Word

September 17, 2018

One of my favorite parts of the Catholic Mass is when we quote today’s gospel: “Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof, but only say the word, and my soul shall be healed.” I don’t know about you, but I always wonder what particular “word” Jesus would use to heal my soul. Words are such a huge part of my life and to think that with one word, my entire soul would be healed. What word? 

The scene today begins with a Roman centurion who knew of Jesus and was friendly with the Jewish people. A beloved servant of his was ill and so he first went to the practicing religious elders for intercession. They asked Jesus on his behalf saying that he was deserving because he helped build their synagogue. Next, the centurion sent his friends to tell Jesus that he was unworthy to have him enter his home, but if he could just say “the word”, that would be enough to heal his beloved servant. His friends went on to convey to Jesus that the centurion understands the tremendous gift and responsibility that comes with authority and it is this complete reverence for Jesus’ and faith in his power that heals his servant. This Roman centurion had the kind of humility that all the faithful should strive to possess. His love for his employee moved his heart to ask for prayer from his friends, and ultimately his trust in “the word” is what allowed healing to come into his house. 

How amazing and ironic is it, that we quote a Roman centurion (Romans executed Jesus) in our liturgy every day? And to me, it gets very personal when we say, “and MY soul shall be healed.” It really touches me deeply every single time I say it because I want to know what word Jesus would use exactly to heal my soul. This might be a lovely thing to reflect on today. If you could pick one word that would heal your soul…what word would it be? 

Mercy. Love. Forgiveness. Shameless. Freedom. Purity. Joy. Go. Peace. Presence. Now. Done. Bam (LOL). Yes. Be. Come. Turn. Serve. Faith. Well. Humility. 

I find it curious that Jesus does not give a word to the centurion’s friends, but he tells the crowd that he has never seen such faith. Could it be that the word is not an utterance, but the person Himself? I think I just answered my own question. The Word is indeed JESUS and there is power in His Name if we just believe. May we learn from a non-religious centurion how to practice our faith, and may we come to The Word with complete humility so that our beloved ones and our own souls can be healed. And it is well with my soul. 

Reading 1 1 COR 11:17-26, 33

Brothers and sisters:
In giving this instruction, I do not praise the fact
that your meetings are doing more harm than good.
First of all, I hear that when you meet as a Church
there are divisions among you,
and to a degree I believe it;
there have to be factions among you
in order that also those who are approved among you
may become known.
When you meet in one place, then,
it is not to eat the Lord's supper,
for in eating, each one goes ahead with his own supper,
and one goes hungry while another gets drunk.
Do you not have houses in which you can eat and drink?
Or do you show contempt for the Church of God
and make those who have nothing feel ashamed?
What can I say to you? Shall I praise you?
In this matter I do not praise you.

For I received from the Lord what I also handed on to you,
that the Lord Jesus, on the night he was handed over,
took bread and, after he had given thanks,
broke it and said, "This is my Body that is for you.
Do this in remembrance of me."
In the same way also the cup, after supper, saying,
"This cup is the new covenant in my Blood.
Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me."
For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup,
you proclaim the death of the Lord until he comes.

Therefore, my brothers and sisters,
when you come together to eat, wait for one another.

Responsorial Psalm PS 40:7-8A, 8B-9, 10, 17

R. (1 Cor 11:26b) Proclaim the death of the Lord until he comes again.
Sacrifice or oblation you wished not,
but ears open to obedience you gave me.
Burnt offerings or sin offerings you sought not;
then said I, "Behold I come."
R. Proclaim the death of the Lord until he comes again.
"In the written scroll it is prescribed for me,
To do your will, O my God, is my delight,
and your law is within my heart!"
R. Proclaim the death of the Lord until he comes again.
I announced your justice in the vast assembly;
I did not restrain my lips, as you, O LORD, know.
R. Proclaim the death of the Lord until he comes again.
May all who seek you
exult and be glad in you
And may those who love your salvation
say ever, "The LORD be glorified."
R. Proclaim the death of the Lord until he comes again.

Alleluia JN 3:16

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
God so loved the world that he gave his only-begotten Son,
so that everyone who believes in him might have eternal life.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel LK 7:1-10

When Jesus had finished all his words to the people,
he entered Capernaum.
A centurion there had a slave who was ill and about to die,
and he was valuable to him.
When he heard about Jesus, he sent elders of the Jews to him,
asking him to come and save the life of his slave.
They approached Jesus and strongly urged him to come, saying,
"He deserves to have you do this for him,
for he loves our nation and he built the synagogue for us."
And Jesus went with them,
but when he was only a short distance from the house,
the centurion sent friends to tell him,
"Lord, do not trouble yourself,
for I am not worthy to have you enter under my roof.
Therefore, I did not consider myself worthy to come to you;
but say the word and let my servant be healed.
For I too am a person subject to authority,
with soldiers subject to me.
And I say to one, 'Go,' and he goes;
and to another, 'Come here,' and he comes;
and to my slave, 'Do this,' and he does it."
When Jesus heard this he was amazed at him
and, turning, said to the crowd following him,
"I tell you, not even in Israel have I found such faith."
When the messengers returned to the house,
they found the slave in good health.

Be

September 15, 2018

As I was reflecting on today’s gospel, it occurred to me that the word “be” has been a significant bookend/anchor in the life of Mary. From her initial encounter with the Angel Gabriel to her final farewell with her son to ultimately in her meeting Jesus after his resurrection: “How can this be?” “Be it done unto me according to your word”, “Woman, behold your son”, “Peace be with you”, “Be not afraid”. Perhaps this word, “be”, can also serve as a central theme for us in our spiritual lives.  Being is our very basic call to be fully alive. We don’t need to “do” anything to earn His love, His favor, or His attention. Our being is our essence and that essence is unique to each and every one of us. God has created us out of His pure and unconditional love to “be” that unique, irreplaceable, perfect work of art. To “be” is to “be” loved and to love. Then why is it so hard? The world replaces the word “be” with the word “do” and then we suddenly find ourselves becoming defined by works, or titles, or resumes, or popularity, or accomplishments, etc. Doing is not God’s vision for us…be still and know that I am God (Psalm 46:10). 

How can I incorporate this into my spiritual life? When I pray I can ask, “How can this be?” giving God my concerns and asking Him to show me how. When I’m in doubt I can say, “Let it be done according to your will and not mine.” Obedience is the key to spiritual freedom, which seems like a contradiction doesn’t it, but obedience to God’s will sets us free (LOL, the word oBEdience has the word “be” in it!!). When I am sad, or in despair, and need to lay my burdens down at the foot of the cross, I need to listen when Jesus says, “Be-hold each other.” We are the hands and feet of Christ and we need to “be” Jesus by holding each other up in times of darkness, loneliness, suffering, and loss. When I’m in the battle, I need to hear, “Peace be with you.” When others are in turmoil, I need to bring, “Peace be with you.” Jesus offers a greeting of peace in every encounter most especially after the resurrection and our call is to allow that peace to “be” our greeting as well. Finally, when I’m afraid, insecure, anxious, or weary, I need to “be not afraid.” This last “be” requires trust, which comes from a living faith, which comes from “being” held in my relationship with God.

Today, Mary and John (the beloved one) teach us a beautiful way of living: behold Him, be held, be light, be mercy, be peace, be not afraid, be forgiveness, be still, be love, be obedient, be holy, and be well. The best news about today’s message is that we don’t have to “do” anything, just “be” and it is well with my soul. 

Memorial of Our Lady of Sorrows
Lectionary: 442/639

Reading 1 1 COR 10:14-22

My beloved ones, avoid idolatry.
I am speaking as to sensible people;
judge for yourselves what I am saying.
The cup of blessing that we bless,
is it not a participation in the Blood of Christ?
The bread that we break,
is it not a participation in the Body of Christ?
Because the loaf of bread is one,
we, though many, are one Body,
for we all partake of the one loaf.

Look at Israel according to the flesh;
are not those who eat the sacrifices participants in the altar?
So what am I saying?
That meat sacrificed to idols is anything?
Or that an idol is anything?
No, I mean that what they sacrifice,
they sacrifice to demons, not to God,
and I do not want you to become participants with demons.
You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and also the cup of demons.
You cannot partake of the table of the Lord and of the table of demons.
Or are we provoking the Lord to jealous anger?
Are we stronger than him?

Responsorial Psalm PS 116:12-13, 17-18

R. (17) To you, Lord, I will offer a sacrifice of praise.
How shall I make a return to the LORD
for all the good he has done for me?
The cup of salvation I will take up,
and I will call upon the name of the LORD.
R. To you, Lord, I will offer a sacrifice of praise.
To you will I offer sacrifice of thanksgiving,
and I will call upon the name of the LORD.
My vows to the LORD I will pay
in the presence of all his people.
R. To you, Lord, I will offer a sacrifice of praise.

Alleluia

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Blessed are you, O Virgin Mary;
without dying you won the Martyr's crown
beneath the Cross of the Lord.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel JN 19:25-27

Standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother
and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas,
and Mary Magdalene.
When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple there whom he loved
he said to his mother, "Woman, behold, your son."
Then he said to the disciple,
"Behold, your mother."
And from that hour the disciple took her into his home.

My Only

September 14, 2018

Have you ever had something that you called “my only”? Is there one treasure of your heart that you would like to hold there forever? Do you have a person, a memory, an experience, or a prized possession that means more to you than anything else? One of my favorite scriptures is, “Wherever your treasure is, there also your heart will be.” (Matthew 6:21) These treasures that we store in the depths of our souls give us our spiritual pulse, and our meaning. They anchor us to our identity and they give comfort us when we have lost ourselves. A treasure that I consider “my only” is my dad’s prayer journal that my mom found after he had died. It is a book that he filled with his favorite scripture, inspirational quotes, funny anecdotes, and lots and lots of prayers. Whenever I am in a place of doubt, darkness, insecurity, or despair, I pull out “my only” and read love letters hand written from my dad and somehow I know that all will be well. I would NEVER give this treasure away. 

Today’s gospel reminds us how big God’s love is for each one of us. He gives us “His Only”. He gives us the treasure of His heart. He gives us His Son so that we can be anchored in our identity, and comforted when we get lost. He gives us His everything so that when we are in doubt, darkness, insecurity, or despair, we can read the love letters hand written by our Good Good Father and somehow know that all will be well. Jesus is our spiritual pulse and our meaning, and God gives Jesus to ALL of us. Can you imagine giving your “my only” to anyone, let alone people that you knew would dishonor it, not cherish it, ignore it, and even destroy it? God has trusted you and me with His “My Only” to share, to cherish, and to hold up for all to see. This exultation of God’s “My Only” will be a witness for all who despair, all who are lost, and all who need love. We have the tremendous privilege to hold this treasure as our “my only” and the sole requirement to keeping it is to give it away, “So much the Son of Man be lifted up, so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life. For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him might not perish, but might have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.” 

Wherever your treasure is, there also your heart will be, and God has given us His heart, His “My Only”, so that we will be saved, and it is well with my soul. 

Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross
Lectionary: 638 

Reading 1 NM 21:4B-9

With their patience worn out by the journey,
the people complained against God and Moses,
"Why have you brought us up from Egypt to die in this desert,
where there is no food or water?
We are disgusted with this wretched food!"

In punishment the LORD sent among the people saraph serpents,
which bit the people so that many of them died.
Then the people came to Moses and said,
"We have sinned in complaining against the LORD and you.
Pray the LORD to take the serpents from us."
So Moses prayed for the people, and the LORD said to Moses,
"Make a saraph and mount it on a pole,
and if any who have been bitten look at it, they will live."
Moses accordingly made a bronze serpent and mounted it on a pole,
and whenever anyone who had been bitten by a serpent 
looked at the bronze serpent, he lived. 

Responsorial Psalm PS 78:1BC-2, 34-35, 36-37, 38

R. (see 7b) Do not forget the works of the Lord!
Hearken, my people, to my teaching;
incline your ears to the words of my mouth.
I will open my mouth in a parable,
I will utter mysteries from of old.
R. Do not forget the works of the Lord!While he slew them they sought him
and inquired after God again,
Remembering that God was their rock
and the Most High God, their redeemer.
R. Do not forget the works of the Lord!
But they flattered him with their mouths
and lied to him with their tongues,
Though their hearts were not steadfast toward him,
nor were they faithful to his covenant.
R. Do not forget the works of the Lord!
But he, being merciful, forgave their sin
and destroyed them not;
Often he turned back his anger
and let none of his wrath be roused.
R. Do not forget the works of the Lord!

Reading 2 PHIL 2:6-11

Brothers and sisters:
Christ Jesus, though he was in the form of God,
did not regard equality with God something to be grasped.
Rather, he emptied himself,
taking the form of a slave,
coming in human likeness;
and found human in appearance,
he humbled himself,
becoming obedient to death,
even death on a cross.
Because of this, God greatly exalted him
and bestowed on him the name
that is above every name,
that at the name of Jesus
every knee should bend,
of those in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue confess that
Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.

Alleluia

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you,
because by your Cross you have redeemed the world.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel JN 3:13-17

Jesus said to Nicodemus:
"No one has gone up to heaven
except the one who has come down from heaven, the Son of Man.
And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert,
so must the Son of Man be lifted up,
so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life."

For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son,
so that everyone who believes in him might not perish
but might have eternal life.
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world,
but that the world might be saved through him. 

God Loves Him As Much As He Loves Me

September 19, 2018

I remember the day Charles Manson died very distinctly because as his picture flashed across my TV, my first reaction was to look away as I never really wanted to look at his eyes, however, something in me moved and I thought to myself, “God loves him as much as he loves me.” My world changed in that one instant and today’s gospel came to mind. “Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.” I can’t get that sentence out of my mind, “God loves him as much as he loves me.” How? God’s love is bigger than our sin. God’s love is unconditional. God’s love is perfect. God’s love is for everyone. I am called to love as God loves. We are the hands and feet of Christ and as long as we claim to be Christians, we MUST love this way or we dishonor the Name of Jesus. Yikes. Yikes. Yikes. It’s so very hard especially when the media is filled with vile things done by broken people. How can we fathom kindness, blessings, and prayer for such people? We can’t without grace and without a relationship with Jesus. 

I know that internally I try to start making all kinds of exceptions to this gospel, “surely he can’t mean this person or that politician or that terrorist or that backstabber or that mass murderer or that person who disagrees with my opinion, and the list goes on.” But, guess what? He means “everybody always” (Bob Goff). He also gives us an action plan that will help us grow in this kind of supernatural love: “To the person who strikes you on one cheek, offer the other one as well, and from the person who takes your cloak, do not withhold even your tunic. Give to every who asks of you, and from the one who takes what is yours do not demand it back. Do to others, as you would have them do to you. For if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do the same. If you lend money to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners and get back the same amount. But rather, love your enemies and do good to them, and lend expecting nothing back.” If we are to love like God loves, we need to practice the above, “for He Himself is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked. Be merciful, just as also your Father is merciful.” I know this is completely counter cultural for us and it seems literally absurd, but it’s no joke friends, this is how Jesus wants us to act and this is how God loves us. 

I’ll just close the way Jesus closes today’s difficult teaching, “Stop judging and you will not be judged. Stop condemning and you will not be condemned. Forgive and you will be forgiven. Give and gifts will be given to you; a good measure, packed together, shaken down, and overflowing, will be poured into your lap. For the measure with which you measure will in return be measured out to you.” I don’t know about you, but I want and need all the forgiveness, mercy, and gifts I can get. I also love Jesus with all my heart and if he is telling me to do these things, I WANT to do them. This is when it gets real and this is when it gets real difficult. I think for me, I will begin with the action plan of loving unreservedly, expecting nothing in return, and then hopefully, loving my enemies, blessing those who hate me, and praying for those who mistreat me will become my standard of living. God loves them as much as He loves me, and thank goodness! It is well with my soul. 

Reading 1 1 COR 8:1B-7, 11-13

Brothers and sisters:
Knowledge inflates with pride, but love builds up.
If anyone supposes he knows something,
he does not yet know as he ought to know.
But if one loves God, one is known by him.

So about the eating of meat sacrificed to idols:
we know that there is no idol in the world,
and that there is no God but one.
Indeed, even though there are so-called gods in heaven and on earth
(there are, to be sure, many "gods" and many "lords"),
yet for us there is 

one God, the Father,
from whom all things are and for whom we exist,
and one Lord, Jesus Christ,
through whom all things are and through whom we exist.

But not all have this knowledge.
There are some who have been so used to idolatry up until now
that, when they eat meat sacrificed to idols,
their conscience, which is weak, is defiled.

Thus, through your knowledge, the weak person is brought to destruction,
the brother for whom Christ died.
When you sin in this way against your brothers
and wound their consciences, weak as they are,
you are sinning against Christ.
Therefore, if food causes my brother to sin,
I will never eat meat again,
so that I may not cause my brother to sin.

Responsorial Psalm PS 139:1B-3, 13-14AB, 23-24

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.
Truly you have formed my inmost being;
you knit me in my mother's womb.
I give you thanks that I am fearfully, wonderfully made;
wonderful are your works.
R. Guide me, Lord, along the everlasting way.
Probe me, O God, and know my heart;
try me, and know my thoughts;
See if my way is crooked,
and lead me in the way of old.
R. Guide me, Lord, along the everlasting way.

Alleluia 1 JN 4:12

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
If we love one another,
God remains in us,
and his love is brought to perfection in us.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel LK 6:27-38

Jesus said to his disciples:
"To you who hear I say, love your enemies,
do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you,
pray for those who mistreat you.
To the person who strikes you on one cheek,
offer the other one as well,
and from the person who takes your cloak,
do not withhold even your tunic.
Give to everyone who asks of you,
and from the one who takes what is yours do not demand it back.
Do to others as you would have them do to you.
For if you love those who love you,
what credit is that to you?
Even sinners love those who love them.
And if you do good to those who do good to you,
what credit is that to you?
Even sinners do the same.
If you lend money to those from whom you expect repayment,
what credit is that to you?
Even sinners lend to sinners,
and get back the same amount. 
But rather, love your enemies and do good to them,
and lend expecting nothing back;
then your reward will be great
and you will be children of the Most High,
for he himself is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked.
Be merciful, just as also your Father is merciful.

"Stop judging and you will not be judged.
Stop condemning and you will not be condemned.
Forgive and you will be forgiven.
Give and gifts will be given to you;
a good measure, packed together, shaken down, and overflowing,
will be poured into your lap.
For the measure with which you measure
will in return be measured out to you."

Break My Heart For What Breaks Yours

September 12, 2018

Today’s gospel is yet another reminder for me to do some personal spiritual inventory. Am I poor or do I feast constantly on pride and excessiveness? Am I hungry for a deeper relationship with God or do I simply go through the motions thinking that the bare minimum is enough? Does my heart break for the things that break God’s heart or do I look past opportunities for compassion? Do I ignore people’s judgment (true or false) of me or do I obsess over what people think of me to the point that it turns into pride? If I’m being honest, I kind of double dip from both lists…the blessed(s) and the woe(s). I’d like to only live according to the blessed(s). How? I truly think that prayer and fasting is a beautiful way to get back to these basics. 

Time for prayer allows me to hear the still small voice of God and to know that first and foremost I am loved unconditionally by Him and He is truly all I need. When this knowledge is at the heart of everything I do, then riches, and people’s approval, and being satiated, will seem trivial compared to being close to Jesus. Prayer gives me the anchor, the deep roots, and the true north to stay the course especially when life gets hard. Prayer is the feast that gives me the heart to be poor, hungry, tenderhearted, and true. Fasting helps me to grow in the kind of self-control that leads to deeper holiness. When we are practiced at denying ourselves simple things, then we can also turn away from bigger things that would impede our closeness to God such as pride, gluttony, and greed. The caution with both of these spiritual practices is to do them from a place of love rather than a place of fear. Everything we do, practice, and live should be anchored in love and never in religiosity. 

Today Jesus calls us to be blessed and it is well with my soul. 

Reading 1 1 COR 7:25-31

Brothers and sisters:
In regard to virgins, I have no commandment from the Lord,
but I give my opinion as one who by the Lord's mercy is trustworthy.
So this is what I think best because of the present distress:
that it is a good thing for a person to remain as he is.
Are you bound to a wife? Do not seek a separation.
Are you free of a wife? Then do not look for a wife.
If you marry, however, you do not sin,
nor does an unmarried woman sin if she marries;
but such people will experience affliction in their earthly life,
and I would like to spare you that.

I tell you, brothers, the time is running out.
From now on, let those having wives act as not having them,
those weeping as not weeping, 
those rejoicing as not rejoicing,
those buying as not owning,
those using the world as not using it fully.
For the world in its present form is passing away.

Responsorial Psalm PS 45:11-12, 14-15, 16-17

R. (11) Listen to me, daughter; see and bend your ear.
Hear, O daughter, and see; turn your ear,
forget your people and your father's house.
So shall the king desire your beauty;
for he is your lord, and you must worship him.
R. Listen to me, daughter; see and bend your ear.
All glorious is the king's daughter as she enters;
her raiment is threaded with spun gold.
In embroidered apparel she is borne in to the king;
behind her the virgins of her train are brought to you.
R. Listen to me, daughter; see and bend your ear.
They are borne in with gladness and joy;
they enter the palace of the king.
The place of your fathers your sons shall have;
you shall make them princes through all the land.
R. Listen to me, daughter; see and bend your ear.

Alleluia LK 6:23AB

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Rejoice and leap for joy!
Your reward will be great in heaven.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel LK 6:20-26

Raising his eyes toward his disciples Jesus said:
"Blessed are you who are poor,
for the Kingdom of God is yours.
Blessed are you who are now hungry,
for you will be satisfied.
Blessed are you who are now weeping,
for you will laugh.
Blessed are you when people hate you,
and when they exclude and insult you,
and denounce your name as evil
on account of the Son of Man.

Rejoice and leap for joy on that day!
Behold, your reward will be great in heaven. 
For their ancestors treated the prophets
in the same way.

But woe to you who are rich,
for you have received your consolation.
But woe to you who are filled now,
for you will be hungry.
Woe to you who laugh now,
for you will grieve and weep.
Woe to you when all speak well of you,
for their ancestors treated the false 
prophets in this way."

Tuxedo Shirt Jesus

September 7, 2018

There is a slightly irreverent but sweet scene in the cheesy movie called Talladega Nightswhen the main character Ricky Bobby, played by Will Ferrell, is leading grace before his family dinner. Here is the abbreviated version. 

Ricky Bobby: Dear Lord Baby Jesus, or as our brothers to the south call you, Jesús, we thank you so much for this bountiful harvest of Domino’s, KFC, and the always delicious Taco Bell…… 

His Wife Chimes in:Hey, you know, sweetie, Jesus did grow up. You don’t always have to call him “baby.” It’s a bit odd and off-putting to pray to a baby. 

Ricky Bobby:Well, I like the Christmas Jesus best and I’m saying grace. When you say grace you can say it to grownup Jesus, or teenage Jesus, or bearded Jesus or whoever you want. 

Ricky Bobby:Dear tiny Jesus, in your golden fleece diapers, with your tiny, little, fat, balled-up fists…. 

Ricky’s Friend Cal:I like to picture Jesus in a tuxedo t-shirt, cause it says, like, “I wanna be formal, but I’m here to party, too.” Cause I like to party, so I like my Jesus to party. 

Ricky Bobby:Okay. Dear 8 pound, 6 ounce newborn infant Jesus, don’t even know a word yet, just a little infant and so cuddly, but still omnipotent, we just thank you….

What does this have to do with today’s gospel you ask? Well, I especially love the line that Ricky Bobby’s friend Cal says about picturing Jesus in a tuxedo t-shirt, and I actually have the words “tuxedo t-shirt” notated in my Bible for this particular gospel. The Pharisees are testing Jesus again and commenting that, “The disciples of John the Baptist fast often and offer prayers, and the disciples of the Pharisees do the same; but yours eat and drink.” Jesus comes back with, “Can you make the wedding guests fast while the bridegroom is with them? But the days will come, and when the bridegroom is taken away from them, then they will fast in those days.” DING, DING, DING: tuxedo t-shirt Jesus!!! In one sentence he basically says, “I wanna be formal (as in I am the bridegroom) but I’m here to party (because I am the host of the party).” I know that I am taking some pretty strong liberties with this one, but my point is that a life with Christ is never dull. His love is extravagant and he pours it on lavishly to each one of us. We have the opportunity to receive it or to block it. Jesus uses a simple metaphor like a wedding feast to demonstrate that a life with him is an extravagant celebration and that we should feast abundantly on the time we spend with him. There will be days when we are far away from him and on those days, we will be sober and not ready to party. 

The good news is that Jesus is always with us, whether we recognize him or not. The bridegroom is wearing his tuxedo t-shirt at all times as a sign that he wants us to celebrate at the table with him, in him, and through him. He ends his gospel with a pretty big dis on the Pharisees, “No one tears a piece from a new cloak to patch an old one. Otherwise, he will tear the new and the piece from it will not match the old cloak. Likewise, no one pours new wine into old wineskins. Otherwise, the new wine will burst the skins, and it will be spilled, and the skins will be ruined. Rather, new wine must be poured into fresh wineskins. And no one who has been drinking old wine desires new, for he says, ‘The old is good.’” Raise your hand if you’ve ever heard the phrase, “But we’ve always done it this way”? Well, tuxedo t-shirt Jesus is very clearly telling the Pharisees that he is the New Covenant. Life with Christ is not stationary and it is always moving forward. When we get complacent we become like the old wineskins that can only accommodate old wine. Jesus wants us to be new creations in his extravagant love that is waiting for us at a great banquet where we will all eat and drink with our bridegroom. 

One thing I’ve learned to embrace from working with memory care elderly (dementia and Alzheimer’s) is that everything, every moment, and every experience is constantly new. They have a sense of awe and wonder that those of us with intact memories do not have. They truly live in God’s time, which is right here and now always. As I serve them, I have no choice but to be in the present with them and in that I get to experience the glory of Christ as the New Covenant. The wine we share is fresh and life giving. They are not tainted by the past, the routine, the “we’ve always done it this way”, and because they stand on holy ground, I also get to stand on the sacred that God gives us in this present moment. My memory care friends teach me to love extravagantly right now and that is what tuxedo Jesus with new wineskins calls us to do today and it is well with my soul. 

Reading 1 1 COR 4:1-5

Brothers and sisters:
Thus should one regard us: as servants of Christ
and stewards of the mysteries of God. 
Now it is of course required of stewards
that they be found trustworthy.
It does not concern me in the least
that I be judged by you or any human tribunal;
I do not even pass judgment on myself;
I am not conscious of anything against me,
but I do not thereby stand acquitted;
the one who judges me is the Lord.
Therefore, do not make any judgment before the appointed time,
until the Lord comes,
for he will bring to light what is hidden in darkness
and will manifest the motives of our hearts,
and then everyone will receive praise from God.

Responsorial Psalm PS 37:3-4, 5-6, 27-28, 39-40

R. (39a) The salvation of the just comes from the Lord.
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. The salvation of the just comes from the Lord.
Commit to the LORD your way;
trust in him, and he will act.
He will make justice dawn for you like the light;
bright as the noonday shall be your vindication.
R. The salvation of the just comes from the Lord.
Turn from evil and do good,
that you may abide forever;
For the LORD loves what is right,
and forsakes not his faithful ones.
Criminals are destroyed 
and the posterity of the wicked is cut off.
R. The salvation of the just comes from the Lord.
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. The salvation of the just comes from the Lord.

Alleluia JN 8:12

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
I am the light of the world, says the Lord;
whoever follows me will have the light of life.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel LK 5:33-39

The scribes and Pharisees said to Jesus,
"The disciples of John the Baptist fast often and offer prayers,
and the disciples of the Pharisees do the same;
but yours eat and drink."
Jesus answered them, "Can you make the wedding guests fast
while the bridegroom is with them?
But the days will come, and when the bridegroom is taken away from them,
then they will fast in those days."
And he also told them a parable.
"No one tears a piece from a new cloak to patch an old one.
Otherwise, he will tear the new
and the piece from it will not match the old cloak.
Likewise, no one pours new wine into old wineskins.
Otherwise, the new wine will burst the skins,
and it will be spilled, and the skins will be ruined.
Rather, new wine must be poured into fresh wineskins.
And no one who has been drinking old wine desires new,
for he says, 'The old is good.'"