Hi Folks,
I was awoken this morning by the sound of storms coming through Cecilia. I turned on the TV and saw that I was not in much danger, but that there were tornadoes in Southern Indiana, in Eminence, Kentucky, and perhaps in Adair County. Later in the morning the news channels were already showing pictures of flattened houses. When I got to the office and read this weekend’s readings, about the houses that were built on rock and sand, it made me think again of my early morning wake up call.
The folks that help promote Habitat for Humanity say that the houses that they build are better built than other houses. There proof is that, when Hurricane Hugo blew ashore just south of Miami, the only houses that survived the devastation were the Habitat homes. There thinking is that both the volunteers that built the houses were so inexperienced at building homes, that when a joint called for two or three nails to be hammered there, they would hammer in 4 or 5 nails. They also believed that their houses were built on the faith in God of those same volunteers. I’m sure that the Habitat homes in Homestead, Florida were built on sandy ground, just like every other building in Florida is built on sandy ground. But, the reason why the Habitat homes survived in areas where no other homes survived has to be their true foundation.
Again the Gospel of Matthew calls us to build our lives on a trusting relationship with God. “Anyone who hears my Words, and puts them into practice, is like the wise man who built his house on the rock.” We can say we are faithful all that we’d like, but until we are willing to take the risk of living our faith we are just making noise. We say that the Church or somebody needs to do more to help others; or it needs to be more involved in respecting all human life; or we need to invite back those who have left the Church because of the abuse scandal or for some other reason; or we need to be more spiritual, or more forgiving, or more responsible, or more aware or the needs of all of its members and the needs of the community. Guess what? If you think that it needs to be done, DO IT! Make it important by committing to it. If it is meant to be then the Holy Spirit and the helping hands of others will make sure it gets done.
Our faith has been built upon the faith of many saints and relatives going before us. We are called today to be the faithful rock for the next generations.
paz,
Fr. Chuck
Monday, February 28, 2011
Monday, February 14, 2011
"Love your Enemas!"
Hi Friends,
I am not a very patient driver. Although I would not classify myself as a road rage warrior, I do fuss and cuss a lot behind the wheel. I get angry when someone cuts me off. And if the windows are down you might hear my temper being expressed toward the offender. I seem to always be in a hurry to get to my destination. So that makes me even more frustrated when another driver impedes me. (It would probably help if I left for destination five minutes earlier!)
A few years ago I attempted something in Lent that sadly didn’t get carried forward after that Easter. Instead of cussing and fussing at my road “enemies”, I resolved to ask God to bless them. I said a prayer for them. Sometimes I even made the sign of the cross towards them as an act of forgiveness and blessing. I’m sure some of them saw this, but I have no idea if it had any effect on the way they drove. BUT it changed me (for 40 days :o( ) and made me a happier driver. (I think I’ve just talked myself into a renewed Lenten penance.)
The Gospel this weekend is a continuation of the Sermon on the Mount. Jesus is still talking to His crowd about how to really live the Commandments. He continues to say, “You have heard it said…., but I say…..” Today, in particular, He addresses revenge and how we must live love. No more “eye for an eye” or only “love your neighbor” Jesus tells us. Instead, we are to turn our cheeks to violence done toward us and love those who wish us and do us harm. YIKES!
Jesus is setting standards for us that will make us stand out as “different” from the rest of the world. Rather than going along with our society’s understanding that justice is the same as revenge, we are called to help people be better in loving ways. Instead of returning violence done to us personally or as a nation with more violence (through torture, the death penalty, or war), we disciples are called to seek compassion, help, and understanding with our “enemy”.
These are hard teachings, but they are the Word of God that most need to be lived in our day and in our time. And they may have to start being lived in the real and practical world of our own day to day lives; on Ring Road or Dixie Highway while we are driving; or in our families with the misfit or rebel child; or in Church with the fellow member that seems to know what button to push that makes us clinch our jaw.
“LOVE YOUR ENEMIES!” The Commandment never changes! But with the help of God we can change.
peace,
Fr. Chuck
I am not a very patient driver. Although I would not classify myself as a road rage warrior, I do fuss and cuss a lot behind the wheel. I get angry when someone cuts me off. And if the windows are down you might hear my temper being expressed toward the offender. I seem to always be in a hurry to get to my destination. So that makes me even more frustrated when another driver impedes me. (It would probably help if I left for destination five minutes earlier!)
A few years ago I attempted something in Lent that sadly didn’t get carried forward after that Easter. Instead of cussing and fussing at my road “enemies”, I resolved to ask God to bless them. I said a prayer for them. Sometimes I even made the sign of the cross towards them as an act of forgiveness and blessing. I’m sure some of them saw this, but I have no idea if it had any effect on the way they drove. BUT it changed me (for 40 days :o( ) and made me a happier driver. (I think I’ve just talked myself into a renewed Lenten penance.)
The Gospel this weekend is a continuation of the Sermon on the Mount. Jesus is still talking to His crowd about how to really live the Commandments. He continues to say, “You have heard it said…., but I say…..” Today, in particular, He addresses revenge and how we must live love. No more “eye for an eye” or only “love your neighbor” Jesus tells us. Instead, we are to turn our cheeks to violence done toward us and love those who wish us and do us harm. YIKES!
Jesus is setting standards for us that will make us stand out as “different” from the rest of the world. Rather than going along with our society’s understanding that justice is the same as revenge, we are called to help people be better in loving ways. Instead of returning violence done to us personally or as a nation with more violence (through torture, the death penalty, or war), we disciples are called to seek compassion, help, and understanding with our “enemy”.
These are hard teachings, but they are the Word of God that most need to be lived in our day and in our time. And they may have to start being lived in the real and practical world of our own day to day lives; on Ring Road or Dixie Highway while we are driving; or in our families with the misfit or rebel child; or in Church with the fellow member that seems to know what button to push that makes us clinch our jaw.
“LOVE YOUR ENEMIES!” The Commandment never changes! But with the help of God we can change.
peace,
Fr. Chuck
Monday, February 7, 2011
Are You Holier Than a 5th Grader?
Hello Friends!
I got to speak to one of our fifth grade classes about sin this past Monday. It was fun seeing again how 10 and 11 year old minds work. I described sin as the New Testament defines it as “missing the mark”. Whenever we attempt or fail to attempt anything that does not reach its ideal target it is a sin, as St. Paul writes about sin. We can miss the mark by a little bit, as in telling a white lie, or in very serious ways, like taking someone’s life or intentionally trying to hurt someone with our words or actions.
What was entertaining to me about talking to the 5th graders about the topic were the questions afterwards. They had all sorts of “what ifs?” Like: “What if a “certain fifth grader” had a “certain little sister” who tried to push the “certain fifth grader” down the stairs. Would the “certain little 3 year old sister” be committing a sin?” Another example was: “If you were working in a haunted house and scared someone so much that they had a heart attack and died, would that be a sin?” Some of the kids were very serious and I could tell that there were behaviors that they or “someone that they knew” needed to be changed.
Jesus talks to us disciples about a needed change in attitude and behavior today also. In the Gospel from St. Matthew Jesus addresses the crowd on the mountain with His teaching about following the “law”. He says, “I have not come to abolish (the law), but fulfill (it).” Then he improves the commandments and Jewish teachings to say that even having the desire to steal, commit adultery, divorce, tell lies or slander, or wish harm upon another person is as sinful as actually following through with the sinful act. His standards for us disciples to follow are necessarily on a higher plane than others. Later He will say, “To whom much has been given, much will be required.” That statement is directed at us, since we have been given the very life, soul, Body, and Blood of Christ. We also have been given the promise of Eternal Life. With such wonderful gifts come huge responsibilities.
The good news is that we are also loved by the most perfect Forgiver that we can imagine. As imperfectly as we attempt to be good disciples and do as Christ teaches, we have a Loving Father Whom always welcomes and heals a contrite heart. This is not permission to sin though. It is an encouragement to try our best and then trust in the Lord.
paz,
Fr. Chuck
I got to speak to one of our fifth grade classes about sin this past Monday. It was fun seeing again how 10 and 11 year old minds work. I described sin as the New Testament defines it as “missing the mark”. Whenever we attempt or fail to attempt anything that does not reach its ideal target it is a sin, as St. Paul writes about sin. We can miss the mark by a little bit, as in telling a white lie, or in very serious ways, like taking someone’s life or intentionally trying to hurt someone with our words or actions.
What was entertaining to me about talking to the 5th graders about the topic were the questions afterwards. They had all sorts of “what ifs?” Like: “What if a “certain fifth grader” had a “certain little sister” who tried to push the “certain fifth grader” down the stairs. Would the “certain little 3 year old sister” be committing a sin?” Another example was: “If you were working in a haunted house and scared someone so much that they had a heart attack and died, would that be a sin?” Some of the kids were very serious and I could tell that there were behaviors that they or “someone that they knew” needed to be changed.
Jesus talks to us disciples about a needed change in attitude and behavior today also. In the Gospel from St. Matthew Jesus addresses the crowd on the mountain with His teaching about following the “law”. He says, “I have not come to abolish (the law), but fulfill (it).” Then he improves the commandments and Jewish teachings to say that even having the desire to steal, commit adultery, divorce, tell lies or slander, or wish harm upon another person is as sinful as actually following through with the sinful act. His standards for us disciples to follow are necessarily on a higher plane than others. Later He will say, “To whom much has been given, much will be required.” That statement is directed at us, since we have been given the very life, soul, Body, and Blood of Christ. We also have been given the promise of Eternal Life. With such wonderful gifts come huge responsibilities.
The good news is that we are also loved by the most perfect Forgiver that we can imagine. As imperfectly as we attempt to be good disciples and do as Christ teaches, we have a Loving Father Whom always welcomes and heals a contrite heart. This is not permission to sin though. It is an encouragement to try our best and then trust in the Lord.
paz,
Fr. Chuck
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