Tuesday August 1, 2023

Matthew 13:36-43

The parable of the wheat and weed reminds me of the poem “Imperfections” by Elizabeth Carlson. Here is a sample of it:

“I am falling in love with my imperfections The way I never get the sink really clean, forget to check my oil, lose my car in parking lots, miss appointments I have written down…” As you read the poem in its entirety, you realize that she is talking about our tue selves. In a nutshell, the wheat and the weeds could be two sides of the same coin. There is a lot of good in us but we may also bring to the table some not so helpful traits. The sower says “do not pull the weeds lest we pull the wheat as well. I think holiness is learning to accept this about ourselves. Someone once said that only a fool burns down the house to get rid of a mouse. Learn to love your imperfections.

Monday July 31, 2023

Matthew 13:31-35

The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed which a man took and sowed in his field.

A very happy Monday to you all. It is so beautiful to be back home in Kentucky. Thank you so much for affording us the opportunity to have a family vacation. Rabbouni has been very generous and kind and I am forever grateful.

Yesterday I reflected on what Jesus calls The Kingdom of God. Most of us are familiar with the words but they really do not have much tangible effect. Years ago during the era of President Kenneth Kaunda in Zambia we would say that he had ears and eyes everywhere. Even as children we were afraid to say anything that could be considered negative towards the president. I call it his sphere of influence touched every corner of the country.

The kingdom of heaven isn’t really a place as the name kingdom suggests. It is more the reign of God, the Era of God. It indeed cuts through space and time. Think not of the shrub but the noises of the happy birds who find a home in it. That shrub has a real influence on the birds and the air. We are in the kingdom when we are charged by the aura of God. So today send positive, Godly vibrations into your world.

Love you

July 28, 2023

Gospel: Matthew 13:18-23

"But then worldly anxiety and the lure of riches choke the word."

Again today we hear the parable of the sower from Wednesday. But today, we get a bit more context. The sower still sows on the path, rocky ground, weeded ground, and fertile soil. But, instead of the weeds just choking the seed today Jesus gives us more context in each situation. Specifically, when the weeds choke the seed.

One of my favorite things to do is worry. I can worry about just about anything. But today Jesus says that worry is a weed. Along with riches, they choke our faith by giving us other things to focus on instead of God. Advancing in the world and worrying about things keep us from the path of righteousness. As hard as it is, the next time we worry try to remember that it's a weed that will choke our faith. God is in control, even when we don't feel it or understand it or realize it. So, as St. Padre Pio says, "Pray, hope, and don't worry."

- Fr. Will

July 27, 2023

Gospel: Matthew 13:10-17

"They look but do not see and hear but do not listen or understand."

The disciples today ask why Jesus speaks in parables. He responds that those who need to understand will, and that the parables are ways to help them understand. The writer Mary Catherine Bateson said "The human species thinks in metaphors and learns through stories." When we think about our lives and our own histories, it is the stories that bind us together. They tell common experiences, things that have happened to us or about us, and they bring us together.

Jesus would have known the importance of stories and their staying power in our brains. I, for one, can't remember a lot of things, but I can remember the best stories. We have a God who wants us to understand so much that we are given stories (parables) to bring eternal truths to our level. What a loving God! May we take them to heart and remember them through how we live our lives.

- Fr. Will

July 26, 2023

Gospel: Matthew 13:1-9

"But some seed fell on rich soil, and produced fruit, a hundred or sixty or thirtyfold."

Are you where you need to be? In today's Gospel we hear about the sower sowing seed. Some falls on the path and is eaten, some fell on rocky ground, some fell where thorns choked it, and some fell on fertile soil.

Jesus speaks here about our faith, but it also speaks to us about our companions. Do we have friendships that are mutually encouraging and supporting? Do our friends support us in our faith and help us to become the best versions of ourselves, or do they tear us down and criticize us? We can only be our best versions of ourselves when we are planted in fertile soil.

We all have to examine our relationships and realize there are sometimes seasons for them if they become harmful. May we always have fertile ground for our faith and encouragement from those we love and who love us.

- Fr. Will

July 25, 2023

Gospel: Matthew 20:20-28

"Command that these two sons of mine sit, one at your right and the other at your left, in your Kingdom."

On this feast of Saint James the Apostle, we hear how his mother and the mother of John asked Jesus if her sons could sit next to him in the Kingdom. What mother doesn't want the best for her sons? But, she did not know what she was asking. The way of the Kingdom is hard. To reach spiritual perfection, we face many daily trials and tribulations. In fact, Jesus promised us that it wouldn't be easy!

Very few things in life that are worth it are easy. Yet, when we set a goal we try our best to achieve it. The spiritual life is no different. But, like all goals we will fall and we will progress but we have to keep trying through prayer, humility, and love. Through this journey, may we all experience the final banquet of Jesus.

- Fr. Will

Monday, July 24, 2023

Gospel: Matthew 12:38-42

In today's Gospel, the people demand a sign of the proof of Jesus' divinity and the work of God. Jesus responds: "An evil and unfaithful generation seeks a sign, but no sign will be given it."

So often we seek big signs from God to know God is present in our lives. We want God to stand in front of us shouting "here I am!" But, in 1 Kings we learned from the story of Elijah that God is not in the wind, or the earthquake, or the fire. God was in the gentle whisper.

The next time we need to feel the presence of God, remember the story of Elijah and the direction of Jesus to "go into your room, close the door, and pray to your Father in secret." It is in the quiet that we will know that God is with us, and where we will feel God's presence.

- Fr. Will

Friday July 21, 2023

Matthew 12:1-8

Jesus took a walk one sabbath day through the cornfields. His disciples were hungry and began to pick ears of corn and eat them.

I am a little distracted by this. They ate the corn without even cooking it!!! JEEZAS they must have been hungry. Hunger is an interesting topic though in the scriptures and in our lives. Often times our souls hunger for one thing and we try to feed it on other things, on junk.

Have you noticed sometimes we hunger for acceptance and end up doing stupid things? Well, when we were younger.

I think the call for me is to clearly identify the hunger. Scripture says “like a deer chasing after fresh waters so my soul thirsts for you my God. In this world we hunger to hear the voice of God then we play music as loud as we can. That won’t do it. We hunger to be seen, then we lose our identities. That won’t do it.

On this Friday take the time to know what will truly fill your soul.

To the scripture scholars, I know this reading is not about hunger but I could not resist the raw corn.

Thursday July 20, 2023

Matthew 11:28-30

Yes, my yoke is easy and my burden light.’

I unofficially translated this verse a few weeks ago. I took into consideration my experience growing up in the old country and being part of a culture that still uses oxen to plough, and transport things. So in my mind Jesus says “My yoke fits perfectly and therefore lightens the burden.” Think about it this way. Wearing the wrong kind of shoes could in the long run hurt you. Your shoes have to fit perfectly. When you go buy running shoes they actually video the way you walk and based on that recommend the almost perfect shoe. Yokes are the same in the old country. They are made for the specific animal. The wrong yoke can actually kill the animal in the long run.

So what does this all mean? Jesus rejects the one size fits all kind of religion. Think ancient near East. The place is saturated with rules and laws. The Jewish religion at this time has 613 commandments. 365 of them are prohibitions “thou shall not.” It is burdensome!! Jesus says, I give you two commandments: love God, love neighbor, the rest is commentary.

Even two commandments sometimes might be hard depending on who your neighbor is. How about one commandment: Thou shall not say crazy stuff for the next 12 hours. You can think it, but bite your tongue.

Love you all

Wednesday July 19, 2023

Matthew 11:25-27

Everything has been entrusted to me by my Father; and no one knows the Son except the Father, just as no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.’

Our Lord Jesus says these beautiful words after he has had a run in with the Pharisees. I have noticed that this is the number one trick of the devil. He seeks to through self doubt in you, seeks to make you second guess yourself. Don’t get me wrong, it is a good thing to check ourself but when it becomes paralyzing then it is a problem. Or if is it over everything and anything. Jesus today says “know thyself man. “

Let us pray for all those questions to the point of exhaustion that they may pick up their mats and go. In America we say “Let the chips fall where they may.”

Tuesday July 18, 2023

Matthew 11:20-24

Jesus began to reproach the towns in which most of his miracles had been worked, because they refused to repent.

‘Alas for you, Chorazin! Alas for you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.

I briefly touched on this theme this past Sunday. Jesus working miracles in Bethsaida, Chorazin, Carphanum but nobody was seeing nor hearing him.Yesterday i responded to a domestic between a father and daughter. This was the biggest and most bourgeoisie house I have ever been. The 21 year old called it a crapy place to be and all the while I was thinking what a beautiful house they have. I said to the father “cut off every financial help and let her go with her deadbeat boyfriend, she will be back in no time.”

Do you sometimes miss the blessings that are right before you because you are not right within? Jesus did the most work in places that sometimes refused to see. Open your eyes… you have a very beautiful community here, open your eyes, you are so blessed.

On the other hand Jesus just kept doing ministry not counting the feedback. I like that approach.

Monday July 17, 2023

Matthew 10:34-11:1

Jesus instructed the Twelve as follows: ‘Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth: it is not peace I have come to bring, but a sword.

What happened to the sheep cuddling Jesus? There is a lot to unpack in the verse above. It is a window into the struggles of the early church. At some point, the church had to make a tough choice and separate itself so it can find itself and grow. How many times in your life have you had to move away so you can move on. I love the English language… move away so you can move on somehow makes sense.

Listen, Jesus is not asking for division here. He is simply asking them to have the courage to make tough choices. Isn’t it true that it is a pain in the neck to live with a indecisive person? Make a decision and see it through.

On another level he is asking you to fight for what you love. True love is worth fighting for. In this case, our relationship with God is worth the fight.

Thursday July 13, 2023

Matthew 10:7-15

Jesus instructed the Twelve as follows: ‘As you go, proclaim that the kingdom of heaven is close at hand. Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out devils. You received without charge, give without charge.

On Thursdays I usually ask you to consider Rabbouni in your financial planning. That is just some fancy way of asking for your donations if you find this ministry helpful and you can afford to help us. You really keep us alive. This is the scourge of every pastor. But I gotta say we are incredibly blessed here at Rabbouni. We lived through COVID-19 and we will be just fine. Thank you though for your donation.

The mandate from our Lord is to go on planting the kingdom in our different ways and he will find a way to sustain us. We rely on you O Lord.

Wednesday July 12, 2023

Matthew 10:1-7

There is an agreement among the gospel writers that Jesus sent out his disciples long before his death and resurrection. I mean like way before they understood the subject matter or got a degree. Today he sends the 12 specifically to the house of Israel with the mandate to drive out demons and announce a new era- the kingdom of God. No books on how to do it, no private jets, hake no church building. Go and announce things are different now.

I want to imagine my mother and father among those sent. How did they drive out the demons? Well. There may have been some private prayer to drive the demons out of me but I know there was discipline. Mama used anything including throwing a teapot at the children. There was name calling here and there and some ear pulling until we were beat into shape. Announce the kingdom of God is here means letting you know that there is a new king in charge. You are not the captain. So if any challenge or person is trying to boss you around, they need to know that they are not your god.

I love the way this kingdom has grown. Above all I love the words of St Francis modified here “Build the kingdom and only when it is necessary use words”.

Monday July 10, 2023

Matthew 9:18-26

While Jesus was speaking, up came one of the officials, who bowed low in front of him and said, ‘My daughter has just died, but come and lay your hand on her and her life will be saved.

Things do take a turn sometimes in life. All politics is put aside, all pride is swallowed and the official approaches the most hated man by his class. My daughter is dying he pleads. From thousands of years away I can see him, I too can feel his desperation, I too can see his tears. It is true, there is no love lost here BUT first things first. Let’s work together to save a life.

Jesus does not take this opportunity as I would to tell the poor dad all the wrong things his class has done to him. None of that, Jesus just gets up and goes.

I know of a young lady in the old country who was woken up at night with a loud knock and cry. Outside was a young woman in tears, please help me my child is dying of cerebral malaria and his father is out working. Well who is his father? I am so sorry it is your husband. With haste the two women rushed to the hospital. The wife holding the baby of the girlfriend both women praying. The little did not make it.

In that moment I saw great restraint, mercy, God.

Put the fightings away, the politics away and simply serve those in need no questions asked. You can do difficult things my friend.

Friday July 7, 2023

Matthew 9:9-13

As Jesus was walking on, he saw a man named Matthew sitting by the customs house, and he said to him, ‘Follow me.’ And he got up and followed him.

Seeing, touching, tasting, hearing, sensing. It just struck me that Our Lord Jesus goes around in his world using the gifts that everyone has. He however uses them to bring God about. How many people looked at Matt the tax collector and never really saw him? What song was he humming that nobody heard? On this Friday I want you to see yourself as completely seen by God. I saw a poster yesterday about the woman at the well. It read “He did not come for the water, he came for me.”

Today as you feel, taste, see, hear, or sense may God come limping through your presence to others. God bless and cannot wait to see you Sunday.

Thursday July 6, 2023

Matthew 9:1-8

Jesus got in the boat, crossed the water and came to his own town. Then some people appeared, bringing him a paralytic stretched out on a bed.

I want you to read the rest of this beautiful passage. It is a fascinating healing story. Pay particular attention to what actually heals this bedridden fellow. My first impression is this community that this person lives in. They saw his struggle and they were bothered enough to carry him to Jesus. In another account, they climbed to the roof of the house, split it open and lowered the chap down to Jesus. That seems like a Rabbouni Catholic Community kinda faith. This passage invites me to be troubled enough and carry someone. Have you brought someone to the Lord in prayer lately. Have you visited. Come to think of it, I am guilty of not visiting, of not checking in. I pray I become better with that.

Secondly how is he healed? Not a prayer, not a laying on of hands. He is simply told, “your sins are forgiven, rise and go.” Guilt over a past sin can paralyze your life. Listen, you are human, things happen. So forgive yourself and leave the past behind. He was held back by this sense that God was mad with him. To sin to error is human, and to forgive is divine. The Divine has spoken, now make those words true for yourself and move on. Your sins are forgiven, rise and go

Wednesday July 5, 2023

Matthew 8:28-34

We do not see much of this phenomenon here in the USA but the power of deliverance that Jesus uses today is still felt and used in some parts of the world. We in the charismatic renewal knew a thing about driving out demons, about a person possessed. We always would caution after a prayer of deliverance for someone to change their lives in some sort otherwise the demon would come back with even stronger friends. So the setting free was step one and a changed life is what kept the spirits away. This is spiritual battle folks.

How do people here who need a drastic change conduct their lives. Some change friends, others change foods and after work habits. Being a different man is hard work but we have to be committed to the process and eventually the process changes us. Today I pray for all those who have backslid please stay in the fight. Your soul, your happiness is worth a thousand fights. In the name of Jesus of Nazareth be freed!!!! Amen

Tuesday July 4, 2023

Matthew 8:23-27

Jesus got into the boat followed by his disciples. Without warning a storm broke over the lake, so violent that the waves were breaking right over the boat. But he was asleep.

A very happy Independence Day to you my friends. It is wonderful to be back in Louisville after our family reunion in Damascus West Virginia. I like road trips and I like when I am back in my bed. It was great fun and absolutely beautiful to see how the family is growing. I hope you enjoy your family today and true American freedom.

If you remember when we read the gospel of Mark, he always seemed to be in a hurry. For example St Mark used the word “immediately” a lot. So we expect sudden movements and turns in his writings. St Matthew is a little calculated. So I am a little surprised that there is this element of surprise that we find in today’s reading. Without warning a storm broke over the lake… Have you ever been thrown a curveball? Has the future ever suddenly changed for you? See how Jesus still maintains his peace and is sound asleep. Today we want to pray for all those who panic. Find a way to be prepared for the sudden changes. Or maybe teach us how you calm yourselves during a panic attack. You have obviously have had a few and lived through them. Your method could be answer and help to someone who suddenly finds themselves in a storm. How many times have you heard the expression “we never saw it coming.” Well for the most part… that is life.

Friday June 30, 2023

Matthew 8:1-4

After Jesus had come down from the mountain large crowds followed him. A leper now came up and bowed low in front of him. ‘Sir,’ he said ‘if you want to, you can cure me.’ Jesus stretched out his hand, touched him and said, ‘Of course I want to! Be cured!’

Some times I read and there is joy in my spirit, other times I read and there is a lump in my throat. “If you want, you can make me clean…” I do not only hear those words but I see Jesus walking towards the man and hugging him forever, wiping his tears and saying “of course, of course” Two men hugging, two men allowing and giving each other that space needed for healing.

You know there isn’t that much room in the world for men to be heard. Society does not allow us to cry or not have answers. As the old man would say “dust yourself up and get to it, tears don’t milk the cows!” Last year I had Lee Bridgewater simply tell me “come here, let it out man” He is a BIG MAN and he gave me space to cry. On another occasion I pulled over a man who was not driving correctly. When I approached him, he was distraught and as I was finishing up the traffic stop he said, can I get a hug. Yes, yes hang in there I said.

You know, women do a better job at checking in with each other. We can learn something from them. “Of course, I want to. Be whole Jesus said”