It’s On Like Donkey Kong | August 11, 2015

 August 11, 2015

Let’s face it, we all want to know if we are someone’s favorite. My brother and I poke at each other all the time claiming to be our parent’s favorite, as I’m sure many siblings do (cough cough – even though I’m still their obvious favorite). Well it seems like Peter, James, and John were fishing themselves by asking (hypothetically, of course), so Jesus, “Who is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven?” Come on, we are all probably guilty of thinking that there are degrees of heaven. There’s got to be different levels, like Donkey Kong, and if you work hard enough, pray better than others, cross your t’s and dot your i’s, you definitely deserve to be in one of the upper levels! Like Mario, you’ve been collecting your extra points along the way to give you superpower strength to reach the highest level that you can. I know it sounds ridiculous but if we’re being honest, it might just ring true.

Jesus, in mind-blowing Jesus fashion, has something to say about that so listen up, y’all. I imagine that Jesus was good with children, like everyone’s beloved uncle that would pull quarters out of your ear, or tickle you until you pee’d, or play pull my finger, or tell the greatest knock knock jokes…you know the guy. He calls a child over and I picture the child running over and jumping into His arms with Jesus spinning them around and lots of giggling ensues. With the child on His knee, he tells them, “Unless you turn and become like children, you will not enter the Kingdom of heaven.”  What’s with the turn? We need to turn away from the complications, sin, drama, and pride of adult world, and point our lives toward the path that leads to heaven. This path is filled with the simplicity, innocence, authenticity, and humility of children. In my opinion, children are the most genuine version of God’s image and in that very essence is true holiness. They have not had any reason to re-fashion themselves into the image of the world and simply live as the image of God.

That pretty much sums it up. Children are not filled with delusions of grandeur and because of this special humility, they have collected all the extra Donkey Kong bonus points to get to the highest levels in the game of eternity. Actually, because God’s freely given grace, they need only to be who they were created to be to receive those graces. That’s where we get it wrong. We think we need to be a certain way, or say certain things, or play by certain rules, or jump over certain obstacles in order to gain points for heaven, but what God wants is that we be who He created us to be. Children get it. Jesus knew that telling Middle Eastern men and women to model their lives after children was down right scandalous and that’s exactly why he used it, because it pulled their focus immediately so he could wreck their current status and get them to look at the heart of the matter. Genius.

The gospel ends with Jesus asking them a question, “What is your opinion?” I love when people ask me what my opinion is because it gives me permission to step up on my obviously correct soapbox and persuade them onto my team. Yes!! Then he presents a conundrum that baffles the typical Middle Eastern mind: “If a man has a

hundred sheep and one of them goes astray, will he not leave the ninety-nine in the hills and go in search of the stray?” In case you were wondering, the right answer for the ancient Middle East would be “Hell no!” Something along the lines of “I didn’t lose that sheep, he lost me.” Again with the scandalous answer, Jesus, blows their minds, “And if he finds it, amen, I say to you, he rejoices more over it than over the ninety-nine that did not stray. In just the same way, it is not the will of your heavenly Father that one of these little ones be lost.” There are two things going on here: God is not like us, but we can strive to be like Him. We have a responsibility to emulate children in their holiness and we have a responsibility to not corrupt their innocence. Jesus tells us don’t become lost sheep and don’t lose the sheep that have been entrusted to you.

As a Youth Minister, this gospel really tugs at my heart. I have been entrusted with beautiful children to lead, to teach, to pray with, to hold, to learn from, and while I might think that I have something to offer them, what I really need to remember is that Jesus has “placed them in my midst” and tells me to “turn” and be like them. I wonder if they know that Christ believes in them so much that He has recorded it in His book for the entire world to read, to know, and to believe? It’s on like Donkey Kong and I will be the one following the children right through those pixelated gates to eternity.

Gospel MT 18:1-5, 10, 12-14

The disciples approached Jesus and said,
“Who is the greatest in the Kingdom of heaven?”
He called a child over, placed it in their midst, and said,
“Amen, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children,
you will not enter the Kingdom of heaven.
Whoever becomes humble like this child
is the greatest in the Kingdom of heaven.
And whoever receives one child such as this in my name receives me.

“See that you do not despise one of these little ones,
for I say to you that their angels in heaven
always look upon the face of my heavenly Father.
What is your opinion?
If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them goes astray,
will he not leave the ninety-nine in the hills
and go in search of the stray?
And if he finds it, amen, I say to you, he rejoices more over it
than over the ninety-nine that did not stray. 
In just the same way, it is not the will of your heavenly Father
that one of these little ones be lost.”

Clare and Francis | Best Beloveds | August 11, 2015

To begin with, Clare of Assisi is one of my favorite Saints and I never forget her feast day. Her relationship with my favorite Saint, Francis, has always intrigued me because they were lovers but not lovers as the world defines. I found the following from a blog called Iglesia Descalza by Leonardo Boff.

by Leonardo Boff (English translation by Rebel Girl)
3/11/2011

Francis (d. 1226) and Clare (d. 1253), both of Assisi, are two of the most beloved figures of Christianity, of whom we can really be proud. The two were united in three great passions: for the poor and crucified Christ, for the poor, especially the lepers, and for each other. The love for Christ and the poor did not diminish at all the deep love that united them, showing that between people who dedicate themselves to God and serving others, there can be true love and relationships of great tenderness. Between Francis and Clare, there is something mysterious that unites Eros and Agape, fascination and transfiguration. The stories that remain from the time speak of the frequent meetings between them. However, "they controlled such meetings so that the divine mutual attraction might go unnoticed in the eyes of people, avoiding public rumors."

Logically, in a tiny town like Assisi everyone knew everything about everybody. So also the love between Clare and Francis. An ancient legend refers to it with very tender candor: "On one occasion, Francis had heard inappropriate allusions. He went to Clare and said: 'Did you hear, sister, what people are saying about us?' Clare didn't answer. She felt her heart would stop and that if he said another word, she would cry. 'It's time we parted,' said Francis. 'You go ahead and before nightfall, you'll have come to the convent. I will go alone and I will accompany you from afar, as the Lord leads me.' Clare fell to her knees in the middle of the road, shortly thereafter she recovered, got up and walked away without looking back. The path went through a forest. Suddenly, she felt powerless, without comfort and without hope, without a parting word before separating from Francis. She waited a bit. 'Father,' she said, 'when will we meet again?' 'When summer comes, when the roses bloom again,' replied Francis. And then, at that moment, something wonderful happened. It seemed as if summer had arrived and thousands and thousands of flowers burst forth in the snow covered fields. After the initial shock, Clare hurried to pick a bouquet of roses and put it in Francis's hands." And the legend ends by saying: "From that time on, Francis and Clare were never separated again."

We are in the presence of the symbolic language of legends. They are the ones that keep the meaning of the primordial facts of the heart and love. "Francis and Clare were never separated again", ie, they were able to join their mutual love with the love of Christ and of the poor so that it was one great love. In effect, they never left each other's heart. A witness at the canonization of Clare says with grazie that to her, Francis "seemed so clearly and luminously like gold that she also saw herself all clear and bright as if in a mirror." Is it possible to better express the fusion of love between two people of exceptional greatness of soul?

In their searching and doubt each consulted the other and sought a way through prayer. A biographical account of the time says: "Once, Francis, tired, came to a source of crystalline waters and leaned to look for a long while at that clear water. Then he came to himself and said cheerfully to his close friend, Brother Leo: "Brother Leo, lamb of God, what do you think I saw in the clear waters of the fountain?" "The moon that's reflected in there," Brother Leo answered. "No, brother, I didn't see the moon, but the face of our sister Clare, full of holy joy, so that all my sorrows disappeared."

I have been blessed in my own life with this kind of mutual love that translates deeper and higher than a worldly definition. Francis and Clare have always been two models of holy union that I want to emulate so that I will never be separated again from my beloved(s). 

Cheerful Giving | August 10, 2015 Gospel Reflection

August 10, 2015

I’m not a gifted gardener. I greatly admire those that can grow things out of the ground and then keep them alive, because I cannot. It’s not that I don’t try, it’s just that I don’t really understand how to do it. When and how much do I water? When and how often do I fertilize? Where do I place them, in the sun or in the shade? It’s all very involved and I am just not good at it. That’s why today’s readings resonate with me so deeply because they use gardening as a metaphor for evangelization, and while I am a terrible actual gardener, I am a fairly good spiritual gardener, and these readings serve as a reminder that spiritual gardening is the better portion.

From Paul’s letter to the Corinthians we have one of my favorite verses, “God loves a cheerful giver.” It immediately makes me think, well I’m cheerful, so, YAY, God loves me! However, what word did I just leave out? Giver. Am I a cheerful giver?  Do I sow sparingly or bountifully? If I’m being honest, I do sow bountifully which according to this reading means that I also reap bountifully and for that I am truly grateful, but I need to check my cheerfulness, because, again, if I’m being honest, I may not be as cheerful as I think in my giving. I do my fair share of complaining and pointing out people’s shortcomings. I get annoyed very easily and can be pretty vocal about that. And sometimes I’m just not feeling it.

Now with all that being said, I know that God still uses me as an instrument and the ratio of my uncheerfulness in ministry to my cheerfulness is probably like 3:10, however, this reading reminds me to let the bountiful fruits that I enjoy every single day enliven the cheer in me and let it radiate into everything I say and do.

The gospel gives us yet another gardening metaphor, “Unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains a single grain.” Woo hoo! I kill plants all the time! Not quite the point. The seed must surrender itself and allow the soil, water, and the sun to transform its former self into the best version of itself. What is the best version of self? That which brings life by giving its life away. Now who  does that sound like exactly? Seeds of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, goodness, and self control have been planted in each of our souls. We need to surrender them to the soil, water them with grace, and point them toward the Son so they can become transformed into life giving food which must be shared with others, and if I can add, must be shared cheerfully with others.

Somehow, I understand all the things that I get wrong in actual gardening when it is applied to spiritual matters. How? The Holy Spirit tells me when and how much to water, when and how much to fertilize, and when souls need sun or shade. What a great blessing!! There will be periods of time spent waiting, feelings of loss, pain from tilling the soil, and possible drought, but the fruits of our “dying” will be bountiful in God’s time and the harvest of a spiritual garden is eternal life.  The good news is that Jesus reminds us “Whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am, there also will my servant be. The Father will honor whoever serves me.” So let us cheerfully sow seeds by giving ourselves away and in that giving we will unite our souls to Christ and God our Father will honor us by using the fruits of the harvest for His glory. Yay!!

Reading 1 2 COR 9:6-10

Brothers and sisters:
Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly,
and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.
Each must do as already determined, without sadness or compulsion,
for God loves a cheerful giver.
Moreover, God is able to make every grace abundant for you,
so that in all things, always having all you need,
you may have an abundance for every good work.
As it is written:

He scatters abroad, he gives to the poor;
his righteousness endures forever.

The one who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food
will supply and multiply your seed
and increase the harvest of your righteousness.

Responsorial Psalm PS 112:1-2, 5-6, 7-8, 9

R. (5) Blessed the man who is gracious and lends to those in need.
Blessed the man who fears the LORD,
who greatly delights in his commands.
His posterity shall be mighty upon the earth;
the upright generation shall be blessed.
R. Blessed the man who is gracious and lends to those in need.
Well for the man who is gracious and lends,
who conducts his affairs with justice;
He shall never be moved;
the just one shall be in everlasting remembrance.
R. Blessed the man who is gracious and lends to those in need.
An evil report he shall not fear;
his heart is firm, trusting in the LORD.
His heart is steadfast; he shall not fear
till he looks down upon his foes.
R. Blessed the man who is gracious and lends to those in need.
Lavishly he gives to the poor, 
his generosity shall endure forever;
his horn shall be exalted in glory.
R. Blessed the man who is gracious and lends to those in need.

Alleluia JN 8:12BC

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness
but will have the light of life, says the Lord.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel JN 12:24-26

Jesus said to his disciples:
“Amen, amen, I say to you,
unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies,
it remains just a grain of wheat;
but if it dies, it produces much fruit.
Whoever loves his life loses it,
and whoever hates his life in this world
will preserve it for eternal life.
Whoever serves me must follow me,
and where I am, there also will my servant be.
The Father will honor whoever serves me.”

Cheeseburgers in Paradise | August 9, 2015 Gospel Reflection

August 9, 2015

Hunger hurts. Physical hunger can feel like your insides are eating themselves. It consumes your mind, it makes you cranky, and it can drive you crazy. Remember those classic cartoons of the skinny guy on a desert island with his tattered cut offs and his thought bubbles would turn into a dancing turkey dinner? Have you ever been “hangry” before? We need calories to be in our right minds. We need nourishment to thrive. Isn’t spiritual hunger the same? It can feel like your soul is caving in on itself and when your soul is “hangry,”  you can lose sight of reality and our thought bubbles paint pictures of false images that we think will take away the pain. Hunger hurts.

Elijah, in the first reading, was soul hungry and his thought bubble tried to tell him that death would take the pain away. Have you ever prayed for death? I have, and it is the number one sign that a soul is malnourished. So an angel literally poked Elijah awake and immediately feeds him like a good Italian grandmother. He needed to be fortified to face reality. I love how the same angel physically touches Elijah both times he awakens him. Sometimes we just need to be held and spoon fed when we are in a place of despair. This reading from 1 Kings is a sweet account of God nurturing us in our darkest times with a simple touch (like a kiss or a hug or brushing away our tears or holding hands or caressing our face), and a basic meal. Sometimes the solutions to our problems are as simple as that.

Then we fast forward to the gospel and Jesus announces one more time that He is the Bread of Life. We all understand hunger and so Jesus in His brilliance uses something that everyone, gentile, Jew, non-believer, infant, and adult can relate to.  The essence of life to the Jews is located in the soul. Therefore, Jesus declares, “I am the Bread of your Soul,” and this is when they start to chatter. It seems that we are not so different from our ancient brothers and sisters. Don’t we find that sensational issues, statements, quotes, tweets, etc. immediately kick up the gossip in us? I know that I am guilty of this and it bums me out that I identify with their murmuring, “Is this not Jesus, the son of Joseph? Do we not know his father and mother? Then how can he say, ‘I have come down from heaven?’” What do these statements indicate? Spiritual hunger. Hunger clouds our ability to see beyond the surface. Cheeseburgers dance jigs before our hungry eyes and the smell of French fries takes away our willpower. Sin charms us into believing that things that look like food actually are real food.

Jesus goes on to say, stop your speculating because the bread that I am is fortified by the Great I Am. This is not ordinary food, this IS life. Physical starvation is a reality throughout most of the world and unfortunately, spiritual starvation is too. We can’t survive on fake food, we need fortification, and we can’t survive on anything that does not  come from the one who made us. The only way to receive that kind of nourishment is in the Eucharist. The Bread of Life calls us to the table to eat and one day the cheeseburgers that dance jigs will be in paradise.

Reading 1 1 KGS 19:4-8

Elijah went a day’s journey into the desert,
until he came to a broom tree and sat beneath it. 
He prayed for death saying:
“This is enough, O LORD! 
Take my life, for I am no better than my fathers.” 
He lay down and fell asleep under the broom tree,
but then an angel touched him and ordered him to get up and eat. 
Elijah looked and there at his head was a hearth cake
and a jug of water. 
After he ate and drank, he lay down again,
but the angel of the LORD came back a second time,
touched him, and ordered,
“Get up and eat, else the journey will be too long for you!” 
He got up, ate, and drank;
then strengthened by that food,
he walked forty days and forty nights to the mountain of God, Horeb.

Responsorial Psalm PS 34:2-3, 4-5, 6-7, 8-9

R. (9a) Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.
I will bless the LORD at all times;
his praise shall be ever in my mouth.
Let my soul glory in the LORD;
the lowly will hear me and be glad.
R. Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.
Glorify the LORD with me,
Let us together extol his name.
I sought the LORD, and he answered me
And delivered me from all my fears.
R. Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.
Look to him that you may be radiant with joy.
And your faces may not blush with shame.
When the afflicted man called out, the LORD heard,
And from all his distress he saved him.
R. Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.
The angel of the LORD encamps
around those who fear him and delivers them.
Taste and see how good the LORD is;
blessed the man who takes refuge in him.
R. Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.

Reading 2 EPH 4:30—5:2

Brothers and sisters:
Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God,
with which you were sealed for the day of redemption. 
All bitterness, fury, anger, shouting, and reviling
must be removed from you, along with all malice. 
And be kind to one another, compassionate,
forgiving one another as God has forgiven you in Christ.

So 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.

Alleluia JN 6:51

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
I am the living bread that came down from heaven, says the Lord;
whoever eats this bread will live forever.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel JN 6:41-51

The Jews murmured about Jesus because he said,
“I am the bread that came down from heaven, ”
and they said,
“Is this not Jesus, the son of Joseph? 
Do we not know his father and mother? 
Then how can he say,
‘I have come down from heaven’?” 
Jesus answered and said to them,
“Stop murmuring among yourselves. 
No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draw him,
and I will raise him on the last day. 
It is written in the prophets:
They shall all be taught by God.
Everyone who listens to my Father and learns from him comes to me. 
Not that anyone has seen the Father
except the one who is from God;
he has seen the Father. 
Amen, amen, I say to you,
whoever believes has eternal life. 
I am the bread of life. 
Your ancestors ate the manna in the desert, but they died;
this is the bread that comes down from heaven
so that one may eat it and not die. 
I am the living bread that came down from heaven;
whoever eats this bread will live forever;
and the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world.”