Monday September 25, 2023

Luke 8:16-18

Jesus said to the crowds:

‘No one lights a lamp to cover it with a bowl or to put it under a bed. No, he puts it on a lamp-stand so that people may see the light when they come in.

Once you are touched by God, you will find that sometimes you have to fight to be on the lamp stand. Isn’t our whole struggle the fight to keep the light burning? The scriptures say nothing of the winds and demons that will try to steal your joy. But church we are aware that our number one job is keeping the flame alive.

Today may we be the shield that keeps others alive.

Friday September 22, 2023

The women who accompanied Jesus

Jesus made his way through towns and villages preaching, and proclaiming the Good News of the kingdom of God. With him went the Twelve, as well as certain women who had been cured of evil spirits and ailments:

Whatever became of Mary Magdalene, Joanna and Susanna? You know it is not a minor detail that they are mentioned by name. Paper and ink were too expensive in those days for minor details. These prominent women provided out of their own resources for Jesus and his disciples. I believe they were not just helping in the background. Heck when he rose from the dead he appeared to Mary Magdalene. Remember that story? She realizes it was him and like in a movie she jumps on him and would not let go.

Anyway the ministry of women in the church goes back to Christ himself. In fact I do not want this to be about that fight. Do you know that by your contribution to your church you are participating in a major role in building God consciousness. Thank you to all of you whose names will never be known but have literally carried out church on your shoulders. I love you!!!

Thursday September 21, 2023

Matthew 9:9-11

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.

Imagine going to work and hating it, imagine secretly praying that someone sees you for what you really are and not sone caricature society has built around what you do. Well Jesus looked at this despised Tax Collector and loved everything about him. I remember the first time I heard words that changed everything for me. They came from Fr Ron Knott a priest of the archdiocese of Louisville. He said “we are so glad you are here..” For the first time I did not feel myself as a burden but a gift. There is more to that feeling by the way which people who grew up in religious houses understand very well.

The point is, whatever journey you are on, whatever insecurities you have. God looks at you as gift!! Yes I am so happy you happened upon this page because you make all the difference. Now go to that for another person!

Wednesday September 20, 2023

Luka 7:31-34

Jesus said to the people:

‘What description can I find for the men of this generation? What are they like? They are like children shouting to one another while they sit in the market-place:

‘“We played the pipes for you,

and you wouldn’t dance;

we sang dirges,

and you wouldn’t cry.”

Jesus realized very early on that you cannot please everyone. In this episode they were complaining that Jesus was too accessible to sinners and Tax collectors. Before Jesus they complained that John the Baptist was too conservative. Which is which?

People like myself who are people pleasers find it difficult when we are younger to navigate the world because someone is always mad at you. But with time we learn that we do what pleases the Lord and us. I encourage you today to stop explaining yourself to the world and follow your heart. You will find very quickly that you are inconsistent, and irrational sometimes and that means you have a pulse. One day Jesus is all loving and another day he is driving people from the temple with a whip. I love it.

Tuesday September 19, 2023

Luka 7:11-19

Jesus went to a town called Nain, accompanied by his disciples and a great number of people. When he was near the gate of the town it happened that a dead man was being carried out for burial, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow.

Do you know what he did next? The unthinkable!! Yes yes we think it was pretty normal for Jesus to do this but remember, he was also a man of his times. He went and touched a dead body and brought it back to life. He gave the son back to the mother. There is no greater joy than to see the spark of life back in your loved one.

Do you know how to do that? Have you given the spark of life back into someone? As we journey through life sometimes we go through events that drain us. Things do not work out as we thought or we find our lives consumed by hunger, addiction, lack of zeal or illnesses. Jesus can give us life again. He can send us dancing again.

Today I want to ask you to do for another what Jesus did for this mother. Bring happiness back into someone’s life! What are the small and big gestures you can do to spark life?

Monday September 18, 2023

Luka 7:1-10

Sir,’ he said ‘do not put yourself to trouble; because I am not worthy to have you under my roof; and for this same reason I did not presume to come to you myself; but give the word and let my servant be cured.

A centurion said these beautiful words which we have picked up as church and put into the liturgy of the mass. He may not have believed in the God of Jesus but he respected and had fear for this God. Even though he was not a believer he build a synagogue for the Jewish faithful.

Many years ago Fr. Terrence CP, a wonderful Irish man told us a story between a boyfriend and girlfriend. They were breaking up because he felt called to the priesthood. His girlfriend said “I am not of your faith, I don’t know your God but I can truly see what you believe in you.

The centurion saw what Jesus believed in and he reached out. People see your faith and they feel it.

Friday September 15, 2023

Our Lady of Sorrows

Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary of Magdala. Seeing his mother and the disciple he loved standing near her, Jesus said to his mother, ‘Woman, this is your son.’ Then to the disciple he said, ‘This is your mother.’ And from that moment the disciple made a place for her in his home.

Some faiths have criticized the catholic devotion and recognition of Mary. The one person who had the greatest joy and most definitely suffered the most because of her love was Mary. I remember when she came to take him home because people thought he was a mad man. I cannot even begin to sense her prayers to God. Lord, save my son. Yes the relationship between mother and son is complicated but this is true. No one loves you more than your mother.

Jesus today surrenders his mother to the disciple he loved. Are you or could you be the unnamed disciple? Today I feel invited to have a connection with Mary and all the parents who have shed tears for their babies.

Hail Mary full of Grace the Lord is with you. Blessed are you among women and blessed is the fruit of your womb Jesus. Holy Mary mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death.

Thursday September 14, 2023

John 3:13-16

The Exaltation of the Cross

Yes, God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son,

so that everyone who believes in him may not be lost

but may have eternal life.

This was the one feast that got a lot of preparation when I was a young passionist. I remember decorating the cross with beautiful flowers and lighting candles around it. The setting was always beautiful. The meaning of it all has changed for me. What does it mean to exalt the cross? I don’t mean the beautiful cross that makes you feel holy. I mean the cross you wish the earth would open up and swallow you because to this day you are so embarrassed about it, the guilt of it never seems to go away. For over 300 years the cross spoke Roman dominance, it was a stumbling block.

You and I cannot move forward unless we deal with the shame or embarrassment or guilt that controls us from a dark place. So choose your one thing and say this is part of my story. It makes me who I am. Is it divorce? Weight? Being fired? Alcoholism? Wealth? Meanness? Is there anything hidden in our secret lives? We bring it, we face it, we conquer it’s power!

Wednesday September 13, 2023

Luke 7:20-26

Fixing his eyes on his disciples Jesus said:

‘How happy are you who are poor: yours is the kingdom of God.

Happy you who are hungry now: you shall be satisfied.

Happy you who weep now: you shall laugh.

You know it is an incredible and deliberate act to find the silver lining in things. Most of these who were poor, hungry or weeping had every reason to stay in that state. But Jesus said, change your thinking, change your brain. Find something that will begin to change the energy around you.

On a day to day basis there are a number of situations or people who can spoil the mood or our whole day. Today I ask myself with the help of God. What is the opportunity in this instance? Follow the God wink.

Tuesday September 12, 202

Luke 6:12-19

Jesus went out into the hills to pray; and he spent the whole night in prayer to God.

When did you last do that? I mean not go to church but go somewhere by yourself to pray. I truly cannot remember doing this in a long time. Between balancing two jobs, providing for two households (here and Africa), raising a family and doing homework, running and yoga. My day is over before it starts. But wait …. Someone told me that if it is important we will make the time. So here is a resolution for me. I want to go off to a park by myself to pray for you and me. Because you are important, I will make the time.

Secondly and probably most importantly, prayer connects us to God. When I was in Africa we used to have “desert days.” On these days we were sent out on a picnic with God. Some of us hid in our rooms but that’s besides the point. Fr. Superior wanted us to develop this love for prayer. Hey call it a date with God. I know you need it.

Monday September 11, 2023

Luke 6:6-11

On the sabbath Jesus went into the synagogue and began to teach, and a man was there whose right hand was withered. The scribes and the Pharisees were watching him to see if he would cure a man on the sabbath…

On this day I want to prayerfully remember the families who lost a loved one on September 11 and the many who to this day are suffering because of the terrorist attacks in 2001. Everything changed that day.

As I hear Jesus say to the man in todays scripture … “stretch out your hand.” I hear God saying to me and you to dare trust him again. This man may be afraid to stretch out his hand, he may not know how to, he may be hearing voices that he cannot stretch out his weathered hand. Are you being asked to do something new? Are you afraid to go into places you have never gone. I also hear Jesus ask those around the man to help him, teach him how to stretch and restore life to his arm.

Can you learn to trust again, can you walk into your church again and find people who hold you by the hand.

Thursday September 7, 2023

Luke 5:1-11

Jesus was standing one day by the Lake of Gennesaret, with the crowd pressing round him listening to the word of God, when he caught sight of two boats close to the bank. The fishermen had gone out of them and were washing their nets. He got into one of the boats – it was Simon’s – and asked him to put out a little from the shore. Then he sat down and taught the crowds from the boat.

Did you notice it? How interested was the fisherman in what the preacher was saying? He just hoped somebody was hungry enough to buy some fish or make some extra money from the one day rental from Jesus.

But God was working in the background. God was preparing Peter for this encounter. Peter did not know it but God had him on the radar.

How many Chance meetings have you had that turned into a beautiful relationship. And how many here did not even like each other on first meet?

Jesus trusted the journey of friendship and soon it will not only be the boat that is needed. It will be the loving heart, the hurt heart, the hardened hands, the warm hands, the wonderful experiences and those Peter would not want to talk about. God is looking for an opportunity with you, give God a chance.

September 6, 2023

Luke 4:38-44

Leaving the synagogue, Jesus went to Simon’s house. Now Simon’s mother-in-law was suffering from a high fever and they asked him to do something for her.

This is one of those passages that humanizes Jesus for me. He and Peter were friends. I always saw them as disciple/Rabbi but they actually hang out at each others houses.This is incredibly refreshing to me.

Now what preached for me in this passage is that they immediately told him what was happening in the house. They were not too embarrassed that mother in law was sick, they did not hide her in some room, no they bothered him about her. When you receive the Lord in the Eucharist, do you tell him everything that is going on in your life. Do you tell him that you are exhausted or there seems to be no right person for you? Do you tell him about who needs blessings in your life. You have God in your house, open up a little.

May the Lord touch every area of your life today. Love you

Tuesday September 5, 2023

Luke 4:31-37

Jesus went down to Capernaum, a town in Galilee, and taught them on the sabbath. And his teaching made a deep impression on them because he spoke with authority.

How do you read this? What is speaking with Authority? Have you or can you speak with Authority? I have been listening to President Biden speak and sometimes I wonder if someone else could speak. To be fair I also wonder if someone else should speak instead of President Trump. What kind of Authority do these men speak from. The authority is from the presidency or the people for the other guy.

To speak with Authority one has to understand that they are a messenger. The power is from everything behind them, the power is from the one who sent them.

Do you speak with authority? Try it today, speak with authority without saying words. I think kindness speaks louder, gentleness has authority and resistance or persistence speaks. Our small church Rabbouni speaks with more authority now than it did 14 years ago. Our scars have authority!

Anyway like the simple carpenter from Nazareth, may you be genuine today. Lots of love Fr C

Friday September 1, 2023

Matthew 25:1-13

Jesus told this parable to his disciples: ‘The kingdom of heaven will be like this: Ten bridesmaids took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish and five were sensible: the foolish ones did take their lamps, but they brought no oil, whereas the sensible ones took flasks of oil as well as their lamps.

Do you have enough in your tank? Nothing gets me worried than riding with someone who knows that when the gas meter is on empty you still have 20 more miles. Like, how do you know how far you can go on empty. How long have we been doing this? Especially when we are on a road trip. I never want to go below half tank. Maybe it is my privilege showing … #blessed.

Day in and day out we sit in prayer and come to church for this very reason. To fill up with Grace. I am so grateful for my circle of love who pour prayers or lift me up when I feel empty. I sure hope you find a community of prayer like God has blessed me with. My special intention yesterday is being handled by God and we had a not so eventful evening. Please continue to pray for a person close to my heart.

Thursday August 31, 2023

Matthew 24:42-51

Jesus said to his disciples: ‘Stay awake, because you do not know the day when your master is coming.

One of the beautiful expression I have heard about the church is that we are an advent people. This means that we are a people who are constantly sharpening our senses to the comings and goings of God. St. Paul says that it is in him that we live, move and have our being. God does not come to us in a vacuum. He gave us these beautiful senses and uses them to reach our innermost being. So as we begin this day, know that somehow you will meet God today. Be on the look out!

Wednesday August 30, 2023

Matthew 23:27-32

Jesus said: ‘Alas for you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You who are like whitewashed tombs that look handsome on the outside, but inside are full of dead men’s bones and every kind of corruption. In the same way you appear to people from the outside like good honest men, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.

I don’t know what else was going on but He was not happy with the Pharisees and Scribes. They were actually good people who kept the law of Moses and the institution. But along the way they lost touch with God and filled up with filth. Our Lord never ever wanted to start a church. He was a Jewish man who loved his culture and worked to reform it. People sometimes are shocked when they hear that Our Lord while on earth never entered a church.

Back to the message: Do you find yourself cheering him on? Those hypocrites need to hear this. Or do you find yourself looking downcast? Feeling as if he is directing these harsh words to you? Frankly we should be both. Jesus invites us to dig deep and let our spirituality become meaningful and life giving. As much as I cheer Jesus on, I also want to be convicted in my spirit and turn towards him. The monks talk about constant conversion. This is the place of growth. The truth about you and I is we are a mixed basket. There is a lot of good in us but sometimes we can be shady. Pivot today!!!

Love you

Tuesday August 29, 2023

Mark 6:17-21

The beheading of John The Baptist

So the king at once sent one of the bodyguard with orders to bring John’s head. The man went off and beheaded him in prison; then he brought the head on a dish and gave it to the girl, and the girl gave it to her mother. When John’s disciples heard about this, they came and took his body and laid it in a tomb.

I looked at the reading of this feast and I was very uncomfortable. I want to preach good news not stories like this. So I put the Bible down, went to sleep. Then as I was on my daily run, the question arrived in my soul. How many times have you been beheaded? It must be 5 or 6 times in the church alone. I have been cut off like I don’t exist by some friends too. And yet you live Chibundi. In death life does not end, life changes.

John did not stop building the kingdom even though he was cut off. God found a way to continue to use him. I was speaking to another friend who had been excommunicated and he said “I miss how things were, how we would go on vacations, but life is a beautiful thing now I preach to a different crowd.”

So don’t think John lost his life, he changed! How about you? Are you the same person you were 10 years ago? Are there people who don’t talk to you today but you were inseparable just a few years ago? Someone told me that women reinvent themselves every 10 years or so. They are constantly cutting things off so they can become more. Sometimes life gives you an ultimatum and brutally takes a life or lifestyle away. You my friend are breathing… you are preaching.

Monday August 28, 2023

Matthew 23:13-22

Feast of St Augustine

Jesus said: ‘Alas for you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You who shut up the kingdom of heaven in men’s faces, neither going in yourselves nor allowing others to go in who want to.

A very happy Monday to you my dear friend. Today we celebrate the feast of St Augustine who found a way to open up the kingdom of God for generations. St Augustine used his brilliance in philosophy and changed the hearts of many. My favorite quote from him is “Our hearts are restless O Lord, until they rest in you.”

Along the paths of our lives God has placed people, beautiful souls that bring us peace and help us make sense of the mysteries of life. I remember meeting such an angel years ago at Mother of Good Counsel Church. She invited me to Christmas dinner and opened for me a new family, a sense of belonging. This angel and her family opened up the kingdom without ever preaching. They simply loved.

I know you too have given avenue to others. You have opened up the kingdom by your words, your actions, your way of being.

God bless you and remember to bless others!!

Thursday August 24, 2023

John 1:45-51

Philip found Nathanael and said to him, ‘We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, the one about whom the prophets wrote: he is Jesus son of Joseph, from Nazareth.’ ‘From Nazareth?’ said Nathanael ‘Can anything good come from that place?’

Today is St Bartholomew’s feast day. My best friend in seminary is parish priest at that parish here in Louisville. Pablo and I used to have a rather dry sense of humor but we totally got each other. How about this reading today? Nazareth! Can anything good come from that place. They probably cleaned the language up in order to put this line in the holy book. Imagine if Nathaniel was from Gravel switch or from Chicken Gizzard road. He would have said, “you kidding me? Can anything good come from that …” Anyway I chuckle.

Can we really begin to even imagine where Jesus came from? How he broke all barriers to earn the right to stand up and speak. Can we even begin to imagine his accent, how he was dismissed within speaking a few words. This man fought his way out of a dark place and was dragged back into it at Calvary. You my friend are so incredibly blessed. Imagine what we can be if we tapped into our divine essence. The story of Nathaniel and Jesus is a story that we share. We too have been judged before we ever say a word. We have been subjected to the harsh judgment of part of our lives. Whatever it is they use, remember this, it is just part of your story our story.

Eventually they met. And the eyes of Bartholomew were opened. Something good, something very good can come out of that disastrous place or time or experience. God can come through.

Love you very much indeed.