Don’t Do It!

“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.’" (Mark 9:43-48)

Before you decide to become a pirate with a peg leg, a hook for a hand and an eye patch, let me tell you what Jesus meant in today’s gospel. This is how the priest opened his homily today. It caught our attention and was a great use of imagery. The thing that God wants us to cut out of our lives is our sin. There are many reasons we may not want to let go of our sin. Maybe it brings us moments of pleasure; maybe it has become a habit that we can’t seem to break; or maybe it has allowed us to become prosperous and obtain great wealth or status. No matter what the “good” reason is for not wanting to give up our sin, there are always negative consequences to sin. Even though we may like a particular sin there is always an element of shame in our heart, because we weren’t meant for sin. Sometimes we may need to look for it because our sin has blinded us from this truth. Letting go of our sin may mean we have to let go of a friendship or relationship that we have had for a long time and we’re not sure how we are going to get by without that person in our life. Maybe our sin is the result of lies we’ve been told that we have come to believe. We believe that we are worthless so it doesn’t matter that we have sex with whomever.

Sometimes we are tired of our sin but don’t know how to get out of the spiral of darkness that it has led us to. There is nothing that we have done, no situation that we are in that will prevent God from loving us. There is no reason to continue the battle alone. We have all been redeemed by Christ’s death on the cross. We don’t need to be afraid of the light of truth. Sin loves darkness and wants us to stay there, drawing us further and further away from the light of God’s love. Let our heads be bowed in humble reverence for our Savior instead of in shame from our sin. It is only His love that can free us from the bonds of sin. He can make us whole; I don’t have to stay a broken girl.

He Became Sin

“He became sin who knew no sin that we might become His righteousness, he humbled himself and carried the cross, love so amazing. Jesus Messiah, name above all name, Blessed Redeemer, Emmanuel. The rescue for sinners, the ransom from heaven, Jesus Messiah, Lord of all.” ~ Lyrics to Jesus Messiah by Christ Tomlin

I remember the first time I heard this song I thought, why would he say that? Jesus never sinned. He came to put and end to the separation of man from God that was the result of sin. We hear in scripture that Jesus was like us in all ways but sin. When I asked a priest about this he told me that these words were from scripture. “For our sake he made him to be sin who did not know sin, so that we might become the righteousness of God in him.” (2 Corinthians 5:21) This was an eye-opener for me. But as I reflected on it, it made perfect sense. So this past weekend, someone was speaking about prayer at RCIA and she mentioned several times that God can’t be where sin is. I kept wanting to raise my hand and say that isn't true and the scripture from second Corinthians kept coming to mind.

The reason there is any hope for us is because God is willing to enter into our sin. When I am sinning, I chose my sin over God. My selfishness takes precedence over my Lord and Savior. But God is always there. We are reminded over and over throughout scripture that God is always there, he will never leave us no matter what we do. God is in our darkest moments which are often the result of sin, ours or someone else’s. If God isn’t present in the midst of our sin, how are we to ever get out of it? We can’t do it on our own. One of the reasons we often get stuck in our sin is because we think we can do it on our own. We don’t want God to see the ugliness in our heart so we try to be good; we try to straighten up our act before presenting ourselves to God. But when we do this, we’ve got it all wrong. We have to humble ourselves before God, we need to lay it all at His feet; all of us, especially the sinful, selfish, prideful part of us. The other scripture that kept coming to mind when she was talking was, “Where sin increased, grace overflowed all the more.” (Romans 5:20)God’s grace is sufficient for all things, especially when we are caught up in the desires of our flesh instead of living as faithful men and women. God hears our cries and he is always faithful. 

Only What We Need

“Provide me only with the food I need.” (Proverbs 30:8) 

There is so much wisdom in these words. When we fail to keep our eyes focused on today then we easily lose sight of God. In the Our Father, the perfect prayer given to us by Christ himself, we pray to give us this day our daily bread because this is all we need. When we look ahead we often get anxious especially when things are tight financially. How are we going to pay for our son’s college? What if the electricity is turned off in the midst of the sweltering Texas heat? When my husband’s company closed down I had to fight the anxiety that sometimes filled my heart. The more I prayed for peace and focused on the gifts God had given us each day, the less anxious I was. I knew in my head that God always provides but I began to believe it in my heart, too, and that made a huge difference.

“Have no anxiety at all, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, make your request known to God. Then the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. ” (Philippians 4:6-7)

“Give me neither poverty nor riches; lest being full I deny you, saying, ‘Who is the Lord?’ Or, being in want, I steal, and profane the name of my God.” (Proverbs 30:8-9)

It is often in the extremes of life that we stumble. When things are going well, according to the world’s standards, we are healthy and have a great job making lots of money so we can buy whatever we want, take trips, party, etc. During these times we often inflate our ego. We become prideful and think that these things are the result of our own doing and forget to be thankful. Or we may know that they are gifts from God but somehow think we deserve them or have earned them by being good. We forget to use the gifts that God has given us for His glory, not our own. We feed our own wants instead of those truly in need. And during the other extremes we often lose sight of our Maker; when life is hard and we don’t know where our next meal is going to come from or how we are going to pay for our medication or get to work because our car is out of gas or broken down. We don’t know how we are going to get through the day without our loved one who has died or endure another night of abuse. During these times it is easy to fall into despair and curse God. So we pray for the grace to get through each day trusting that God will always provide. Sometimes we pray to get through the next few minutes because getting through the day seems overwhelming. May we pray that we remain humble and when the Lord blesses us abundantly that we share our treasures with those in need. This is the way of righteousness. 

He Directs Our Paths

“Like a stream is the king’s heart in the hands of the Lord; wherever it pleases him, he directs it.” (Proverbs 21:1)

This passage reminds me of when I was a child. I was a tomboy and was always climbing trees and playing in the creek. One thing that I loved to do was put rocks or sticks in the stream and watch how I could direct where the stream was to go. This image can be seen as an example of how the Lord guides our hearts. He leads us along the path to righteousness and even if he leads us toward rocky ground or over steep cliffs, he is always with us, his hand is ever near, guiding us. But when we are living in sin and don’t want to live our lives in the truth we can see this as God interfering. We are annoyed when he places something in our path to lead us to him and see it as an obstacle to our goals and desires and we are determined to get around it or knock it down. Or maybe, we want to follow Christ but only if it is easy. We want to gently and easily move toward heaven and get frustrated when we are faced with obstacles. Who knows where the Lord will lead us when we allow him to take charge but one thing is for sure, he always leads us to holiness.

In scripture we often hear about life-giving water. If we allow our hearts to be like a stream that the Lord directs; then we will be life-giving water to those who are placed in our lives. This life-giving water needs to be directed toward those who are thirsty; those who continually seek things that are empty, just a mirage. This life-giving water needs to go into the desert to set the captives free. Who in our life is the Lord leading us to? It may be the hungry on the streets and we are called to feed them at the soup kitchen with a heart of love and compassion. Maybe the Lord is directing us to the sick or the lonely. I know my vocation, caring for children stricken with cancer, is where the Lord has led me and I have embraced this but it is not an easy path. It is full of many heartaches and much sorrow, yet it is also filled with daily miracles, love, courage and hope.  Maybe the people that the Lord is directing us to are in our own family. Maybe a family member has strayed from the Church and we are called to guide them back through our example of faithfulness and love. And just maybe, it is our spouse who is being drawn to the Lord through our love for the Lord and our perseverance through difficult times.

“For the unbelieving husband is made holy through his wife.” (1 Corinthians 7:14)

Servant of All

“’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 a child such as this in my name, receives me; and whoever receives me, receives not me but the One who sent me.’” (Mark 9:35-37)

These are the words that Jesus spoke to the disciples after he heard them discussing among themselves who was the greatest. The world’s idea of greatest is different from Christ’s definition of greatness. In the world, greatness is all about prestige and power, often at the expense of others. It is selfish ambition that drives so many people and they often leave a path of destruction and wounded people along the way to what they perceive as greatness. But as Christians we are called to a life of service, one that calls us to be unselfish. We have to go against our tendency to be affirmed and loved by others. We need to humbly call upon God to deliver us from our self-seeking and instead seek to fulfill His will.

I heard someone say today that, the character of a person is best revealed in how they treat a person who can neither help them nor harm them. This is why Jesus uses the example of the child in today’s gospel. Children are vulnerable and there is no benefit in giving special treatment to a child because they have no power or authority. When we treat others with love and compassion, especially when it offers no recognition for our efforts and at times causes others to mock us, then we are living as Christ lived. As disciples we are called to study Jesus’ life and words, we seek to follow his ways, especially the way of the cross. Jesus chose “the humiliation of his Passion and shameful death in order to deliver us to life. Jesus’ choice challenges our priorities…in the Eucharist, let us empty ourselves of pride, ambition, and all self-seeking, that we may be filled with the life Christ won for us through the cross.”  ~Magnificat

Love Never Fails

“Love is patient, love is kind. It is not jealous, love is not pompous, it is not inflated, it is not rude, it does not seek its own interests, it is not quick-tempered, it does not brood over injury, it does not rejoice over wrongdoing but rejoices with the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.” (1 Corinthians 13:4-6)

There is so much to reflect on in today’s reading from St. Paul to the Corinthians. We have heard this scripture passage many times, often at weddings. As it was being read today during Mass, each description of what love is, reminded me of the times that I haven’t shown love. The times I’ve been impatient with others and even myself; the times I’ve been unkind and hurtful; when I’ve been jealous and rude; when I’ve allowed my temper to get the best of me and refusing to let go of hurts (this one I struggle with often). It reminds us that we can do all sorts of great things but none of them mean anything unless they are done with love. Everything we do should be for the glory of God, from the little things like giving your child a hug for no particular reason or leaving a note for your spouse telling them to have a good day and that you love them. We get so caught up in the business of our lives that we forget how much a little gesture like this means to others. I was doing an evaluation on a co-worker who works in public relations for my department. One of the things I mentioned was that she always takes the time to handwrite a note of thanks anytime that I have volunteered for an activity in our department. This one thing has such a big impact on me and others.

Love never fails! If we do things out of love it will never be in vain. Sometimes we don’t think that our actions make a difference especially if they are rejected or people take advantage of our generosity. We have to remember that we are all broken and we all struggle to receive love at times. None of us know how to love perfectly like Christ does but we must always strive to love like this. Even Christ’s perfect love was often rejected. St. Paul goes on to say, “for we know partially and we prophesy partially, but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away.” (1 Corinthians 13:9-10) A friend once commented that heaven better be worth all this suffering and heartache she has been experiencing. I told her that we only have a glimpse of the glory to come. All the beautiful things that we hear or read about heaven are nothing compared to what the future has in store. Our minds can’t even begin to comprehend the greatness of God. But one day, “I shall know fully, as I am fully known.” (13:12) God knows us better than we know ourselves and one day we will know God and ourselves completely. We will be made whole.

In Communion

In today’s reading, St. Paul is not pleased with the Corinthians. He tells them that they are doing more harm than good. Rather than there being community among the Church when it gathers together, there is division. They are not gathering together in communion to celebrate the Lord’s Supper but rather individually and selfishly. There is no regard for others and there is a lack of sacredness for the Eucharist. He speaks of drunkenness and making those who have nothing feel ashamed. The purpose of the Church is to bring us together as one in union with Christ. We don’t celebrate in the Eucharist only for ourselves and to be nourished individually. We celebrate in the Eucharist as a community. At the beginning of Mass, during the Penitential Act we call upon, “the Blessed Virgin Mary, all the angels and the saints, and you, my brothers and sisters, to pray for me to the Lord our God”. Throughout the Mass we praise and glorify God as a community. During Eucharistic Prayer II we hear these words, “humbly we pray that, partaking of the Body and Blood of Christ, we may be gathered into one by the Holy Spirit.” These are just a few examples of the many prayers that are said throughout the Mass that remind us that we are in this together.

“’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.” (1 Corinthians 11: 24-26, 33)

The breaking of the bread and the drinking of the cup is described as a remembrance or commemoration. The observance of this remembrance was intended to constantly remind the disciples that Christ offered himself as a sacrifice and died on the cross for them.  When we partake in the Eucharist we are participating in Christ’s sacrifice. Christ did this “in order to perpetuate the sacrifice of the cross throughout the centuries until he should come again, and so to entrust to his beloved spouse, the Church, a memorial of his death and resurrection: a sacrament of love, a sign of unity, a bond of charity, a paschal banquet in which Christ is consumed, the mind filled with grace, and a pledge of future glory is given to us.” (Sacrosanctum Concilium 47)  We come together as believers and express our unity and love for one another in a concrete way. We celebrate in the Eucharist together, not individually. We are here to help one another grow closer to Christ and to get to heaven. God desires for all of his children to be united with him once again. 

Our Lady of Sorrows

“Mary endures the greatest of suffering at the foot of the cross: the death of her Son...At the cross Mary dies in her heart as Mother. If she remains standing, it is because she discovers, beyond Christ’s humanity, the Word in the bosom of the Father.  She, therefore, discovers that, in love, everything remains, everything lasts. She contemplates the victory of love. And love’s victory enables her to remain standing and to live the mystery of the cross in unison with Christ’s heart, in unison with him who is the Resurrection.”  ~ Fr. Marie-Dominique Philippe, O.P.

Today the Church celebrates the Memorial of Our Lady of Sorrows. Mary endured one of the most horrific events that any parent is faced with; the death of her child. Mary stood at the foot of the cross and bore the pain and anguish that her son suffered. Her heart was pierced along with her Son’s. Meditating on this draws me closer to Mary. Rather than seeming like someone who is beyond me and who has no connection with a sinful, stumbling woman like myself, I can share in her sorrow. She becomes deeply human and is an example of courage and strength. I can call upon her to sustain me during my trials and sufferings in this life. It is only with the hope of the Resurrection that we are able to move through our suffering and find peace in the love of Christ.

It is fitting that the Memorial of Our Lady of Sorrows comes the day after the Church celebrates the Exaltation of the Holy Cross. It is at the foot of the cross that Mary’s heart is pierced with sorrow and it is at the foot of the cross that she finds strength in the love of the Father.   

“The mystery of the cross is intolerable considered from without…If considered from within, one discovers the cross as the victory of love, and as a means. The cross is not a stopping point. The cross is a passageway; it is a Passover. The cross is God’s true ‘passage.’ But one does not stop or remain there. One does not abide in the cross; one abides in love… one does not abide in suffering, but in love. And because one abides in love, one assumes suffering; one assumes the cross… the cross is unbearable if viewed from the outside. The cross is wisdom if viewed in light of faith, that is, from the inside, as God himself views it.”  ~ Fr. Marie-Dominique Philippe, O.P.

The Power of the Cross

“Pride sets subtle snares. Whenever we imagine that we are in control of life-our own or someone else’s- we have fallen prey to the ancient whisper in the Garden: ‘You shall be like gods.’ Mortality is the enduring reminder that we become like God not by our own power but by the power of the cross.”  ~ Magnificat

Today is the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross. Many Protestants don’t understand why we Catholics display the crucifix. They object to the crucifix because it depicts Christ dying on the cross. They think we are emphasizing his death. The purpose of Christ’s Incarnation was his death on the cross. “For this I was born and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth.” (John 18:37) Christ died on the cross as atonement for our sins. His resurrection was proof that what he did on the cross was fulfilled, he conquered death. And it demonstrated beyond any doubt that he was who he claimed to be, he was God. By his death on the cross, Jesus redeemed the world, opened the way of salvation for all who would accept this gift and reconciled his people with the Father. When I look at a crucifix I see love.  “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.” (John 3:16)

It is only by the cross that we have the hope for eternal life. It is only because God loved us so much that we will be free from death. God loves us so much that he sent his only son to die for us. We have been redeemed. But we have to open our hearts and accept this gift. Let us embrace the Cross upon which our Savior died for us and take up the cross that is placed before us. True resurrection and glory await all those who follow Christ faithfully, but we will only arrive there by traveling the way of the cross.

We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you, because your Holy Cross you have redeemed the world.  

He Must Go

“At daybreak, Jesus left and went to a deserted place. The crowds went looking for him, and when they came to him they tried to prevent him from leaving them. But he said to them, ‘To the other towns also I must proclaim the good news of the kingdom of God, because for this purpose I have been sent.’”  (Luke 4:42-43)

I can understand why the people did not want Jesus to leave. He laid his hands on the people, sick with various diseases, and every one of them was cured. He drove out demons, he even rebuked the fever of Simon’s mother-in-law and it left her. How beautiful it would be for Jesus to come to the hospital and lay his hands on each and every child and cure them of all their various diseases and heal all of those who have been injured. How awesome it would be that I no longer have a job because Jesus cured all the children of their cancer.

It is so hard to let go of those that we love especially those that have helped us heal. There is so much gratitude for their help. I see this all the time at the hospital. The families are so grateful for the care their child received and often thank the doctor for curing their child. Most of the doctors I work with realize that it was God’s grace that healed the child and that God was only using them as an instrument of His grace. Several years ago, a woman that I know, wrote a song that was inspired by a priest who her family had gotten very close to. She wrote it after he was reassigned to another parish. Here are some of the lyrics, why does he have to go? A father he has been to us, he’s won our love, he’s gained our trust, we fear to be apart. But what if Jesus stayed in just one town, think of all the lost who would have never been found.

God has brought several priests into my life that have helped me on my journey of healing. They have had a profound effect on my life. They have walked with me through my pain, they have helped me grow closer to God, deepen my prayer life and to trust again. They have taught me the beauty of the Catholic Church and the grace of the Sacraments. Some walked with me through my mother’s illness and death. Some have anointed me and my son when we were ill. Fr. Stephen is my son’s Confirmation sponsor and he also convalidated my marriage and gave my other son, his first Holy Communion. They have counseled my husband and me when we were having struggles in our marriage. They weren’t just acquaintances; they knew the depth of my heart (the good and the sinful) and loved me anyway. Many of them have been reassigned to other parishes and I had to learn to let them go. One of the priests, Fr. Jason, played that song for me when I was torn about letting another priest go. The following year he was reassigned and I’ve had to let him go as well. I played that song again and reminded myself that they are here to spread the good news to many, not just a few. I pray that they will have the same profound effect on many, many people so that others can see the love of Christ that they showed me and my family. 

The Spirit Within

“Who knows what pertains to the man except his spirit that is within? Similarly, no one knows what pertains to God except the Spirit of God. We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may understand the things freely given us by God. ” (1 Corinthians 2:11-12)

The Spirit of God within us is the only one who truly knows the depth of our heart and soul. We will never know the depth of another human being’s soul. Even those who are closest to us only reveal to us what they want us to know. When I judge others I claim to know what is in another person’s heart. I claim to know why the person is behaving in a certain way. And if I don’t approve of the behavior I am often critical of them. But instead of being judgmental, I should take a step back and trust that there is a reason that the person acted that way which I know nothing about. Rather than being critical, I could reach out to them, lending them a hand or be willing to listen to them. We all need to be heard and sometimes just sharing with another person what we our struggling with makes the burden a little easier. Paul speaks about us having “the mind of Christ.” If this is so, then my behavior should reflect that. Christ always looked on others with compassion and I must do the same. If I take the time to understand one’s behavior, I will be less judgmental.

We are given wisdom so that we “may understand the things freely given to us by God.”  But God doesn’t spoon feed this to us. We need to seek wisdom by spending time in prayer and listening to God speaking to us and we can only do this when we quiet our hearts. We need to delve into scripture and learn how the prophets, apostles and disciples lived their lives for God. The lives of the saints also give us guidance. We need to seek wisdom so that we can discern the will of God. Paul goes on to say, “the one who is spiritual can judge everything.” He is not talking about man’s judgment of things that is often harsh and unforgiving, but with the Spirit of God. When we do this, our eyes are opened and we can see things from God’s perspective which is always one of love. God always welcomes a humble and contrite heart and we must do the same. We need to see the good in all people because Christ resides in each of us. A friend told me the other day that we should reflect back on all the people that God placed in our life each day and see if we recognized Christ in each of these people or if we failed to do so. Not to see if they were Christ-like in their actions but if we were blind to recognizing that Christ dwells in them. He is there, sometimes we just have to look a little harder. 

Stop Clinging

“One sure way to lose friendships, whether in family relationships or anywhere else is to try to hang on to it too tightly… The Lord calls us to the poverty of being always ready to relinquish everything that is given to us, so that it can be given back to us enhanced and multiplied... the reason why it is so important for us to unlearn the kind of possessing that the devil taught us is that, ultimately, the only thing worth possessing is utterly beyond all possessing.” (Fr. Simon Tugwell)

This is what God has been trying to show me. To not cling, but instead, enjoy the gifts He places before me. To enjoy the people that He brings into my life but to always be open to His plan, not trying to make it more than it was ever meant to be, to not interfere with His plan because then I don’t receive all that He is trying to give me. I miss out on His grace when I try to manipulate the situation. I need to enjoy His gifts but always be willing to give them back.

In today’s gospel, two of the men use their talents to their fullest and because of this they grow and flourish, doubling in number. But the men are eager to let them go, they gives them back to the master because it is only to the master that they belong. Dear Lord, help me to stand back and allow your will to be done. You know how hard this is for me to do. Help me to allow you to lead and I follow, always.

“Well done, my good and faithful servant,” how I long for the Lord to say these words to me some day. “You were faithful in small matters, so now I give you great responsibility.” People have told me that I must be strong for God to have placed so many trials before me because He never gives us more than we can handle. But I wasn’t strong, I was held prisoner in my fear. God rescued me and showed me that He is with me and has always been with me. Maybe He sees me as faithful and strong because He has taught me to call upon Him for everything. I am nothing without him. Like St. Paul tells us in the first reading, “whoever boasts, should boast in the Lord.”

I am here today, at this place in my life, because of our Lord. I was able to give my witness last weekend because of Him. I am learning that I don’t need to fear others knowing about my past because it allows others to see what the Lord has done for me. It allows others to see how God can take a broken, lost, lonely and fearful girl and put her back together again. It is all Him and this allows others to have hope. That is why I am here today, to offer the hope of Christ to others.

“He entrusted his possessions to them.” This is why the master gave his servants the talents. He trusted them. He believed that they would use them for good. The Lord does the same for us. All that we receive from Him is for good and in order for us to “grow” what he has given us we need to trust in Him. We need to call upon His guidance to lead us where there is a need for our talents. Maybe He will use us to touch only a few people in a profound way and others he uses to touch the lives of many, such as the pope or Blessed Teresa of Calcutta. Either way, if we do His will, we will hear the words, “well done, my good and faithful servant.”