20th Sunday in Ordinary Time - Gospel - Matthew 15:21-28

I want to tell you a story and then speak about an “inconvenient truth” for Catholics.

A long time ago, in a far away place there lived a young boy from a wealthy family living in a foreign land.  The boy was attended to by a poor native manservant named Rahsme who accompanied him everywhere during the day.  The boy’s father, an important diplomat, had the finest tutors to see to the boy’s education, including a monk from the local monastery to look after his son’s spiritual needs.

Every afternoon the monk would sit in the garden of the boy’s house and read the Gospels to him and speak to him about Jesus.  The monk, Fr. Dominic, spoke of God’s love for his people and his covenant with them to be their God and they - His people.  He spoke about God’s love and mercy and how God wanted his people to be with him in heaven for eternity.

The boy, being just that - a young boy was not a very attentive student.  He was often distracted by the birds, animals and insects that inhabited the garden rather than paying attention to his lessons.  It was a frustrating time for Fr. Dominic, but being the good monk that he was, kept on with the lessons each day; speaking to the boy about Jesus from the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John and telling the most marvelous stories of the glories of heaven and how we could not begin to imagine how much God loved us and how beautiful heaven is, where we will rest with God for ever.

Each day, as Fr. Dominic read from the Bible to the inattentive boy and spoke of the glories of heaven, there was one listener paying very close attention – Rahsme, the manservant.  Rahsme sat in the corner of the garden and listened with rapt attention to the stories of Jesus, especially to Fr. Dominic’s descriptions of heaven and the words spoken by Jesus to his disciples.  And each night Rahsme went home to his village and told his family, of which there was a great number, about Jesus, the love of God and the glory of heaven.  His family loved to hear the stories while sitting around the fire – giving special attention to the words of Jesus in the Gospels.  They were delighted to hear about being saved and spending eternity in heaven and they were greatly troubled when the stories spoke about sin and the fires of Gehenna.

This went on for a very long time – Rahsme listening to Fr. Dominic during the day and his retelling the stories he heard to his family in the evening.

One afternoon, after the lesson was completed as Fr. Dominic made his way back to the monastery he noticed Rahsme following behind him at some distance.  Fr. Dominic stopped to wait for Rahsme to catch up to him. “What can I do for you, my brother?” said the monk as the manservant reached him.

Rahsme hesitated, not knowing what to say.  Fr. Dominic said again, “What can I do for you, Rahsme?  You have been following me instead of looking after the boy, what can be so important that you would leave him alone in the garden?”

Rahsme, in a trembling voice said, “He is not alone, my lord, my cousin is with him.”

“Good, it is not safe to leave such a young boy in the garden alone.” said Fr. Dominic.  “What is so important that you leave your charge to follow me?”

Rahsme, encouraged by the words of Jesus in his heart said, “My wife gave birth to a son yesterday and we want to have him baptized, so he can be a Christian and be loved by God and go to the glory of heaven.”

Fr. Dominic was astonished by this and said, “You are not of our faith, why do you ask this of me?

“Good Father, I have listened every day to your stories of Jesus, God and heaven for a very long time now when you were teaching the boy and have told my wife and family all these marvelous stories too.  We think this is the truth that you speak, of the love of God for all his children, so we want our child to be a child of God too.” said Rahsme.

“Bless you Rahsme,” replied Fr. Dominic.  “God loves each of us and wants us all to be with him in heaven, so I would be very, very happy to baptize your son.  Let us go to your village now to make your son a child of God.”

“If it would make you very, very happy to baptize my son, Master Dominic, then you will be very, very happy a hundred fold to learn that my entire family also wants to become children of God too.” said Rahsme. So together they set off to baptize Rahsme’s entire family to make of them Disciples of Christ.

We never know who we will affect when we spread the Word of God in the world. By our words and by our actions we are known as disciples of Jesus – spreading the Word of God to all we meet. 

This brings me to that “inconvenient truth” I mentioned - evangelization.  We are all called by our baptism to evangelize in the world – “to go out into the world and make disciples.”  Evangelization is not just for missionaries in foreign lands, but for each one of us to bring the Word of God to all who have ears to hear. 

It is our baptismal right and duty:

• to speak of God’s great love for all his people, especially to those who have never heard the Word of God
• to remind those who have heard the Word, but for some reason failed to understand its importance to their lives
• to speak the Word of God to those who have hardened their hearts; turning their back on God – closing their ears to his message of love and mercy and
• to encourage those who have listened to the Word of God – calling them into a deeper relationship with God

We are responsible for all our brothers and sisters in the world – bringing them closer to God and to his great reward of life everlasting in heaven.  We are the tools in God’s hand – accomplishing his will – spreading his message of love and peace – mercy and forgiveness -- for all his children, so that they may rest with him in his kingdom - forever and ever.

Peace,

Deacon Don

Our Nature is to Love

There was an old holy man sitting on the banks of the Ganges meditating while worshippers bathed in the river to wash away their sins.  The old man noticed a scorpion struggling in the water trying to get to the shore.  As it floated closer to him it became tangled in some reeds by the waters edge.  The more it struggled, the more entangled it became, so the old man reached out to free the scorpion from its watery fate.  As he touched the creature – it began to sting his hand.  Despite the pain, he continued to free it; placing it on the shore.

A young man nearby watching shouted to him, “Why do you risk such pain for such a useless and ugly creature?”

The holy man replied, “Just because it is the nature of the scorpion to sting, why I should give up my nature to save?”

“An eye for an eye – a tooth for a tooth. . .” – aren’t we all familiar with this phrase?  We often hear it used when someone is hurt or offended and they're seeking revenge: to repay a hurt for a hurt.  We use it to say: “I will get you back for what you did to me.”

Many people agree that this is a just act of vengeance – to repay in kind for a hurt caused.  I’ve even heard people justify its use because it appears in the Bible.

But what is the root of this phrase found in Leviticus?  It is a philosophy known as “lex talionis” - a system of retributive justice – not vengeance.  Simply put, under lex talionis, no one could exact revenge or ask for compensation that was greater then the hurt.  It set limits to vengeance to prevent people from plunging into escalating blood feuds that could last for decades and waste countless lives. 

It was philosophy of justice to maintained peace and civility among the people, but today people often use it as a standard of justice on which they believe they are compelled to act.

Jesus revokes lex talionis when He says ". . . do not seek vengeance – an eye for an eye or a tooth for a tooth, - but if you are struck on your right cheek - turn your other cheek as well.  If someone sues the shirt off your back - hand over your coat as well. , if someone presses you to a task – give more than is asked.  By these signs will you make known the power, glory and love of God."

It isn’t easy being a Christian.  Every day we are challenged to be loving followers of our Lord, Jesus Christ.

Who can pick up a newspaper or watch a talking TV head or tap into the social media or listen to talk radio without someone making us hot, raising our blood pressure or making us want to shout, “Throw the rascals out!” 

Rarely are we led to say, “Now, let us pray. . .”

Jesus challenges his followers to live in a radically new way – to love our neighbor – to be signs of God’s love in the world for all his people.

And who is our neighbor?  Besides the obvious, they are:

That person who cut you off at the toll plaza –

That rotten, no-good son-of-a-sea-cook who . . .(fill in your own demon du jour)

Even those people espousing fear and hate; vowing to destroy us and our way of life

All those in the world – our brothers and sisters, children of God – who struggle as we do each day for peace, dignity, respect and love.

Love those people?!

Pray for those people?!

Wish them every good thing in life as you wish for yourself?! 

Asking nothing in return?!

Jesus shows us that this is the way to eternal life – loving as we are loved – His is - the Way, the Truth and the Life.

Jesus shows us the way of the Father and His love for all his children – the just and the unjust - the good and the bad.  We are all God’s children and he treats us all with equal love.  If we are followers – true disciples of Jesus, then we should “be perfect, just as our heavenly Father is perfect.”

Perfection is living the love of God – loving one another as we are loved.  Not a conditional love - bartered or socially contracted – we do not love because we are loved or because someone loves us in return.  We love because it is our nature to love - for we are children of love, - God - who is love.

Our journey of discipleship is a journey toward the perfection of God’s love.  We do not love our enemy because we hope our love will change him, but because it is our way - we are Christians – we love because we are called to love.  It is the nature of our discipleship in Christ Jesus, Son of the Loving Father.

No, it’s not easy being a Christian, a disciple of Jesus, but it is the Way, the Truth and the Life that leads to eternal life.

Peace,

Deacon Don

Catholic Social Justice - Rights and Responsibilities

"Naked I came forth from my mother's womb,

and naked I shall go back again.

The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away;

blessed be the name of the Lord!"

                                                                         Job 1:21

The fundamental right to life, food, shelter, healthcare, education and employment is common to all people, everywhere.  The right to participate in the decisions that affect our lives is also a basic human right.  With these basic rights are duties and responsibilities.  These are to: respect the rights of others, protect these rights for everyone, and exercise these rights in working together for the common good of all.

God has given us life, this precious gift of His love for us.  It is a gift beyond value, primary to all that He has given us.  Life is to be treated as our most precious possession, for us and for all others.  Protecting life is our ultimate responsibility, from the moment of conception to natural death.  There can be no greater duty and responsibility – all life is precious.

Sustaining the precious gift of life, affording us the opportunity to rise up in dignity so that we may realize the full potential of our lives is basic and common to all human kind.  Food and hydration, shelter and healthcare allow us to continue life and live it in good health and comfort.  Education and employment allows us to realize our potential as humans, to live in dignity with respect and standing in the community.

We each have the right to life.  We each have the right of access to those things that sustain life.  As Christians and Catholics, we each have the responsibility to ensure that everyone everywhere has these same basic rights.  It is our duty to work for the common good of all humankind, to ensure that these rights are not denied, withheld or subverted and that all peoples have access to them.

Peace,

Deacon Don

Vocation - God's Love

"I lay down my life for my sheep;
- no one takes it from me;
I lay it down freely.
                                                    John 10:15, 18

During morning prayer I read the above scripture and was reminded of my vocation. Jesus, the Good Shepherd laid down his life for our salvation; expiating our sins. His total commitment to others was God's love in action. Blessed Mother Teresa's life too was God's love in action, dedicated to serving the poorest of the poor. That's why she is being 'fast-tracked' to sainthood - as a modern model of selfless giving and love.

Not that I expect to lose my life for others, or plan on moving to a slum to serve God's least children (or ever expect to be tracked, in anyway, to sainthood). Most of us are not called to serve in those ways, but we should be open to how the Holy Spirit will move our hearts to do God's will.  We must listen for the call of God's Spirit in our hearts and discern the challenges He places before us in serving those whom we encounter on our journey to Life Eternal.

God's love is in how we give of ourselves for others. This is how we return God's love for us. Loving God and Loving one another is one and the same.  We show our love of God in the love we show to one another, especially in our love for the least of His children.

The talents we are given should further the Kingdom of God. We use our hands, our heads, our feet, our backs and especially our love to bring God's love into this world. Not that we are called to do great things, but great things are accomplished through the love we show in our service to one another. Blessed Mother Teresa said it best, "In this life we cannot do great things. We can only do small things with great love." 


When I think of my vocation I am reminded to do this - to use my talents to do small things with great love, to listen to the Holy Spirit speak to my heart and to discern the path God has chosen for me to follow . This is how I can freely lay down my life for others.

Peace,
Deacon Don

19th Sunday in Ordinary Time - Gospel - Matthew 14:22-33

At once Jesus spoke to them, "Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid."

Today is not unlike that day when the disciples found themselves away from the Lord, being tossed about in a boat on a stormy sea. We too, can feel alone and afraid in the storms that surround us. Storms that shake our world, both locally and globally, to its foundation.

These storms can overwhelm us; making us feel as if we are drowning.  They sap our strength, melt our resolve and wear away at our courage. We begin to lose hope and see only dark clouds on the horizon. As our strength and courage wear down, we begin to doubt, like Peter, in the Lord. He who loves us so much He invites us to, Come" and walk with Him upon the waters.

Jesus is our strength and courage. He is our teacher and guide who cares for us so much that in our fears and doubts He reaches out to support us; calming us and renewing us. When we are wounded and afraid He holds us in His embrace. He carries us when we are weary and exhausted.

We know that Jesus is Lord He is the Way, the Truth and the Life - He is with us always - to the end of the age and His love is eternal.

Do not be afraid.

Peace,
Deacon Don

Catholic Social Justice - For the Common Good

"If one members suffers, all suffer together with it; if one member is honored, all rejoice together with it."

                                                                                              1 Corinthians 12:26

“When one suffers, we all suffer.”  St. Paul sums up the meaning of this principle of Catholic Social Teaching in this one line.  We are not a society of individuals separate and distinct from each other, we are a community of humankind.  None of us can claim success in life if there is at least one person who suffers.  It is likened to a team that loses a game.  No player can celebrate a personal victory if the team has lost.  All the players suffer the same fate as the team - together.

While there is poverty in the world, we cannot claim success for the society of humankind.  Where there is oppression in the world we cannot claim to be truly free.  Where there is hunger and thirst we cannot claim to be satisfied.

The suffering of people in the world is our suffering too, and their welfare our responsibility.  We are called to speak and act on behalf of those who cannot do so for themselves.  It is our right and responsibility to take on their fight for dignity, freedom, self-determination, and life itself.  We must speak out for those who are oppressed and disenfranchised, abused by their governments and others, maimed, murdered, starved, raped, marginalized or displaced by war, famine, disease or natural disaster.

We can do this not only through donations to relief organizations like Catholic Charities, but also through political power by raising the awareness of others and bringing the plight of the suffering to the world arena; exerting pressure on governments to take proper care and responsibility for the basic rights of their people, asking our own politicians to speak and act on behalf of the common good of all humankind.

Peace,
Deacon Don

Catholic Social Justice - Dignity of Work and Workers

1 Timothy 5:

17

³ Presbyters who preside well deserve double honor, especially those who toil in preaching and teaching.

18

For the scripture says, "You shall not muzzle an ox when it is threshing," and, "A worker deserves his pay."

We do not live to work, but work to live.  Work has value to the human condition and spirit.  On one level work helps us to maintain our existence, sustain our families and provide a means for the ownership of property.  On another level it gives us a sense of pride and accomplishment, recognition for our craft and skill and dignity as a contributing member of the community. 

Work is a necessary part of our social environment, giving us a standing in the community that allows us not only a freedom to compete in the economic marketplace, but allows us to participate in the common good through our contribution.  Work gives us meaning and purpose.

Hand in hand with work is a decent return for one’s labor.  Fair wages and benefits, safe work environments, access to ownership of ideas and competitive initiatives all serve to dignify the work and honor the worker.

Unemployment is a social disaster, individually and collectively.  Unemployment separates a person from the community and jeopardizes their standing in that community.  Mass unemployment not only wrecks the economics of the community, but also creates, for the whole community, a depressed social and economic condition that can stigmatize and traumatize; perpetuating a downward cycle affecting the entire community.

Work is a basic right of humankind, wherein people find dignity and self-actualization; participating in the life of the community and contributing to the common good of humankind.  Respect and dignity for workers is fundamental so that we may live in peace.

Peace,

Deacon Don