Monday, August 29, 2016

Mark 6: 17-29

Herod was the one who had John the Baptist arrested and bound in prison
on account of Herodias,
the wife of his brother Philip, whom he had married.
John had said to Herod,
“It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.”
Herodias harbored a grudge against him
and wanted to kill him but was unable to do so.
Herod feared John, knowing him to be a righteous and holy man,
and kept him in custody.
When he heard him speak he was very much perplexed,
yet he liked to listen to him.
She had an opportunity one day when Herod, on his birthday,
gave a banquet for his courtiers,
his military officers, and the leading men of Galilee.
Herodias’ own daughter came in
and performed a dance that delighted Herod and his guests.
The king said to the girl,
“Ask of me whatever you wish and I will grant it to you.”
He even swore many things to her,
“I will grant you whatever you ask of me,
even to half of my kingdom.”
She went out and said to her mother,
“What shall I ask for?”
She replied, “The head of John the Baptist.”
The girl hurried back to the king’s presence and made her request,
“I want you to give me at once
on a platter the head of John the Baptist.”
The king was deeply distressed,
but because of his oaths and the guests
he did not wish to break his word to her.
So he promptly dispatched an executioner with orders
to bring back his head.
He went off and beheaded him in the prison.
He brought in the head on a platter and gave it to the girl.
The girl in turn gave it to her mother.
When his disciples heard about it,
they came and took his body and laid it in a tomb.

The life of a prophet is never an easy one. Because they proclaim truth they are hated by those who want to define truth for themselves. They are hated, persecuted, and even killed for speaking with the authority of God.

Prophet is one of the roles we are called to by our baptism into the family of God. We are to always speak in truth, giving glory to God in all that we say and do. Prophets today are no different than the prophets from the bible. They are still hated, still persecuted, still killed for their dedication to our Lord. Even in this land of the free, a country that was founded with religious liberty as a cornerstone, even here people who try to live by God’s command are mocked and persecuted. We are told to abandon our principles and to get with the modern way. We live at a time where people stand together at Mass and proclaim, “I believe…” and then walk out of the sanctuary saying, “But the Church is wrong on…”

We live at a time where over 50% of the Church in this country declares God’s teachings second to lifestyle and political candidate choices. A time where people can rationalize any abomination for themselves.

Holy Scripture is the prophet of our age. It declares the Word of God to us with authority. And like any prophet of old we celebrate it when it supports our beliefs, hate it when it doesn’t, and try to manipulate it and change it to align with our wills. How much longer until the rulers of our time demand to have its head on a platter? How much longer until it is laid in the tomb?

Saint John the Baptist pray for us.

Sunday, August 28, 2016

Sirach 3: 17-18, 20, 28-29

My child, conduct your affairs with humility,
and you will be loved more than a giver of gifts.
Humble yourself the more, the greater you are,
and you will find favor with God.
What is too sublime for you, seek not,
into things beyond your strength search not.
The mind of a sage appreciates proverbs,
and an attentive ear is the joy of the wise.
Water quenches a flaming fire,
and alms atone for sins.

Humility is not thinking less of yourself. Humility is thinking of yourself less. The man who boasts of his own achievements receives the glory he creates for himself. God created the sun, man the light bulb. The light created by man can never be as bright as the light created by God. Nor can it last as long. The same is true about glory. If you give yourself glory it will be short lived. Glory given by God is eternal.

When I was in boot camp I was told that the goal was to get through the eight weeks and not have the drill instructor know my name. There are only two reasons a drill instructor learns your name. You have either excelled or you have failed. People who excel are given additional responsibilities.  People who fail are given extra practice to get it right. Both can be a curse to the aspiring sailor. Strive instead to do everything right but do it without anyone noticing. That is the key to success in boot camp.

This is how we are called to live our lives in this passage. We are to do everything we do the best we possibly can without calling attention to ourselves. We are not called to stand up in the crowd and scream, “Look at me!” The Father sees all that we do and how we do it. If we do even the most mundane and small thing for the sole glory of God we do such things in a grand way. Saint Theresa of Calcutta used to say that small things done with love are great things.

Seek not the limelight, the accolade, the praise and honor, or the admiration of your peers. If you do what you do without the expectation of credit you will please God in all that you do.

Saturday, August 27, 2016

Matthew 25: 14-30

Jesus told his disciples this parable:
“A man going on a journey
called in his servants and entrusted his possessions to them.
To one he gave five talents; to another, two; to a third, one–
to each according to his ability.
Then he went away.
Immediately the one who received five talents went and traded with them,
and made another five.
Likewise, the one who received two made another two.
But the man who received one went off and dug a hole in the ground
and buried his master’s money.
After a long time
the master of those servants came back and settled accounts with them.
The one who had received five talents
came forward bringing the additional five.
He said, ‘Master, you gave me five talents.
See, I have made five more.’
His master said to him, ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant.
Since you were faithful in small matters,
I will give you great responsibilities.
Come, share your master’s joy.’
Then the one who had received two talents also came forward and said,
‘Master, you gave me two talents.
See, I have made two more.’
His master said to him, ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant.
Since you were faithful in small matters,
I will give you great responsibilities.
Come, share your master’s joy.’
Then the one who had received the one talent came forward and said,
‘Master, I knew you were a demanding person,
harvesting where you did not plant
and gathering where you did not scatter;
so out of fear I went off and buried your talent in the ground.
Here it is back.’
His master said to him in reply, ‘You wicked, lazy servant!
So you knew that I harvest where I did not plant
and gather where I did not scatter?
Should you not then have put my money in the bank
so that I could have got it back with interest on my return?
Now then! Take the talent from him and give it to the one with ten.
For to everyone who has,
more will be given and he will grow rich;
but from the one who has not,
even what he has will be taken away.
And throw this useless servant into the darkness outside,
where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.’”

Vocation, a calling. God calls each and every one of us for a specific purpose. Then he gives us the gifts necessary for us to accomplish that purpose. Most of us turn a deaf ear to this calling. We squander our gifts or we use them for our own benefit.

And for those of us who answer God’s call in our lives and use God’s gifts to achieve our purpose, what do we receive? More responsibility. More work. One sign of a pleased and happy God is finding that our work has increased.

When much is given much is expected. When we rise to meet the challenge more will be asked of us, but never more than we are capable of giving. A person grows when they allow a new challenge to stretch them further than what they thought was possible. When we fill the new space we will be stretched again. We can continue to grow our entire lifetimes until we reach the limit of our perfection here on earth.

God is calling. Are you listening? Are you using the talents he gave you to bring him or yourself more glory?

Friday, August 26, 2016

Matthew 25: 1-13

Jesus told his disciples this parable:
“The Kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins
who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom.
Five of them were foolish and five were wise.
The foolish ones, when taking their lamps,
brought no oil with them,
but the wise brought flasks of oil with their lamps.
Since the bridegroom was long delayed,
they all became drowsy and fell asleep.
At midnight, there was a cry,
‘Behold, the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’
Then all those virgins got up and trimmed their lamps.
The foolish ones said to the wise,
‘Give us some of your oil,
for our lamps are going out.’
But the wise ones replied,
‘No, for there may not be enough for us and you.
Go instead to the merchants and buy some for yourselves.’
While they went off to buy it,
the bridegroom came
and those who were ready went into the wedding feast with him.
Then the door was locked.
Afterwards the other virgins came and said,
‘Lord, Lord, open the door for us!’
But he said in reply,
‘Amen, I say to you, I do not know you.’
Therefore, stay awake,
for you know neither the day nor the hour.”

Prepare your hearts for the coming of the Kingdom. Do not live today believing there will be a tomorrow. If Jesus were to return right now you could not go off and make right all your wrongs. You stand as you are. Go instead and prepare in the time that you have. Mend the brokenness of your life. Right the ledger with not only God but your fellow man. Do not let nightfall find you with a broken bridge. Grant forgiveness for every wrong done to you. Love your neighbor as you wish to be loved by the Father.

If Jesus comes he will find in you a humble, contrite heart. He will find one prepared to receive him and inherit the Father’s royal nature. If you awake tomorrow it is another opportunity to love as you yourself wish to be loved. It is an opportunity to put joy into another’s heart. It is another opportunity to witness the glory of Jesus in the way you live your life.

A prepared heart is over abundantly joy filled at the bridegroom’s return while the unprepared scatter around anxiously. Jesus loves those who prepare themselves for his arrival and shuns those who live solely for themselves and are not concerned with the coming kingdom. Do not be found locked outside of the door when it closes, eternally separated from God.