Hunker Down

SIDE NOTE: Today is apparently my 500th blog post! I had no idea. What started out as an assignment from a spiritual director to give me more confidence in sharing my writing, has become a transformation of my own heart through The Word. I want to thank each of you for reading these reflections when you can and to know that I pray for each reader when I am writing. I so enjoy when you give me feedback and love that God is touching people through this effort of love. God bless you and it is well with my soul. 

I went outside this morning and the distinct smell of fire is in the air, which, unfortunately, smells like October in California. Most of our most devastating fires happen during this time of year. The smell is haunting and chilling and a sense of danger surrounds our ordinary lives. Today’s gospel combined with this troubling smell of wildfire calls to mind a story from the 2003 fires. Two fires merged on the road of our beloved camp Whispering Winds. Essentially, the firefighters working in this area were trapped, without radio contact, and they needed a plan to hunker down and trust in the bigger plan of God. There is a large meadow at camp that was surrounded by huge pine trees (or matchsticks) and they pulled their fire engines to the middle of the meadow in a circle and they hunkered down in the center covering themselves with fire blankets as the fire jumped over them, pine tree to pine tree, in a furious storm. They all survived, thanks be to God. The last group of people at the camp before the mandatory evacuations happened to be a women’s Cursillo (retreat) group. They thoughtfully left snacks and water and letters of encouragement for the firefighters in the building next to the meadow as an act of love for these courageous warriors. As the firefighters discovered these gestures of love, they were moved to write thank you notes back to the women and the staff for their kindness. Did I mention that two raging wildfires merged here and they were fighting for their lives? They were so moved by the act of kindness that they wanted to stop and write their gratitude! Just wow. 

How does this relate to the gospel, you ask? Jesus uses a sweet image today in this obscure gospel; that of a hen shielding her brood beneath her wings. Can you picture this? All the baby chicks hunkered up under mamma’s wings to hide from predators, or rain, or fire, or to just rest there? The mamma’s main concern is protecting those babies and her life comes second to that. Jesus became second because of His amazing love for you and me. His arms spread wide on the cross are the wings of this love that cover us, shield us, protect us, save us, and give us rest. He knew that fires would rage and so He spread His wings and all we have to do is run for cover under the shadow of that love. Why is it so hard to do? Why am I the “unwilling” one that He talks about in today’s gospel sometimes? I think that trust is one of the many things that this world has been successful at stealing from us. I mean don’t we all have the proverbial “trust issues”? How can we let this beautiful image of a mamma hen shielding her little ones change our own thinking today? How can we deal with our “trust issues” and know that Jesus made Himself second so that we would be covered in grace? 

As the smell of fire lingers in the air, I am grateful for the fire of the Holy Spirit that burns within us, drawing us into the shadow of His wings. It is well with my soul. 

Reading 1 ROM 8:31B-39

Brothers and sisters:
If God is for us, who can be against us?
He did not spare his own Son
but handed him over for us all,
how will he not also give us everything else along with him?
Who will bring a charge against God's chosen ones?
It is God who acquits us.
Who will condemn?
It is Christ Jesus who died, rather, was raised,
who also is at the right hand of God,
who indeed intercedes for us.
What will separate us from the love of Christ?
Will anguish, or distress, or persecution, or famine,
or nakedness, or peril, or the sword?
As it is written:

For your sake we are being slain all the day;
we are looked upon as sheep to be slaughtered.

No, in all these things we conquer overwhelmingly
through him who loved us.
For I am convinced that neither death, nor life,
nor angels, nor principalities,
nor present things, nor future things,
nor powers, nor height, nor depth,
nor any other creature will be able to separate us
from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Responsorial Psalm PS 109:21-22, 26-27, 30-31

R. (26b) Save me, O Lord, in your mercy.
Do you, O GOD, my Lord, deal kindly with me for your name's sake;
in your generous mercy rescue me;
For I am wretched and poor,
and my heart is pierced within me.
R. Save me, O Lord, in your mercy.
Help me, O LORD, my God;
save me, in your mercy,
And let them know that this is your hand;
that you, O LORD, have done this.
R. Save me, O Lord, in your mercy.
I will speak my thanks earnestly to the LORD,
and in the midst of the throng I will praise him,
For he stood at the right hand of the poor man,
to save him from those who would condemn his soul.
R. Save me, O Lord, in your kindness.

Alleluia SEE LK 19:38; 2:14

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord.
Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel LK 13:31-35

Some Pharisees came to Jesus and said,
"Go away, leave this area because Herod wants to kill you."
He replied, "Go and tell that fox,
'Behold, I cast out demons and I perform healings today and tomorrow,
and on the third day I accomplish my purpose.
Yet I must continue on my way today, tomorrow, and the following day,
for it is impossible that a prophet should die
outside of Jerusalem.'

"Jerusalem, Jerusalem,
you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you,
how many times I yearned to gather your children together
as a hen gathers her brood under her wings,
but you were unwilling!
Behold, your house will be abandoned.
But I tell you, you will not see me until the time comes when you say,
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord."

I Know Her!!

There is an endearing scene in the Christmas movie Elf where Buddy the Elf (Will Ferrell) mistakenly joins the Christmas staff at the department store Gimbels. When the supervisor announces to the staff that Santa will be arriving that day, Buddy exclaims with all the squealing enthusiasm of a wonder-filled child or a teenage girl who has just seen her favorite boy band and at the very top of his lungs: “SANTA!!!!!!!! I KNOW HIM!!!!!!!” His love and joy for this man cannot be hidden or masked or mistaken. To be known is to be loved. Our deepest loves are our most intimate relationships. Intimacy, not in a physical way, but in the Matthew Kelly definition, “Intimacy is the mutual self-revelation that allows us to know and be known. Intimacy is the mutual sharing of the journey to fulfill our life purpose – to become the best-version-of-ourselves.” 

Today’s gospel reminds us that God wants to be an intimate part of our lives; in fact, He wants to become the most intimate (mutual self-revelation) part of our lives. This is the only way to be known by Him, and the only way to become that we really are meant to be. The image of the door to eternity in Luke’s gospel today is a compelling one. When we knock and ask to be let in, it will be imperative that God, like Buddy the Elf, shout with all His might, “JEN!!!!!!! I KNOW HER!!!!!!!” Remember that intimacy is a mutual self-giving so we must also know Him. Satan is a very shiny and attractive character and, quite honestly, can be very easily mistaken if we are not completely intimate with God the Father through Jesus Christ. 

So in what ways can you and I start to know Christ more intimately today and everyday? I might approach this like dating and go through all those initial icebreaker questions when you first start dating by reading the gospels. Then I’ll just think about Him all the time and wonder what He’s doing at every minute of the day. Then I will spend hours on the phone with Him in prayer just sharing my day and hearing about His. Of course there will be handholding and whispers. Eventually there will be a synchronization of all our thoughts, words, actions, and feelings. There will be a oneness that is as natural as breathing and my Beloved will know me and I will know Him. It’s easer said than done, but today’s gospel reminds me of the gravity of not being known by Him. I want Jesus to recognize me at the door to eternity, so I better reveal my everything to Him without hesitation, including my dark, lonely, and sinful places, and in that revelation I will start to become the best-version-of-myself. It is well with my soul.  

Reading 1 ROM 8:26-30

Brothers and sisters:
The Spirit comes to the aid of our weakness;
for we do not know how to pray as we ought,
but the Spirit himself intercedes with inexpressible groanings.
And the one who searches hearts
knows what is the intention of the Spirit,
because he intercedes for the holy ones 
according to God's will.

We know that all things work for good for those who love God,
who are called according to his purpose.
For those he foreknew he also predestined
to be conformed to the image of his Son,
so that he might be the firstborn
among many brothers.  
And those he predestined he also called;
and those he called he also justified;
and those he justified he also glorified.

Responsorial Psalm PS 13:4-5, 6

R.(6a) My hope, O Lord, is in your mercy.
Look, answer me, O LORD, my God!
Give light to my eyes that I may not sleep in death
lest my enemy say, "I have overcome him";
lest my foes rejoice at my downfall.
R. My hope, O Lord, is in your mercy.
Though I trusted in your mercy,
Let my heart rejoice in your salvation;
let me sing of the LORD, "He has been good to me."
R. My hope, O Lord, is in your mercy.

Alleluia SEE 2 THES 2:14

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
God has called us through the Gospel
to possess the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel LK 13:22-30

Jesus passed through towns and villages,
teaching as he went and making his way to Jerusalem.
Someone asked him,
"Lord, will only a few people be saved?"
He answered them, 
"Strive to enter through the narrow gate,
for many, I tell you, will attempt to enter
but will not be strong enough.
After the master of the house has arisen and locked the door,
then will you stand outside knocking and saying,
'Lord, open the door for us.'
He will say to you in reply,
'I do not know where you are from.'
And you will say,
'We ate and drank in your company and you taught in our streets.'
Then he will say to you,
'I do not know where you are from.
Depart from me, all you evildoers!'
And there will be wailing and grinding of teeth
when you see Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob
and all the prophets in the Kingdom of God
and you yourselves cast out.
And people will come from the east and the west
and from the north and the south
and will recline at table in the Kingdom of God.
For behold, some are last who will be first,
and some are first who will be last."

We Knead Grace

Today Jesus tells us that the Kingdom of God is in our midst, but we have a part to play in perpetuating it, growing it, letting it rise up, cultivating its abundance, and making it known through our daily living. The Kingdom of God is like a tiny mustard seed, a pinhead sized knowing deep within that requires planting in order to manifest. What does this planting look like? It looks like collecting grace; those moments of encounter, witness, healing, breakthrough, worship, and mercy. These collections of grace till the hardened ground and make room for the tiny seed to gestate. This happens when we love, when we show mercy, when we pray, when we feast on the Word, and when we fellowship with one another. When the seed is planted it needs nourishment and care. This is sometimes a slow process requiring patience and persevearance. Once it breaks the surface, the spreading of grace, signs and wonders, miracles, mercy, harmony, peace, and joy is like a wildfire. 

The Kingdom of God is like a an even tinier culture of yeast used to expand dough. Those above mentioned collections of grace are kneaded into the supplness of our souls with every experience of His presence. This kneading lets the dough widen as the air fills its rising. The Spirit fills our widened hearts as we knead it with the grace given each day to expand our capacity to love. Both kneading and tilling require a certain breaking down of a density that closes off growth. This breakthrough leaves room for expansion and then the harvest and the feast are abundant beyond measure. 

The one thing that affected me in today’s gospel is that Jesus says that both men and women have a significant part to play in the spreading of the Kingdom of God in our midst. He used ordinary human daily activities to teach us that the Kingdom of God is right here in our very midst and all that is needed is for us to grow it…on earth as it is in heaven!! I don’t even think we can grasp what that really means without Divine Revelation, but wow. We don’t have to wait to get to heaven, we just need to cultivate it, grow it, and knead it into our daily lives, and let the Spirit be the wildfire that  spreads it and lets it rise among us. So as we go throughout our week, let’s be aware of those collections of grace being stored up within each one of us, and let’s acknowledge that the Kingdom of God is indeed already here with us. It is well with my soul. 

Reading 1 ROM 8:18-25

Brothers and sisters:
I consider that the sufferings of this present time are as nothing
compared with the glory to be revealed for us.
For creation awaits with eager expectation
the revelation of the children of God;
for creation was made subject to futility,
not of its own accord but because of the one who subjected it,
in hope that creation itself
would be set free from slavery to corruption
and share in the glorious freedom of the children of God.
We know that all creation is groaning in labor pains even until now;
and not only that, but we ourselves,
who have the firstfruits of the Spirit,
we also groan within ourselves
as we wait for adoption, the redemption of our bodies.
For in hope we were saved.
Now hope that sees for itself is not hope.  
For who hopes for what one sees?
But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait with endurance.

Responsorial Psalm PS 126:1B-2AB, 2CD-3, 4-5, 6

R.(3a) The Lord has done marvels for us.
When the LORD brought back the captives of Zion,
we were like men dreaming.
Then our mouth was filled with laughter,
and our tongue with rejoicing.
R. The Lord has done marvels for us.
Then they said among the nations,
"The LORD has done great things for them."
The LORD has done great things for us;
we are glad indeed.
R. The Lord has done marvels for us.
Restore our fortunes, O LORD,
like the torrents in the southern desert.
Those that sow in tears
shall reap rejoicing.
R. The Lord has done marvels for us.
Although they go forth weeping,
carrying the seed to be sown,
They shall come back rejoicing,
carrying their sheaves.
R. The Lord has done marvels for us.

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."

Rest In Peace

The heart of today’s gospel is that Jesus spent an entire night in prayer before He chose His Twelve. I know that I often overlook human Jesus and simply chalk up all His miraculous/wise/bold/kind/merciful behavior to Him being God, however, Jesus was fully human and all that He “accomplished” here on earth was done as a human. Therefore, spending a night in prayer, resting His head on the heart of God the Father, was absolutely necessary for heaven to come to earth. What happens when heaven comes to earth? Jesus calls each of us by name to join Him in the mission of love. He chose a specific Twelve, but from those Twelve all of us would also be chosen, named, anointed, brought into the family business, commissioned, given the same authority, and sent out. This immense movement came out of Jesus’ rest inside His Father’s heart. Our own resting time inside the Father’s heart is necessary if we want to find the kingdom of God in the right here and now. This kind of resting allows the churned up waters of our busy lives to settle so we can see clearly into the depths and find the heart of the matter. The heart of the matter is our calling, by name, to be Apostles. Apostles are sent to bring the rest of God into a restless world. Have you ever been in the presence of someone that just radiates peace? My hunch is that they have a healthy relationship with resting inside the heart of God. I know that I know that I know that Jesus was the truest version of that person radiating a peace that covers anxiety, or doubt, or trepidation, or skepticism. It says that His Twelve dropped what they were doing and simply started following Him. Just imagine what that actually looks like. There was no magic spell cast on these guys, no brain washing, no threat, just true and utter peace in all that Jesus said and did. Peace is what drew their hearts to Him, peace is what gave them the courage to follow, and peace is what placed each of their names on Jesus’ tongue. 

Jesus is the calm in our churned up waters and He calls each one of us by our name to stop, change what we are doing, and radiate His peace as encouragement for others in their doubt, anxiety, and fear. Human Jesus teaches us how to lean into Our Father’s heart, sync up with His pulse, which beats in a very specific way for each one of us. He places the names of those called into our care on our hearts when we take the time to rest, and then He washes us in a peace that draws others to His heartbeat in ours. The world we live in is anti this kind of peace or rest, and so it is imperative that we heed human Jesus’ example today…take everything to an entire night of prayer, which is another way of saying hours of rest in union with The Father. I hope this is making sense. Human Jesus had the same exact “resources” that we do, minus sin, and so we need to contend against the world to find it, but we have been completely equipped to do so. It is well with my soul. 

Feast of Saints Simon and Jude, Apostles
Lectionary: 666

Reading 1 EPH 2:19-22

Brothers and sisters:
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 19:2-3, 4-5

R.(5a) Their message goes out through all the earth.
The heavens declare the glory of God,
and the firmament proclaims his handiwork.
Day pours out the word to day,
and night to night imparts knowledge.
R.Their message goes out through all the earth.
Not a word nor a discourse
whose voice is not heard;
Through all the earth their voice resounds,
and to the ends of the world, their message.
R.Their message goes out through all the earth.

Alleluia See Te Deum

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
We praise you, O God,
we acclaim you as Lord;
the glorious company of Apostles praise you.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel LK 6:12-16

Jesus went up to the mountain to pray,
and he spent the night in prayer to God.
When day came, he called his disciples to himself,
and from them he chose Twelve, whom he also named Apostles:
Simon, whom he named Peter, and his brother Andrew,
James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew,
Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus,
Simon who was called a Zealot,
and Judas the son of James,
and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor.

Weather Prophets

Have you ever been looking for something that is literally right in front of you? 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, and from that spiritual maturity, we can interpret the signs and wonders that God has set before us in the right here and now. 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-weather report 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. Having our finger on the pulse of God’s workings in ourselves unites us with God’s workings in the current times, which connects us to our call to be prophets in the world. Prophets remind people how God is working in their lives and how much more He has planned for them. How beautiful. 

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. 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 ROM 7:18-25A

Brothers and sisters:
I know that good does not dwell in me, that is, in my flesh.
The willing is ready at hand, but doing the good is not.
For I do not do the good I want,
but I do the evil I do not want.
Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it,
but sin that dwells in me.
So, then, I discover the principle
that when I want to do right, evil is at hand.
For I take delight in the law of God, in my inner self,
but I see in my members another principle
at war with the law of my mind,
taking me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members.
Miserable one that I am!
Who will deliver me from this mortal body?
Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Responsorial Psalm PS 119:66, 68, 76, 77, 93, 94

R.(68b) Lord, teach me your statutes.
Teach me wisdom and knowledge,
for in your commands I trust.
R. Lord, teach me your statutes.
You are good and bountiful;
teach me your statutes.
R. Lord, teach me your statutes.
Let your kindness comfort me
according to your promise to your servants.
R. Lord, teach me your statutes.
Let your compassion come to me that I may live,
for your law is my delight.
R. Lord, teach me your statutes.
Never will I forget your precepts,
for through them you give me life.
R. Lord, teach me your statutes.
I am yours; save me,
for I have sought your precepts.
R. Lord, teach me your statutes.

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.”

Consuming Fire

Today’s gospel is a difficult one to write on. When Jesus asks the question, “Do you think I came to establish peace on earth?” My answer is, “Um, YES, I do think you’ve come to establish peace on earth!!!” So what the heck is up with, “No, I tell you, but rather division.” Bottom line is that following Jesus requires a certain cost and that cost may separate us from people that are not willing to pay. Whenever I hear the word cost, I tend to associate it with some kind of suffering, but it really just means sacrifice or putting something of yourself in to receive something better. We can always do better and Jesus offers us the best Way, but it means leaving some things behind. When we choose His way, people will be threatened, offended, and uncomfortable with the changes in our lives that are necessary to go where He leads. This is the division that Jesus refers to and the fire that He calls down is the fire of the Holy Spirit that will eventually fall on each one of us. Fire is meant to purify, burn away the toxins, light up a space, warm and melt hardened hearts, dissolve the old to make room for the new, and to be a visible signal of power. 

When Jesus says, “And how I wish it were already blazing!” He is referring to Pentecost when the Apostles received the power of the Holy Spirit to go out and do even more than Jesus did while on the earth. That same Holy Spirit is in each one of us and we have the same commissioning to do MORE than even Jesus and the Apostles. That fire IS blazing now and we just need to step into it. It will not destroy us, but hopefully it will consume us into the better Way of Jesus. This better way requires decisions that might separate us from others, but if we live a life in love, peace, joy, patience, goodness, kindness, and self-control, people will be drawn into that fire that melts away impurities and releases the fruits of The Fire into their own lives. Our fire spreads when we live the life we’ve been called into through our own Baptism. So the division is really a setting apart that draws others into the better of God. And the better of God is where true peace resides. Stay the course and let the consuming fire set you ablaze as a beacon of the better of God. People will join us there because it is where hearts are melted and the old becomes new. It is well with my soul. 

Reading 1 ROM 6:19-23

Brothers and sisters:
I am speaking in human terms because of the weakness of your nature.
For just as you presented the parts of your bodies as slaves to impurity
and to lawlessness for lawlessness,
so now present them as slaves to righteousness for sanctification.
For when you were slaves of sin, you were free from righteousness.
But what profit did you get then
from the things of which you are now ashamed? 
For the end of those things is death.
But now that you have been freed from sin and have become slaves of God,
the benefit that you have leads to sanctification,
and its end is eternal life.
For the wages of sin is death,
but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

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

R.(Ps 40:5) Blessed are they who hope in the Lord.
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. Blessed are they who hope in the Lord.
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. Blessed are they who hope in the Lord.
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. Blessed are they who hope in the Lord.

Alleluia PHIL 3:8-9

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
I consider all things so much rubbish
that I may gain Christ and be found in him.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel LK 12:49-53

Jesus said to his disciples:
“I have come to set the earth on fire,
and how I wish it were already blazing!
There is a baptism with which I must be baptized,
and how great is my anguish until it is accomplished!
Do you think that I have come to establish peace on the earth?
No, I tell you, but rather division.
From now on a household of five will be divided,
three against two and two against three;
a father will be divided against his son
and a son against his father, 
a mother against her daughter
and a daughter against her mother,
a mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law
and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.”

Shhhhhh, He’s Coming!!!

One of my favorite characteristics of God is that He loves surprises. I realize that surprises are not everyone’s thing (control freaks anonymous!!), but I truly love them: surprise parties, surprise proposals, surprise visits, surprise gifts, surprise letters in the mail, etc. Surprises involve thoughtfulness and thoughtfulness is something that always touches my heart in a special way. You really have to keep the person you are planning to surprise at the forefront of your mind. You have to anticipate how they will receive the surprise, and the surprise must be very specifically tailored for them according to how well you know their hearts. Thoughtful gift giving requires the same finger on the pulse of the receiver. Surprise proposals definitely have an element of anticipating an answer with a certain confidence that the answer will be yes. A readiness for that surprise is required, but never guaranteed. Surprise letters in the mail always arrive on the right day, don’t they? And aren’t surprise visits, especially from far away places, just so much fun to plan and witness? So much planning and scheming goes into every kind of surprise. Anticipation, waiting, and then the famous “shushing”: “Shhhhhh! They’re coming! Everyone hide!” All this coordinating touches my heart because it requires a tender love for the person you are hoping to surprise. I just came off of a retreat weekend where literally every kind of surprise mentioned above happened. We threw about 5 different surprise parties, there were surprise letters, surprise visits and gifts, and yes, even a surprise proposal!! The recipients of said surprises had all the warm and fuzziness that come along with the thoughtfulness of a God who is simply madly in love with us. I love surprises!!

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 party, to propose, to gift, to visit, and to love letter us in all kinds of unexpected ways and if we are not ready, we will miss the opportunity to receive Him. We need thoughtful planning in order to anticipate the thoughtful planning of 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. So while God is busy thoughtfully planning wonderful surprises to capture our hearts, we can also thoughtfully anticipate His faithful surprise showing ups in our lives. How fun is that?  

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. It is well with my soul. 

Reading 1 ROM 6:12-18

Brothers and sisters:
Sin must not reign over your mortal bodies
so that you obey their desires.
And do not present the parts of your bodies to sin
as weapons for wickedness,
but present yourselves to God as raised from the dead to life
and the parts of your bodies to God
as weapons for righteousness.
For sin is not to have any power over you,
since you are not under the law but under grace.

What then? Shall we sin because we are not under the law
but under grace?
Of course not!
Do you not know that if you present yourselves
to someone as obedient slaves,
you are slaves of the one you obey,
either of sin, which leads to death,
or of obedience, which leads to righteousness?
But thanks be to God that, although you were once slaves of sin,
you have become obedient from the heart
to the pattern of teaching to which you were entrusted.
Freed from sin, you have become slaves of righteousness.

Responsorial Psalm PS 124:1B-3, 4-6, 7-8

R.(8a) Our help is in the name of the Lord.
Had not the LORD been with us,
let Israel say, had not the LORD been with us–
When men rose up against us,
then would they have swallowed us alive;
When their fury was inflamed against us.
R. Our help is in the name of the Lord.
Then would the waters have overwhelmed us;
The torrent would have swept over us;
over us then would have swept the raging waters.
Blessed be the LORD, who did not leave us
a prey to their teeth.
R. Our help is in the name of the Lord.
We were rescued like a bird
from the fowlers' snare;
Broken was the snare,
and we were freed.
Our help is in the name of the LORD,
who made heaven and earth.
R. Our help is in the name of the Lord.

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."