Friday April 19, 2024
John 6:52-59
I do not know if there is anything really in our life that carries the same significance as did bread for the ancients. Yes we still hold on to its importance here and there but I do not think it is to the same degree. Well, at least here in Kentucky. Bread was the staple, the most basic but yet the most luxurious. I bet just like we have, bread came in different degrees of importance. Barley bread for the commoners and wheat bread for the sophisticated. I wonder which kind of bread Jesus meant when he referred to himself as the bread of life?
So pardon me for this analogy. Instead of bread, think fuel. I know this is terrible but I also know how Americans go absolutely crazy about gas. You can raise and lower the price of bread without an outrage or much of an outrage. Touch our fuel and we vote you out. Imagine Jesus saying, I am the fuel (gas, petrol) of the world. Fill up with my being and you will have life.
Hey I know I lost you at fuel. But, think about it. Without God, how far can you go? How far can you go without a spiritual life?
Thursday April 18, 2024
John 6:44-51
The gospel of John is an interesting read and study. It is called “High Christology” gospel because it presents Jesus as the Logos, the one who was there from the very beginning. In today’s passage we read “Jesus said to the crowd:
‘No one can come to me
unless he is drawn by the Father who sent me..”
John is writing at a time when there is great resistance to Jesus. This is a time when people lost their lives for ever professing their faith in the Nazarene. To these very afraid Christians, John writes “you were chosen, God has drawn you to Jesus.
Think about the people who the scriptures tell came to Jesus. It was those who thought they never had a chance. The Sinners and Tax Collectors, the prostitutes and fishermen. If you look close enough you will see that these early believers had something in their lives that was not good enough or perfect. That my friend is the secret, that is what draws them to Christ. Is there some part of your life that you think disqualifies you? That is actually your draw, your magnet which the Father put in you. Love it and you will have life.
Tuesday April 16, 2024
1 Peter 5:5-14
Whenever I read these early manuscripts of the church, I ask myself what the author was responding to. St Peter says “All wrap yourselves in humility to be servants of each other, because God refuses the proud and will always favour the humble.” Peter is noticing a very dangerous attitude that is growing in the early church. The tendency to want to be a lord and be served. He invites the early church to always have a servant heart. I truly did not know what it meant to be a servant until I became a parent. Isn’t it true that every parent or caretaker is the servant of servants. What I love about being a parent is we do servant things with a loving heart. We do servant things almost expecting nothing back (maybe a thank you if we raise them right). This self sacrificing love is what he implores of us to take. To anticipate each others needs.
Pope Francis has tried very much to remind the clergy that they are servants. Poor guys, they have been lords for so long and have never really been parents so it is a tall order. But this call is for all of us. Stay humble and grow the church. The question is, can you confidently say that you are a humble person?
Monday April 15, 2024
John 6:22-29
A very happy Monday to you. We have two great Signs performed by Jesus in today’s gospel passage. Remember that the gospel of John is the only gospel in which the word “MIRACLE” is not used. Yes in this gospel there are no miracles just signs. Signs point to something, we don’t arrive at the sign, we keep going. The hope is we arrive at that place in our lives where we can see that Jesus is indeed Son of God, the Logos who was there from the very beginning.
My mind though leads me somewhere else today. Did you notice how the people got in their boats and went searching for Jesus. Read the passage one more time and catch that little detail. Yes Jesus seems irritated by them but their hunger for him picks my interest and raises the question. Am I hungry for God? Does my soul yearn for Him in my life? Getting into their boats they crossed the sea searching for Him. You know my friend that the boat is our lives. As we see signs that point to Him, may we continue the journey of faith. I know you are searching
Love you more than you will ever know.
Thursday April 11, 2024
Acts 5:34-42
I absolutely love this passage. I know you will read it for yourself but listen to these words by a member of the Sanhedrin—- Gamaliel is his name “What I suggest, therefore, is that you leave these men alone and let them go. If this enterprise, this movement of theirs, is of human origin it will break up of its own accord; but if it does in fact come from God you will not only be unable to destroy them, but you might find yourselves fighting against God.’
If God has ordained, if God has built it, if God is watching over be careful. Brothers and sisters say these words over your life. May God sustain what he has ordained in me. This applies to relationships as well, if it’s from God it will stick. If it is not from God you will know in very short order. God bless and I love you.
Wednesday April 10, 2024
Acts 5:27-33
We continue to hear the stories of our beginnings as a church. Today the apostles are brought before the Sanhedrin because they were warned to stop speaking in his name but they (the apostles) filled up Jerusalem with stories of him(Jesus). So they are given another chance to cease and desist. Peter says “Obedience to God comes before obedience to men.”
Take what you can from this story, I am touched the apostles were so believed by the mass. There must have been something about their testimony that people felt called to. There must have been a real and tangible presence of Jesus that the movement caught fire. Remember these guys were preaching in hostile times and environment. All the apostles except St. John died for this.
We at Rabbouni may know something about cease and desist. But also through the mysterious hand of God our little community is vibrant and I am eternally grateful. Listen people read your passion and so find what fires you up and obey it
Tuesday April 9, 2024
John 3: 7-15
A very happy post eclipse day to you all. I certainly hope you paused enough to take in that moment in our lifetime. On days like this I always think of those who are shut in or at work and cannot afford to go outside. A special prayer went out for you.
As we continue to reflect on resurrection, I bring you this last line in our gospel passage “…the Son of Man must be lifted up
as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert,
so that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him.’
There is a little problem though. The story goes that everyone got a bite from a snake. I don’t like that part, why could God not spare them the bite. I like comfort, I like no trouble, no pain. But these scriptures tell us about life as it is not life in the clouds. There are things that come along with being alive, being an adult. How I wish it were not so but here on earth!!!! Things will sometimes stink. So here is what I hear. Those who cannot seem to take their eyes off their troubles and look for life usually suffer unnecessarily. Look up!! Look to Christ, look for solutions. Crying all day and saying poor me may not be the answer. Listen I am not suggesting tears are a waste of time. No, they are a necessity for happy living. But find courage and time to also look, search, work for a healing. The Son of Man is our answer. Even after the darkest moments…. there was light.
Monday April 8, 2024
John 3:1-8
What is your sense when you read the Acts of the Apostles. I get this sense that everyone knows what Peter and the disciples are talking about. They drop names such as Herold or Pilate somewhat suggesting everyone knows these people. And that for me is what is fascinating. The journey from fear to fearless. Clearly the Apostles have seen something or experienced something. We know they saw the Risen Lord and experienced the outpouring of the Holy Spirit.
Have you ever had the experience of talking to self and saying “they can’t hurt me anymore.” There is a renewed courage that comes with that realization. Pilate and Herod can not steal the joy of the disciples. As you go about your day today, say to the killers of joy, ”wait until you hear this good news.”
The gospel passage invites us to be born again. To find courage to let go of a world that is all to common and reach out for something uncertain. It is scary and tough to start anew but really do you have a choice?
Wednesday April 3, 2024
Acts 3:1-10
Reading the beginning of our story as a Christian people is very fascinating to me. We did not have all the answers and theologies to all the world’s problems but we had this: Jesus! Today, Peter and Paul say that they have neither gold nor silver to give but what they have they give “in the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, walk!”
How much did this man want to walk? Was he done with all the excuses and blaming and was he ready to put on his big boy pants realizing his blessings and walk. Today I hear God saying to me to rise and walk away from what paralyzes me. What do I have to lose? What is the worse that can happen if you begin a new journey today. A dear friend in Lebanon had to some up the courage and walk away from an abusive man. It was scary, she limped but now she is not walking anymore but galloping into a beautiful future. You can inspire someone today if they wish for it. Walk in Jesus name!!
Tuesday April 2, 2024
John 20:11-18
In the gospel passage of today we hear the greatest proclamation of the resurrection. Mary of Magdalene says “I have seen the Lord”. It is one thing to say that Christ is risen, he is truly risen. This is a third person proclamation of faith. But may I suggest that to experience resurrection power we have to move from third person proclamation to first person encounter: I have seen the Lord.
Remember this is after she saw him die. Certainly in my priestly ministry I have seen people dead as they can be in their relationship and with a lot of hard work bring life to those relationships. I have seen alcoholics become sober, I have seen the angry become joyful. What stories of resurrection do you have?
Thursday, March 28, 2024
A very happy Holy Thursday to you on this March, 28 2024
Today we celebrate the institution of the Eucharistic and the priesthood. Traditions about this day go back to the early days of the church. Then Pope Francis came along
I don’t think I will ever forget it. That first year when the new pope broke with tradition. Instead of washing the feet of well pedicured cardinals, the Jesuit Pope, decided to go to a jail and wash the prisoners feet. Even more disturbing, he washed a woman’s feet. I believe she was an Islamic woman. Good one Pope Francis. I loved it, love it will always love it.
Wednesday March 27, 2024
Matthew 26:14-25
On this Wednesday of Holy Week my little reflection is this —- hard as it may be do not let the nastiness of others change you. Today Jesus sits down at table with Judas and the other disciples who will soon betray, deny and abandon him. I bet it took everything in him to still be nice, patient and loving to them. Have you ever found yourself working very closely with someone who is working overtime to destroy you? The work place sometimes can be like a snake pit. But we are invited to show up, be professional and deliver. This requires discipline. I love how disciplined and focused our Lord is. The mission, the planting of a kingdom of love overrides all else.
Let us pray for all those who have known the pain of betrayal at work, in love relationships and in families. Thank you for not getting drawn into the drama.
Tuesday March 26, 2024
Isaiah 49:1-6
The prophet Isaiah asks us today to revisit a beautiful truth. No matter who you are and what is going on in your life, you really need to know this almost from a cellular level. YOU WERE WILLED INTO BEING. Yes the God of glory called you by name as you were being knit together in your mothers womb.
Sometimes we go through life and wonder what our purpose is, we want to do more but are not able to find what and how to do it. It is important in these moments to remember that God wants me here now. So we can say to that one person who thinks we do not belong “sorry and not so sorry to inconvenience you pal, someone much bigger has called me into your life.
Living with purpose or knowing that we were called into existence with a mission does give all of us a sense of confidence. Now, most of us blunder into our purposes but that is ok. I have a feeling that in the long run, it will all make sense.
Monday March 25, 2024
John 12:1-11
What a gift it is to have a friend, to have somewhere you can go and just rest, talk, visit. No expectations at all in this place. Good friends are such a blessing because with them we can simply be. I have often spoke of Mary Ann and her friend Cheryl. They have known each other since second grade. Whenever we go on vacation with her, those two can sit in silence or talk all day. I just don’t get how you have something to say to anyone after three hours. So to all those who have kept friendships, to all those who have taken the journey to go raise their friend who was dead (buried in grief or pain of divorce or whatever), to all those with a childhood friend, you guys are saints.
Jesus had a friend like that. Lazarus was his name. Six days before Passover Jesus goes to visit with his buddy. I wonder what they talked about. Did Jesus say to Lazarus “these jokers don’t get it man, you would not believe the things I have to explain!” Did Lazarus say “Really you had to ride the donkey?” All I know is if you are buddies, you can relax. I have met a family like that, a place I can go and just be. I pray for your connections to be real and deep.
Thursday March 21, 2024
John 8:51-59
They picked up stones to throw at him, they had enough. What did he say to provoke them? This beautiful truth that in death life does not end, in death life is changed. For our God is God of the living. The Israelites did not all believe in a life after death. We do not see this at all in the early scriptures. It is only after the book of Daniel that we begin to talk about those taken from us by death.
Jesus asks us to look at death differently. It need not paralyze us no matter how difficult it is to accept. Death is part of life not the end of life. But Jesus suggests even more if I may dare say. That life does not start at birth. This is a tough one right? Because we firmly believe that the spark of life happens at conception. What if that soul is older than the human/flesh experience. It simply is and never gets old. Well it’s getting deep here.
Back to Abraham and Jesus and the lesson for today. Your loved ones are alive, yes alive in a different realm. This I believe. If you have time watch the clip “to heaven and back” on YouTube. Let me know what you think.
Wednesday March 20, 2024
John 8:31-42
We all know some super religious person who we just wish they would take a chill pill. They are good people who mean well but man they are wound up tight as a golf ball. Heck I was that zealous once. I remember when I was heading to Hukuntsi in the desert land of the Kalahari to convert the bushmen and my lovely Irish novice master pulled me aside. He said “Brother Robert, please remember this, before you get there, God is already there.”
My word will make you free. Jesus says to us today that when the word of God finds a home in us it will make us free. Are you free? Free to be yourself, free to relax in his word, free to make mistakes and not learn from them. The free person is content. Lots of those Pharisees were trying to fill their lives with things including religion. We need one thing-His word to find a home in us
Tuesday March 19, 2024
John 8:21-30
Did I ever tell you that my weakest and strongest character trait is that I am a people pleaser? What a cross it is sometimes. I hate conflict and tension. These arguments that the Pharisees are picking with Jesus almost bring my blood pressure up. We know how the story ends but it pains me that our Lord has to keep explaining himself and they keep looking for a reason to trap him. They seriously wake up in the morning and plot against him. Can you believe that there are people to this day who are driven by such malice and jealousy?
Today our Lord says to put it in American terms “ you will not get it until it’s too late with an attitude like that.” In biblical terms “When you have lifted up the Son of Man,
then you will know that I am He..” Let us pray today that our eyes be open to truly see and hear those God has brought into our lives. Because life is too short to be spent arguing.
Monday, March 18, 2024
John 8:1-11
A very blessed Monday to you. I missed you this past weekend but thank goodness for Fr Will. Our community is blessed with wonderful priests indeed. Today’s first reading and gospel both present to us a woman condemned by all but saved by God. Please read both readings when you get a chance.
Have you ever felt the weight of people’s eyes on you? Their laughter of ridicule? It is absolutely crushing. I am a firm believer in the energy force that surrounds us. I strongly believe that the forces of energy around us affect our inner spirits. What Jesus does for me is ignite the energy of light and love. He asks you and I to key into his Spirit, his energy especially when negative energies are upon us. Once we key in, link into Gods Spirit the other negative energies will be at bay.
Yes Jesus does not condemn her. That is only the beginning. Now she must not condemn herself. Now she must find a way to live with a troubled past and a people who never forget the bad you do. On this Monday find people in your life who bring good energy and difficult as it maybe sometimes let go of the ones who are unforgiving. They want back so they can find another opportunity to hurt. You can live without those in your innner life. Yes yes be nice always and send out positive energy to all.
Thursday March 14, 2024
John 5:31-45
I can just feel how exhausting it must have been to Jesus trying over and over to explain himself to people who had already made up their minds about him. He says “As for human approval, this means nothing to me.
Besides, I know you too well: you have no love of God in you.” These to me are words of someone who is at his wits end with impossible people. But in this case it is even worse, they think they are doing God’s work by hating Christ. They particularly do not like how he claims to have a personal relationship with YAHWEH.
Jesus is so strong in his character and I pray for such strength. I am a people pleaser. Yes this was frowned upon when I was in seminary and I was accused of not having a back bone. But I like to be liked, It makes me feel good and accomplished when I get a thumbs up. A caution to anyone like me is you cannot please all the people all the time. The Americans capture it well in the expression “Do your best and let the chips fall where they may.”
Yes it is nice to be liked but sometimes folks who don’t like you have their own struggles and are projecting on you. The Pharisees did not have a personal relationship with God and boy did they project that! From one people pleaser to another, I say “you got this.”
Wednesday March 13, 2024
John 5:17-30
In this passage beautiful passage from the gospel of St John, the religious leaders are mad with Jesus and even more determined to do away with him. Why? This will shock you.
They are mad because of what Jesus does with the question of God. God was always THE-OTHER. God was always mysterious. The ’great sin’ of Jesus is that he made God relatable. In fact he made God understandable. Today they are losing their minds because he calls the Great God, my father. We cannot even begin to imagine that jump in relationship. “My Father goes on working….” Jesus says.
How is your relationship with God. Is God still mysterious and distant? God could be all that, but God could also understand you on a personal level. I have said this many times ”If God loves me more than mama loves me then God must love me a whole lot.”
Until we know God on a personal level, until he is My Father, we really have not understood Him at all. Love you