Worship Before The Breakthrough

First of all, my computer fell off my prayer chair yesterday morning and then it would not turn on. I freaked out because it had been a couple weeks since I backed it up and in those couple of weeks I had done many design projects, writing, and presentations for work. The thought that those were lost really hit me. A friend of mine said, “Jen, start worshipping and thanking God. Focus on Him and not the problem.” So I did. I started singing worship songs even in the midst of the anxiety of losing so much creative property. I just kept praying prayers of thanksgiving and honor and eventually my anxiety, which feels like electricity in my blood, subsided and I went about my day. When I got to the Apple Store for my Genius Bar appointment I purposely tried to turn my computer on to make sure I wasn’t crazy and still nothing. I kid you not, the Genius dude came out 4 seconds after this and simply opened the laptop and pushed the same button I had just pushed and the thing started immediately! I already knew that was going to happen somewhere in the midst of my day and I knew that I simply had to get myself to the Apple Store. It was my own little exercise of faith. I kept laughing at God’s sense of humor and His cute way of reminding me to simply trust. My friend texted, “Jen, you worshipped before the breakthrough!” That was a beautiful revelation and I think it works with today’s gospel. I am so so so grateful that my computer is “healed” and that I have the means to continue writing and sharing the gift of reflection. 

Today’s gospel gives us a beautiful sequence of prayer. “Ten lepers met him. They stood at a distance from him and raised their voice, saying, “Jesus, Master! Have pity on us!” I know for me, since I’ve met Jesus, I find myself often yelling at him from a distance, “please see me and heal my wounds!!” Jesus does see and hear the lepers, and he tells them to “Go show yourselves to the priests.”  Jesus did not just say, “you are healed,” and he sent them on a journey if you will toward wholeness. Showing themselves to the priests required obedience and trust on their part and in that very act of obedience they were made well. Sometimes Jesus’ answer to my prayer is mysterious and my simple obedience to his response is what opens my eyes. “As they were going they were cleansed.” As I go where Jesus sends me, I am becoming who he wants me to be. 

“And one of them, realizing he had been healed, returned, glorifying God in a loud voice; and he fell at the feet of Jesus and thanked him.” “And one of them…” It reminds me of the gospel a few days ago when the shepherd left the ninety-nine for the one. The one returned, gave glory to God in a loud voice, and fell at the feet of Jesus to thank him. The one that realized he was healed knew without a doubt that he needed to praise God and so he returned (repentance means to turn back), no longer at a distance, but at the feet of Christ (intimate relationship), and gave thanks. “Ten were cleansed, were they not? Where are the other nine? Has none but this foreigner returned to give thanks to God?” There are times in my life when I am “The One” and there are times in my life when I am the other nine. Conversion is an ongoing journey and requires me to return to the feet of Jesus daily, not just every now and again. Sometimes I get too caught up in religious practice and forget to simply praise God for seeing me and loving me. 

“Then he said to him, ‘Stand up and go;’ your faith has saved you.” Jesus died for all of us to stand up and go free from affliction, but we can only come to truly know that through faith. In today’s gospel faith begins with meeting Jesus at a distance, crying out for mercy from our woundedness, being obedient to his reply, after first returning ourselves back to God in praise, and coming close to Jesus through worship and thanksgiving. Then and only then can we stand up and go cleansed, healed, reconciled, and saved. Today I choose to be The One that returns to God in praise, worship, and thanksgiving so that I can stand up and go, saved by faith. It is well with my soul. 

Memorial of Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini, Virgin
Lectionary: 493

Reading 1 WIS 6:1-11

Hear, O kings, and understand;
learn, you magistrates of the earth's expanse!
Hearken, you who are in power over the multitude
and lord it over throngs of peoples!
Because authority was given you by the Lord
and sovereignty by the Most High,
who shall probe your works and scrutinize your counsels.
Because, though you were ministers of his kingdom, you judged not rightly,
and did not keep the law,
nor walk according to the will of God,
Terribly and swiftly shall he come against you,
because judgment is stern for the exalted–
For the lowly may be pardoned out of mercy
but the mighty shall be mightily put to the test.
For the Lord of all shows no partiality,
nor does he fear greatness,
Because he himself made the great as well as the small,
and he provides for all alike;
but for those in power a rigorous scrutiny impends.
To you, therefore, O princes, are my words addressed
that you may learn wisdom and that you may not sin.
For those who keep the holy precepts hallowed shall be found holy,
and those learned in them will have ready a response.
Desire therefore my words;
long for them and you shall be instructed.

Responsorial PsalmPS 82:3-4, 6-7

R. (8a) Rise up, O God, bring judgment to the earth.
Defend the lowly and the fatherless;
render justice to the afflicted and the destitute.
Rescue the lowly and the poor;
from the hand of the wicked deliver them.
R. Rise up, O God, bring judgment to the earth.
I said: "You are gods,
all of you sons of the Most High;
yet like men you shall die,
and fall like any prince."
R. Rise up, O God, bring judgment to the earth.

Alleluia 1 THES 5:18

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
In all circumstances, give thanks,
for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel LK 17:11-19

As Jesus continued his journey to Jerusalem,
he traveled through Samaria and Galilee.
As he was entering a village, ten lepers met him.
They stood at a distance from him and raised their voice, saying,
"Jesus, Master! Have pity on us!"
And when he saw them, he said,
"Go show yourselves to the priests."
As they were going they were cleansed. 
And one of them, realizing he had been healed,
returned, glorifying God in a loud voice;
and he fell at the feet of Jesus and thanked him. 
He was a Samaritan.
Jesus said in reply,
"Ten were cleansed, were they not?
Where are the other nine? 
Has none but this foreigner returned to give thanks to God?" 
Then he said to him, "Stand up and go;
your faith has saved you."

A Place Of Mystery

“Lord, increase our faith.” This is a prayer that prayed authentically will change our lives. So many times in the gospels Jesus tells people it is your faith that healed you, never have I seen so much faith, your faith has saved you. I like Brene Brown’s definition of faith; “Faith is a place of mystery, where we find the courage to believe in what we cannot see and the strength to let go of our fear of uncertainty.” In today’s gospel Jesus tells us that there will always be causes of sin: betrayal, abuse, anger, woundedness, unforgiveness, family history, temptation, selfishness, and pride. He gives us two sure ways to dispel these inevitable conditions: forgiveness and faith. 

Faith is the courage to live in mystery and sometimes God’s ways, like perpetual forgiveness and mercy are super difficult to understand or practice. He definitely instructs us today to “rebuke” sin if and when it enters our lives. He uses the image of sin being a millstone wrapped around our necks and it causes us to plunge to the depths of darkness. We become slaves to sin especially when we don’t encourage one another in love to turn away from it. Our addictions, bitterness, anger, negativity, bad habits, judgment, self-loathing, woundedness, etc. become these heavy burdens that keep us down, trip us up, plunge us into darkness, and take our eyes off Jesus. While it is important for us to rebuke sin, it is as important to do so in love and through the eyes of mercy, with the hope for repentance. Public shaming, or gossip, or spreading someone’s sin is not what Jesus intends for us to do when he says rebuke. This only adds weight to the millstone and makes repentance all the more difficult. We should always will the good of the other when we are admonishing sin. And the whole purpose to admonish sin is to give the “sinner” the encouragement to repent and turn away from that sin. “If he repents, forgive him. If he wrongs you seven times in one day and returns to you seven times saying, ‘I am sorry,’ you should forgive him.” I know this sounds almost impossible to do and that is why an increase in faith is absolutely necessary. 

Forgiveness is a place of mystery and faith gives us the courage to trust that Jesus is showing us the way to eternal freedom. This uncertainty would be agonizing if we did not have the faith to let go of the fear of the unknown. “Perfect love drives out all fear.” 1 John 4:18 It just hit me that faith, hope, and love are the driving forces of today’s gospel. Faith leads to hope, and love flows from hope, but hope resides in the middle of both. Hope binds the mystery of faith to the testimony of love and together a trinity of grace circles the soul, singing you into wellness, cheering you to thrive, and catching you when you fall. Jesus wants us to be well, to thrive, and to be caught in the arms of mercy. Lord, increase our faith, hope, and love. It is well with my soul. 

Memorial of Saint Martin of Tours, Bishop
Lectionary: 491

Reading 1 WIS 1:1-7

Love justice, you who judge the earth;
think of the Lord in goodness,
and seek him in integrity of heart;
Because he is found by those who test him not,
and he manifests himself to those who do not disbelieve him.
For perverse counsels separate a man from God,
and his power, put to the proof, rebukes the foolhardy;
Because into a soul that plots evil, wisdom enters not,
nor dwells she in a body under debt of sin.
For the holy Spirit of discipline flees deceit
and withdraws from senseless counsels;
and when injustice occurs it is rebuked.
For wisdom is a kindly spirit,
yet she acquits not the blasphemer of his guilty lips;
Because God is the witness of his inmost self
and the sure observer of his heart
and the listener to his tongue.
For the Spirit of the Lord fills the world,
is all-embracing, and knows what man says.

Responsorial Psalm PS 139:1B-3, 4-6, 7-8, 9-10

R. (24b) Guide me, Lord, along the everlasting way.
O LORD, you have probed me and you know me;
you know when I sit and when I stand;
you understand my thoughts from afar.
My journeys and my rest you scrutinize,
with all my ways you are familiar.
R. Guide me, Lord, along the everlasting way.
Even before a word is on my tongue,
behold, O LORD, you know the whole of it.
Behind me and before, you hem me in
and rest your hand upon me.
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;
too lofty for me to attain.
R. Guide me, Lord, along the everlasting way.
Where can I go from your spirit?
From your presence where can I flee?
If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
if I sink to the nether world, you are present there.
R. Guide me, Lord, along the everlasting way.
If I take the wings of the dawn,
if I settle at the farthest limits of the sea,
Even there your hand shall guide me,
and your right hand hold me fast.
R. Guide me, Lord, along the everlasting way.

Alleluia PHIL 2:15D, 16A

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Shine like lights in the world,
as you hold on to the word of life.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel LK 17:1-6

Jesus said to his disciples,
"Things that cause sin will inevitably occur,
but woe to the one through whom they occur.
It would be better for him if a millstone were put around his neck
and he be thrown into the sea
than for him to cause one of these little ones to sin.
Be on your guard!
If your brother sins, rebuke him;
and if he repents, forgive him.
And if he wrongs you seven times in one day
and returns to you seven times saying, 'I am sorry,'
you should forgive him."

And the Apostles said to the Lord, "Increase our faith."
The Lord replied, "If you have faith the size of a mustard seed,
you would say to this mulberry tree,
'Be uprooted and planted in the sea,' and it would obey you."

The Margins

Today’s gospel stirred a different place in me this morning. “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.” Jesus Christ welcomes those that are unwelcome. The word “sinner” is used in the gospel, but we can really replace that word with any label that would not make the guest list at our next dinner party. The unmentionables, the ones that offend us, the ones that disturb us, the ones that make us cringe, the ones that make us feel uncomfortable, the ones that we deem unworthy, and yes, sinners too (so each one of us). Why does Jesus choose them? To love them back into wellness and relationship with Him. Why? A relationship with Jesus, in and through love, is the only way for the “sinners” to get right. The gospel opens with “the tax collectors and sinners were ALL drawing near to listen to Jesus.” The tax collectors and sinners were able to recognize something in Jesus that was life giving, because He first recognized them, He looked at them and saw a soul that needed love. The first step to their wellness was drawing near and listening. Our first step to conversion is also drawing near and listening. 

Of course I love the image painted by Jesus of going after the one, scooping them up onto His shoulders, and bringing them home to celebrate their finding. This is the main thing and this is the way He loves each one of us, but there is a poem that came to mind this morning while reading this gospel that I’d like to share. Jesus went to the margins to seek out the lost, the broken, the forgotten, the thrown away, the shamed, the weary, the ugly, the abused, the unhealthy, the damaged, the wounded, the misguided, the misunderstood, the humiliated, the criminals, the sinners, the ones doing bad things, and ALL those in need of a Savior. Let Him scoop you up today. It is well with my soul. 

                                          The Margins

By Jennifer Lyn

“’Hope’ is a thing with feathers – that perches in the soul – and sings the tune without the words – and never stops at all.” Emily Dickinson

This one delicious morsel wafted its fragrance all over my heart and 

I’ve been thinking about it ever since.

A perch for the soul…doesn’t that sound lovely?

A place to rest your weary self while waiting for your muse

to write its melody within you.

This is HOPE indeed.

To sing a tune without the words is a dance if you ask me.

The perch is the holy ground that gives us permission to reach beyond ourselves and to stand in wonder of all the songs without words that we see everyday:

The beggar on the street.

The teenage boy running to catch the bus.

The woman searching her purse for change to buy coffee.

The giggles of middle school girls.

A toddler’s drunk walk.

A single mother’s weary face.

A father making ends meet.

A child playing pretend at the park.

A runner training for a race.

A group of special needs adults going out to the zoo.

The hospice worker stroking her patient’s face. 

A middle-aged woman being released from jail.

A homeboy reaching out his tattooed arms to help an elderly woman.

These songs and their melodies play in the recesses of my soul and I can’t help but to sway back and forth to their tune.

When I perch my soul at the margins and look in, 

I see hope swirling about and I am moved.

May I never not adore these snippets of grace and 

may I never ignore the music they play. 

Reading 1 ROM 14:7-12

Brothers and sisters:
None of us lives for oneself, and no one dies for oneself.
For if we live, we live for the Lord,
and if we die, we die for the Lord;
so then, whether we live or die, we are the Lord's.
For this is why Christ died and came to life,
that he might be Lord of both the dead and the living.
Why then do you judge your brother or sister?
Or you, why do you look down on your brother or sister?
For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of God;
for it is written:

As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bend before me,
and every tongue shall give praise to God.

So then each of us shall give an account of himself to God.

Responsorial Psalm PS 27:1BCDE, 4, 13-14

R. ( 13) I believe that I shall see the good things of the Lord in the land of the living.
The LORD is my light and my salvation;
whom should I fear?
The LORD is my life's refuge;
of whom should I be afraid?
R. I believe that I shall see the good things of the Lord in the land of the living.
One thing I ask of the LORD;
this I seek:
To dwell in the house of the LORD
all the days of my life,
That I may gaze on the loveliness of the LORD
and contemplate his temple.
R. I believe that I shall see the good things of the Lord in the land of the living.
I believe that I shall see the bounty of the LORD
in the land of the living.
Wait for the LORD with courage;
be stouthearted, and wait for the LORD.
R. I believe that I shall see the good things of the Lord in the land of the living.

Alleluia MT 11:28

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened,
and I will give you rest, says the Lord.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel LK 15:1-10

The tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to listen to Jesus,
but the Pharisees and scribes began to complain, saying,
"This man welcomes sinners and eats with them." 
So Jesus addressed this parable to them.
"What man among you having a hundred sheep and losing one of them
would not leave the ninety-nine in the desert
and go after the lost one until he finds it?
And when he does find it,
he sets it on his shoulders with great joy
and, upon his arrival home,
he calls together his friends and neighbors and says to them,
'Rejoice with me because I have found my lost sheep.' 
I tell you, in just the same way
there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents
than over ninety-nine righteous people
who have no need of repentance.

"Or what woman having ten coins and losing one
would not light a lamp and sweep the house,
searching carefully until she finds it?
And when she does find it,
she calls together her friends and neighbors
and says to them,
'Rejoice with me because I have found the coin that I lost.' 
In just the same way, I tell you,
there will be rejoicing among the angels of God
over one sinner who repents."

Spiritual De-Cluttering

Today’s gospel is one of those times when Jesus is really misunderstood. It’s hard to get past sentences like, “If anyone comes to me without hating his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sister, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple.”!!!!! OK, Jesus, you have some “splaining” to do, am I right? 

So we need to start by replacing the word “hate” with the word “detach” or “put aside” and it might make it a little easier to get into. Love, in the ancient world, meant to be attached to, and hate meant to be detached from. While we are called to love our families and our neighbors as ourselves, we are never to do that apart from loving God first and foremost, whole-heartedly. Jesus’ point today is that sometimes in living a Christian life, we may be required to detach from the things that perhaps get in the way of us being whole-heartedly focused on God’s will and plan for us. He identifies that our attachments to people, our fear of suffering, our lack of planning and discipline, and our possessions are all things that can and do become the idols that we worship before God. I know for me, I suffer from all of the above. Being a follower of Christ also requires surrender, sacrifice, and discipline. 

A familiar example of this is the testing of Abraham. God had no plans of allowing Abraham to actually kill Isaac, but rather he was testing Abraham’s heart to see if he was really “all in” or not. God greatly blessed Abraham for his willingness to pay full price for the promise of eternity and his trust in that promise made the promise so. The same is true for us. God wants our whole hearts, undivided, and in that undivided-ness, our trust without borders, will fix our eyes on the prize, and that prize will be so. 

Detachment is one of those currently trendy slightly overused words that we tend to associate with material things. We have self-diagnosed our own hoarding and are on purging our homes of clutter campaigns like you never before. We aspire to be minimalists, tiny-home builders, backpackers through life, “does this whatever it is bring me joy?” questioners of every little thing, and de-cluttered garage gurus so we can make room for our fancy cars! Today, Jesus encourages us with some pretty severe words, to get our attachments in order, our priorities straight, and to choose to be “all in” as disciples. Spiritual de-cluttering is simply fixing our eyes on Jesus, bending our ears to His voice, and making room for Him to occupy the emptied out spaces of our lives with simplicity and wholeheartedness. So let’s detach from people and stuff today so as to go “all in” for what truly matters. When we put God first, when we go all in for Jesus Christ, everything else in our lives will be rightly ordered, including our relationships, and our blessings will be as abundant as the stars. It is well with my soul. 

Reading 1 ROM 13:8-10

Brothers and sisters:
Owe nothing to anyone, except to love one another;
for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law.
The commandments, You shall not commit adultery;
you shall not kill;
you shall not steal;
you shall not covet,
and whatever other commandment there may be,
are summed up in this saying, namely,
You shall love your neighbor as yourself.
Love does no evil to the neighbor;
hence, love is the fulfillment of the law.

Responsorial Psalm PS 112:1B-2, 4-5, 9

R.( 5a) Blessed the man who is gracious and lends to those in need.
or:
R. Alleluia.
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.
or:
R. Alleluia.
He dawns through the darkness, a light for the upright;
he is gracious and merciful and just.
Well for the man who is gracious and lends,
who conducts his affairs with justice.
R. Blessed the man who is gracious and lends to those in need.
or:
R. Alleluia.
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.
or:
R. Alleluia.

Alleluia 1 PT 4:14

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
If you are insulted for the name of Christ, blessed are you,
for the Spirit of God rests upon you.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel LK 14:25-33

Great crowds were traveling with Jesus,
and he turned and addressed them,
"If anyone comes to me without hating his father and mother, 
wife and children, brothers and sisters,
and even his own life,
he cannot be my disciple.
Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after me
cannot be my disciple.
Which of you wishing to construct a tower
does not first sit down and calculate the cost
to see if there is enough for its completion? 
Otherwise, after laying the foundation
and finding himself unable to finish the work
the onlookers should laugh at him and say,
'This one began to build but did not have the resources to finish.' 
Or what king marching into battle would not first sit down
and decide whether with ten thousand troops
he can successfully oppose another king
advancing upon him with twenty thousand troops? 
But if not, while he is still far away,
he will send a delegation to ask for peace terms. 
In the same way,
everyone of you who does not renounce all his possessions
cannot be my disciple."

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."