“The Kingdom of heaven may be likened to a king who gave a wedding feast for his son” (Mt 22:2).

Throughout the gospels Jesus not only talks about feasts, but is recorded as often celebrating table fellowship with others. Those he eats with, range from people who are considered sinners to the religious elite among the Pharisees.

There are a wide range of reactions to the invitation offered from the king through his servants. There are those caught up in their own lives, not able or willing to break away, there are those who reject the message outright and do so violently, by mistreating and even killing the servants of the king. Then others, the good and bad alike, say yes to the invitation.

God invites, but we must be willing to change our hearts and minds to see the invitation for what it is, an eternal gift. Those who refused, were unwilling to change their plans, as well as others who, with hearts of stone, were outright hostile, willing to abuse and even kill the servants.

Then there was man the king found who was present without the proper attire. This is not a literal indictment of not having the proper clothes, but the wedding garment imagery may be a recognition of a willingness to receive the benefits of the invitation without a yes to the responsibility involved with the invitation of transformation.

Our first reading from Ezekiel may be of help. God speaks through Ezekiel: “I will sprinkle clean water upon you to cleanse you from all your impurities, and from all your idols I will cleanse you. I will give you a new heart and place a new spirit within you, taking from your bodies your stony hearts and giving you natural hearts” (Ezekiel 36:25-26). We are invited to change, to repent, to turn away from those idols, that which we have placed or put before God, to have our heart and spirit renewed. We are invited to be a part of God’s new creation by participating in the life of his Son, the first born of the new creation.

God the Father offered an invitation to an eternal banquet through his prophets, like Ezekiel, and it is being fulfilled through Jesus. This is an invitation that we can begin again. We can give up our old ways, we can receive a new heart and a renewed spirit. But we need to be willing to let go. We must be willing to be transformed, to change our hearts and minds, so to be perfected through our participation in the life of Jesus and perfected through the purifying fire of the Holy Spirit.

Our yes demands accountability, we can’t just show up, and take up space. As we are transformed, we must at the same time be willing to devote our time, discipline, talent and treasure to serving at the banquet and inviting others to attend. “Many are invited, but few are chosen” (Mt 22:14). The first step is saying yes to the invitation. Letting go, embracing change, and being willing to be transformed is not easy, but we are not alone. Jesus accompanies us, as we are to accompany one another.

We have now been handed the invitation. How will we respond?

Photo by Kaboompics .com from Pexels

Link for the Mass readings for Thursday, August 23, 2018: http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/082318.cfm

Jesus told his disciples this parable: “The Kingdom of heaven is like a landowner
who went out at dawn to hire laborers for his vineyard… (Mt 20:1).

At dawn, nine, noon, three, and five o’clock the landowner hired day laborers to go into the field to work to bring in the harvest. Many, familiar with this parable, find themselves a bit bemused or even bewildered at the ending, when they read or hear that the landowner had his foreman pay everyone the same pay. The immediate cry is, “That is not fair!” Those, more often than not, who respond this way are focused on the hired hands who started at dawn, worked all day, and were paid the same as the laborers who started at five o’clock.

The workers who started at dawn agreed to a certain wage and the owner paid that agreed amount. The landowner explained, “to one of them in reply, ‘My friend, I am not cheating you. Did you not agree with me for the usual daily wage” (Mt 20:13)? What is missed, if someone is feeling as perplexed as some of the dawn laborers, is the generosity of the landowner.

We see this similar scene of generosity given and played out in some of Jesus’ other parables. The older son who refused to listen to his father’s invitation to come in to share in the celebration of the feast when his wayward brother had been lost but now was found (Lk 15:11-32); the man who was forgiven his entire debt from the king and then when he had the same opportunity to forgive one who owed him, did not (Mt. 23-35); and in parable of the Good Samaritan the priest and Pharisee left the man on the side of the road yet the Samaritan did help (Lk 10:25-37).

Each of these parables are dealing with the generosity and mercy of God. There is a reason Jesus shared this parable after warning about the dangers of riches. Jesus is inviting the disciples and us to be generous with our time, talent, and treasure. He is also calling us out of our group think or tribal mentality. He is showing us that God’s invitation is for all.

Are we aware of how generous and merciful God has been with us? If not, may we give some thought to the blessings we do have in our life, instead of focusing on what we do not have. If we are aware of God’s grace active in our lives, will we begrudge the generosity he shows another? Do we fall into the camp of the laborers who worked all day for their fair share but were begrudging those who received the same pay for an hour’s work, the older brother unwilling to be grateful for the return of his brother, the servant unwilling to show mercy to a debtor, and/or the priest and Pharisee that took the long way around the wounded man on the Jericho Road? Or will we rejoice today in the glory our Father shines upon us, seek opportunities to share our joy, fruit, and gifts with others, and be thankful when God bestows his generosity and grace upon others, even at the eleventh hour?

Photo: from pexels.com

The link for the Mass reading for Wednesday, August 22, 2018: http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/082218.cfm

“Who then can be saved?” Jesus looked at them and said, “For men this is impossible, but for God all things are possible” (Mt 19:25-26).

The disciples are “greatly astonished” about Jesus’ comments about how difficult it would be for the rich to enter heaven. Their astonishment came from the belief system that those who had wealth did so because they had been blessed by God for following his commandments. Just remember the rich young man’s attitude from yesterday. He had followed God’s commands and was blessed with riches, but Jesus turned his world upside down when he asked the man to give up all he had to follow him.

Jesus attempted to help the man and his disciples to understand that what we have is a gift from God, starting with our life, our very existence. He is our very sustenance and fulfillment. A problem arises when we place our security in material things instead of God who provides them for us. If our security is dependent on that which is finite, we are always going to be left unfulfilled, attached, and/or at worst addicted, and so like the rich man, unwilling to give of ourselves to those in need, because we are afraid we won’t have enough. Also, when we look to our own effort and work ethic, we can build a reliance on our self alone, we are putting our self as the supplier of our security instead of God. Pride then becomes a dangerous idol. We think and start to believe that we don’t need God because we can do well enough on our own.

The disciples question can then very easily be our own, “Who then can be saved?” If we can’t buy, earn, or achieve our way into heaven, how will we get there? Jesus is clear. For men this is impossible, because there is no means for us to get there on our own merit. But for God all things are possible. Our salvation is a free gift.

May we then be grateful for what we have been given as we recognize the source of what we have been blessed with comes from God. In this way, we can share freely from what we have, because God, who is our source, is unlimited. What is primary then is deepening our relationship with him and collaborating with him. As we do so, we will have the proper orientation to encounter one another in love.

What is essential in our life is not what we have, but that we recognize that God is the source of what we have, he will provide for us and be present with us. Time goes fast. This life we have been given is good, but it is also finite, and fragile. Let us not take each other for granted, let us make the time to love God and each other as he loves us. “Let us encourage one another while it is still today” (Hebrews 3:13).

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Photo: One of the gifts from God I am most thankful for, talking walks with JoAnn and enjoying God’s creation. Visit from a Red Shoulder Hawk about a month ago on one of our walks. Think about what you are thankful to God for.

Link to the Mass Readings for Tuesday, August 21, 2018: http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/082118.cfm

A young man approached Jesus seeking to know what he must do to attain eternal life. Jesus shared that the key to entrance was to keep the commandments. The man asked which ones he was to follow, a reasonable request as there were 613 commandments to choose from! Jesus gave him six: do not kill, commit adultery, steal or bear false witness; do honor his father and mother, and love his neighbor as himself (cf. 19:18-19). The man affirmed that he had followed them all. Then he asked that next question, “What do I still lack” (Mt 19:20)? I can feel the disciples wince, see the mouth of Jesus curl into a smile while his left eyebrow raises. Mark is more eloquent than me: “Jesus looked at him, and loved him…” (Mk 10:17).

Jesus said to him, “If you wish to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor,
and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” When the young man heard this statement, he went away sad, for he had many possessions (Mt 19:21-22). He was so close!

Jesus saw the one thing that was keeping this man from following Jesus, and gave him the opportunity to renounce what he had, give to the poor and have eternal life, which was what his original request was. It is what we have all been created for, “You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our hearts are restless until they rest in you” (St Augustine, Confessions). The young man knew what he needed to do, but was too attached to his wealth to let go, so he walked away sad.

I invite you to find a quiet space today, enter the stillness, and draw up the image of the disciples and Jesus watching the rich man walk away sad. Slowly, they turn their heads and gaze at you. You then ask Jesus, what it is that you need to let go of. What are you holding onto that is keeping you from giving yourself to the One who is Good? Jesus looks at you and loves you, and says, “If you wish to be perfect…” How does he fill in the blank for you?
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Painting: “Christ and the Rich Young Ruler” Heinrich Hoffman, 1889

Link for the Mass readings for, Monday, August 20, 2018: http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/082018.cfm

Painting by Heinrich Hofmann

All that Jesus has been building up to in chapter six of John’s Gospel and as we have been reading these past few Sundays is now coming to a climax. Any silent shock of disbelief or quiet murmuring has now escalated. The Jews quarreled among themselves, saying, “How can this man give us his Flesh to eat” (Jn 6:52). Jesus hears the growing concern and disbelief. If he was speaking in a figurative or symbolic way, this would be the moment to clarify his point.

Jesus does speak, but he does not walk back or qualify his comments. Jesus doubles down: “Amen, amen, I say to you, unless you eat the Flesh of the Son of Man and drink his Blood, you do not have life within you” (Jn 6:53). Jesus does not only repeat that his disciples are to eat his Flesh but he also adds and insists that they are to drink his Blood as well. Drinking or even eating meat with the blood of an animal was inconceivable for devout Jews. Also, the Greek used here in John’s Gospel for eat is trogein, which is used to describe how an animal eats, by gnawing and tearing at the flesh. The imagery that Jesus is using here is more graphic than the customary use of phagein, which would be used for chewing, as a human would chew their food.

Jesus continues to make his point that whoever does eat his flesh and drink his blood, will not only remain in him, but also Jesus will remain in them, and they will have eternal life. A wonderful end goal, but would any be able to make the leap of faith to get there?

Almost two thousand years later, we continue to have the opportunity to celebrate daily the person of Jesus in our midst. This happens through participating in the source and summit of our faith, the Mass. Our hearts have the opportunity to be set on fire as we hear the word proclaimed during the Liturgy of the Word, and then Jesus is made known to us in the breaking of the bread in the Liturgy of the Eucharist. We are invited to experience an intimate encounter with the Son of God, as we consume him, Body, Soul, and Divinity.

These words may sound as bizarre as when Jesus’ words were first presented to those who heard him say that they would have to eat his Flesh and drink his Blood. The term we have for this miraculous transformation of bread and wine is transubstantiation. What happens during the words of consecration and the calling down of the Holy Spirit is that the substance, the reality, of the bread and wine is transfigured into the Body and Blood of Jesus, while the accidental form, or appearance, remains the same. So we consume Jesus’ acceptable sacrifice.

Jesus is giving all of who he is of himself corporally, fully, holding nothing back of himself so we can receive all of him. We become what we eat. In consuming Jesus, we become divine through our participation with him. We are then dismissed at the end of the Mass to go, like Mary, to bear Jesus Christ, to love others as Jesus loved us, by giving of ourselves to others. We are called to proclaim the Good News. Jesus is risen, he has risen indeed, and he has not left us orphans but remains with us now and for all ages! We are alive, because the Bread of Life lives within us! Amen. Alleluia!

Photo: Our tabernacle in the chapel at Cardinal Newman High School. Jesus is present to us in the consecrated hosts within.

Link for the Mass readings for Sunday, August 19, 2018: http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/081918.cfm

“Let the children come to me, and do not prevent them; for the Kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these” (Mt 19:14).

Again we see the disciples refusing access to Jesus. The scriptures are not clear why they are consistent in acting in this way. We see them doing so with the blind man Bartimaeus, the tax collector Zacchaeus, and the Canaanite woman. In today’s reading, they are refusing access to children. The consistent characteristic of each who are being refused is that they are considered to be on the periphery of Jewish society.

Children, paidia in Greek, especially so. Paidia could represent a child from infancy to twelve years of age. In ancient Palestine, children were particularly vulnerable, had no status and were completely dependent on their family for survival. Luke goes even further than Mark and Matthew by using, brephē, meaning infant, to describe the children. It is to these children and infants that Jesus states the Kingdom of heaven belongs.

Jesus is consistent in his ministry of paying particular interest to the individual person. He welcomes the children and blesses each one of them. Jesus continually acknowledges and affirms the dignity of each person he meets, especially those neglected and ignored. Those who have been on the periphery, those who have been on the other side of the glass looking in, Jesus gives admittance to. Jesus bridges the divide of separation through his healing touch.

To enter the Kingdom of heaven, we must be willing to trust and accept Jesus’ invitation. We must place, like children, even more so, as infants, our total dependence on him, not on our own initiative or effort alone. There is nothing we can do to earn our way into heaven. Entrance into the Kingdom of heaven is a free gift of God’s grace. We just need the humility and the recognition of our dependency on God to accept the invitation. God must be the total center of our life.

Photo of Jesus with children accessed from turnbacktogod.com

Link for the Mass readings for Saturday, August 18, 2018:  http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/081818.cfm

Some Pharisees approached Jesus, and tested him, saying, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any cause whatever” (Mt 19:3)?

The question about divorce came from an already existing debate within Jewish circles of interpretation and schools of thought. Testing Jesus arose from time to time to better understand who he would side with. Regarding the issue of divorce, there was a range of interpretations. On one end of the spectrum there was the School of Shammai, which permitted divorce only in the event of some sexual misconduct. At the other end of the spectrum was the School of Hillel, which would allow a man to divorce his wife if she cooked a bad meal (cf. Harrington 2007, 275).

The Pharisees sought to understand the perspective of Jesus in this debate. Jesus responded: “Have you not read that from the beginning the Creator made them male and female and said, ‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh'” (Mt 19:4-5)? This response negated both schools as well as rejected the precept that Moses set who allowed divorce, explaining that, “from the beginning it was not so” (Mt 19:8). Jesus’ defense went back to God’s original intent recorded in the Book of Genesis, which allowed no provision for divorce.

In God’s plan, marriage is a covenantal relationship, as is the relationship between God and his people. A covenant is a sacred bond that is not to be broken. In marriage, a man and a woman giving themselves to one another and being open to a child as the fruit of their union mirrors the Trinity, where the Father and the Son give and receive themselves to one another. The love between the two is the Holy Spirit. This union also represents the communion between God and his people. The ideal of marriage then is to be a lifelong commitment; for God does not break his covenant with us, nor should we. The goal is clear, yet we live in a fallen world and we do not often live up to what God has planned for us.

For many reasons there are times where a marriage does not work as intended, but that does not mean we are to give up on marriage. Even though Jesus holds the standard high, he does not abandon us when we ourselves fall. He is present in our brokenness, and fallibility. He reminds us: “Those who are well do not need a physician, but the sick do. I did not come to call the righteous but sinners” (Mk 2:17).

It is right to keep our goals high and resist the temptation to settle for anything less than what God has in store for us, which is a covenant relationship with himself. We need to provide education, support, modeling, and mentoring so to remain faithful to one another and to God. And when a relationship breaks down, we need to walk with those who suffer through the pain of the rupture.

Jesus does not abandon us, nor should we abandon each another. We are a broken people seeking healing and reconciliation in so many areas of our lives. May we strive to be aware of each other’s needs, support and encourage one other as we seek to be faithful to our covenant relationship with our God who knows and loves us more than we can ever mess up.

Photo: Wedding bands accessed from: http://withtheseringshandmade.com/

Harrington, S.J., Daniel J. The Gospel of Matthew in Sacra Pagina, vol. 1. Edited by Daniel J. Harrington, S.J. Collegeville, MN: Liturgical Press, 2007.

Link for the Mass readings for Friday, August 17, 2018:  http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/081718.cfm

Peter approached Jesus and asked him, “Lord, if my brother sins against me, how often must I forgive him? As many as seven times” (Mt 18:21)?

Peter’s initial question of asking to forgive seven times may sound pretty generous to us, because the usual question most of us ask is, “Do I have to forgive at all?” Many of us do not do forgiveness well, even if we look at it as a virtue. If someone says to us they are sorry, do we reply, “I forgive you?” Often our automatic response is, “That’s alright”, “It’s ok”, or “No problem”. When we are convicted of a mistake, error or offense, do we ask for forgiveness or operate from a defensive posture to explain why we did what we did, or defend what we did as right, not willing to admit any inappropriate action?

We are very habitual creatures, and much of what I shared above is learned behavior. We are conditioned and shaped from our youth. That is why when we hear Jesus’ answer to Peter, “I say to you, not seven times but seventy-seven times”, we may dismiss Jesus’ statement as mission impossible. Another thought that may come to our minds are those cases or positions in which we feel justified in our stance of unforgiveness. Jesus is yet again raising the bar for us.

We are to strive to forgive as our heavenly Father forgives. Forgive the same person seventy-seven times? Yes. If someone is seeking forgiveness, we are called to forgive. Jesus does not mean that we don’t hold people accountable, remain in a dangerous or life threatening situation, or enable people in their self-destructive behavior. Forgiveness has to do with not holding on to the hurt, not allowing the offense to fester as a grudge that builds to hate and negative or violent behavior. Forgiveness is also not a curse but a blessing. For when we forgive, it is an antidote to the poison someone has injected us with. If we refuse to forgive, we allow the person who has injured us to do so over and over again, for by being unwilling to forgive we allow that poison to fester.

If you are struggling with holding onto a grudge and/or past hurts. One approach that may be helpful is to visualize yourself approaching the person you have the issue with and saying to them, “I forgive you”. You may also find it helpful to visualize Jesus standing beside you while you do this exercise. Repeat the process each day in your time of prayer until you start to feel yourself coming to a place of forgiveness, and can imagine that reconciliation is indeed possible.

If you find visualizing difficult, sit down and talk to Jesus. Be honest with him, tell him the situation and that you do not want to forgive the person. Then ask for Jesus to help you. Embrace the sacrament of Reconciliation and confess your unwillingness to forgive. When ready, determine how best to reach out to the person to say that you forgive them; a phone call, letter, email, text message, or in person.

A third idea that may work is to write the person a letter, whether you send it or not. Each of these are practical ways to approach a great gift that Jesus offers us, to forgive seventy-seven times, or to forgive each and every time we are given the opportunity to do so.

We don’t do forgiveness well. But with Jesus, we can begin again. Let us practice saying each morning, “Please forgive me, (Name)” and think of a few thoughts, words, or actions you need to be forgiven for. Then say, “I forgive you (Name), for…” and think of a few words, actions, or inactions to insert. Also, Jesus gave us a pretty good prayer: “Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.” We are not alone. Remember, Jesus asked God to forgive those who crucified him. We can ask God to forgive those who have offended, hurt, or abused us. Then we can actually move to the point where we begin to develop the freedom to say to others, “I forgive you”, and “Please forgive me.”

Photo: By Albrecht Dürer – Praying Hands – gwGj6BUX8D5Kug at Google Cultural Institute maximum zoom level, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=21792217

Link for the Mass reading for Thursday, August 16, 2018:   http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/081618.cfm

“For at the moment the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the infant in my womb leaped for joy” (Lk 1:44).

When we experience great joy we want to share it with others, just as Mary did when she conceived Jesus through the power of the Holy Spirit and also heard that Elizabeth was also with child. When we unite with those we love we leap for joy, sometimes literally, as John did in the womb!

There was no one on this earth closer to Jesus than Mary. She bore him, nursed him, raised him, initiated, in motherly fashion, his public ministry, held him in her arms as he was taken down from the cross, and she was with the Apostles in the upper room when the Holy Spirit descended upon them. Mary, like Jesus, was also Immaculately conceived. When her time came to leave this life, who better than Mary to have experienced the “singular participation in her Son’s resurrection and an anticipation of the resurrection of other Christians” (Catechism of the Catholic Church 1997, 966)?

Today we celebrate the official dogmatic constitution issued by Pope Pius XII in 1950, the Assumption of Mary, a special grace she received from her Son. Today is a day of joy! Jesus is the promise and Mary is the hope that we will live eternally with our heavenly Father, for Mary is now where we will one day be, body and soul. This is a day to celebrate!

Jesus and Mary have undone the sin of Adam and Eve. They, in their continual faithful life of saying yes to the will of God, opened up heaven for us. In our darkest trials, when the storm clouds of injustice gather, when a situation or conflict does not appear to be getting any better, when death may be imminent, and/or when a loved one has died, even then, death does not have the last word.

There is hope, because there is a light that shines in the darkness when we echo Mary’s song, “My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my Savior. For he has looked upon his handmaid’s lowliness; behold, from now on will all ages call me blessed.” (Lk 1:46-48). God is ever faithful and present to us in his mercy. May we, like Mary, ponder the wonderful gifts of our Father’s love, mercy, and the bestowal of his grace. May we also, like Mary, reflect the light of her Son as we experience the foretaste of heaven. Let us go forward today with haste as beacons of joy and actually leap with joy!

Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us now and at the hour of our death!

Photo: bright clouds country from Pexels.com

For the readings of the Mass for Wednesday, August 15, 2018:  http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/081518-day-mass.cfm

“Amen, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will not enter the Kingdom of heaven. Whoever becomes humble like this child is the greatest in the Kingdom of heaven. And whoever receives one child such as this in my name receives me (Mt 18:3-5).

The above response Jesus gave was to the disciples question regarding who is the greatest in heaven. Jesus offers an unexpected response, as children had no esteem, honor, or greatness in his society. Jesus was not pointing out so much the innocence of children, but emphasizing that children were completely dependent on others for the very survival.

If we are to embark or stay on the journey that will lead us to the Kingdom of heaven, we need to do the same. We need to give our control and apparent, self sufficiency over to God and place our dependence on him alone. We need to depend on God as would an infant or young child does on their parent.

Very young children have also not developed a defensive filter and they say what is on their mind, often with precise insights! How often do we do the opposite by automatically responding in a defensive manner or fearing an ulterior motive from the question? Jesus has taught us that our yes is to be yes, and our no is to be no, and anything more is from the evil one (cf. Mt 5:37). As his disciples, Jesus calls us to be humble, to admit to our sins, our mistakes, to confess, correct and learn from them.

May we turn away from that which we place before God, those biases and idols that can lead us down the path of prejudice; the allures of material, apparent goods and our own self-centered postures, that so often lead to the imprisonment of addiction. Instead, may we “become like children”. May we depend more on God, surrender our control, and place our trust in him. By doing so, we can build a firmer foundation of truth and humility. We will begin to find that we will be more satisfied, fulfilled, and begin to be less defensive and more present to those in need.

We are all wounded, a bit beaten up, emotionally, physically, and spiritually, and in need of God’s healing. Yet, instead of reacting defensively or taking offense, by aligning ourselves with God and asking him to love others through us, we can be more understanding, loving and empowering. We could all use a little more support, empathy, and kindness. May we begin to be a little more present, a healing balm for one another today, for whoever receives one child such as this in Jesus’ name receives him (cf. Mt 18:5).

Photo: Me and my nephew Nicholas about 18-19 years ago. He is now 22. Please join me in prayer that in the name and power of Jesus, Nick may be freed and healed from the battering cycle of addiction. If you know of anyone struggling with addiction, add their name here and we can join in praying together for the healing of so many who are shackled and needing to be set free! Thank you.

Link for the Mass reading for Tuesday, August 14, 2018:  http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/081418.cfm