Today’s Thoughts: Today, we finish our journey through the first week in Ordinary Time and our readings remind us of some fundamental faith issues: those of being called, responding to that call and being anointed.
In our first reading today a selection from the First Book of Samuel, anointing is at the forefront of our message and, in Mark’s Gospel, Jesus calls Levi to be his disciple and the call initiates an immediate response from the tax collector. These three faith issues sit at the heart of the Sacrament of Baptism ritual. Becoming one with Christ and with the community of faith is the most fundamental aspect of our life as a Christian person. Baptism provides us the opportunity to respond to God’s call to growth in faith, hope and love. In the Old Testament. priests, prophets and kings were typically anointed with oil. Also in many of our sacraments but especially, baptism the one receiving the sacrament is anointed with oil. The anointing in Baptism provides us with the opportunity to reflect on our call as priest, prophet and king through the meaning of Christ’s own anointing as a mediator between us and God (priest), as the one who speaks the word of God (prophet) and the one who so very gently rules (serves) in our lives (king). Thus, the invitation, the call of Christ and of God, is given to live out the priestly life by being Christ to those we meet on our path of life; to live a prophetic life by living and speaking the word of God to others; and finally living our kingly lives by following Christ who “ruled”, not by “lording it over” other but by serving them. These are enormous tasks and the truth is that we do not accomplish them by ourselves. Christ, “priest, prophet and king”, is the ideal and our call like Levi’s in the Gospel today: “follow me,” is just the beginning of a life lived with and for others modeled on Jesus’ own life. Perhaps our readings today are calling us to renew the commitment we made at Baptism to follow Christ as priest, prophet and king but serving and caring for others in our world today. Have a great Saturday everyone!
0 Comments
Today’s Thoughts: I have always liked the story in today's Gospel and the reason is because it is not just one person's faith at work. The story says, "When Jesus saw their faith...." It was the faith of the group of friends, of the community, that made all the difference. It was the hard work and faith of the friends of the paralytic. It was the faith of the man, himself, that probably motivated his friends. All of them worked together so that this healing moment was possible.
I often refer to the parishes I go to or the people who make one of my retreats as a community of faith and I truly believe that they are. I am always happy to be in their presence because I believe there is a great power in a community gathered together for a Sunday mass, a daily mass, a prayer service, a parish mission or a retreat. I believe that it takes a community of faith to get us through life. Sure, we need our personal faith. Sure, we need a personal relationship with God, but we also need a community because as good as we might be there are times when we cannot do it alone. We need people to pick us up, to carry us. We need people to help us find a way in, to find a way to God. We need people who believe in us and in the journey, we are on. We need people who know God just as we do. Jesus affirms the small community of faithful friends in the Gospel today. They make it possible for their friend to be healed and to be forgiven. What great friends the paralytic man had, do we have friends like him? Are we faith filled friends willing to pick a friend up and make sure they can get to God? Have a joyful and faith filled Friday everyone! Today’s Thoughts: Today in the Gospel we have the story of Jesus’ encounter with a person with leprosy. It is Mark’s version of the story. (Mark 1: 40-45). In each of the versions from the Gospels of this story, Jesus encounters a person with leprosy and the following exchange takes place. "If you wish, you can make me clean. Jesus was moved with pity, he stretched out his hand and touched the leper and said to him, I do will it. Be made clean. And the leprosy left him immediately."
I think the key elements of this story are Jesus’ intense feelings, the person's faith in Jesus and the willingness of Jesus to heal and to touch. Maybe the most important elements are Jesus’ feelings and his touch, his willingness to be connected with someone who is unclean by the standards of culture, society and religion. As the story unfolds Jesus is moved with pity. Now sometimes we think of pity in a negative way but in our story today this translation “moved with pity” does not really do Jesus’ feelings justice. Jesus feels compassion for this person down deep in his gut and it moves him to action. It moves him to do something beyond what most people would do. It moves Jesus to touch the person even though his is unclean in order to share God’s mercy. Today whether we are talking about our culture, society or even our church the usual response is to disconnect ourselves from someone defined as unclean. Yet, Jesus sought to be connected. He did not want to push them away from the community but to bring them into the community. Jesus reaches out to one who has been pushed out of the community. It is a profound moment; it is a challenge to all of us who proclaim we believe. Do we wish – do we will – that all belong to the community no matter what? Jesus does and he was willing to step across a boundary to make sure that it happens. Are we? Perhaps it is a commitment to prayer that will help us to, wish it and will it. It is through prayer, our conversation with God, that we will find the strength to walk with Jesus across the boundaries imposed and bring others to the community, to friendship with God! Give a little time to God today – say a prayer – talk with God. Have a great Thursday everyone! Today’s Thoughts: My thought for today is drawn from today’s readings, (Gospel Mark 1: 29-39), our constant need for healing. Healing and casting out demons seem to be the work of the day for Jesus. I was thinking of another line in the Gospel as I read today’s passage during my prayer time this morning. The line I thought of was, "The poor you will always have with you" (Matthew 26:11 and Mark 14:7). I thought Jesus could have easily said, "The sick and demons you will always have with you!"
There is always healing that needs to be done, people struggling physically, emotionally and spiritually. Sometimes when I am day dreaming I wish Jesus would walk into our midst and begin to heal or that he would give me the temporary power to heal because there are so many people who could use it! And demons, they seem to be everywhere these days, if only Jesus were here to cast them out what a different place the world could be. It amazes me that the demons always seem to know Jesus and yet often the people in his presence don't. Yet, there is another Gospel passage that also comes to mind, "Truly I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, 'Be taken up and cast into the sea,' and does not doubt in his [or her] heart, but believes that what he [or she] says is going to happen, it will be granted him [or her]." (Mark 11:23) In other words the power to heal and cast out demons is within our grasp we just need to believe and not doubt. So, remember as you go through this day, God just might be calling so be listening and “the force," the power, the presence of Jesus is always with us to heal and to cast out demons we just need to believe! I have a great Wednesday everyone! Today’s Thoughts: On the day in Capernaum, which we hear about in today's Gospel, (Mark 1: 21-28), Jesus taught as one having authority, in fact he taught every day that way. Perhaps that is the problem today that often those teaching really do not teach with authority. They think they do but they don't.
Authority comes from living an authentic life. We cannot say one thing and then do another and expect to have authority. We cannot say life is important and then only value life at the time of birth. We cannot say children, women and men are created in the image and likeness of God and then protect people who hurt them. We cannot talk about freedom and then limit it for certain people. We cannot talk about shepherding and service then live as one who is privileged and entitled. We cannot say human life is most important and then treat inanimate objects with more reverence than people. We cannot say community is important and then restrict the participation of the community. In the Gospel we are reminded that Jesus lived an authentic life. A life focused on others, a life of authority! We long for teaching with authority today but everywhere we turn it seems to be missing. Jesus knew what he was talking about. He knew that people were more important than things. He knew that boundaries could be crossed if it meant life. He knew that people were more important than ritual, dress and mystery. Jesus offered all who listened to him the chance to allow God to change and shape their hearts into a new way of life. If we listen to Jesus and follow his way we will come to know true authority, we will come to live an authentic life! Have a great Tuesday everyone! "At times we pass before situations of dramatic poverty and it seems as if it does not touch us; everything continues as if nothing were wrong, in an indifference that in the end makes us hypocrites and, without our awareness, leads to a form of spiritual lethargy that makes the heart insensitive and life sterile. People who pass by, who go ahead in life without taking account of the needs of others, without noticing the many spiritual and material needs, are people who pass without living; they are people who are not useful to others. Remember: those who do not live to serve, are not useful in life." (Pope Francis)
Today’s Thoughts: Today we bring the season of Christmas to a close with the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord. As I prayed with the Gospel today, I found myself focusing on God proclaiming Jesus as beloved. In growing up I was a middle child, not a true middle child because I only had an older sister and younger brother and supposedly you need two older and two younger siblings to be a true middle child. However, I have proclaimed myself a middle child. I never got any attention! I was neglected! Mom and Dad always like them best. – Not really!
For most of my childhood I sought the attention of my parents and I guess I was not really good in sharing it with my sister and brother. I was also a "pleaser." I wanted everything to be affirmed by my parents, I didn't want to do anything that displeased them, believe me it was an impossible task. Now my parents were not the most demonstrative people in the world. They had grown up through the Great Depression, World War II and where serious people. Sure, they could have fun and enjoy themselves, but they certainly did not gush over anyone or anything. My father worked long hours at times and my mother was a stay at home mom. It was not until I went to high school that we got a second car. My parents were busy about many things, work, their faith, their family and could not always be present at the things we, the children, were involved in. They rarely came to my baseball games, my swimming meets, my basketball games. I was in one play during high school and they didn't make any of the performances. I ran cross-country and track my junior and senior year, but they never saw me run. At the time it seemed like a big deal to me, I wondered if I was really a good son? If they really loved me? Now let me say my parents were great people, the best parents and they loved me very much but as we all know parents seems so "dumb" when we are in our teens, but they get very smart when we get to our 20's. As I look back now my parents were always present at the most significant moments of my life. They were always there at times when it really mattered. I have two images that will always stay with me. One of my father at my profession of vows. He sat with my mother in one of the first two pews and a friend took a picture of him as I was professing my vows, the look on his face was priceless and you can even see a few tears running down his face. If I could have heard his heart at that moment I am sure I would have heard, "This is my beloved son, in whom I am pleased!" My father died four months after I took my vows. The second image is of my mother at my ordination. The day before my ordination as my mother was traveling to New York, she fell and broke her arm. My brother took her to the hospital and the doctor suggested that she have surgery. As my brother tells it, my mother said, "No way, just set it, my son is being ordained tomorrow and I have to be there!" The doctor set her arm and by the afternoon she continued on her way to New York. She was in a lot of pain for the next week or so, but she was there. In her presence that day I heard the words, "This is my beloved son, in whom I am pleased!" We all have these moments when our parent’s presence speaks volumes to us, when their presence proclaims us as beloved daughters and sons. That is what we celebrate on this Monday honoring the Baptism of the Lord. Today we remember that important moment when the Father and the Spirit needed to be there for Jesus. This moment sends Jesus on his way. This moment sends Jesus into his ministry. This moment sends Jesus to the Cross and the Resurrection. It is a moment that gets played our over and over again in our important moments of faith through our parents, families, friends and faith community, God proclaims us as beloved daughters and sons. Moments like Baptism, First Communion, Confirmation, Marriage, Ordination, any sacramental moment in our life. God claims us as a daughter or son who is beloved and sends us on our way. Let us pray for our mothers, our fathers, our families, our friends and to our God today so that when we next receive communion we might hear those words in our heart, "You are my beloved daughter, you are my beloved son, I am so profoundly pleased!" Have a blessed Monday everyone! Today’s Thoughts: I have always liked the short story by Henry van Dyke call The Other Wise Man. It was made into a movie starring Martin Sheen called The Fourth Wise Man. The premise of the story is that there were not three wise men, magi, from the east but four, the fourth one's name was Artaban. Now Artaban was late to the meeting place from which the magi were to start their journey of following the star so he was always playing catch-up to the other three magi. He never catches up to them and so he does not meet the baby Jesus in Bethlehem. By the time he gets there the others are gone and so is the Holy Family.
Artaban is determined to meet the Christ so from Bethlehem he sets out on a journey to catch up, to meet the Christ. He wants to give him some rare stones, jewels, that he has brought along however Artaban is late for every opportunity to meet Jesus because he is always stopping to help someone in need. He finally ends his journey after many, many years in Jerusalem. He is old and tired, and he has given all his precious stones away to help others. He is dejected because he now has nothing to give Jesus if he meets him. Artaban finally does meet Jesus as Jesus is carrying his Cross to Calvary. Jesus tells Artaban that he is thankful for his many gifts. Artaban doesn't understand because he thinks he has no gift to give. Jesus tells Artaban that his life has been his gift. Every time he stopped to help someone it was a gift and Jesus is very pleased with the gift, in fact it is the best gift! I always think of this story on the Feast of the Epiphany of the Lord, because I think Artaban represents all of us. At birth we all begin a journey to meet the Lord it is called life. We have many opportunities to encounter Jesus. Sometimes we miss him and sometimes we don't. Our gift is our life and how we live it. Each time we help others we add to our gift, each time we help others encounter Jesus we add to our gift, each time we live life to the best of our ability we add to our gift! We find ourselves in the midst of a world that often does not recognize Christ and does not give the gifts we have been entrusted with. We live in a world that often does not see the needs of others around us. We live in a world that often disrespects the gift of life. We live in a world that often fails to see people in need because we have our backs turn and we think only of ourselves! The Feast of the Epiphany of the Lord reminds us that Christ's presence and message is universal, Jesus came for all. Again, let me repeat that – Christ’s came for all of us! Our challenge is to bring that message to the world for Jesus by not turning our backs, by not holding on to our gifts but by sharing our gifts with whomever we meet! Let's continue our journey to find the Christ today, let's live our lives, let’s give our gifts! Happy Epiphany everyone and have a great Sunday! Today’s Thoughts: Our readings today from the First Letter of John and Mark’s Gospel are as full of symbolism. Water, blood and the Spirit are symbols of the sacraments of initiation; Baptism, the Eucharist and Confirmation. We see all these sacraments in our readings today.
John in his First Letter tells us that water, blood, and the Spirit, who is truth, witness to the humanity, mission, and divinity of Jesus. In the Gospel, we encounter the scene of Jesus’ baptism by John the Baptist. We hear about the descent of the Holy Spirit that then sends Jesus into the desert and ultimately into his ministry, and his confirmation as the Beloved Son of the Father. In the Christmas season song, the Twelve Days of Christmas we hear the refrain - My true love gave to me…. Perhaps, from our reading we might say that God, is our true love and life the song God has given his love to us abundantly. God has given us his Son, his love, his Mercy, his Truth, his Spirit. God has given us faith, hope, freedom, life, contentment, security, and peace. What does God’s true love ask of us? To continue Jesus’ mission, to set the captives free, give sight to the blind, forgive debts, to bring glad tidings to the poor, and to proclaim a year acceptable to the Lord. We are to ‘be Christ’ to others through our gifts. We are to be people of faith, hope and love. We are to take what we believe put it into action, daily, for life. We are called to bring forth God’s love abundantly. Have a great Saturday everyone and think warm thoughts! Today’s Thoughts: In today's scriptures I find two interesting thoughts. The first centers around Jesus' conversation with Nathanael. Jesus see Nathanael as a truthful, genuine person, he had no duplicity, in other words "what you see is what you get." What Nathanael says is what he does. For Jesus that is refreshing, if we could encounter it today it would be refreshing for us also.
In our world it seems that saying the right thing at the right time is the norm it is very hard to find a person with duplicity. Very few people say what they really mean. We say what we think people want to here because it gets us power, influence, authority and status. I believe we really want to be truthful but at times if we are, there is so much to lose. Yet repeatedly in the scriptures we are reminded that truth is what sets us free. It might not get us power, authority, influence, wealth and status in this life, but this life is not the only thing we are living for, we are living for a life of eternal love. Truth, authenticity, genuineness are the hallmarks of Jesus' mission and ministry, yes, they took him to the Cross, but they also took him to the Resurrection. In the first reading today, John tells us that our journey of faith will not be easy, that we will be hated. However, we shouldn't fear, we shouldn't worry if we make the journey as people with love in our hearts. It is another way of saying that love as we see it and encounter it in Christ casts out fear! Thus, we are challenged today to live as people with duplicity, to live as people whose actions match our words, to live as genuine people of truth with love in our hearts. The journey will not be easy in fact sometimes it will be downright difficult but the love of God, others and self that we carry in our heart will cast out all our fear! Have a great Friday and stay warm everyone! |
Fr. Paul R. Fagan, C.P. "Preacher on the Run"Just a few thoughts to help you on your journey through life...let me know from time to time what you think... Archives
April 2024
Categories |