Tuesday March 12, 2024
John 5:1-3,5-16
In our first reading from today’s liturgy the Prophet Ezekiel is shown the river of life. Wherever the river flows, no matter how dead it seemed, the river brought new life. The word of God is the river of life. May his word spring forth new life in you.
Jesus in today’s gospel says to a man who had been sick and helpless for thirty eight years “Do you want to be well again?” He asks this man if he is ready for change. imagine yourself bound by some unbearable illness that long. It maybe all you know. And then you are given an opportunity to change the rest of your life. Yes Lord!!! This is all I want. Well that change requires that you have the courage to give up the mat you lay on. Whatever bothers you, whatever paralyzes you, has met it’s expiration date today. For today our Lord says pick up your mat and walk!!! Claim the healing my friend.
Monday March 11, 2024
Isaiah 65:17-21
This says the Lord: Low, I am about to create new heavens and new earth; The things of the past shall not be remembered or come to mind…For I create Jerusalem to be a joy and its people to be a delight; I will rejoice in Jerusalem and exult in my people.
Two things come to mind and frankly they may not be related. A couple of years ago I came across a clip of a UFC fighter. He had been beaten badly in a march and he said on his way out with “tail between his legs.” “Maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow, pero one day I will be champion.” Immediately he became my hero. He was gonna go home and do his homework. And over a period of time, with no quick fixes he would come back. You know friend, you may not see it pero, God is building joy in you. Think about that one. God is building joy in me.
I was gonna share my second thought but I think this is enough. God is creating a joyful you!!
Friday March 8, 2024
Mark 12:28-34
You are not far from the Kingdom of Heaven!!! These words are taken right from the lips of Jesus as he sees this one scribe say “To love him with all your heart, with all your understanding and strength, and to love your neighbour as yourself, this is far more important than any holocaust or sacrifice.”
We might wonder if there was any question at all about this. But religion around the time of Jesus had gotten so ridiculous, so corrupt that more emphasis was placed on things, than on the people. Indeed being religious was about checking boxes not living the faith. In the name of religion they despised the poor and weak. In the name of religion or in the name of being pure they completely forgot about God’s favorite people, those who struggle. And so it was with a sigh of relief that Jesus heard one of the scribes go back to the fundamentals. That is where we need to go friends. We need to focus on the God who comes to us through our weak and struggling neighbor.
Thursday, March 7 2024
Mt 14:14-23
Jesus was casting out a devil and it was dumb; but when the devil had gone out the dumb man spoke, and the people were amazed. But some of them said, ‘It is through Beelzebul, the prince of devils, that he casts out devils.’ Others asked him, as a test, for a sign from heaven; but, knowing what they were thinking, he said to them, ‘Every kingdom divided against itself is heading for ruin, and a household divided against itself collapses.
I love his strength and focus. He just kept going. How many times is our Lord criticized for doing great work. And yet he never stops.
Listen there are people out there who are miserable and they want you to be like them. It was said of a colleague that if you drove to his house with a jackpot ticket of $10M he would complain that you parked on the grass.
I think our Lord keeps going because he knows his mission. He has prayed about this and has discerned the will of God. When we are not sure of our mission, every opinion matters. Sometimes I say to you “pay them no mind at all and keep on loving.”
You are doing good my friend. They will see some day!!
Wednesday March 6, 2024
Deuteronomy 4:1,5-9
I absolutely love this beautiful line we find in today’s first reading: And indeed, what great nation is there that has its gods so near as the Lord our God is to us whenever we call to him?
The context of course is important here. Moses is giving the commandments to the Israelites and he says if they keep these commandments, God in turn will actually pitch his tent among them and what a beauty it will be to behold.
I was talking about another priest friend who is fighting some battle right now and my other friend said “well you know, like a cat he always lands on his feet.” But maybe there is more to the story. Maybe what we are seeing is how present God is even among those in the deepest of darkness.
But this reflection is not about others, it is about you. When I look into your life, when I journey with you through all the seasons of your life, I am left with this: Is there a person out there that has God so close to them as God has manifested in your life. Think about it, and pray about it.
Tuesday, March 5, 2024
Matthew 18:21-35
Peter approached Jesus and asked him, “Lord, if my brother sins against me, how often must I forgive him? As many as seven times?” Jesus answered, “I say to you, not seven times but seventy-seven times.”
I bet St Peter walked away mad and saying to himself “why the heck did I even ask?” Forgiveness and let me say ungratefulness are two of the most difficult things you may be called to deal with in this life. Someone will hurt you, someone will betray your trust and yes there is someone out there who you will do the most for but they will be so ungrateful that it hurts your soul. Today I want you to start practicing the art of walking away. Do not be attached even to your good works. Give, love and let go.
So much has been written about forgiveness because it is an everyday call and it is a process. You may forgive someone and they do the next crazy thing and you are where you started. Forgiveness for some of us may never be a done thing. It is constant. We learn to walk away everyday because the pain of betrayal is different everyday.
Monday, March 4, 2024
2 Kings 5:1-15
Naaman, army commander to the king of Aram, was a man who enjoyed his master’s respect and favour, since through him the Lord had granted victory to the Aramaeans. But the man was a leper.
This is a fascinating story about Naaman. He had many good things going for him but he was a leper. I wonder which aspect of him defined him! What did he miss about him and what was as huge as an elephant before his eyes. I bet the only thing he saw was that he had leprosy.
What spoils your day? It may not be as big as you make it out to be. I had a friend who was absolutely gorgeous but she kept talking about the pimple on her face. I cried out to her “can you see anything else?
Fr. chibundi
Friday March 1. 2024
Matthew 21:33-43,45-46
On this Friday and possibly the following Friday I would love for our reflection to be interactive. So let’s give it a try and come back this evening for a closing reflection. As we wake up I pose this reflection as we stand before the mirrors. Lord, help me accept the truth about myself no matter how good it is. Then in the comments below I invite you to write who and what you are without explanation. Just say what comes to mind and say it all day. I will start by giving us an example. I am LIGHT! Your turn. Remember no explanations.
Thursday February 29, 2024
Jeremiah 17:5-10
How did I miss this reading all these years. Jeremiah offers a curse and a blessing. He says “A curse on the man who places his trust in a man … And a blessing on a man who places his trust in God..” Well that is a little sexist there Mr Jeremiah. You can’t say that about all men!! I kid.
We actually see this call in the Hebrew Scriptures a lot. The invitation to put our trust in the Lord. Mama used to tell me to trust no one but we lived in a different place and different time. The prophet reminds us that there is one who is dedicated for our own good. God and God alone should have our full trust. You and I know this. We have good friends who are and will be there always but life happens, economies change and people change. The greater our relationship with God is the more he will show us who to trust. They might not even be churchy people. I am always amazed by Mary Ann. She has a friend we vacation with whom she has known since 2nd grade. Who keeps a friend that long? Special people, blessed people!!
Wednesday February 28, 2024
Matthew 20:17-28
Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, and on the way he took the Twelve to one side and said to them, ‘Now we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man is about to be handed over to the chief priests and scribes. They will condemn him to death and will hand him over to the pagans to be mocked and scourged and crucified; and on the third day he will rise again.’
For the second time Jesus unburdens himself to his disciples about what will happen in Jerusalem and for the second time the disciples either ignore him or misunderstand him. After talking about this painful journey that awaits him in the big city, the mother of James and John ask that her children should sit on Jesus Right and Left when he gets to the city,
Yes some news is difficult to accept but we need the courage to face it. Wishing it were not so or would not be so is childish. I am sure you have had to face some vey difficult reality yourself. Let us pray for all who cannot accept difficult news for the serenity to accept what we can’t change, the courage to do all we can and the wisdom to accept and see all through the eyes of Yahweh
Tuesday February 27, 2024
Matthew 23:1-12
Addressing the people and his disciples Jesus said, ‘The scribes and the Pharisees occupy the chair of Moses. You must therefore do what they tell you and listen to what they say; but do not be guided by what they do: since they do not practise what they preach.
Did you know what the gospel according to Lebanon Ky is? It is simple and goes right to what church should be. In Lebanon we believe that some people don’t come to church because of people who come to church. Now I don’t want us to indict the good people come to church but this is said in a spirit of love so we check ourselves at the door. So we stop ourselves from judging anyone. In fact so we become. Merciful like our Father is merciful.
Our Lord says to his disciples, do not become like the Pharisees and scribes who tie up heavy burdens for others but don’t lift a finger to help. When we go through seminary they teach us not to preach to people but preach with them. So the priest is not to stand and say “you people need to do this or that, you people need to turn from your sins…” No the language is “let us do this and that … may we turn from our sins…”
It changes things when you preach with people and not at them.
So in what ways could we be like those that Jesus cannot stand and how are we to fix it.
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.
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.
Monday February 26, 2024
Luke 6:36-38
Jesus said to his disciples: ‘Be compassionate as your Father is compassionate. Do not judge, and you will not be judged yourselves; do not condemn, and you will not be condemned yourselves; grant pardon, and you will be pardoned. Give, and there will be gifts for you: a full measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over, will be poured into your lap; because the amount you measure out is the amount you will be given back.’
A very happy Monday to you. In today’s gospel passage our Lord implores his friends, his disciples to be compassionate, not to judge and to give to others. You would think this is something that the disciples don’t need reminding of. But left to ourselves we tend to turn in on each other. Today again we are given gentle reminders that it is not about church going, it is about seeing yourself in the other. I like St Matthew’s translation of this event. He says “Be merciful as your father is merciful.” Cut the other some slack. Thank you for your mercy, your willingness to walk in the shoes of others. That preached volumes to me
Friday February 22, 2024
Matthew 7:7-12
I have been looking at this passage all day and for some reason I am stuck. It should be an easy preach: Ask and it shall be given to you, seek and you will find. Why am I struggling with it. Mary Ann said to me earlier this morning to just give it time to breathe.
Do you ask easily? If I know anything about you is that it kills you to ask for anything. I bet you would rather not ask, not be a bother, not be seen as weak. So you deal with it in your own way. I know of someone who even finds it difficult to ask their own family. I cannot tell you how many times I have heard “father I cannot ask dad.”
Part of your spirituality is knowing that you need God. Knowing that you cannot do it all by yourself. The Israelite story is about their dependence on God. So what does Jesus mean with “ask and it shall be given to you.” Well, what is your biggest ask? A lady once said to me “father just one minute of peace would be nice.”
I pray today that you take your time and find that one ask. God is already delivering it.
Talking about asking. Be careful not to put your business on the streets though. Choose carefully whom you share your deepest heart desires, because some people cannot wait to use that against you.
It is all part of the growing into you process.
Wednesday February 21, 2024
Luke 11:29-32
The crowds got even bigger, and Jesus addressed them:
‘This is a wicked generation; it is asking for a sign. The only sign it will be given is the sign of Jonah. For just as Jonah became a sign to the Ninevites, so will the Son of Man be to this generation. On Judgement day the Queen of the South will rise up with the men of this generation and condemn them, because she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and there is something greater than Solomon here. On Judgement day the men of Nineveh will stand up with this generation and condemn it, because when Jonah preached they repented; and there is something greater than Jonah here.’
You will love this. You know how you were told that God is holy and that meant absolutely strict. That either you are hot or cold, that it is either black or white!!! Where did all this come from? Take the case of the Ninevites who we find in the first reading and the Gospel. God is ready to destroy them, he is done but just to be fair he gives them one last time to fix it. Jonah goes over there hoping they remain stubborn in their ways but shocker. This time they actually listen and convert. Then God converts too. God changed his mind.
I think that is incredible power. You and I by our actions can change the mind of God and bring blessings. Listen, whatever is broken FIX IT! You might just save your life.
Tuesday February 20, 2024
Isaiah 55:10-11
Thus says the Lord: ‘As the rain and the snow come down from the heavens and do not return without watering the earth, making it yield and giving growth to provide seed for the sower and bread for the eating, so the word that goes from my mouth does not return to me empty, without carrying out my will and succeeding in what it was sent to do.’
In this most beautiful passage of Isaiah the Lord God says about you “The word that goes out from my mouth does not return to me empty.” I never really realized the power of these words until I heard in a homily that: “we are God’s holy word breathed into existence at this point in time” Sit with that for a second, breathe it in and out. I am God’s word spoken in time. As you and I try to understand ourselves, as you and I question the events of our lives, let us always remember that we were spoken into existence, into this space at this time for a reason. Next time you go to a funeral think about this. What was God saying to me through the deceased.
None of us goes back, none of us returns until we have hugged every person God wanted us to hug. Frankly I thought I had to be doing something, some ministry. Come to find out it is enough to just be. God is speaking away, working away by your very presence.
And here is the other good news! Jesus the word of God has done his work on your life. You are a very changed person because of our Lord.
Love you!
Monday February 19, 2024
Mark 9:14-24
I am sure by now you have seen the famous or one of the famous “you had one job” meme. It usually involves a huge and consequential step that someone had to do and they totally jack it up. While Jesus is up the mountain he instructs his disciples to pray and take care of the people. They failed!!! He descends the mountain and has to calm the fires himself. You can tell how frustrated he is. Anyway his disciples earnestly ask why they would not drive the demon out. His answer is very telling. This kind, he says, can only be driven out by prayer and fasting
What the heck were the disciples doing then? Too busy telling people of the qualifications of being in the presence of Jesus? Maybe too busy coming up with laws on excommunications? Maybe too busy counting the money? Heck we don’t know what they were doing but we know they were not doing their one job——PRAYING. It is a reminder to us church professionals that unless we take time to pray with others all the other businesses just put a bandage on people’s issues. My prayer today is that you learn the prayer of intercession and walk a while with people in their struggles. Pray like your happiness depended on it.
Saturday, February 17, 2024
Lk 5:27-32
“Those who are healthy do not need a physician, but the sick do. I have not come to call the righteous to repentance but sinners.”
Jesus always reached out to the marginalized and despised. Now, as his followers, it is up to us to do the same. In our acts of service and charity, do we do what is convenient and easy or do we go out of the way for the greatest need? If we follow Jesus, it will be the road less traveled. However, it will have the greatest reward. Our duty is to remove everything that lies in the way of that path, even if it is ourselves. This is not an easy task, and is one we have to work at each day. May God give us strength to do it! - Fr. Will
Friday, February 16, 2024
Mt 9:14-15
Lent gives us an opportunity to look at how we can make small changes in our life to grow spiritually. Maybe it is finding a new way to give up something harmful. Maybe it is increasing our fasting. Hopefully it is more prayer. The Reverend Fredrick Lewis Donaldson gave a new list of seven deadly sins, and one was religion without sacrifice. Each day we have the opportunity to find a little way to sacrifice--something that was holding us back from our better selves. What will you sacrifice this Lent? - Fr. Will