Two Wolves | February 23, 2017

February 23, 2017

“An old Cherokee chief was teaching his grandson about life...

’A fight is going on inside me,’ he said to the boy. 
’It is a terrible fight and it is between two wolves.
 One is evil - he is anger, envy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, self-doubt, and ego.

The other is good - he is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion, and faith. ‘ The old chief said, ’This same fight is going on inside you - and inside every other person, too.’

The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather, 
’Which wolf will win?’

The old chief simply replied, ‘The one you feed.’” (Author Unknown)

Today’s gospel embraces the concept of this modern day parable and Jesus uses a very common teaching tool to make his point: hyperbole. Hyperbole is an overstatement or exaggeration used when a teacher really really really wants to emphasize their point and to make it clear: pay attention, this is going to be on the test! Jesus’ message today is that when we feed the sinful wolf within ourselves, he/she will thrive, and when we starve that same wolf, he/she will whither away. We should do whatever it takes to not feed sin, like cut off your hand or foot, or pluck out your eye, but don’t nourish that which causes us to alienate ourselves from God. We should feed the things that bring us closer such as prayer, kindness, balance, service to one another, and peace.

Jesus uses the image of salt yet again as an element that needs to maintain a balance or it will burn too hot and in extreme heat, salt loses its saltiness and becomes useless. This is another reference to sin. Salt should be used to keep a burning desire alive within us for peace, goodness, joy, gentleness, etc., but we can also misuse it, abuse it, and be reckless with it. Balance and temperance is the key. We must be intentional in maintaining both in our lives.

Jesus uses strong language today to say, “Take sin seriously,” it, like fire, is nothing to play around with. We have a choice to thrive in virtue or to allow vice to dominate our lives. Which one will I feed today? Which one will you feed today? Let’s help each other feed “whatever is true, noble and pure, lovely and admirable…whatever is right,” and it is well with my soul. Have a blessed day.

Reading 1 SIR 5:1-8

Rely not on your wealth;
say not: "I have the power."
Rely not on your strength
in following the desires of your heart.
Say not: "Who can prevail against me?"
or, "Who will subdue me for my deeds?"
for God will surely exact the punishment.
Say not: "I have sinned, yet what has befallen me?"
for the Most High bides his time.
Of forgiveness be not overconfident,
adding sin upon sin.
Say not: "Great is his mercy;
my many sins he will forgive."
For mercy and anger alike are with him;
upon the wicked alights his wrath.
Delay not your conversion to the LORD,
put it not off from day to day.
For suddenly his wrath flames forth;
at the time of vengeance you will be destroyed.
Rely not upon deceitful wealth,
for it will be no help on the day of wrath.

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

R. (40:5a) 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 1 THES 2:13

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Receive the word of God, not as the word of men,
but as it truly is, the word of God.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel MK 9:41-50

Jesus said to his disciples:
"Anyone who gives you a cup of water to drink
because you belong to Christ,
amen, I say to you, will surely not lose his reward.

"Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, 
it would be better for him if a great millstone
were put around his neck
and he were thrown into the sea.
If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off.
It is better for you to enter into life maimed 
than with two hands to go into Gehenna,
into the unquenchable fire.
And if your foot causes you to sin, cut if off.
It is better for you to enter into life crippled 
than with two feet to be thrown into Gehenna.
And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out.
Better for you to enter into the Kingdom of God with one eye
than with two eyes to be thrown into Gehenna,
where their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched. 

"Everyone will be salted with fire.
Salt is good, but if salt becomes insipid,
with what will you restore its flavor?
Keep salt in yourselves and you will have peace with one another."

He Rocks My World | February 22, 2017

February 22, 2017

Pope Francis simply rocks my world. I find him to be the embodiment of Christ’s message and a true living, walking, breathing, loving, smiling, serving example of the gospel. From the first moment the world laid eyes on him, we were changed. His simple air high five with that amazing, but humble smile from the balcony at St. Peter’s….ah!!! He had me at hello! As he bowed his head before millions all over the world and asked us to pray over him, I thought to myself, I will never be the same. This man just reached into my soul and ignited it with love. Then, then, then, he announced his name as FRANCIS and I was literally wrecked. That smile, that humility, that new name…..I am in love and Papa Frank rocks my world.

Today is the Feast of the Chair of St. Peter and in our gospel Peter finally steps into the name that Jesus gave him with one single statement. Throughout salvation history, God has called up some very colorful characters to lead His people and transform the world. Many of these leaders were given new names by God with the intention that they leave their old selves behind and become a new creation in the Lord: Abram & Sarai, Jacob, Paul, Peter, etc. When Jesus told Simon that he was going to start calling him Peter, it was a sweet little bit of light-hearted sarcasm, because Peter at the time was anything but rock-like. Of course Jesus knew that he would become that which he was renamed. Up until today’s gospel scene, Peter’s name was still quite a stretch, but when Jesus specifically asks him, “Who do YOU say that I am?” Peter jumps right into that new name, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." Yay!!! Happy graduation day! You made it!

I wonder what Jesus felt inside. I’m sure it is similar to how I feel when I listen to one of my guitar students play in a talent show, or at mass for the first time, or when my dancers get their choreography down and perform it with the enthusiasm that only comes from finally getting it. “Jesus said to him in reply, ‘Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah. For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father. And so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my Church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys to the Kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.’” Jesus reminded Peter of his past life by using his old name, showing him how far he has really come. It’s good for us to be reminded of our growth in Christ every now and then. Peter must have been elated and a little surprised/confused. He wasn’t really used to getting the right answer. Did Peter still continue to falter in his belief? Yes. Did Peter still bounce back and forth from his old self (name) to his new name? Yes. But God’s plan is always bigger and greater and once the Holy Spirit entered Peter’s life that “Rock” was hewn as a permanent seat upon which Jesus’ message rests.

From Jesus to Peter to Francis, the truth remains that Christ built his church upon a ROCK called by God himself. What established the ROCK was a simple statement, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." May we permanently allow that truth to live within us so that our faith can remain rock solid. Here’s a fun thing to ponder today. What new name would God give you? What is it that God wants you to step into today with one single statement of faith? Would it be Fearless? Brilliant? Precious? Worthy? Ponder it in your heart then step into it. Have a blessed day.

Feast of the Chair of Saint Peter, Apostle
Lectionary: 535

Reading 1 1 PT 5:1-4

Beloved:
I exhort the presbyters among you,
as a fellow presbyter and witness to the sufferings of Christ
and one who has a share in the glory to be revealed.
Tend the flock of God in your midst,
overseeing not by constraint but willingly,
as God would have it, not for shameful profit but eagerly.
Do not lord it over those assigned to you,
but be examples to the flock.
And when the chief Shepherd is revealed,
you will receive the unfading crown of glory.

Responsorial Psalm PS 23:1-3A, 4, 5, 6

R. (1) The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.
The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
In verdant pastures he gives me repose;
Beside restful waters he leads me;
he refreshes my soul.
R. The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.
Even though I walk in the dark valley
I fear no evil; for you are at my side
With your rod and your staff
that give me courage.
R. The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.
You spread the table before me
in the sight of my foes;
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
R. The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.
Only goodness and kindness follow me
all the days of my life;
And I shall dwell in the house of the LORD
for years to come.
R. The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.

Alleluia MT 16:18

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
You are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my Church;
the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel MT 16:13-19

When Jesus went into the region of Caesarea Philippi
he asked his disciples,
"Who do people say that the Son of Man is?"
They replied, "Some say John the Baptist, others Elijah,
still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets."
He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?"
Simon Peter said in reply, 
"You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."
Jesus said to him in reply, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah.
For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father.
And so I say to you, you are Peter,
and upon this rock I will build my Church,
and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it.
I will give you the keys to the Kingdom of heaven.
Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven;
and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven." 

Line Dancer Face | February 21, 2017

February 21, 2017

There’s a certain complacency that happens when we get too comfy, too familiar, or too bored. This complacency can lead to an arrogance like a “been there, done that” kind of sentiment. I was jogging on the treadmill at the gym one day (not recently or anything, but definitely within the last 5 years, OK, don’t judge!!) and I was able to watch the “dance studio” part of the gym through floor to ceiling glass windows! YES! There was some sort of step class going on and I could totally tell who had been there before and who had not. I could tell this by the look on their faces. There was this one guy, he was middle-aged and confident, and his almost matching work out clothes gave him away as a “regular” gym dude, you know what I mean? Anyway, his body was totally into the moves of the step class – it screamed, “I’ve been here before, people!” His body did the routine with a certain amount of knowledgeable gusto. Then I looked at his face and I became so confused because it looked so totally bored that I almost had to laugh. Then I just stared for a few because, let’s face it, I could. He put himself into the big glass looking box for a reason right? What other reason could there be than to invite people on the outside of the glass looking box to stare at you. The more I stared the more I felt like I recognized the look on this man’s face – my brain started filing through its memory cards to identify this familiar look and it finally stopped at LINE DANCER FACE! Yes, that’s it – that’s the face – you know the one at “In Cahoots” on ALL the people that go there a few times a week and know ALL the dances by heart, or the look on the faces of the people at a wedding during the Electric Slide (hell the look on MY face during the Electric Slide!). This look says: “I am like so bored right now because, of course, I learned this dance in like 1991, but I had to come out here and do this dance to show you all how well I know it – but, yawn, I am so bored right now.” That face!

Today’s gospel has this kind of undertone. I know I’m crazy, but stick with me here. Jesus wanted some alone time with the boys because he needed to teach them some Master’s level theology. This kind of lesson would be reserved for his advanced students only because it would talk about his passion and death and the mainstream crowd would not know what to do with this kind of teaching yet. He had been alluding to it on a few separate occasions and it still was not computing in their brains. They had their “line dancer faces” on: “Yeah, yeah, yeah, we’ve already heard this, Jesus”, brushing it off because they knew the routine already. Once you know the routine, the next phase of arrogance turns into a pissing contest. Who knows the routine the best? Who is the teacher’s favorite? Who is the closest, greatest, etc.? In line dancing world, I’ve observed that the dancers with the most bored faces (maybe even throwing in a yawn or two) are the ones that know the routine the best. This can be the same in most of our churches as well. The person that can go through the motions with the most ease has obviously put in the most amount of time, and is among the greatest because they know the routine so well that their face is one big complacent canvas of seriousness.

Jesus knows exactly how to get the boys to pay attention and just a little riled up by comparing them to women and children! Bam! His reference to, "If anyone wishes to be first, he shall be the last of all and the servant of all”, is a direct description of the female’s role in the Middle East and in the next sentence, who is it that would receive children, yes, that would also be women! I love that Jesus was unafraid to include everyone in his message and I can just imagine a sweet subtle smile of appreciation on the faces of their wives, or the Mary’s, and the other female disciples within earshot. Jesus needed to throw these good ole boys out of their complacency and to break their comfy routines because they were still missing the point. Just when we get comfortable with the steps, God changes them so that we don’t ever develop “line dancer face” when it comes to love. Love is dynamic and is constantly growing, moving, and maturing. Let’s not get stuck in a routine just going through the motions. Let’s constantly choose to serve and welcome and learn. Complacency can lead to pride. Boredom can lead to false ideals. Routine can lead to thoughtlessness. Jesus wants us on our toes and for our faces to radiate wonder, joy, and the newness of life. Have a blessed day.

Reading 1 SIR 2:1-11

My son, when you come to serve the LORD,
stand in justice and fear,
prepare yourself for trials.
Be sincere of heart and steadfast,
incline your ear and receive the word of understanding,
undisturbed in time of adversity.
Wait on God, with patience, cling to him, forsake him not;
thus will you be wise in all your ways.
Accept whatever befalls you,
when sorrowful, be steadfast,
and in crushing misfortune be patient;
For in fire gold and silver are tested,
and worthy people in the crucible of humiliation.
Trust God and God will help you;
trust in him, and he will direct your way;
keep his fear and grow old therein.

You who fear the LORD, wait for his mercy,
turn not away lest you fall.
You who fear the LORD, trust him,
and your reward will not be lost.
You who fear the LORD, hope for good things,
for lasting joy and mercy.
You who fear the LORD, love him,
and your hearts will be enlightened.
Study the generations long past and understand;
has anyone hoped in the LORD and been disappointed?
Has anyone persevered in his commandments and been forsaken? 
has anyone called upon him and been rebuffed?
Compassionate and merciful is the LORD;
he forgives sins, he saves in time of trouble
and he is a protector to all who seek him in truth.

Responsorial Psalm PS 37:3-4, 18-19, 27-28, 39-40

R. (see 5) Commit your life to the Lord, and he will help you.
Trust in the LORD and do good,
that you may dwell in the land and be fed in security.
Take delight in the LORD,
and he will grant you your heart's requests.
R. Commit your life to the Lord, and he will help you.
The LORD watches over the lives of the wholehearted;
their inheritance lasts forever.
They are not put to shame in an evil time;
in days of famine they have plenty. 
R. Commit your life to the Lord, and he will help you.
Turn from evil and do good,
that you may abide forever;
For the LORD loves what is right,
and forsakes not his faithful ones. 
R. Commit your life to the Lord, and he will help you.
The salvation of the just is from the LORD;
he is their refuge in time of distress.
And the LORD helps them and delivers them;
he delivers them from the wicked and saves them,
because they take refuge in him. 
R. Commit your life to the Lord, and he will help you.

Alleluia GAL 6:14

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
May I never boast except in the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ,
through which the world has been crucified to me and I to the world.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel MK 9:30-37

Jesus and his disciples left from there and began a journey through Galilee,
but he did not wish anyone to know about it. 
He was teaching his disciples and telling them,
"The Son of Man is to be handed over to men 
and they will kill him,
and three days after his death the Son of Man will rise." 
But they did not understand the saying,
and they were afraid to question him.

They came to Capernaum and, once inside the house,
he began to ask them,
"What were you arguing about on the way?" 
But they remained silent.
For they had been discussing among themselves on the way
who was the greatest. 
Then he sat down, called the Twelve, and said to them,
"If anyone wishes to be first, 
he shall be the last of all and the servant of all." 
Taking a child, he placed it in their midst, 
and putting his arms around it, he said to them,
"Whoever receives one child such as this in my name, receives me;
and whoever receives me,
receives not me but the One who sent me."