved us and handed himself over for us
as a sacrificial offering to God for a fragrant aroma.
Immorality or any impurity or greed must not even be mentioned among you,
as is fitting among holy ones,
no obscenity or silly or suggestive talk, which is out of place,
but instead, thanksgiving.
Be sure of this, that no immoral or impure or greedy person,
that is, an idolater,
has any inheritance in the Kingdom of Christ and of God.

Let no one deceive you with empty arguments,
for because of these things
the wrath of God is coming upon the disobedient.
So do not be associated with them.
For you were once darkness,
but now you are light in the Lord.
Live as children of light. 

Responsorial Psalm PS 1:1-2, 3, 4 AND 6

R. (see Eph. 5:1) Behave like God as his very dear children.
Blessed the man who follows not
the counsel of the wicked
Nor walks in the way of sinners,
nor sits in the company of the insolent,
But delights in the law of the LORD
and meditates on his law day and night.
R. Behave like God as his very dear children.
He is like a tree
planted near running water,
That yields its fruit in due season,
and whose leaves never fade.
Whatever he does, prospers.
R. Behave like God as his very dear children.
Not so the wicked, not so;
they are like chaff which the wind drives away.
For the LORD watches over the way of the just,
but the way of the wicked vanishes.
R. Behave like God as his very dear children.

Alleluia JN 17:17B, 17A

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Your word, O Lord, is truth;
consecrate us in the truth.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel LK 13:10-17

Jesus was teaching in a synagogue on the sabbath.
And a woman was there who for eighteen years
had been crippled by a spirit;
she was bent over, completely incapable of standing erect.
When Jesus saw her, he called to her and said,
"Woman, you are set free of your infirmity."
He laid his hands on her,
and she at once stood up straight and glorified God.
But the leader of the synagogue,
indignant that Jesus had cured on the sabbath,
said to the crowd in reply,
"There are six days when work should be done.
Come on those days to be cured, not on the sabbath day."
The Lord said to him in reply, "Hypocrites!
Does not each one of you on the sabbath
untie his ox or his ass from the manger
and lead it out for watering?
This daughter of Abraham,
whom Satan has bound for eighteen years now,
ought she not to have been set free on the sabbath day
from this bondage?"
When he said this, all his adversaries were humiliated;
and the whole crowd rejoiced at all the splendid deeds done by him.

Weather Report

October 26, 2018

Raise your hand if you have ever been looking for something that is literally right in front of you. I hate to say it, but I do it all the time. There is the proverbial, “Has anyone seen my glasses? Um, you mean the ones sitting on top of your head?” scenario. Sometimes I lack focus especially when I’m busy, tired, stressed, and not prayed up. The message in today’s gospel is to see what is right in front of you, spiritually speaking. We have become so good at calling a spade a spade haven’t we, but Jesus is calling us to deeper and truer self-awareness as an essential quality of spiritual maturity. We need to see ourselves and we need to determine our authentic spiritual status update. Self-awareness allows us to know when our defenses are low, when we are in need of prayer or help, when things are not quite right, when changes in lifestyle need to be made, and when we are too busy, stressed, or tired. This basic self-awareness will lead us to be more grounded in our truest identity, which is being a Beloved Child of God. When we know this and when we see it right there, like a rain cloud or the Santa Ana winds blowing, then we become the visible, predictable sign that we belong to Christ. 

Jesus has become a bit more urgent with his words in the gospels this week because he knew his time on earth was reaching an end. That same urgency seems to be relevant right now with all that is going on in the world and in the church. We need to be more alert and on guard than ever and seeing God in all things is the only way to fight these battles. When we notice the blowing of the Spirit, the rain of grace, and the hurricanes of mercy all around us, and when we are in touch with our own favor in the Lord, then we can truly weather the storms, navigate rough waters, and be the presence of peace that is so needed in these turbulent times. Let’s take some time to look at ourselves today and assess our own spiritual weather. Then spend some time looking for the workings of God all around us. What preparations do we need to make? What adjustments? What do we need to pay more attention to spiritually? 

Jesus wants us to be the predictable signs of his presence in the world. His presence is always peace, mercy, and light. It is well with my soul. 

Reading 1 EPH 4:1-6

Brothers and sisters:
I, a prisoner for the Lord,
urge you to live in a manner worthy of the call you have received,
with all humility and gentleness, with patience,
bearing with one another through love,
striving to preserve the unity of the spirit
through the bond of peace; 
one Body and one Spirit, 
as you were also called to the one hope of your call;
one Lord, one faith, one baptism;
one God and Father of all,
who is over all and through all and in all.

Responsorial Psalm PS 24:1-2, 3-4AB, 5-6

R. (see 6) Lord, this is the people that longs to see your face.
The LORD’s are the earth and its fullness;
the world and those who dwell in it.
For he founded it upon the seas
and established it upon the rivers.
R. Lord, this is the people that longs to see your face.
Who can ascend the mountain of the LORD?
or who may stand in his holy place?
He whose hands are sinless, whose heart is clean,
who desires not what is vain.
R. Lord, this is the people that longs to see your face.
He shall receive a blessing from the LORD,
a reward from God his savior.
Such is the race that seeks for him,
that seeks the face of the God of Jacob.
R. Lord, this is the people that longs to see your face.

Alleluia SEE MT 11:25

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Blessed are you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth;
you have revealed to little ones the mysteries of the Kingdom.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

GospelLK 12:54-59

Jesus said to the crowds,
“When you see a cloud rising in the west
you say immediately that it is going to rain–and so it does;
and when you notice that the wind is blowing from the south
you say that it is going to be hot–and so it is.
You hypocrites!
You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and the sky;
why do you not know how to interpret the present time?

“Why do you not judge for yourselves what is right?
If you are to go with your opponent before a magistrate,
make an effort to settle the matter on the way;
otherwise your opponent will turn you over to the judge,
and the judge hand you over to the constable,
and the constable throw you into prison.
I say to you, you will not be released
until you have paid the last penny.”

Toilet Paper Shortage

October 24, 2018

Disclaimer: This is a recycled, but still relevant post. 

I wouldn’t say I’m the world’s worst procrastinator (or I guess I should say the world’s best procrastinator), but I have been known to completely run out of toilet paper in my house at the most unfortunate times because I was not on top of it. I am famous for showing up to my friend’s houses and walking out the door with a roll of toilet paper in my purse. I am jealous of those people that have their cupboards stocked with things like extra you know food, toiletries, batteries, flashlights, and all those good things that would help you survive a nuclear holocaust. Let’s face it, the ¾ of a bottle of wine on my counter, package of corn tortillas and vanilla ice cream in the freezer, or the assortment of hot sauces in the fridge are not going to keep me alive for very long. When it comes to preparing for natural disasters, I am undeniably inept. I’ve gone to the store in desperate need of toilet paper and walked out with just coffee and potato chips. I procrastinate and don’t really plan ahead with silly domestic matters like extra batteries and TP, but the real question is, do I procrastinate in matters of the heart?

If I’m being honest, I definitely do on some level for example confession has been on my list of things to do for weeks now and I still have not managed to get there. Confession and toilet paper are both extremely necessary for obvious reasons and yet, I somehow manage to put them on the bottom of my priority list (hee hee, the pun!!). While I get up at the crack of dawn to pray daily, and ingest a healthy dose of scripture regularly, and I praise God in my work and in my free time, I still can always manage to do better. I know better and so I must do better. Today’s gospel is specifically meant for those of us considered leaders in our faith and I’m going to go out on a limb and say that if you are reading this blog, yep, YOU are a leader in faith. 

Jesus sets up the parable like this, “Be sure of this: if the master of the house had known the hour when the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. You also must be prepared, for at an hour you do not expect, the Son of Man will come.” Peter, assuming the leadership role, asks, “Lord, is this parable meant for us or for everyone?” It’s not really a loaded question, but Jesus definitely uses the opportunity to give a personalized lesson to the men that would eventually establish the universal church. He says that leaders are responsible for providing food for their followers at the proper time and blessed are they when the Master finds them doing so, and boo when they are found NOT doing so. I think a lot of times I think, well I still have time to get it right and all that really matters is that I have it together when I actually meet God face to face, however, I need to remember that the way I live my life will be the way that I also come before God. I better start best practices now, which means serving others, in the proper time, and the proper time always means NOW. 

Jesus is setting the Apostle’s up for the practicum of this lesson, which is when he washes their feet at the Last Supper, just four days away. He tells them what makes a good leader and then he shows them. Once we have been told what the Father’s will is and once we have been shown how to live out the Father’s will, “Much will be required of the person entrusted with much, and still more will be demanded of the person entrusted with more.” This sentence tends to make people choose ignorance over knowledge or following over leading. It seems daunting and just a failure waiting to happen, however, if we look at the sentence, Jesus clearly tells us that leaders are chosen and trusted by God. The mere exercise of being chosen automatically empowers us to shine and add being trusted on top of that, well that is the icing on the cake. We will behave according to our level of preparation and the only way to prepare is to plan, practice, and proclaim. Planning requires thought and knowledge of the possibilities and comes from listening and observing. Practice comes from actually living the call that we have been given and practice always implies that it is not yet perfected, so keep trying. Proclaiming stands on a solid foundation of well practiced plans. We can only preach what we truly know and believe, and that comes from planning and practice.

Strong leaders are hard to catch off guard. They are well practiced and ready for almost any situation. They understand the value in maintaining integrity, even when the boss is not looking. Jesus is instructing the Apostles and us to be well planned, and practiced. If you have ever run out of toilet paper, you know the feeling of dread, embarrassment, and complete foolishness, not to mention your pants are usually around your ankles making the situation all the more humiliating. I don’t know about you, but I would rather meet Jesus while he is sitting on his heavenly throne and not while I am sitting on the porcelain throne without any toilet paper. Prepare | Practice | Proclaim and you’ll be ready for the Master to come. 

P.S. Today is my dad's birthday and I celebrate the amazing spiritual leader that he was in my life, and it is well with my soul. 

Reading 1 EPH 3:2-12

Brothers and sisters:
You have heard of the stewardship of God’s grace
that was given to me for your benefit,
namely, that the mystery was made known to me by revelation,
as I have written briefly earlier.
When you read this
you can understand my insight into the mystery of Christ,
which was not made known to human beings in other generations
as it has now been revealed
to his holy Apostles and prophets by the Spirit,
that the Gentiles are coheirs, members of the same Body,
and copartners in the promise in Christ Jesus through the Gospel.

Of this I became a minister by the gift of God’s grace
that was granted me in accord with the exercise of his power.
To me, the very least of all the holy ones, this grace was given,
to preach to the Gentiles the inscrutable riches of Christ,
and to bring to light for all what is the plan of the mystery
hidden from ages past in God who created all things,
so that the manifold wisdom of God
might now be made known through the Church
to the principalities and authorities in the heavens.
This was according to the eternal purpose
that he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord,
in whom we have boldness of speech
and confidence of access through faith in him.

Responsorial Psalm ISAIAH 12:2-3, 4BCD, 5-6

R. (see 3) You will draw water joyfully from the springs of salvation.
God indeed is my savior;
I am confident and unafraid.
My strength and my courage is the LORD,
and he has been my savior.
With joy you will draw water
at the fountain of salvation.
R. You will draw water joyfully from the springs of salvation.
Give thanks to the LORD, acclaim his name;
among the nations make known his deeds,
proclaim how exalted is his name.
R. You will draw water joyfully from the springs of salvation.
Sing praise to the LORD for his glorious achievement;
let this be known throughout all the earth.
Shout with exultation, O city of Zion,
for great in your midst
is the Holy One of Israel!
R. You will draw water joyfully from the springs of salvation.

Alleluia MT 24:42A, 44

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Stay awake!
For you do not know when the Son of Man will come.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel LK 12:39-48

Jesus said to his disciples: 
“Be sure of this:
if the master of the house had known the hour
when the thief was coming,
he would not have let his house be broken into.
You also must be prepared,
for at an hour you do not expect, the Son of Man will come.”

Then Peter said,
“Lord, is this parable meant for us or for everyone?”
And the Lord replied,
“Who, then, is the faithful and prudent steward
whom the master will put in charge of his servants
to distribute the food allowance at the proper time?
Blessed is that servant whom his master on arrival finds doing so.
Truly, I say to you, he will put him
in charge of all his property.
But if that servant says to himself,
‘My master is delayed in coming,’
and begins to beat the menservants and the maidservants,
to eat and drink and get drunk,
then that servant’s master will come
on an unexpected day and at an unknown hour
and will punish the servant severely
and assign him a place with the unfaithful.
That servant who knew his master’s will
but did not make preparations nor act in accord with his will
shall be beaten severely;
and the servant who was ignorant of his master’s will
but acted in a way deserving of a severe beating
shall be beaten only lightly. 
Much will be required of the person entrusted with much,
and still more will be demanded of the person entrusted with more.”

Surprise!

October 23, 2018

If you really knew me you would know that I love surprise parties. I love throwing them, I love participating in them, and I love receiving them. The thing that touches me the most about surprise parties is the thoughtfulness behind them. I mean you have to really know the person well in order to invite their closest friends and family, to know their typical schedule so as to plan the perfect scenario, to find the right venue, etc. And of course, timing is everything, not to mention the elaborate “fake out” that must take place for weeks or months before hand, and most importantly the day of the party. So much planning and scheming goes into every surprise party. Anticipation, waiting, and then the famous “shushing”: “Shhhhhh! They’re coming! Everyone hide!” All this coordinating touches my heart because it requires thoughtfulness, but most importantly love for the person you are hoping to surprise. I just came off of a retreat weekend where we threw about 5 different surprise parties for the people on retreat and all of the thoughtfulness mentioned above truly overwhelmed the recipients with all kinds of warm and fuzziness! I love surprise parties. 

Everyone knows that one cannot be late for a surprise party or it ruins the whole thing right? Timing is everything and that is the theme of today’s gospel. We need to be ready to receive Jesus at all times. He shows up to the party in all kinds of unexpected ways and if we are not ready then we will miss the opportunity to serve him. We need thoughtful planning in order to anticipate his presence. We need to know him intimately so that we can invite his friends and family to the party. We need to understand his whereabouts and his workings to be able to meet him when he arrives on the scene. We need to “shush” ourselves often to hear when he is coming or when he speaks to us. And finally in true guest of honor protocol, we need to serve him, fawn over him, celebrate him, bring him gifts, and make sure that his every wish comes true. It is so much fun to cater to our loved ones in a surprise party situation isn’t it? We love love love “pulling it off” and making it all about them. 

I encourage each of us to extra thoughtfulness today. Look for Jesus throughout your day and be ready to receive him in whatever capacity he shows up. If you find yourself distracted, remember, “Shhhhhh! He’s coming!” Cater to him by loving his friends and family. Celebrate his life and make today all about him. If we pull this off, I think it is we who will be pleasantly surprised by the warm and fuzziness that comes with serving him, and it is well with my soul. 

Reading 1 EPH 2:12-22

Brothers and sisters:
You were at that time without Christ,
alienated from the community of Israel
and strangers to the covenants of promise,
without hope and without God in the world.
But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off
have become near by the Blood of Christ.

For he is our peace, he made both one
and broke down the dividing wall of enmity, through his Flesh,
abolishing the law with its commandments and legal claims,
that he might create in himself one new person in place of the two,
thus establishing peace,
and might reconcile both with God,
in one Body, through the cross,
putting that enmity to death by it.
He came and preached peace to you who were far off
and peace to those who were near,
for through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father.

So then you are no longer strangers and sojourners,
but you are fellow citizens with the holy ones
and members of the household of God, 
built upon the foundation of the Apostles and prophets,
with Christ Jesus himself as the capstone.
Through him the whole structure is held together
and grows into a temple sacred in the Lord;
in him you also are being built together
into a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.

Responsorial Psalm PS 85:9AB-10, 11-12, 13-14

R. (see 9) The Lord speaks of peace to his people.
I will hear what God proclaims;
the LORD–for he proclaims peace.
Near indeed is his salvation to those who fear him,
glory dwelling in our land.
R. The Lord speaks of peace to his people.
Kindness and truth shall meet;
justice and peace shall kiss.
Truth shall spring out of the earth,
and justice shall look down from heaven.
R. The Lord speaks of peace to his people.
The LORD himself will give his benefits;
our land shall yield its increase.
Justice shall walk before him,
and salvation, along the way of his steps.
R. The Lord speaks of peace to his people.

Alleluia LK 21:36

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Be vigilant at all times and pray
that you may have the strength to stand before the Son of Man.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel LK 12:35-38

Jesus said to his disciples: 
“Gird your loins and light your lamps
and be like servants who await their master’s return from a wedding,
ready to open immediately when he comes and knocks.
Blessed are those servants
whom the master finds vigilant on his arrival.
Amen, I say to you, he will gird himself,
have them recline at table, and proceed to wait on them.
And should he come in the second or third watch
and find them prepared in this way,
blessed are those servants.”

Hoarding God

October 22, 2018

I grew up in a house of “collections”. My parents collected a lot of things from decorative plates that you hang on the wall, to blue and white vases, to Thomas Kinkade model houses, to clocks of every shape and size, and my dad’s last collection of baby Jesus’s from nativity sets (yes, just the baby Jesus in a manger part and not Mary or Joseph or any other characters in the nativity!) Dad was always fascinated with the infant Jesus because he just loved babies! Now that dad is gone, mom and I look around the house at all the collections and none of them seem to have much meaning. It’s just stuff and we reflect on the collections that really matter such as: dad’s stories that were, oh you know only about 20% true, but very entertaining, going on long drives after mass on Sundays, family tickle fights in my parent’s bed, answered prayers, love letters, knowing all the words to every Anne Murray song because we listened to her when we did our chores and every Christmas morning, or Barry Manilow because mom loved him, or Jim Croce because dad and I loved to swing dance to “Leroy Brown” in the living room.

These moments of actual grace are the “riches in what matters to God” from today’s gospel. These blessings do not create useless clutter, or simply catch dust, nor will they ever be sold in a garage sale or donated to Good Will. We don’t need to build a shed in the backyard to store these encounters, in fact, these experiences of God widen the walls of our soul, expanding our love, our faith, and our hope to soak in and receive even more. God wants us to hoard every moment with Him. He wants us to savor every sunset, every heart to heart, every love song, every gentle breeze, every experience of wonder, and every outpouring of love. 

Having just come home from an amazing vacation with beloved friends right into a Spirit-filled retreat weekend, I am bursting with an abundance of these blessings and my soul has been stretched to the kind of capacity where it just spills out.  The difference between hoarding stuff and hoarding God is that the stuff just piles up and closes off every open space, but grace gives us more and more room to receive loveliness. Raise your hand if you want more loveliness in your life. “What matters to God” is the “stuff” that widens our soul to hold more “stuff that matters to God”. May we burst at the seams with grace so that it spills out to everyone we meet and it is well with my soul. 

Reading 1 EPH 2:1-10

Brothers and sisters:
You were dead in your transgressions and sins
in which you once lived following the age of this world,
following the ruler of the power of the air,
the spirit that is now at work in the disobedient.
All of us once lived among them in the desires of our flesh,
following the wishes of the flesh and the impulses,
and we were by nature children of wrath, like the rest.
But God, who is rich in mercy,
because of the great love he had for us,
even when we were dead in our transgressions,
brought us to life with Christ (by grace you have been saved),
raised us up with him,
and seated us with him in the heavens in Christ Jesus,
that in the ages to come
he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace
in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.
For by grace you have been saved through faith,
and this is not from you; it is the gift of God;
it is not from works, so no one may boast.
For we are his handiwork, created in Christ Jesus for good works
that God has prepared in advance,
that we should live in them.

Responsorial Psalm PS 100:1B-2, 3, 4AB, 4C-5

R. (3b) The Lord made us, we belong to him.
Sing joyfully to the LORD all you lands;
serve the LORD with gladness;
come before him with joyful song.
R. The Lord made us, we belong to him.
Know that the LORD is God;
he made us, his we are;
his people, the flock he tends.
R. The Lord made us, we belong to him.
Enter his gates with thanksgiving,
his courts with praise.
R. The Lord made us, we belong to him.
Give thanks to him; bless his name, for he is good:
the LORD, whose kindness endures forever,
and his faithfulness, to all generations.
R. The Lord made us, we belong to him.

Alleluia MT 5:3

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Blessed are the poor in spirit;
for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel LK 12:13-21

Someone in the crowd said to Jesus,
“Teacher, tell my brother to share the inheritance with me.”
He replied to him,
“Friend, who appointed me as your judge and arbitrator?”
Then he said to the crowd,
“Take care to guard against all greed,
for though one may be rich,
one’s life does not consist of possessions.”

Then he told them a parable.
“There was a rich man whose land produced a bountiful harvest.
He asked himself, ‘What shall I do,
for I do not have space to store my harvest?’
And he said, ‘This is what I shall do:
I shall tear down my barns and build larger ones.
There I shall store all my grain and other goods
and I shall say to myself, “Now as for you,
you have so many good things stored up for many years,
rest, eat, drink, be merry!”’
But God said to him,
‘You fool, this night your life will be demanded of you;
and the things you have prepared, to whom will they belong?’
Thus will it be for the one who stores up treasure for himself
but is not rich in what matters to God.”