Even The Dogs Eat The Scraps | August 5, 2015 Gospel Reflection

Wednesday, August 5, 2015

So, today's Gospel is one of those confusing ones that may make you think that Jesus was being a bit of a jerk. Here are my personal thoughts on the matter. 

Because this woman was a Canaanite, the fact that she addressed him as "Lord, Son of David" automatically let Jesus know that her faith was pretty darn big. Canaanite's and Jews were not the best of friends, yet, this woman knew that He was the Messiah. So, she had already professed her faith in a big way and Jesus knew the significance of this. He was trying to send a message to his Apostles because they, unlike her, did not know what was up (yet). They were actually annoyed by her persistence. 

I think Jesus' next few comments were all planned to bait the Apostles and to show them how limited their understanding was of Him and for whom He was sent. He knew that the woman's faith was strong enough to engage even though he was saying things that seemed a little rude. For example, "I was ONLY sent for the lost sheep of the house of Israel." Again, knowing that this woman's faith would take the bait, she showed persistence (which is a great lesson for us in our prayer life - be persistent), "Lord, help me." 

Now, this next line is the real zinger and you can almost picture him saying it directly to the Apostles "It is not right to take the food of the CHILDREN and throw it to the dogs." Jesus probably said this sentence in such a way to emphasize the ridiculousness of it. In other words, Apostles, you are acting like spoiled children right now and you need to hear exactly how off the mark you are. And the Canaanite woman played along like a pro. "Please, Lord, for even the dogs eat the scraps that fall from the table of their masters." Bam!!! And Jesus was like, ding, ding, ding, right answer!!! A perfect set up to a deep theological reality, that Jesus came to save all, ALL, not some. His grace and mercy are for everyone and when we proclaim that He is the Christ, when we are persistent in our faith, and when we remember that His mercy is bigger than our sin, then we will enjoy that peace and joy that comes from knowing that we are made for so much more. 

Again, these are just my personal thoughts on the matter. What are yours?

Gospel MT 15: 21-28

At that time Jesus withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon.
And behold, a Canaanite woman of that district came and called out,
“Have pity on me, Lord, Son of David!
My daughter is tormented by a demon.”
But he did not say a word in answer to her.
His disciples came and asked him,
“Send her away, for she keeps calling out after us.”
He said in reply,
“I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”
But the woman came and did him homage, saying, “Lord, help me.”
He said in reply,
“It is not right to take the food of the children
and throw it to the dogs.”
She said, “Please, Lord, for even the dogs eat the scraps
that fall from the table of their masters.”
Then Jesus said to her in reply,
“O woman, great is your faith!
Let it be done for you as you wish.”
And her daughter was healed from that hour.

You Call Me Out Upon The Water | August 4, 2015 Gospel Reflection

Tuesday, August 4, 2015

The gospel from today calls us out on the water. I used to picture calm still water for some reason but today I read "the boat was being tossed by the waves and the wind was against it." I used to live on a sailboat and I have some experience with being at the mercy of the sea and the wind. When the ocean is cranky there is nothing mere humans can do to settle it and the best thing to do is hunker down until it's over. When the wind gets a bee in its bonnet the only thing to do is lean into it and plant yourself as firmly as possible. When both the sea and the wind are having a bad day, forget about and just go home. That's why  Peter's leap of faith is so impressive to me. Not only did he want to be with Jesus but he was willing to be tossed about by the tumultuous waves to do it. Yes, once he took his eyes of Jesus and started to doubt, he little walk started to become a swim, but his initial leap out of that boat is what I need the courage for today. I would like to think that my spiritual life is in such a place that once I am out upon the water I will keep my eyes on Christ, however, the stepping out of the comfy boat is the part that tweaks my heart with fear. I pray for the courage of Peter to leap and the stability of my faith to keep my eyes on the one who loves me more. I know that I can always cry out "Lord, save me!" but more than anything, I want to be where He is and that means getting tossed by waves and wind sometimes.

Gospel MT 14:22-36

Jesus made the disciples get into a boat
and precede him to the other side of the sea,
while he dismissed the crowds.
After doing so, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray.
When it was evening he was there alone.
Meanwhile the boat, already a few miles offshore,
was being tossed about by the waves, for the wind was against it.
During the fourth watch of the night,
he came toward them, walking on the sea.
When the disciples saw him walking on the sea they were terrified.
“It is a ghost,” they said, and they cried out in fear.
At once Jesus spoke to them, “Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid.”
Peter said to him in reply,
“Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.”
He said, “Come.”
Peter got out of the boat and began to walk on the water toward Jesus.
But when he saw how strong the wind was he became frightened;
and, beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!”
Immediately Jesus stretched out his hand and caught him,
and said to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?”
After they got into the boat, the wind died down.
Those who were in the boat did him homage, saying,
“Truly, you are the Son of God.”

After making the crossing, they came to land at Gennesaret.
When the men of that place recognized him,
they sent word to all the surrounding country.
People brought to him all those who were sick
and begged him that they might touch only the tassel on his cloak,
and as many as touched it were healed.

Seeing By The Sea

As I walked the beach today, a demonstration appeared before me. It was an ideal morning. The sun way at my back and the air was crisp like a Friday night in fall. The beach was almost empty making the sand a blank canvas sprinkled with life and painted by the sea. I was walking for exercise but God was showing me an exercise. I picked up several shells that immediately became a treasure hunt/prayer practice. As I picked up each shell I imagined a soul that needed to be picked up in prayer. I held it in my hand and brushed the sand and grime off and I did the same with each shell too. There were more shells and souls than usual and I felt blessed to be able to hold them.

On my way back, I realized that I was walking back over my own footprints so I looked ahead to see where I had been. There was a jogger’s set of prints not far from mine and theirs were virtually in a straight line, which impressed me. My footprints, however, were anything but straight and they resembled the ebb and flow of the waves on the sand. Zigzagging up and down but with gentle and lengthy curves. Every now and then, there was a straight path but mostly my prints meandered along the beach.

I could see when I stopped to look out for any dolphins on the horizon, or to check out the diving albatrosses. All those souls that I collected along the way had my prints leading up to them and stopping for a moment to carry them away to the next soul. My prayer life was laid out before me on the sand showing me that it must be free to move about or it might just get washed away.

The to and from, the journey, the treasure hunt, the stopping along the way, the gazing out, the picking up souls: this is my spiritual life and God painted it on the sand to show me that it must be a dance. I MUST dance my way to Him.

At one point I noticed that the ocean had erased my prints and it made my heart sink just a bit. My painting was flawed and not perfect. And then my heart sang at the knowledge that God clears the canvas for us every now and then so that we can start the dance over and this time it will be even better because we have been rehearsing.

So my walk by the sea this morning turned into a dance with my Beloved and we meandered through an art gallery of grace, collecting souls together and tossing them into an ocean of grace.  May I always be able to see like You by the sea. Amen

Pray with this one, it's amazing!

STARS

Why do stars twinkle?

·      Dancing to the beat of grace?

·      Jumping for joy?

·      Playing peak-a-boo with each other?

·      Breathing in and out?

·      Celestial fist pumping?

·      Heavenly strobe light?

·      An epic rave in the sky?

·      Heartbeat of the angels?

·      Clap on, clap off?

I think all of the above and reasons beyond my understanding too

            and I praise the Lord for this gorgeous display of His love

            glittering away the fear and darkness from my soul.

So dance, jump, play, breathe, pump, beat, and clap away bright stars

            and I will do the same right back at ya!!! #twinkleparty #starrave #shine

Fall

Summer seems to be surrendering.

Retreating but still fighting as

fall begins to gain an ever slight lead in the race toward fullness.

The air starts to nibble on ears and toes

and thoughts of fireplace cuddling

creep in like fog that makes you want to

stay in bed and eat soup.

Fall. Tis the season for bundling and cute clothes,

nostalgia and tradition,

football and gathering,

falling back and resting in arms that

always catch and are always ready for

fireplace cuddling.

So fall, without delay so that dreams,

and fullness, and resting can begin.

Fall and be caught by love.

Fall and be caught.

Fall and be.

Fall.

R O M A

Roof tops and bells sing red tiled lullabies
                                ancient tales of sinners and saints and saints and sinners.

Cathedrals and brothels open their arms
                                                          to faithful patrons longing to be found
                                                            sinners and saints and saints an sinners

Plants and laundry swing
                                from lover's ledges of yonder light
                                       calling     -     sighing     -     reaching for love.

Souls, souls, and more souls
                                        darting, rushing, smoking, praying
                     as red tiled lullabies, open arms, and sighing lovers wish and sing and save and find.

Ciao Roma, until we meet again.