"They who do justice will live in the presence of the Lord.” The responsorial psalm this weekend tells us that it is by doing justice that we live in the presence of God…it is in and through building justice we encounter God. How is it then that such great injustices, racism, bigotry and misogyny, are so prevalent in our “Christian” society? Racism, bigotry and misogyny are outright sins and need to be called what they are. Justice demands that we look at the very structure of our society that claims to be built on the ideal of “justice for all persons” and yet, clearly acts contradictory to our notion of all women and men being equal are committed more and more frequently and without appropriate consequences.

The reality of “inequality” is seen in the Gospel this weekend. Mary chooses to sit at the feet of Jesus as a disciple, a decidedly male role, clearly breaking the norms of their society….and Jesus defends this unacceptable behavior. Mary is drawn to Jesus’ words like other women of Jerusalem who broke with tradition and traveled with Jesus to support him in his mission. Jesus did not uphold the laws that created a patriarchal society that clearly valued men over women. This attitude of inclusion that Jesus demonstrates over and over again by eating with sinners, tax collectors and prostitutes, shows his willingness to stand up to societal conventions that degraded or dishonored the dignity of a person.

Jesus reached out to the poor and the marginalized and commanded that his disciples do the same and in doing so they would be recognized as his followers. We simply cannot stand by in silence as our government continues to separate immigrant children from their parents, housing them in inhumane and heartless conditions, turning away legitimate asylum seekers and immigrants fleeing violence, poverty, seeking a better life for themselves and their families. As disciples we have to ask ourselves what are we doing in the face of the racism, bigotry and misogyny that plagues our nation? How can we work to build justice, to call out the racism, bigotry and misogyny in all its forms whether in our schools, our neighborhoods, our places of work or the highest offices of our government? How will I “do justice” this week, how will I live out my discipleship of Jesus Christ?

Blessings,
Fr Tim

This Sunday’s Gospel is without doubt one of the most famous in all of scripture. We all know it and we all get the point…or do we? As a “supposedly” predominately Christian nation we certainly fail to live up to it! We find ourselves living in a country of great extremes…on the one hand we have sinful waste and staggering excess and on the other hand we have huge numbers of our sisters and brothers living in cruel poverty…and so very many of our citizens seem to not care at all. Our political discourse has degraded to an increasingly violent and vitriolic disdain for not only competing ideas but for the actual persons who hold them. The more hysterical the rhetoric, the more it seems to garner support among what appears to be a callous and uncaring faction of our nation. Somewhere along the journey we have lost sight of the meaning of the parable of the good Samaritan.

Samaritans were considered, by some Israelites to be almost “sub-human”. They were often called dogs…not the cute cuddly puppy…but rather the mangy half-starved denizens of the night who wander the dark streets in search of a morsel of food. And this is precisely who is the hero of Jesus’ story. It is the dehumanized one who acted with humanity, one who acted as God would want us to act. Who was his sister? Who was his brother? Surely not an Israelite…who after all most likely hated and despised him…but in the very midst of that knowledge, the Samaritan was moved with pity and cared with gentleness and kindness for the one who despised him.

This Sunday’s Gospel offers us the chance to reflect on who we wish to be…the heartless priest who passes by…or the good Samaritan who risks being gentle and kind to someone who despised him? God cries out to us to be compassionate and kind toward others especially those in need, especially to those whom our society marginalizes and despises. We know who they are…what are we willing to do for them? Are we willing to risk being good Samaritans? Are we willing to stand up on their behalf and demand justice for them?

Blessings,
Fr Tim

This week’s gospel reading recounts “the sending out of the seventy-two” disciples to preach the Reign of God. They were preaching this reign that was “at hand” and is still coming upon us. Last week the theme of Sunday’s readings was “God’s call”. And so we reflected on God’s call to each of us, here and now. God’s call to each of us is at the same time unique for each one of us and yet the same in that we are all called to live the Reign of God.

But are we ready to “live” the Reign of God? Jesus makes it abundantly clear that it will not be easy, and in fact our very lives may be at risk for proclaiming it and “living it”. Jesus cautions us that we are being sent out into the world “like lambs among wolves”. As we have just celebrated the 4th of July, the great “high feast day” of our nation, perhaps we should ask ourselves if we as citizens are working to build a country that reflects the Reign of God? Are the homeless housed… are the thirsty quenched…are the hungry satisfied…are immigrants and migrants welcomed? Are these not signs of the bursting forth of the Reign of God? And when we fail to feed the hungry, to shelter the homeless and to welcome the immigrant and migrant then we fail “the mission”, we fail to build up the Reign of God”!

Each of us has been called to build up the Reign of God…to “live” it in the here and now. Perhaps in light of the celebration of our nation’s birthday we should take a few minutes to reflect on how, we as a nation, and as individuals, are doing living out the mission Jesus gave us and ask ourselves what we might need to do differently.

Blessings,
Fr Tim 

We hear seemingly hard words from Jesus in today’s Gospel. Jesus, like Elijah before him, asked his followers to leave behind everything and follow him. No words of compassion for the one whose father had just died! No time to say goodbye to friends and family…not even time to bury the dead! What is going on with Jesus? Earlier in the Gospel of Luke Jesus’ compassion is readily visible -- curing the sick and lame, raising a little girl from the dead, curing the lepers. What has happened?

Surely the people following Jesus were surprised by these hard-hitting words, but they would also have been used to hyperbole as it was quite commonly used by storytellers and speech-makers. But still Jesus is making a point about the urgency and the demands of discipleship….it cannot be left until tomorrow, and it will not be easy! Jesus knows that he is heading to certain death in Jerusalem and his followers will need to be “all in” in order to survive the ordeal of that “awful” first Good Friday. Jesus wants to be sure that those who seek to be his disciples understand that the road ahead will be difficult and the cost of discipleship is great. It almost seems too great of a demand…but we do not travel the road of discipleship alone, Jesus is at our side…and that makes all the difference.

What am I willing to give up to be a disciple of Jesus? What does my discipleship call me to do this week? What choices am I being called to make as a disciple of Jesus in light of the current social and political realities here in the United States and around the world?

Blessings,
Fr Tim

On this day when we celebrate the awesome gift of the Eucharist one would think that the Gospel of this wonderful feast day would be about “the Last Supper,” but instead, it is the Gospel of the feeding of the 5000. When the disciples come to Jesus and complain that the people are hungry, Jesus says in response “give them some food yourselves”! The story of the “feeding of the five thousand” is about Jesus’ acknowledgement of human hunger…hunger for food… hunger for justice…hunger for God! As we celebrate the gift of Jesus giving himself to us in the Eucharist let us take seriously his command to “do this in memory of me." 

Of course the question is: What is the “this”? For sure it is the breaking of the bread and the sharing of the cup. But is it more? Perhaps the “this” of “do this in memory of me” includes all that Jesus had done and what he was about to do, the next day! As Roman Catholics we believe that the bread and wine become the real body and blood of Jesus Christ poured out for the life of the world. And that when we receive the real presence of Christ we are changed, transformed more and more into the Body of Christ. This transformation, though, is not just for our sake but for the sake of the world. We are called to take the real presence of Christ out into the world and feed all those who hunger….those who hunger for food…those who hunger for justice…those who hunger for peace… those who hunger for God!

How do I fulfill Jesus’ command to feed those who hunger for food…for justice…for peace…for God? How do I share the “real presence” within me with others? How does participating in the Eucharist affect the way I live my life?

Blessings,
Fr Tim

Today we celebrate the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity, a feast that makes many heads hurt as they try and understand one of the most complex theological realities that theologians wrestle with. The wonderful American theologian, Catherine Mowry LaCugna, once wrote that “the doctrine of the Trinity is not an abstract teaching about God apart from us but a teaching about God’s life with us and our life with each other.” Her point is that ultimately any teaching about the Holy Trinity is about “relationship." Jesus tells the disciples that “everything that the Father has is mine….and the Spirit will take from what is mine and declare it to you.” There is no “yours and mine” in the Trinity….there is no possessiveness…only a profound sense of “ours”…a sense of community…a sense of communion! Perhaps that is it…”communion”…the total sharing of “being”. And the awesome reality is that “we” are part of that communion!!!

“Understanding” the Holy Trinity…even for great theologians is ultimately beyond us because whatever we “understand” God to be…God is so much more! No matter how profound the theological pronouncements may sound, our attempts are so puny in the face of the enormity of the mystery that is God! So let us not get caught up in complex theological arguments or pronouncements…rather let us rejoice that “God so loved the world” that God came to us as “one of us” in Jesus Christ that we might come to know God better! It is all about relationship…about communion…communing with God…and God communing with us! What does “communion” really mean? How do I commune with God…and with others? Do I really feel connected…“in communion” with “all” my sisters and brothers...even those who are different from me…even those I don’t like? Am I open to being taught by the Holy Spirit to enter into communion with God and others in ways I might not have thought of?

Blessings,
Fr Tim

The great feast of Pentecost is upon us…once again! The celebration of the great pouring forth of the Holy Spirit upon the face of the earth! That same “rush of the wind” that swirled across the face of the waters when the world was created! Jesus promised the Holy Spirit would return…and would remind the disciples of all the He had taught them! The Holy Spirit would embolden them…simple fishermen…to become great missionaries, carrying the “Good News” of the forgiveness of sins and promise of eternal life to the “ends of the earth.”

And that same Holy Spirit is upon us…here…today…so what will happen if we dare to inhale? To take in the fullness of that Spirit…everything would change…we would be transformed…led out of our safe and comfortable surroundings and into the chaos of the world! Called forth into the streets, doing all that we once feared to do and preaching what we never imagined we could preach! Let us breathe deeply…and allow the Divine Fire to burn within us and give us new insight and clarity about what our lives are truly about! But we must be prepared…it will be something “NEW” and unexpected, creative and lifegiving!!!

Or…we can hold our breath and remain just as we are! And the world won’t change and the poor and the marginalized will remain poor and marginalized…and wars will breed other wars…and there will be no “holy revolution”! But what if we “inhale?” Are we willing to risk turning ourselves over to the power of the Holy Spirit? Are we willing to risk it all and be filled with the Holy Spirit? We can choose to “just celebrate” the past…the “birth of the church”…and our parish…and of the Spiritan Congregation…or we can “inhale”…and breathe into the future! And allow the Holy Spirit to fill us and embolden us to be disciples on fire to preach Good News…to go out into the world and to turn it upside down with the Gospel of Jesus Christ! What do I choose?

Pentecost Blessings,
Fr Tim

As we celebrate the feast of the Ascension I cannot help but reflect on the many ideas and concepts that swirl around this feast…some with unintended consequences! The word “ascension” itself conjures up images of Jesus rising up into the clouds to join the Father and the Holy Spirit somewhere “up there”…far, far away. The problem with this is it can lead us to believe that heaven is “up there” and we are “down here” and that God is far off and distant from us and from our lives. This is in stark contrast to the heart and soul of the meaning and significance of the incarnation. The truth of our God having become “incarnate” (in the flesh) in Jesus means that God is with us…not some remote deity watching us from afar. We need to recall Jesus’ promise “I am with you until the end”! These simple words are most profound…there is no need for us to stand gawking skyward with our jaws hanging open. While the physical presence of Jesus Christ as a singular human and divine presence no longer walks the earth…Christ is here, as close to us as our own breath, keeping us alive to be his presence in our world. As we celebrate the Ascension of Jesus let us celebrate the presence of the Risen One in our midst!

Before his ascension Jesus gave a clear command and mission to his disciples…to us. We are charged with preaching the “Good News” of Jesus Christ and to be that healing, loving and welcoming presence in a world filled with sickness, hatred and exclusion. Filled with the “real presence we are sent forth to stand up and be the voice of the voiceless, to speak out on behalf of those who are silenced or ignored, to make sure that hatred, racism and bigotry are not left unchecked. Filled with the Spirit we speak the truth of the Gospel to power, whether convenient or inconvenient, whether garnering us friends or marginalizing us, it is our call as disciples of Jesus Christ!

How might I be a “healing, loving and welcoming presence”? How can I “stand up” for the Gospel, in the public arena and in my personal life? How do I experience the real presence of God in my daily life?

Easter Blessings,
Fr Tim

Pretty much everyone has felt lonely, abandoned by friends or loved ones at some point in their lives. Most of us have felt fearful; wondering how we will make it through rough times with our children or parents or siblings. We suffered personal loss or illness and wonder if we will be able to go on. Today’s Gospel tells us that in the very midst of our “lost-ness”…suffering…fear or sense of abandon that we are never truly alone, we are not abandoned, we are not orphans….for the Risen Christ remains with us.

When I was little I used to think that Christ was with me….but only when I’m doing something good….or only in holy or sacred places. Oh…how wrong I was! Jesus proclaims to the disciples that no matter what they “feel”….not matter where they go, he will be with them…and even more….the Holy Spirit will be given to them and find a resting place within them. We are the inheritors of this same promise. We are never alone, never abandoned! Our God is with us always…even when we can’t feel that presence or sense it…God is with us. Even in the midst of our worst moments, our most selfish actions…even in the midst of our greatest sin…God is present and loving us through that dark moment.

How do I respond to being loved so deeply and passionately by God? How do I share God’s love with others? When was the last time I heard the Holy Spirit calling me to something…or away from something? What was or will my response be?

Easter Blessings,
Fr Tim

One of problems with apocalyptic literature is that some people think it is a crystal ball, a door we can open to see the future. But in reality the function of apocalyptic literature, like First John, that we hear today, is that it is not meant to scare us but rather to reassure us! To reassure us that in the end no matter how scary the world gets, no matter how many monsters roam the lands, no matter how many awful tragedies befall us….God’ love will prevail and ultimately we will all be cared for, nourished and loved in the Reign of God.

​Last week’s second reading was about “the great gathering”. It was a vision of every person from every race, nation, language and tribe all streaming into the Reign of God…everyone! Today’s second reading tells us that God dwells with humanity, loves humanity, cares for humanity and is making all things new. We are, ourselves living “a journey”…a journey with God and in God. It is a journey of love and Jesus became one of us to try and show us how to love one another as Jesus loves us. Love is the basis of our very existence…we exist because we have been loved into being by the One who above all else “is” Love.

We find ourselves living in the midst of almost apocalyptic like horrors…local and international terrorists, wars and threats of wars, great storms and natural disasters and we can find ourselves feeling over-whelmed and fearful. And yet scripture tells us that even in the midst of such travails love continues to exists, in us, around us and through us! Perhaps one of Jesus’ most difficult commandments was to love one another, even our enemies! In the midst of our current national political debate or should I say “conflict”….where is the care and concern for the poor and the immigrant that Jesus has commanded us to show them?

As disciples of Jesus Christ we are called to be that presence of love…even in the midst of conflict….or perhaps precisely in the midst of war we are even more called to be that presence of love and work to end the conflict to build peace and to love one another as Jesus has loved us…even our enemies. How do I live out Jesus’ commandment of love in my daily life? How do I work to build peace and social justice nationally, internationally, in my workplace, in my community and in my family?

Easter Blessings,
Fr Tim