Humility and Faith

            In the Gospel of Matthew (Mat 15:21-28) we hear a story of a desperate mother seeking the help of Jesus to heal her demon possessed daughter.

Imagine the woman in this story.  She probably heard others talking about Jesus and how he healed.  All of a sudden she had a new hope.  Jesus could heal her daughter.  The love this woman had for her daughter and knowing Jesus could heal, drew her to him.  I think we can learn a lot from this story.  A lot about our relationship with Jesus and with one another by what didn’t happen. 

First, Jesus didn’t send her away.  She was a Canaanite, a Gentile.  She was not a follower of Jesus and had no claim on his healing, as he made clear to her.  Still, she approached him, and Jesus didn’t send her away.  The lesson for us here is that we can go to Jesus no matter who we think we are, we can go to him just as we are.  We don’t have to be afraid that we’re not good enough.  We can trust that he will never turn his back on us, never send us away, will always receive us, and that our life matters to him. 

The woman didn’t stop her pleading.  Even though she was annoying to his followers, and they were telling him to send her away, she didn’t listen to them but kept her focus on him. 

Jesus didn’t answer the woman as she expected.  At first, there was no answer.  And when he did answer, it wasn’t the answer she thought she would hear.  So, we shouldn’t be surprised to sometimes wonder if God is even listening.  In those times we don’t get the answer we want when we want it, we can be sure that he will always give us what is best for us.

This woman didn’t leave Jesus.  Driven by the love for her daughter, and her hope that Jesus was the one who could end their suffering, she didn’t leave.  Even after he implied she wasn’t worthy of his attention, she didn’t give up.  She kept the conversation open.  She didn’t become offended but remained humble and determined and stayed with Jesus, she clung to him. 

Even though they were different, even though people were trying to send her away and separate them, even though she wasn’t getting the answers she expected, through it all, motivated by love and knowing he could and was able to heal her daughter, she wasn’t going to leave him.  And that is her great faith. 

And that is our faith.  To know Jesus is able and can do what we ask, and in whatever we experience in life, to cling to him in our humility even if he doesn’t answer how and when we expect. It’s humility and faith that allows the power of Jesus to take hold in our lives.

And if Jesus does that for us, we should do it for one another.  Even in our differences, receive one another and know that everyone’s life matters.   Work to move beyond doubt, pride, anger, fear and the noise and voices that can distract us. And with humble determination, focus on the love that brings us closer to Jesus and closer to one another.  To stay with one another.  To be faithful to one another. To be a source of hope.

Small Things

In Matthew’s Gospel (Mt 10:42) we read that whoever gives only a cup of cold water to one of these little ones to drink because the little one is a disciple amen, I say to you, he will surely not lose his reward.

Jesus chooses each of us personally to help him in his work, to do things to support his mission and help make His kingdom fruitful.  What we do does not require wealth or power or need to be a big deal. Simple things, like a cup of water, matter. They are noticed and rewarded by God.

We lose our life for Jesus’ sake and find true eternal life (Mt 10:39) when we turn away from our culture of constant distractions and take time in our fast-paced lives to notice one another.  To be present to one another.  To listen to one another.  To encourage and give one another hope.  To help build up his Kingdom by building up each other with acts of love.  Something as simple as a genuine smile, a heartfelt “good morning”, a visit with someone who is alone, a sincere conversation, a tender handshake, a caring hug, a helping hand, a phone call, a card in the mail are all simple things that can help someone feel that…..Somebody notices, someone cares.  I matter.  I’m not alone.

I worked for GM at the Milford Proving Grounds for several years. When I arrived early in the morning, I parked in a remote lot and walked a couple hundred yards through an underground pedestrian tunnel to get to my office. Just about every morning as I was walking in, I would see the same man walking out. I made it a point to say good morning to him as we passed one another. He would never reply but just place his focus on the ground in front of him.

One morning I parked in my usual spot, began my usual walk to my office, and sure enough saw the man coming toward me. I decided then that if he wasn’t ever going to reply to me, I wasn’t going to wish him a good morning anymore. So, we passed each other in silence, and I felt awful for ignoring him.

After walking for several feet, I stopped when I heard a loud yell. “Hey, you didn’t say good morning!” I apologized, wished him the usual good morning, and we both went on our way.

Those two little words the man heard as he left work each day meant something to him. Maybe he went through his days feeling invisible, unknown, and isolated. And these two words he heard just about every morning, whether he replied or not, helped him feel that somebody noticed him. The reward Jesus promises us was my feeling better for having given this man his usual greeting and knowing he wanted it.

St. Mother Theresa once said, “We cannot do great things on this earth, only small things with great love.” This truth speaks deeply to our lives. Every simple act of love matters.  Jesus makes it possible for our small acts of love to have a significant and meaningful impact in a persons’ life and rewards us with feelings of happiness and contentment for doing so. So let’s lose our life, set aside distractions to notice one another.  Be present to one another.  Listen to one another.  Encourage and give each other hope.  Help Jesus build his kingdom by building up each other, doing small things with great love.

Fearless

Our mission given to us by Jesus in this life is simple, follow him and proclaim his words. Simple, but not easy. Proclaiming the words of Jesus comes with risk.

While the risk to the disciples in Jesus’ time were their very lives, the risk to us now is a little different.  We risk being questioned, rejected, confronted, and even having our character and reputation criticized by those who are opposed to the words of Jesus.  This can cause the loss of relationships, separation from people we know and other hardships.

This risk can result in fear.  Fear of the pain from confrontation, rejection, loss and personal criticism can make us afraid to proclaim the loving message of Jesus.  We don’t want to make waves, we stay silent.  Out of fear, we avoid our mission. 

In Matthew’s gospel (Mat. 10: 26-33), Jesus tells us that because of the father’s love for us, we have no need to fear.  In Jesus time, sparrows were the cheapest thing you could buy at the market.  To the people of the time, they were just about worthless.  Yet the father pays attention to and knows when each and every one of them falls to the ground.  So, how much more attention and care will he lavish upon us his beloved son or daughter who he cherishes, as we carry out our mission to speak his message of love? 

We need not be silenced by fear but instead empowered by the love of Jesus and motivated by our love for the person God sends to us.  Love is the only proper motivation for our mission. We don’t do this because it makes us feel better or for some sense of accomplishment, worth or control.  We do this only because we want what’s best for someone.

Our task is simple but not easy, follow Jesus and proclaim His words.  Under his protective and loving gaze, we can do this.  We must do this.  Someone you love is waiting for you to do this.  So go into the world with the joy of the gospel message in your mind, the love of Jesus in your heart, his words on your lips, to confidently share his love through your actions and words.

Trinity

Several years ago, I spoke with a woman named Liza who was a retired hospice nurse.  She had contracted a terminal disease that would eventually take her life.  She said that where she lived, she could legally get a pill, take it, fall asleep and never wake up.  Her life would be over; she wouldn’t be a burden to anyone. She was single and very self-sufficient, to the point she was considering how she would end her life on her own terms.

Self-sufficiency can be something we strive for. We handle things on our own. We decide for ourselves. We never ask for help. We are independent and not an inconvenience to anyone else. We have everything under control. Being seen in this light, we may even be admired for being self-sufficient.

But, relying only on ourselves too much can be harmful. It can damage or destroy relationships. It can lead to loneliness and isolation. We can find ourselves on our own in our toughest moments. With no one to turn to, we have no choice but to take things into our own hands, as Liza was intending to do.

Living out the Holy Trinity can protect us from becoming so self-absorbed that we become desolate. Reflecting on the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit we see a profound unity and a mutual self-giving of the three persons of God. The father loves the son. The son receives the father’s love. The son loves the father. The father receives the son’s love. The constant flow of selfless love between them is the Holy Spirit and it unites them. The Holy Spirit invites us into this divine dance and to live out this Trinity love. 

We live out the Trinity by giving love like the Father. We give love to one another through a gentle touch, a friendly smile, a listening ear, a helping hand, and a kind word. We give love when we give the benefit of the doubt. We give love when we forgive.

We live out the Trinity by receiving love like the Son.  We receive love by letting people help and serve us. We receive love when we accept gifts with grace. We can receive love when we admit our need for others and for their support.

This is where Liza struggled and where we can struggle. We think we’re not worthy of being loved.  We’re afraid of being loved. We don’t want to be a burden to anyone. We can come up with many excuses that keep us from receiving the love God has for us.

We can open ourselves to receiving love by noticing how God already is and always has been loving us even when we didn’t know it.  Reflecting at the end of our day on all the situations we were in, the people we were with, and noticing the kindness of others towards us, gives us a view of God loving us.  Realizing God’s certain, constant, and never-failing love for us, just as we are where we are, reminds us that we are someone who is worth being loved, removing our feelings of insignificance, fear, and doubt and opens us to receiving his love even more.

We live out the Trinity when, inspired by the love we give and the love we receive, we work to create unity like the Holy Spirit. Because of this love, we help organize family gatherings to celebrate and support one another. Because of this love, we seek to patiently understand and respect the views of our co-workers. Because of this love, we include classmates on the fringes, so they feel respected and valued. Because of this love, there is no longer an us and them, only us.

The relationship between Jesus and his father is total self-giving love.  The Holy Spirit invites us into this love.  We enter and live this love by giving love, receiving love, and bringing people together.  We are no longer alone, or isolated, but able to enjoy bonds of friendship and affection that last into eternity.

  I asked Liza how she felt about the patients she cared for when she was nursing.  “I loved them,” she said.  Some probably had no one else but those nurses to be with them as they passed from this life.  I asked her, “Why would you rob the other nurses an opportunity to love you, they way you loved?” 

Liza returned home. Finally, being open to receiving love, entered hospice care and passed peacefully from this life.  I imagine with nurses like her, loving her, to her last breath.  She was not a burden. She was loved.

Alive!

In Luke’s Gospel (Lk:24, 37) we hear of how Jesus appeared to his disciples in the upper room, even though the doors were locked, and everyone was terrified.  They didn’t know what was going on.  Who or what was this that was suddenly standing amongst them wishing them peace?  Was it a ghost?  Certainly, it couldn’t be Jesus, or could it?

The risen Jesus was with them.  Having realized this I bet the mood in that room changed from one of fear and disbelief to one of excitement and joy, then thanksgiving, and finally peace.  And who knows, maybe even some laughing, hugging and high fives.  And that’s what we want too isn’t it?  A more peaceful and joyful life, even with all of our stresses, worries, and burdens.

We can have that life if we encounter him, and know that he’s alive, just like the disciples did.  In fact, Jesus took the beatings, the name calling, being spit on, the crown, the nails, the cross, and even death those many years ago, conquered it, and rose from the dead so that he could be with us and have a real relationship with us right now. 

Sometimes though it can be hard for us to be certain that he’s with us.  Where is he when our life becomes so blah and routine that we just go through the same motions every day?  Where is he when we are so stressed and burdened that we don’t feel we have the energy or motivation to make it through even one more day?  Where is he when someone we thought loved us, leaves us?  Where is he when we or someone we love suffers with a life threatening illness?  Whenever we are anxious, afraid, stressed, or lonely, God can feel anything but close.  So where is he? 

I recall paying a visit to my mom, who has since passed, several years ago who was in the hospital in Marquette Michigan.  I was told by her doctor that her kidneys had failed and due to her physical condition that dialysis was not possible.  They would try a medicine, but if it didn’t help, that we should just let her body do what it will do and eventually let her pass.  This was hard news to hear.  So I made the 8 hour drive to meet my brothers and sister and to see my mom.  It was when I arrived in the hospital that I first recognized him. 

There he was, God, working through the doctor and nurses to take care of my mom and comfort my siblings and I.  Well the medicine seemed to work.  Her kidneys began to function and we were able to transfer my mom to a nursing home in our home town.  After getting her settled, and while I was sitting next to her bed, a friend of mine sent me a text message saying, “Everyone here at church praying for your mom.”  Well that touched my heart and I told my mom that everyone at my church was praying for her.  There was a sparkle in her eyes and joy in her voice when she answered, “For me?”  There he was again, God working through my friend and church to comfort and bring peace to my mom.  So where is he?

I can tell you that our God is not dead.  He is alive and he is with us, right now, in the middle of our routine lives, in our anxiety, pain, brokenness or whatever it is we are going through.  We just need to learn to notice him.  Simply by taking time to reflect on our day, we can know that we felt his touch through a hug, a handshake, a pat on the back, or a helping hand.  We can recognize his voice in a kind word, a good morning, or a hello.  We can see him in a smile, a wave, or a kind act.  He’s alive.  In fact, his love for us is so deep that he never leaves us alone, and he wants us to tell others.

Jesus tells his disciples, “You are witnesses of these things.”  Of what things?  Of the resurrection.  They were with him, they touched him and they knew that he really did rise from the dead, that he really was alive.  And that’s our mission too.  We know that he rose from the dead, we know that he really is alive when we encounter him.  And when we do, we are called to be witnesses of this risen Jesus to one another.  We become the one offering a gentle touch, a friendly smile, a listening ear, and a kind word. We become the ones showing others and proclaiming the good news that, “He’s Alive.”

Did you see him yesterday?       

Remember, you were at the store, your kids were squirming in your shopping cart.  You were searching your purse for your debit card, feeling bad that you were holding up the line and someone smiled at you and commented on how cute your kids were?                   

Remember, you shared your feelings of pain and brokenness with your friends and they shared your tears, hugged and held you in their arms?                   

Remember, you called your brother to tell him you were sick and didn’t have much longer to live, and he rushed to your side to be with you and tell you how much he loved you?

Did you see him yesterday?  Because he saw you.

Found

I recently had the opportunity to accompany a friend of mine as he went through an angiogram procedure to check the conditions of his heart.  Before the procedure he was distressed.  Worried about what they might find, if he needed stents, open-heart surgery, or worst-case, not have much longer to live.

The first thing he did to prepare, was to ask a priest to anoint him. The anointing of the sick is a beautiful sacrament we Catholics can receive. Through it Jesus wipes us clean of all our sin and can physically heal us. His grace gives us a clear mind, peaceful heart, and calm spirit knowing that no matter what happens next, we’re going to be ok.

 Through the day long procedure at the hospital, my friend was well cared for.  The nurses, and the doctor (Doctor “Nice” we nicknamed him because of his bright smile and very caring attitude) understood his anxiety and treated him with a great deal of compassion keeping him calm, knowing he was in the hands of people who really cared.

In the Gospel of John (Jn 9:1-41), there is a very long story of the healing of a blind man.  The man was cast out of the synagogue, accused by the Pharisees of being a disciple of Jesus.  In the middle of that story, are these words, “When Jesus heard that they had thrown him out, he found him” (Jn 9:35). Three words are good news for us, He found him.

Like the man cured of blindness, Jesus continually searches for and finds us where we are. He finds us through those around us who love and care for us. Jesus found my friend through a priest, a sacrament, nurses, Doctor Nice, and friends who accompanied him in a time of worry. If we take time to notice in our times of loneliness, distress, and even in our routine life, we will know when Jesus finds us.

Sometimes though we don’t notice. Working too much, focusing on wealth, success, spending too much time on social media, and busyness, even busyness doing good works, can leave us little time to recognize Jesus. Even though he never stops searching for us, it’s like we’re running away from him.

We can stop running by fasting, not just from certain foods, but from those things that occupy all our time and keep us from noticing the presence of Jesus in our daily life.

We can stop running by praying. Intentionally setting aside about 15 minutes at the end of every day to pause, and recall the events, the people you were with, and your feelings, you become more and more aware of the ways in which Jesus has been present throughout the day to comfort, care for, and love you, especially through the kind words and actions of others. He found you.

So, if life seems a little messy right now, if you’re feeling a little lonely, distressed, or even a little blah, like no one really cares, the things you do seem burdensome and meaningless, have faith in the fact Jesus is searching for and will find you where you are. And when you meet him there, you will be able to reply as the blind man in the Gospel story did, “I do believe” (Jn 9:38).

The Next Level

Probably most of us at one time or another have watched and even rooted for a professional athlete. These athletes have reached and can play at the level they do because, even with all the talent and experience they have, they’re still willing and able to accept constant coaching.  They and their coaches are still working to be even better. 

Some of what happens at Catholic Charities is similar. People come with their needs. Those they encounter provide training, resources, and even life coaching to help get their lives back on track, working to be better and live at a new level.

If we think about it, this is what Jesus does for us. He’s the coach bringing us up to the next level. 

Like the disciples in the Matthew’s Gospel (Mt 5:17-37), we know the commandments and laws, thou shall not kill, Thou shall not commit adultery, Thou shall not lie and so on, and most of us can probably meet those expectations.  Truthfully, it’s easy for us and even for others to see our outward observance of the laws and know that we’re not murderers, adulterers, or liars.  If this is all we’re concerned about, we might consider ourselves good and righteous people, just like the Pharisees and scribes did. 

But Jesus raises the bar a notch.  He wanted the righteousness of his disciples to surpass that of the Pharisees and scribes.  As his disciples today, he wants the same for us.  He has a better way for us.  He wants us to move up to the next level.  And he does this by turning the laws inside out.

Jesus asks us to not just focus on our external actions, but to turn our attention inward, on ourselves and reflect on something that touches us much more deeply, the intentions of our hearts.  

This might make some of us a little uncomfortable.  When we move to the next level, when we do as Jesus asks and focus on the intentions of our hearts, we think not about how we didn’t kill, but about how many times we’ve become angry with and said bad things about someone. We think not about how we have not committed adultery, but how we might’ve made or agreed with inappropriate comments made about someone else’s appearance. We think of those times when someone asked us for help, and we refused out of laziness or fear of how doing so would affect our reputation. We think of the times when our yes did not mean yes or our no mean no. Moving to the next level by focusing on the intentions in our hearts helps us realize our shortcomings.

What Jesus asks is not to make us feel bad or condemn us, but to reveal areas in our life where we can still grow. With our humble admission, patience, effort, and repentance, and the limitless love, mercy, and forgiveness of Jesus, we grow. Our minds become clearer, our hearts calmer, and our spirits more peaceful.

We are the reason Jesus came to earth, the reason he suffered and died on the cross, and the reason he rose from the dead.  He claims us as his own, he calls us friends, he loves us.  He loves us so much that he just can’t leave us where we’re at.  He extends his mercy and forgiveness, to rescue us from our shortcomings, inspire us in our growth, and works with us to remove sin and everything else that doesn’t belong in our hearts, making them more like his, bringing us to the next level.

Behold

Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.  When we read John’s Gospel (Jn1:29-34) we hear John the Baptist’s testimony of Jesus.  Telling those around him that Jesus is the one, the one they’ve been waiting for, the one they’ve been looking for. 

People live to be happy.  We may think that this comes by way of money, stuff, and status, whatever we else it takes to make us feel comfortable.  These things might not be bad in and of themselves, but if we live only there, our lives can seem to become unmanageable and eventually meaningless.  We can find that we constantly compare ourselves to others, thinking that we’re just not good enough, they have more and better things than we do.  And, there is something that tugs at us that never lets us be truly happy or fulfilled, so we go after more.  

John the Baptist shows us how to find the “more” we are seeking when he tells us like he told those back then, “Behold the Lamb of God.” 

John didn’t just say look at Jesus, he said behold.  To behold is different than just a glance. 

To behold is a conscious act. We intentionally take a pause from our busyness and focus a steady gaze at what we behold so that we not only see it with our eyes, but with our mind, our soul, our heart, our whole being. 

What we behold makes us feel different. What we behold, we can’t turn away from. What we behold enters into us. What we behold becomes part of us. What we behold changes us.    

One day as I was standing in the parking lot of the Center for Hope, I witnessed a young woman as she was pulled out a truck by her boyfriend.  She was traumatized, stood weeping, in a state of disbelief, as he took what little she owned in garbage bags, threw them at her feet, and drove off. This woman was broken, hurt, humiliated and weeping at being put out by her boyfriend. She had nothing and nowhere to go or stay. Through her tears, she asked me for help. I helped her inside and in a matter of minutes she was welcomed, embraced, and cared for by those working there with food, warm clothing, a temporary place to stay, and a way to find a place to live.

Behold the Lamb of God. We can behold him in the vulnerable. “Whatever you do for the least of these, you do for me.” (Mat 25:40) When we place ourselves in the midst of those who are marginalized, to be really present for them, to really listen, to really understand their struggles, come to know why they feel the way they do, and offer support, a connection forms. It’s a bond that unites. A bond that transforms the “you and me” to “us.” A bond that reminds us of someone we are deeply attached to. A bond that reminds us of Jesus.

By beholding Jesus, we experience more peace and joy, even in the midst of struggles. We grow in love and humility. When we behold Jesus, we come to know exactly, who we really are.  We are his beloved.  He defines us. We grow to become more like him and can be that source of Hope for the suffering. Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. 

Presen..."ts" or "ce"

I can remember getting our tree ready for Christmas one year.  My wife and I had not been married long and were living in a house in Flint.  We purchased a live tree from one of those parking lot vendors, at a church or Kmart or somewhere.  We took it home and hauled it into our living room, placed it in a tree stand and stood it up.  I don’t remember exactly what the problem was, either the tree was too tall and pushed against the ceiling or it didn’t sit straight in the stand, or something, but whatever it was, I had to tip the tree over, remove it from the stand, and cut the bottom.  I remember putting something on the floor to catch the dust and using a really dull hand saw, to cut a chunk off the trunk, it took forever.  When I was done, I placed the stand back onto the tree, and stood it up.  After all that, I was a little frustrated as I looked at it because there seemed to be no difference.  It was still crooked or too tall.  By now I was a little irritated, and I went through the process all over again.  I pulled the tree down, took the stand off, used the dull saw for what seemed like an hour to cut a piece off the trunk, put the stand back on, stood it up, and what the heck?  Still no difference?  By this time I had had enough, I was going to do this one more time and that was it.  I was fuming.  I was more of a hot head back then.  So I ripped the tree down, pulled off the stand and went out to the garage to get a different saw.  My wife was on the phone as all this was going on and it wasn’t until I came in the living room with the chain saw that she hurried up and told whoever she was talking to that she had to go and would call them back.  Before she could say much the saw was on the trunk of the tree, I pulled the trigger, and chips were flying everywhere.  Yessss, I sure showed that tree. 

In our world today, while we may be surrounded by information, we can at the same time long for intimacy. We can be connected to many but anchored to no one. We can be more stimulated than ever yet somehow still feel dead. Sometimes what we desire is real presence. The presence ending with ce not presents that ends with ts. A presence that affirms a purpose for living.

Those who come to Catholic Charities receive real presence. Everyone who comes is received, acknowledged, and accepted, treated with respect and dignity as they are provided with the help they seek. It’s a presence that gives a sense of worth and value. A presence that says you matter.

Christmas Lights

We can spend a lot of time preparing our houses, food, and presents for Christmas.  But what do we do to prepare for the coming of Jesus?  How do we prepare our hearts for him?

The lights we see at Christmas can be a reminder of the love that God has for us.  A love so deep and so passionate, that he sent his only son to earth to love us and to save us.  His son who he sent to Mary.  Mary, for whose response the entire world, the angel and even God, stopped… and waited for.  Who our gospels tells us overcame her fear, who took great risk, who courageously placed all of her trust in God and proclaimed, “I am the handmaid of the Lord.  May it be done to me according to your word.”  Mary, who’s “yes” to the will of God made the impossible possible and forever defeated the “No” of Eve in the garden.  Mary, who’s yes brought Jesus into our world to let God love us and save us.  Mary, who watched her son die for us and then rise from the dead so we can be with him and know the love he has for us, forever.  So, in our preparations for Christmas during this Advent season, we make our hearts ready to receive this love, by stopping.  We stop running.  We stop our busyness.  We pause and take time to be still.  We take time to be quiet.  We take time to be with him.  We stop our questioning and worrying and like Mary, surrender ourselves to God and humbly let him into our hearts, even into those recesses we feel ashamed of.  Those tearful places where we feel lost, broken, and alone, and even there, especially there, let him love us just as we are, and comfort us with his merciful and tender embrace.  Then, we love him back.  We can only really be who God created us to be in this love.      

The lights of Christmas can also remind us to share this love.  Like he did with Mary, God waits for our response.  To say yes and let the love he consoles us with overflow from our hearts to others, especially those who feel lost, broken and alone, so that even where they are, especially where they are, and just as they are, they too can know his love and tenderness, through us.  This love is the real Christmas spirit.  Something we may be reminded of during Advent, but something we can continue to share every day. 

Now, go to that person, you know, the one struggling with life, trying to provide for their family. Wondering if this is all there is, if life will ever be any better.  The one who doesn’t know me.  The one who is lost……….and share his love with them.  Show them how he loves them.

Go, to that person, you know, the one who feels like they have failed, let everyone down.  The one who feels they are not worth loving.  The one who is broken……… and share his love with them.  Show them how he loves them.

Go, to that person, you know, the one who right now has no one else.  No one to be with, no one to talk to, no one to laugh or to cry with.  The one who is alone………..and share his love with them.  Show them how he loves them.

Don’t be afraid……..  he will be with you……….  Nothing is impossible with his love…………. As you admire the lights at Christmas,  will you do this for him?  

Relationship

I have the honor and privilege of attending funerals for each Catholic deacon in the Diocese of Lansing who passes away.  While each person is dear to me and each liturgy is special and beautiful, depending on my relationship with the one who passed, some funerals can be more difficult and emotional. Just before a funeral, I remember hugging the wife of a deacon who had passed and thinking to myself, “This is going to be a tough one.” It’s no secret that the condition of our relationships can affect our reactions and responses to the circumstances and situations of life that we experience with others. What we do often depends on our relationships.

We read in the Gospel the story of how Jesus was crucified and killed (Luke 23: 35-43).  The line that strikes me, “The people stood by and watched.” The rulers, soldiers, and even one of those being crucified along-side Jesus sneered at him and made fun of him.  But the people stood by and watched.  If you put yourself there, standing by and watching Jesus hanging and dying on the cross, and hearing what they were saying about him, what goes through your heart and mind?  Our response just might depend on our relationship with Jesus.

Maybe your relationship causes you to react like the others.  No reaction. Just stand by and watch.

Maybe your relationship is such that you feel moved with disbelief.  Not believing the things that happened, that it’s gone this far, and that it is going to end like this.  Sad and confused, you are left wondering what happens next.

Maybe your relationship causes you to want to respond with anger.  After all they put him through, they don’t let up.  You might feel like yelling out, Stop!  Just stop!  You’ve accused him, whipped him, beat him, nailed him, hung him, humiliated him, and are killing him.  Enough already! Just, stop! 

The good news for us is that there is another response to this story.  We can come to know and love Jesus well enough to respond with gratitude.  Gratitude for saving us by not saving himself.  So today, we can, like the repentant thief, confess our sins, listen to what Jesus has to say, profess our faith in God, ask to be remembered, receive his love, and have an intimate relationship with him.

One with Jesus, we can help him to continue his ministry on earth.  We take him with us into the world in which we go so we don’t just stand by and watch, but would use our eyes to see those who are poor and struggling, use our feet to quickly go to them, use our ears, mind and hearts to listen to their sighs and sorrows, use our hands to help and serve them, blessing whomever we encounter, by bringing into the circumstances and situations of their life the love of the one we know, Jesus.           

Humility

Back in the 1980’s, during the month of August, we would start some strenuous training before our high school football season began.  They were called 2-a-days.  We would practice early in the morning, break for lunch, then practice again in the afternoon until 3 o’clock or so.  On one of these mornings, we didn’t go out to the field but instead took some time to listen to the wisdom of the coach. 

His talk was about humility.  He understood the danger to a player and to the team if guys started to seek their own glory.  He knew how someone’s ego could be fed by looking up their game statistics or seeing their picture in the newspaper.  Gone unchecked, a player seeking his own greatness and notoriety makes playing all about him and not about the team.  This harms relationships, fractures the cohesiveness of a team, and makes it impossible to win, and hard to play. 

There was no social media like we have today.  Just 3 local newspapers so, at the end of this meeting, each of us made a promise to the coach not to read the newspaper until the season was over, to stay humble, stay focused, and practice and play hard. 

In Lukes Gospel (Lk 18:9-14), Jesus tells us of the importance of humility.  In our story, Jesus says it was not the proud Pharisee, who listed all his attributes and pious acts, but the humble tax collector who asked for God’s mercy and forgiveness who left the temple and went home with his relationship right with God. Self-righteous pride makes it all about us and places a barrier between us, God, and our neighbor. Honesty and humility, on the other hand, make us open to God, able to receive his grace and acceptance, to better love God, ourselves, and those around us.

“Walking humbly with the Lord,” not only restrains our desire for personal greatness, but it also unleashes great spiritual power.  There is nothing the devil fears more than humility because it’s what Jesus used to defeat him and his temptations in the wilderness. To be confident in ourselves, to be loved, find favor with God, and be protected against the devil, seems like conducting ourselves with humility is something we really should do. It takes practice.

Here's one thing you can do to practice humility. When you are with someone, your spouse, kids, parents, co-worker, or friend, who wants to speak with you, intentionally stop what you are doing, move your attention away from anything you had planned, and take the time to focus on them, to attentively listen. The person you’re with will know that they are noticed and that they matter. Taking time to practice putting another before yourself by really listening is an act of humility and love.

Another way we express humility is by practicing the way we use all the gifts god has given us.  What he gave us, he gave us for a purpose.  Not for our own self-gratification, or to say, “look at me”, but to love. To help him especially reach those society wants to push away and ignore, the poor, crippled, lame, and blind, and love them. 

As we continue to practice humility by reflecting on these and other situations in our lives and continue to ask God for what we need to be humble, we grow in love. If we’re not careful and don’t practice, pride and seeking our own glory can get in the way of what seem to be good works.  If we do things for our own gratification, our own notoriety, we may do good work, but we cannot love. The virtue of humility helps us to love.

Well, it’s time for practice.  By practicing humility in situations of our lives, God will help us rid ourselves of pride so others may see God’s glory, not ours, and know his love for them. Go out there. Stay humble, stay focused, practice hard, love and you will be right with God.

The Good Shepard

Jn 10:11-18

We can take great comfort in trusting that Jesus loves us so much that he will do whatever it takes, even die, to protect us from the wolves that seek to scatter and catch us throughout our lives (John 10:11-18). Jesus, the good shepherd keeps us safe from those who pretend to care about us but work to separate, divide, control, and take advantage of us to feed their own selfish desire for power and financial gain. To remain safe, we only need to recognize and listen to the voice of Jesus, the good shepherd, and follow him.

There are so many voices that want our attention. These voices can tell us things that lead us away from the truth; like we are not good enough the way we are; that we would be happier if we were like someone else or had the things they have. We run after everything these voices tell us we need in a never-ending quest to be happy. But we will never really find what we're looking for, and this can leave us feeling like failures, causing us to isolate ourselves because we don't seem to fit in, leaving us lost, and feeling alone... right where the wolf wants us to be.

The good news is that we can choose to hear and know the voice of our good shepherd Jesus, who saves us from the wolves. To hear Jesus, we first need to silence the unnecessary, noisy voices. One way we can do this is by eliminating or strictly limiting our use of social media. Technology can be great when used responsibly, but many of the voices that demand our attention come from there. By only using technology when it's necessary, like for work, school, or prayer we can control who is speaking to us, take control, and quiet the noisy voices.

We can also hear the voice of Jesus in the silence of prayer. Spending some time, even if it is just a few minutes every day, in his presence whether at home, at church, or an adoration chapel. Wherever we are, taking time to be silent, and let all distractions drift from our minds for a moment to listen to Jesus in the silence, enables us to hear him speak to us in a quiet, calm voice.

We can hear the voice of Jesus in scripture. Spending time reading Gospel passages using techniques like Lectio Divina or Imaginative Contemplation, where we linger over and meditate on the events, people, or words that catch our attention, we can encounter and communicate with Jesus. Jesus is alive in scripture.

We can hear the voice of Jesus in our conscience. According to the Catechism, our conscience is where we are alone with God whose voice echoes in our depths. There are times we get nudges or gut feelings that we should do or not do something. Through a properly formed conscience, we can hear the voice of Jesus guiding us at the right time to do something good or avoid something evil.

Recognizing and listening to his voice, we are free to choose to follow Jesus. It is with him we will find what we are truly looking for. The freedom to be who we were made to be, to move through life living it to the full, free to do his will, free to invest in the lives of others and love them the way Jesus loves us. We also gain freedom from worry, anger, fear, and division, free to be vulnerable, like a child, trusting him with our entire life. Recognizing, listening to and following Jesus, our good shepherd, brings us peace.

We can take great comfort in trusting that Jesus loves us so much that he will do whatever it takes, even die, to watch over us. We only need to recognize and listen to the voice of the good shepherd and follow him.

The Hour Has Come

The hour has come, we hear Jesus say in John's Gospel (2:20-33), as he prepared to fulfill his purpose so that we could have eternal life with him. As we go through life, we also have hours that come and go. Some of those hours are good, times to celebrate, times we can hardly wait for, and times that once we're there, we never want to end. When Jesus's hour had come, it wasn't one of those times.

Jesus’s hour was troubled and like him, troubling hours come into our lives too. During times of change and transition, when we find ourselves entering the unknown, facing uncertain risks can leave us feeling anxious. These are the hours that we don't look forward to, the hours that we wish we could avoid, but if we can't, we just want to get them over with. 

Jesus had faith in his Father and trusted his Father's plan for him. This faith and trust amid his troubles enabled him to fulfill his purpose in that hour. He was able to face rejection, condemnation, humiliation, pain, and death, which led to something beautiful. It led to the resurrection. It led to a new life. There would have been no resurrection without the troubles and the cross, and so it is in our lives.

New life can follow times of trouble. If we can discern and come to know God's will, as Jesus knew his Father's, and we are open to trusting and following it, we too can fulfill our purpose even during troubling times. During those anxious times in our life, if what we think God is asking us to do is good; if it's something we can do; if it's wise for us to do; if it doesn't cause us to become someone we're not; if it's something we would like to do, then we should try it and observe the fruit of our actions. Good fruit, filled with peace, joy, and excitement, is an experience of new life, of resurrection. It's what God intended us to do, it was our purpose in that hour.  

With faith in Jesus, times of change, which often leave us feeling anxious or troubled, can also be filled with grace. Significant times of change and transition bring feelings of skepticism, uncertainty, and even fear. But we don't need to act on those emotions. There is grace to help us trust in God, to help us fulfill our purpose in that hour by doing his will. We are never alone in times of trouble. 

Can anything be more troubling than facing the end of one’s own life? If we know the truth of how much Jesus loves us, that he always has and always will love us, and he wants us to be with him, then even in that hour, we can fulfill our purpose.

I was blessed to meet with a friend just before he passed away. At the time my friend expressed that he was ready. He knew Jesus and was at peace with what was about to happen to him. He wasn't worried about those he would leave behind; he knew God would care for them. Everything about him seemed very calm. While we were talking, he asked why God would let there be a disease without a cure and why would he let him get it. What's the purpose? In our discussion, we discerned that his purpose, in that hour, was to be a witness to those who loved him. A witness to what great faith looks like and the peace it can bring to our lives, even in the most troubling of times. 

The hour has come, and the hours will continue to come our way. Some of them are good and some of them troubling. The good news for us is that because of our faith in Jesus, even our most troubling hours can also be filled with grace, followed by something new. Troubled times can lead to the glory of resurrection.

Finding True Peace and Joy

We read in the Mathew’s Gospel (Mt 1:12-15) that Jesus was sent to journey through the desert for forty days to be tempted by Satan, who offered him every worldly thing, in exchange for his allegiance. In our desire for peace and joy in our journey through life, the devil brings us temptations, with the promise that if we chase after them, we will eventually find the peace and joy we are seeking.

One way Satan can tempt us is through our pride. He persuades us to shift our focus from Jesus to ourselves. We are lured into comparing ourselves to others which can lead to unhealthy competition and unnecessary busyness. We try to become like somebody else, or covet their possessions, rather than being grateful for who we are and what God has gifted us with. As we pursue these worldly things, we may indeed find happiness, but it will only be temporary. Putting our faith only in ourselves, our own success, our own possessions, our own status, and our own abilities will never bring us true peace and joy.

Only those who choose to live in the Kingdom of God will find true peace and true joy.  Jesus tells us there is good news, that the Kingdom of God is at hand.  It is right here, right now.

The Kingdom of God is wherever God's will is being done. This is why there is something special about Catholic Charities in downtown Flint. In the middle of a city that has seen better days and has had tough times, there are people daily performing works of mercy, clothing people, feeding people, counseling people, and helping them find shelter.  They make God's Kingdom visible on the corner of 5th Avenue and Saginaw, in a place many may not ever think to look for it, but there it is, working every day, sharing the love of Jesus with all who come.

The Kingdom of God also exists in every heart that chooses to surrender to him. In the hearts of those who choose to do his will rather than their own. So living in the Kingdom of God, in a place where we can find true peace and joy, is a choice that we make.

Jesus tells us how to respond to enter that kingdom, repent and believe in the gospel.  Take time to reflect and become aware of the stumbling blocks and temptations the devil puts in our lives, those things that keep us from God.  Pray every day and ask the Holy Spirit to help us turn our focus away from those things and place it intensely on God.  Only with a daily prayer routine will we ever be able to maintain our focus. If you don't have a daily routine, now may be a good time to start one. Repentance involves our choosing to reflect and pray every day.

Believe in the Gospel.  Trust the way God sees you.  You are his unique, beautiful, and precious son or daughter. There is no need for comparison or competition to try to become like somebody else. God made you and loves who he made, to the point that everything he endured through his passion; the betrayal, the humiliation, the rejection, the physical pain, his death, and his resurrection, he did out of his love for you. No matter what, he will never stop loving you. Because of his deep love that we find in the gospel, we can faithfully surrender our hearts to him to follow his will and not our own. 

Turn your focus back to God. Keep your focus on him by praying every day. Trust him, his love for you, and what he is doing in your life, and you will enter and live in his kingdom. There you will experience his true peace and true joy and be able to bring it with you wherever you go.

Come And See...

When I read the requests I receive for prayers at Catholic Charities, it seems many write to ask God for help with their need for a secure living situation, with safe housing for their families, and steady employment that will provide adequate finances to sustain good living conditions. When a stable life is found, it leads to a clearer mind, more peaceful soul and calmer heart, which eventually leads to happiness.

In the Gospel of John (1:35-42) Jesus asks those following him, and asks us, “What are you looking for?”  When asked this question I think most of us, along with those who request our prayers, would respond with “Happiness.”  Our society tells us from a very young age what it thinks it takes for us to be happy.  You need to get good grades in school to get into college, a good job so that you can make a lot of money and have a lot of stuff; then you will be happy. (Keeping in mind that many in our community are not able to achieve this much on the path to happiness!)

 If material gain is our only gauge of happiness, that happiness may last a little while but eventually it will fade; we will still be looking for something, and feel we are a failure. If we see ourselves through the lens of failure, and don’t take time to know the truth, by seeing ourselves in God’s eyes, we can become trapped in a state of misery and despair. So how do we really find what we are ALL looking for?

I think we can take a lesson from the two disciples in the Gospel.  When they were introduced to Jesus by John, they followed him.  When he asked them “What are you looking for?” their response was “Where are you staying?”  He told them to come with him and they would see. They may not have understood the fullness of the messiah, but they knew it was Jesus they were looking for. One of them, Andrew was so excited he went and got his brother and brought him to Jesus.  So the question to us is not what are we looking for, but who are we looking for?  The answer is, Jesus.  It’s Jesus who is the antidote to our misery and despair.  It’s Jesus for whom our souls will not rest, ever, until we find Him.

So where do we look for Jesus?  Where do we go to find him?  For us who are Christian, the logical answer is church. For us who are Catholic, we can go into an adoration chapel, and he is there.  We attend mass where we encounter Him in the music and the people around us.  We hear him speak to us through the liturgy of The Word.  We actually touch His body and take Him into ours in the Eucharist.  If we do go to church, we can find Jesus, but this is just one day of the week, what about the other six?  What if we don’t go to church?  Where is He then?  Where is He when we are doing homework, doing house work, when we are shopping, at school or at our job?  Where is He when we are struggling, looking for employment to secure finances so we can support our families? Does He care?  The good news is, that if we take time to look, to really look, we will find Him, caring for and loving us. Those sending their prayer requests to Catholic Charities have made a good start because we can look for and see Jesus through prayer.

St. Ignatius says that if you don’t do any other prayer, at the end of each day, do this;  take a short time to sit quietly or with soft music, and reflect over your day. Recall the events, the people you were with, and pay attention to your feelings. You will become more and more aware of the ways in which God has been present to comfort, care for, and love you, especially through the kind words and actions of others. There He is, He has been with you all day.

More precious than finding a diamond where we don’t expect, we can find Jesus where we don’t expect, in the mundane, ordinary, and even in the moments in our lives where we struggle.  We can look and know that He is with us.  He knows what we need and promises that if we seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, all these things we need will be given us besides. Then we can get excited too, like Andrew, and bring others.

Take a moment and listen to Jesus as he speaks these words to you. 

“I love you and I am with you every moment of every day. 

Always with you in your burdens, toils, and labors so you can rest in my arms. 

Come and you will see.

Always with you in your sorrows so you can sing and dance with me. 

Come and you will see.

Always with you in your weeping so you can experience my joy. 

Come and you will see.

Always with you in your strife so you can feel my peace.

 Come and you will see.

Always with you when you are weary so you can be refreshed.

Come and you will see.

You are mine, I have always loved you and will love you forever. 

Come and you will see.”

Who Are You?

In the Gospel of John (1:19-22), we hear the Pharisees ask John the Baptist, “Who are you?”. That's a question that can be directed to each one of us, “Who are you?”

Knowing who we are is one of our basic human needs. When we know who we are, we are confident, calm, and have a sense of purpose. Knowing who we are determines what we believe, and our beliefs affect what we do and how we live. Knowing who we really are is important.

There are forces in society that try to answer that question for us by influencing us to believe that we are someone who we are not. These forces cause us to compare ourselves to others and judge who we are based on their happiness, the things they own, the power or status they have, or their appearance. Acting out of those false beliefs can cause us to take some extreme and even inappropriate actions to answer the question “Who are you?” but these actions will eventually leave us feeling miserable, and meaningless. 

There are different “I am” statements that affect how we answer this question. I am who others see me to be. I am who I see me to be. I am who God sees me to be. Of those statements, only one is the truth. If we experience a persistent sense of frustration, disconnection, or unfulfillment, it is the truth that is missing from our life. I am who God sees me to be.

In God’s eyes, you are his. Created in his image and likeness. Awesomely and wonderfully made. You are unique, you are beautiful, you are precious just as he made you. There is no need to change yourself to become who somebody else says you need to be, to be loved. God created you and God loves who he created - so much so - that he came to earth that first Christmas so he could be with you because he loves you. 

Jesus chose you. You are special to him; so special that you can go to him with whatever is weighing on your heart or mind, and he will always listen.  He will never turn you away. He will forgive the sins and remove the baggage you carry.  He will lay down his life for you. He will conquer death for you, so you never have to die. No matter what, he will never stop loving you and wants you to live with him in love forever. The one who God loves so much, is who you really are.

While there may be times we will actually feel this love God has for us, that may not usually be the case. It is more than that.  This is a truth that we need to know in our mind and remind ourselves of daily. This is a truth we need to teach our children. This is a truth we need to lovingly proclaim to others.

This truth of who we really are should bring joy to our life. We are confident. Because of our trust and faith in Jesus, we know for certain that he loves us as he made us, and we know for certain nothing will ever change that.  We are calm. Confident in who we really are, we have no need to get caught up in all the craziness of others trying to influence us to be someone we are not to feel loved. With confidence and calmness, we live with a sense of purpose, to love God, to see others the way he does, and share the love he has for us with them, whoever they are, wherever we are, and whatever we’re doing. Our faith in Jesus Christ and who he says we really are gives meaning and purpose and joy to our life.

God, help me to see myself the way you see me, love myself the way you love me, and forgive myself the way you forgive me. Fill my life with meaning, with purpose, and with joy.

Experiencing God's Abundance

The Parable of the Talents - Matthew 25 14-30

14 “For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants[a] and entrusted to them his property. 15 To one he gave five talents,[b] to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. 16 He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made five talents more. 17 So also he who had the two talents made two talents more. 18 But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master's money. 19 Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them. 20 And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me five talents; here, I have made five talents more.’ 21 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant.[c] You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ 22 And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me two talents; here, I have made two talents more.’ 23 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ 24 He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed, 25 so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here, you have what is yours.’ 26 But his master answered him, ‘You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I scattered no seed? 27 Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest. 28 So take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents. 29 For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. 30 And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

Several years ago, I worked at the GM Proving Grounds in Milford. In the mornings, to get to my office I would walk through an underground, pedestrian passageway which led from the parking lot to the building. In the mornings, I would often pass a man leaving and I would say good morning to him. He would usually not reply, just stare at the floor, and walk by. One day as I was coming in, I saw him coming towards me and thought to myself, “you know, he never responds when I say good morning so today, I'm not going to.”  We passed one another and I heard him shout out, “Hey wait a minute, you didn't tell me good morning!” I guess that little greeting in the morning meant more to him than I realized.

 In Matthew’s gospel (Mt 25:14-30), we hear a story that shows us just how generous God is. In Jesus’ time a talent was around 75 pounds of silver or about 20 years wages. Like the generous master in the story, who gave his servants abundant talents, God gives each of us, his servants, infinite talents.

The talents God gives us are not silver or wealth but something even more precious. Our talents are the never-ending love that he pours into our hearts. That love creates a longing and a desire within us, that drives us to seek Him and love Him back. Along with this love and desire, he gives us the ability and power to choose if and how we’ll respond. God entrusts his heart to us and gives us the freedom to choose how we, like the servants, respond by investing what he has given us.

Sometimes we can find ourselves responding like the servant who received only one talent. Instead of investing it, we spend our time burying it. When we find ourselves overwhelmed in constant, daily busyness, just going through motions; rushing from one activity to the next, (some important, many not); we feel like we have no time for church; cannot find time to pray; don't have time to attend to needs of others, we are burying our talents. We become distracted by many things and life can become burdensome. Finally, in our misery we find ourselves saying, there must be more to life than this. And there it is, that's the longing for the love of God that He has placed in our heart, our talent. Now it's up to us to respond to that longing by digging up what we might have buried and investing it.

We invest our talents by following the wisdom of the parable of the mustard seed, we start small. We invest by doing small things with love. We invest by setting aside our cell phones when we’re in the presence of someone, so we can pay attention to them. We invest when we notice and acknowledge someone, like the man that I used to walk past every day on my way into work. We invest when we reach out to those we know with a card or telephone call. We invest when we do something simple at home without being asked.  We invest when we pause instead of reacting when someone upsets us, giving them the benefit of the doubt, not knowing what they might be going through. We invest our talents, the love that God has given us, by treating each other lovingly.

Like the mustard seed, our investments will grow. As we daily do these small, loving things for one another, we will desire to do even more. As we desire and do more, we deepen our love for one another and for God.  With the deepening desire for this love, the things in our life that prevented us from going to church, praying, caring for others, and sharing in the love of God are naturally removed.  

The fruit of this love, the return on our investment, is joy.  We will experience joy at home, at school, at work, while we’re driving, or even while shopping. We will experience joy where we haven’t before. All areas of our life can be transformed by this joy. The bottom line, the talents God gives us is his love, the more we invest what he has given us, the more our love grows, the greater our joy will be.

If you’re looking for a good investment, our generous God has an excellent deal for you.

Blessings,
Deacon Ken

How Good are We at Forgiving?

How Good are We at Forgiving?

Sometimes when I'm downtown at Catholic Charities people will ask me if I can hear their confession. I tell them I cannot because I am a Deacon and not a priest. That sometimes leads to a brief catechetical discussion on the difference between deacons and priests in the Catholic Church.  I offer that if they wish to go somewhere a little bit more private and spill their guts, and get off their chest whatever they're carrying around, that I would be willing to listen. Then I suggest that when we are done, we could pray about it and put it in God's hands. I let them know that if they wish to have their sins forgiven, we have priests that come every Thursday for mass, and they would be happy to hear their confession.

So, it seems like a lot of people, even those on the fringes of society, are seeking forgiveness, which is pleasing to God.  But a question comes to mind, how good are we at forgiving?

1989 was a really good year for me.  I graduated from college, got married, and the music we listened to on the radio was good. Don Henley released a song that year called the Heart of the Matter. Whenever I think of, hear of, or read about forgiveness, this song plays in my head and the lyrics sound a lot like what Jesus said. Jesus said forgive from the heart (Matt 18:35), and the lyrics say the heart of the matter is forgiveness, which frees us, heals us, and allows us to move on from past hurts. So how good are we at doing that? How often do we forgive someone who has hurt us?

In the gospel of Matthew (Matt 18:21) we read that Peter asks Jesus how many times he needs to forgive his brother. The answer is, all the time.  Jesus knew that for these guys to stay together and continue his mission, they would need to be willing to forgive one another all the time.

Forgiveness is required for any meaningful relationship to survive. Without it, holding on to grudges and hurt brings anger, bitterness and revenge seeking. Resentment destroys relationships, causes darkness and death as it eats us up inside. Without forgiveness, we can’t live.

Forgiveness infuses light and life into our relationships. Friendships that last many years rely on forgiveness.  Healthy, on-going relationships amongst our family embrace forgiveness.  We teach in our marriage preparation course that an essential key to a marriage that lasts forever is forgiveness.  As we read, even our relationship with our heavenly father is deepened as we forgive (Matt 18:35). For us to live, forgiveness is not optional, it is essential.

So how do we know when we have truly forgiven someone? By ourselves we do not have the power not to feel or forget when somebody hurts us.  Jesus says, forgive from the heart. It's only in a heart that is open to the Holy Spirit that our injury can be turned into compassion and the memory of our hurt transformed into intercession. In our open heart we can become aware of and trust in the Holy Spirit’s movement towards goodness, kindness, and gentleness toward those who hurt us. We can allow the Holy Spirit to clear our minds, so we no longer think of getting even, no longer wish them to fail, and are willing to help them. It reminds us that God loves everyone equally and we should pray for them. By the grace and power of the Holy Spirit working in our hearts, we will know when we have truly forgiven.

The heart of the matter really IS forgiveness. It sets us free, heals us and allows us to move on from past hurts. Open your heart to the Holy Spirit, let forgiveness begin, and in a world that can seem kind of dark, you will be a source of light and life.

Great is Thy Faith

In the gospel of Matthew (Matthew 15: 21-28) we read a story of a mother and her daughter who were tormented by a demon.  Imagine this mother, caring for her tormented daughter, hearing others talking about Jesus and how he can heal and cast out demons.  Suddenly, she has a renewed sense of hope; maybe Jesus could heal her daughter, and end their torment.  Out of desperation and love, and with newfound hope, she was drawn to Jesus. 

When she came to him Jesus didn’t send her away, even though his followers wanted him to.  She was a Canaanite, a Gentile.  She was not a follower of Jesus and because of that, she had no right to his healing power, and he made that clear to her.  But she still approached him, and Jesus didn’t send her away. 

The lesson for us here is that we can go to Jesus no matter who we are, and we can go to him just as we are.  We don’t have to be afraid that we’re not good enough. We don’t have to be afraid of what we think he might say. He loves us for goodness sake.  We can stake our life on the fact that he will always receive us because we really do matter to him. 

The woman didn’t stop her pleading.  Even though she was annoying to his followers, and they wanted him to send her away, she didn’t listen and kept her focus on Jesus.

Following her example, our goal should be to keep our focus on Jesus so that the voices around us; family, friends, media, social media, and even our own minds, that try to discourage and lead us away from Jesus, have no impact because our focus is so intense.   

Jesus didn’t answer the woman as she expected.  At first, there was no answer; when he did answer, it wasn’t the answer she thought she would hear.  So, we shouldn’t lose heart in those times we feel God isn’t even listening or become discouraged when we don’t get the answer that we want, when we want it.  It’s important that we don’t give up, and remain confident that he does hear us and will always give us what he knows is best at the best time.

This woman didn’t leave Jesus.  Driven by the love for her daughter, and her belief that Jesus was the one who could end their suffering, she didn’t leave.  Even after he implied she wasn’t worthy of his attention, she didn’t give up. She didn’t become offended but remained humble and determined and clung to his robes. 

Even though they came from different backgrounds, even though people were trying to separate them, even though she wasn’t getting the answers she expected, through it all, she didn’t leave; and that is her greatest faith. 

That is our faith; To know Jesus can do whatever we ask.  No matter what joys or struggles we experience in life, to continually cling to him with humility and thank him for all the gifts he gives us, and even the ones he chooses not to. It’s this faith and trust that allowed the power of Jesus to work in the life of this mother and her daughter.  It’s this faith and trust that allows the power of Jesus to take hold in our lives too.

With his power, we can receive one another, listen to one another, and commit to one another. Sharing the love of Jesus allows us to have faith in one another, bringing us closer to one another, providing a source of hope for one another.

Today, pray for the gift of faith as strong as this mother, and unleash the power of Jesus in our lives.