Short-sighted!

Mount of the Beatitudes

John 14:6-14

It started off rather innocently! A simple statement to our parents! I cleaned my room! I did my homework! I really did pass that test! I brushed my teeth! Or something along those lines! But then it all kind of fell apart when our parents responded. SHOW ME! And then the excuses began!

We celebrate today the feast of the Apostles Philip and James the Less. Unfortunately we know almost nothing about their lives beyond the fact that Jesus called them to follow Him. In fact the only reason they are paired up is that it was on this date in the 6th Century that both their bodies were brought to Rome to be buried together in the Basilica of the 12 Apostles.

In today’s Gospel, however, we do get one glimpse into the life of Philip and it does not go well. Jesus is telling the Apostles that, if you know Him, then you know the Father and you have seen Him. But Philip answers and says “Show us the Father.” Basically – we haven’t seen the Father! SHOW ME!!!

You can almost hear the exasperation in Jesus’ voice! How can you not get it? If you see Me, you have seen the Father. How much more does He have to do? You have seen the Father in every word I have spoken, every parable, every teaching! You have seen the Father in every healing touch, in the raising of Lazarus and the feeding of the 5000.

We don’t know how Philip responded. We hope that his eyes and his heart were opened and that he was ‘cured of his short-sightedness.’ But let’s remember today that we can be, at times, just as oblivious to the presence of the Father in our lives! Let’s hope today for a bit more awareness of God’s presence all around us – in the kindness of strangers, in a comforting touch or word, in the unexpected blessings that come our way and in the beauty of creation that is right in front of our eyes.

Connections

Garden of Olives, Gethsemane

John 15:1-8

I wanted to share with you some details on one of the projects I would assign for my World Religions class. I am sure most of my former students will remember and, perhaps, cringe a bit!

A “partnered” SHOW & TELL (at least 45 minutes) of one of the major world religions (Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, Islam). The presentation will include how the religion celebrates (1) birth, (2) death, (3) an all-class prayer experience in the style of that religion, and (4) a celebration of one feast /holy day. Presentation must include the complete ceremony, including prayers and scripture, as appropriate. To accomplish that, keep in mind how that religion makes use of food, song, dance, dress, art, and objects in its religious ceremonies. This is not a normal stand-up presentation. You are not merely explaining the ritual; you are transforming the room & yourselves into an experience of that religion. You are acting out the complete religious ceremony - Props, costume, dialogue, set!!!!!!!

It was a daunting task, to say the least. Unfortunately some students tried to make their project as brief as possible, some as short as 10 minutes! But there were also projects that were simply brilliant! Those students fully embraced the challenge and really did transform themselves and the classroom into an experience of the religion. They realized the value of teamwork. They realized they were not working alone! They worked together; they connected together!

I don’t think today’s Gospel can be much clearer. Jesus is the vine and we are the branches. Jesus gives us life and, if we stay connected to Him, we will remain alive and healthy. As long as we stay connected, He feeds and nourishes us. The connection to the Eucharist is rather obvious – we are spiritually nourished by His Body and Blood. The Eucharist sustains us, helps us to grow in our relationship with Jesus and with each other.

Our role as the branches is simple – to bear fruit! If we are being fed, then we have to grow in faith and in love. Otherwise we cut ourselves off from the vine and from the other branches. It is not enough for us to just be alive, to go through the motions of religion. We must be fruitful. Our faith in God must deepen and flourish. This speaks to us of a connection not only to Jesus the Vine but also to each other, the branches.

I’ve been watching this History Channel show - The American Farm – a documentary series following the life of 5 families across the country struggling to make a living from their farms. It is not a show full of warm fuzzies and rainbows! Families doing anything and giving up everything just o keep their heads above water! Dealing with financial issues, drought, predators, the vagaries of weather, the tensions and stress of caring for children and their future, the breakdown of equipment and personal faith! All in an effort to produce a crop, to be fruitful! It is a reminder to us all that raising a crop, tending the vine, is not an easy life!

Over the past 13 months, we have experienced long stretches of separation from the Eucharist and from Mass and it has not been easy. But remember, as followers of Christ, we are always connected to the Vine (Jesus) and we are also intimately connected to each other. Again it is a connection of faith and love. We need to keep that connection in mind as we struggle to keep the faith, to be fruitful! We need to remind ourselves that we are not alone, that we are all connected – always – to the vine (Jesus) and to each other!

Jesus makes it very clear today – He is the Vine and we are the branches! We are all connected! But to remain on the vine it will take work, day in and day out just like a farmer. But it also takes working together, like students working on a project!

Jesus calls each of us to grow – in faith and in service – to be fruitful! That should be a source of comfort but also a challenge! Will it be difficult, even impossible sometimes? Will we stumble and fall? Yes! But Jesus has promised us “Remain in Me as I remain in you.” God is present not only among us but within us! May our lives be fruitful, for the glory of God and for the good of others!

I Just Don’t Know

Church of St. Catherine, Nazareth

John 14:7-14

We hear a lot about “knowing” in today’s Gospel. “If you know me, you know also the Father.” “Have I been with you for so long a time and you still do not know me, Philip? It’s a relatively simple word but too often misunderstood.

We pass someone on the street and we tell our spouse “I know that guy”. Really? How well do you know him? You mean you recognize him? You know his name? His likes and dislikes? His favorite food or sports team? His hobbies? What do you mean “you know him?”

Most languages have more than one word for the concept of “knowing”. Latin has ‘scio’ and ‘cognosco’. French has “savoir” and “connaitre”. And they mean something completely different. It’s the difference between being familiar with something and really undertstanding something. For example, I flip a light switch. I know the light goes on. For me, that means I am familiar with the light going on; I recognize it. It does NOT mean that I understand how electricity works, what wires should connect together or how the filament in the lightbulb works. Two very different meanings for one simple word.

So what does it mean to know God? Do I, can I really ever understand Him fully? Or do I simply recognize Him; am I just familiar with Him? Neither meaning seems to work here. Perhaps the real meaning lies somewhere in between. Let’s face it, we can never fully understand God. But I would hope that we are familiar with Him, that we have had some experience with Him, that we can recognize Him and His work in our lives. Hopefully that experience or familiarity leads us to something more, to something deeper, to a real relationship with Him. And that is what God calls us to – a relationship with Him, a relationship of love. To see Him at work in our lives, to see Him through the actions and love of others. God is all around us each and every day. Do you know God? Did you see Him in the sunrise or the frost on the grass? Did you recognize Him in the birth of a child or the kindness of a stranger? Do you see Him? Do you recognize Him?

Lost and Found

A Commune in Galilee

John 14:1-6

Like any good husband, I prefer to be the driver and that also means I know where we are going all the time. Who needs a map? Who needs directions? I got this! I think I inherited it from my father. He always got us there but not always very quickly. My mom would complain – why is it taking so long? My dad would respond – we’re taking the scenic route! That’s code for – we are lost and I’m being stubborn!

Yes, I have gotten myself lost plenty of times! But actually admit it? Well, that’s quite another story. We like to think we don’t need any help; we can do this on our own. We think we know the way to go and we will get there – eventually! So it’s rather refreshing to hear Thomas in today’s Gospel say that he doesn’t know the way. Maybe he was the backseat driver? But Jesus gently reminds them that He is the way. The way to heaven, to eternal life, is through our belief in Jesus!

The problem remains – we are still very stubborn – we think we know better, we think we know what’s best for us and we can handle everything on our own. I don’t need a map or GPS or a navigator. I got this! We let our stubbornness and pride take over and, in the process, we get lost. We lose our sense of direction; we lose our faith in God. So for once, let’s put aside the stubbornness and let’s let Jesus take the wheel or at least let’s listen to His directions and actually follow them. He knows the Way! He is the Way! And the Truth! And the Life!!

In Simple Terms

Room of Last Supper, Jerusalem

John 13:16-20

Along with all my credit cards and cash and ID’s that I have stuffed into my wallet, I also carry with me a little note that Jaime wrote me way back when she was in high school. As I unfold it today, it begins to fall apart at the creases and so I tape it back together to keep it intact. It’s a simple note from a daughter to a dad but, for me, it is priceless, worth more than any expensive birthday present or gift! And I wouldn’t trade it or be parted from it (her) for all the coffee in Brazil (new simile).

I think we forget that sometimes! It’s the simple gestures, the simple words of comfort and love that mean the world to us! Why else do we continue to display a child’s drawing on our fridge long after they have grown up? Why else do we hang on to birthday cards decades later? Simple words and gestures that carry a lifetime of meaning and emotion!

There is a lot going on in today’s Gospel. Jesus has just shared His Body and Blood with the Apostles. He has just washed their feet! He reminds them that no servant is greater than the master And then He reveals that Judas will betray Him with the words “The one who ate my food has raised his heel against me.”

There is so much happening that we can easily miss what could be the most important part of this Gospel passage. Two simple words! I AM! It is a phrase that takes us back to Moses and the burning bush. God identifies Himself as YAHWEH – I Am Who I Am! Jesus is reminding his Apostles that, no matter what happens (betrayal, doubt, even death) He is the eternal and divine Son of God. And He brings them the hope of resurrection and eternal life.

I AM! Simple words! But they are at the heart of our faith and offer us the promise of eternal life with our Savior.

Follow the Light

Church of the Holy Sepulcher, Jerusalem

John 12:44-50

There was a little boy living with his family on their farm. He always liked to help out as much as he could but he had a secret fear of the dark. One night, his father asked him to go out to the barn to check on their cows. His father gave him a lantern to light his way but the boy was still terrified. “I can’t even see the barn” he said. His dad replied “You don’t need to.” “Just go as far as the light from the lantern will take you; then go a bit farther, then a bit farther, and you will reach the barn. Just keep following the light and you will get there.”

So it is for us – baby steps, follow the light, and eventually we will get to the kingdom.

We all have moments of darkness, even as adults. Moments when we are lost, frightened, so unsure of the future that we just want to crawl under the covers and wish all the monsters to go away! But Jesus reminds us today that we are not alone, that we are not lost in the darkness, He came into this world to bring light, to be light for us. He is our Light of the World and He calls us out of the darkness to share in that light!

When you have walked to the edge of all the light you know and are about to step into the darkness of the unknown, remember this! Faith is believing that one of two things will happen: that there will still be something solid to stand on OR that God will teach you how to fly!

Blind to the Truth

On the shores of the Mediterranean Sea – Tel Aviv

John 10:22-30

A young couple moves into a new neighborhood. The next morning while they are eating breakfast, the young woman sees her neighbor hanging the laundry outside. “That laundry is not very clean”, she said. “She doesn’t know how to wash correctly. Perhaps she needs better laundry soap.” Her husband looked on, but remained silent. Every time her neighbor would hang her washing to dry, the young woman would make the same comments.

Some time later, the woman was surprised to see a nice clean laundry on the line and said to her husband: “Look, she has learned how to wash correctly. I wonder who taught her this.” The husband said, “No, dear! I got up early this morning and cleaned our windows”

Sometimes the truth can be right there in front of our nose! And sometimes we can be blind, deaf and dumb and not see it at all! Sometimes we see what we want to see, hear only what we want to hear. Sometimes we deliberately choose not to accept the truth!

And that is what is going on in today’s Gospel. The Pharisees want Jesus to tell them who He really is. His response? I already told you! He then compares them to His flock of followers – my sheep hear my voice; they listen to me! You are deaf! They are not!

It’s a good lesson for all of us. At times we all have selective hearing; we hear only what we want to hear. We want praise and avoid criticism even if it’s meant to be constructive. And yet too often we need to be corrected, to be guided back to the right path by our Good Shepherd. We need to listen! All the time, not just selectively!

Take some time daily, sit down, breathe, open our ears and LISTEN! Listen to the voice of the Good Shepherd!

Patience, My Child

Shepherd’s Field, Bethlehem

John 10:1-10

As a high school teacher, I have put in more than my share of chaperoning school field trips otherwise known as ‘combat pay’. Some of my friends have described the experience as being similar to herding cats. I beg to differ; it’s much worse than that. Now don’t get me wrong; I do love going to the zoo or Art Institute, Field Museum or Shedd Aquarium. But, as a teacher/chaperone, you don’t really get the chance to appreciate the experience. Your focus is completely on the kids, and rightly so.

And if it’s an overnight retreat, you can just triple the attention necessary to keep the students in line. That also means staying up into the wee hours of the night on guard duty in order to monitor the halls. It is exhausting and mentally demanding! It takes time and a lot of patience!

Today’s Gospel continues Jesus’ discourse on the Good Shepherd, particularly the shepherd’s role as a gate-keeper and protector of the flock. We know that Jesus takes on the role of Good Shepherd out of His love for us. All He does is for love! But I think that love must also come with a very healthy dose of patience. The sheep are going to try and run off; they will try to eat something they shouldn’t. They will want to stop when you want them to move. Imagine the patience involved! You love them; you will do anything for them especially when they stray. And yet you also have to practice a great deal of patience, with them and with yourself! Consider Jesus’ patience with the Apostles. One minute He is sharing one of His parables; the next minute the Apostles are pulling Him aside, asking Him to please explain the meaning of that parable.

While we reflect on Jesus as the Good Shepherd and ourselves as His flock, we are also called to be shepherds ourselves, leading others along the right path by our words and actions. We are all called to live a life of love for God and for each other. We pray that the love we share is coupled with the constant virtue of patience!

The Sound of His Voice

Shepherding in Bethlehem

John 10:11-18

A few years ago I was helping run a 4-day Kairos retreat for a group of high school Seniors at a Benedictine retreat center in southern Wisconsin. As we were just sitting down for dinner in the dining hall one evening, I heard a voice behind me talking with one of the other retreat leaders. Immediately I recognized that voice! I didn’t turn around; I didn’t even get up right away. I just yelled out “Peter”! I was right! It was Peter, my former teacher and mentor back when I was working on my Masters degree in religious education at Loyola. It was a very unexpected and joyful reconnection! You see, I hadn’t seen or talked to him in over 40 years! Yes, you heard that right – 40 years! And yet I recognized that voice! I knew that voice immediately!

Have you ever had that happen? Recognizing someone just from the sound of their voice? Even after a long passage of time? That is what strikes me about today’s Gospel! That one line “I know my sheep and they know me.” In fact, just a bit later in the same chapter, we hear “They know the sound of My voice. And they follow me”.

For most of us, our experience of sheep is limited to petting zoos and family visits to a farm. They are cute and soft and cuddly! But they are also quite dumb! If left to themselves, they are completely defenseless; they will wander away, get lost or injured! They are innocent and extremely trusting but they cannot manage on their own. They need a leader; they need a shepherd, someone who is devoted to them day in and day out. Someone who will guide them and protect them, feed them and shelter them from the storms of life.

In spite of all their apparent shortcomings, however, there is one positive element in their life. They know the voice of their master, their shepherd! And not only that, even in the midst of the noise of life, they RECOGNIZE his voice! And, most importantly, they RESPOND to his voice.

Jesus is our Good Shepherd! And we are the sheep of His flock. He guides us, protects us, loves us, will even lay down His life for US! He leads us to shelter at night and serves as a human gate

against robbers/predators. Whether we are lost or injured or strayed from the flock! He leads us to running water, to fertile grasslands, to safety, to the Kingdom! And He does all of this not for simple pay but out of LOVE!

He is our Shepherd; we are His flock! But do we hear Him? Do we recognize His voice? How many of us would say – I’ve never heard His voice! He has never spoken or reached out to me! I don’t know His voice! And yet don’t we hear His voice every day! In the words of Scripture! In the cries of children living in starvation! In the pleas of that stranger asking for a few coins! In the lament of those suffering loss and the pain of solitude! In the pain of illness and abuse! We hear His voice every day!

The bigger question is not so much do we hear His voice but “do we respond and how’! Do we hear His voice and then ignore it? Do we tell ourselves we can’t be bothered? Do we choose to go our own way, apart from the flock? How do we respond?

In our words? in prayers of praise and thanksgiving? In words of comfort and support? In songs and in laughter with our children and grandchildren? In our actions? In a simple hug of affection and concern? In donating food to the local pantry? In cutting our neighbors lawn when he is too ill to do it himself? In every positive action when we see someone tired or cold, or hungry or homeless, lost and sick.

Are we members of His flock? Are we faithful followers who not only hear His voice, recognize His voice but respond with love and compassion?

The Lord is our shepherd; there is nothing we shall want

In green pastures, He makes us lie down

To still waters, He leads us. He restores our souls

He guides us along the right path for His name’s sake

Even though we walk through the valley of the shadow of death, we will not fear

For You are with us, Your rod and staff give us comfort

Good and mercy will follow us all the days of our lives

And we will dwell in the house of the Lord forever

When the Going Gets Tough….

Capernaum on Sea of Galilee

John 6:60-69

We have all faced moments like this in our lives. Maybe it was Mom and Dad sitting us down to hit us with the hard truth, the stark reality of life. Maybe we messed up and now it was time to come clean and face the punishment. Maybe it was having to deal with a harsh reality: sudden death or illness, the breakup of a family or a relationship, or the boss sitting us down for a performance review that does not go well.

Harsh, stark reality! In the times we live in, this strikes home even more acutely. Sitting our children down to talk to them about Covid-19. Having to explain what a pandemic is! And searching for ways to answer the tough questions! Why can’t I go outside and play with my friends? Why can’t I go to school? Why do I have to wear a mask? Why can’t we go and eat at McDonalds? Why do I have to do my school work? You’re not my teacher! There are no easy questions and certainly no easy answers! Maybe it was having to face the reality that, overwhelmed with all the stress and pain in life, we had to face the fact that we can’t do it alone and we need to ask for help!

Many of Jesus’ disciples, in today’s Gospel, also have a difficult time with the truth. Jesus is offering them His Body and Blood; He is offering them eternal life. And they can’t accept it; they refuse to believe it. In fact, many of His disciples walk away and go back to their former lives. Instead of moving forward in life and in faith, they choose to go back to the way things used to be. They turn their backs on life eternal and head home.

So Jesus asks the Apostles whether they are going to leave as well. And Peter answers with a stunning profession of faith. Where else should we go? You have the words of eternal life! We know that you are the Holy One of God!

In moments of trial and testing, when life hits us with harsh reality, Jesus asks us the same question! Are you going to leave me? Are you going to turn your back on me? Or will you continue to follow me?

Leadership Skills?

Praying in Church of Holy Sepulchre

Acts 9:1-20

My journey to the diaconate began years ago as we were leaving Sunday Mass. Our deacon came over and, as we were talking, he suddenly asked me whether I had ever considered becoming a deacon. My response was rather quick and dismissive – NO, never crossed my mind! And that was the end of it, or so I thought!

I think we have all had moments when someone challenges us or our boss picks us for a job we just don’t think we are suited for, a task that we are convinced we lack the skills to complete. And yet in the end, it all works out and then we realize that those abilities were right there inside of us all along, unbeknownst to us.

I thought we would consider today’s First Reading – the Conversion of St. Paul. It makes you wonder how God goes about picking leaders? I mean there’s Moses who has a speech impediment whom God sends to Pharaoh to let His people go. There’s David, the baby of the family, chosen to be a king and warrior. He calls Jeremiah to be a prophet and he is about as reluctant as you can get. Peter is headstrong! Thomas has doubts! And then in the Acts of the Apostles, there is Paul, full of murderous threats, looking to arrest any Christian he finds and bring them back to Jerusalem in chains. And yet God calls him to be His Apostle to the Gentiles. There is an old proverb - God writes straight but with crooked lines!

I mean seriously? None of these individuals went to God asking for the job. God sought them out; He chose them! What exactly does God see in these people that none of us can? Or maybe that’s the point! God sees us not merely as we are but as the person we can be! He sees our potential, our hidden abilities. He sees beyond our own doubts and faults, beyond our own unworthiness! He sees us as His children, full of hope and promise!

Creator God, grant me the wisdom to live in harmony with Your will!

Soul Food

Mass in the Cave at Bethlehem

John 6:44-51

One of my ministries here at St. Robert’s is a small group Bible Study affectionately known as “Soul Food.” For the past 6 years, a small group of faithful and dedicated individuals have on Thursday mornings every single week to reflect on the Sunday Scripture readings, that is until March 15, 2020 when the pandemic shut everything down.

Throughout this difficult time, we have managed with simple emails and Facebook posts to continue the tradition. But it is certainly not the same as gathering together as a community of faith. Thankfully that is about to change. We will meet together for the first time in almost 14 months on Thursday May 6. You can imagine the joy I received in emails and texts when I announced the news!

And I think it says something important directly related to the dedication of our group and especially our ‘name.” Jesus today continues His discourse on the Bread of Life! Bread! And not simple bread, but bread that give us eternal life! Over the course of this pandemic I have learned to make bread; I regularly make 2 loaves every week which, by my count, puts me over 100 loaves! But the number is unimportant! The bread I make satisfies but only temporarily. I have to keep making it week after week.

The Bread Jesus talks about satisfies not the body, but the soul! And that is what my Bible Study group has been hungering for – food for the soul! That is what we all hunger for – food that satisfies our spirit and gives us the promise of life eternal! True Soul Food!

Spiritual Hunger

Open Market in Jerusalem

John 6:35-40

If we are really honest with ourselves, there have been times over the past year that we all went a bit stir-crazy. I mean, we love our family, would do anything for them. But there have been times when we all got on each other’s nerves, no matter how much we love each other. Our tempers and our patience have been in short supply. And each day seems much like the previous one. I sometimes wonder how much of this anxiety and short-temper have been due to a lack of spiritual nourishment. None of us had ever been separated from the Eucharist for this long of a time.

Today’s Gospel tells us that Jesus is the Bread of Life, our source of spiritual food and eternal life. Whoever comes to Him will never hunger and never thirst.

The number of Masses in our parishes remains limited and, for many of us, the reluctance to venture out for any length of time is high. We are all famished; we are all struggling with a hunger for the Eucharist. And we are probably taking out that hunger, taking out that parched thirst, on the ones we love, our family! But Jesus reminds us at the end of today’s Gospel – everyone who sees the Son and believes will have eternal life. So while our reception of the Eucharist remains limited, we are still called to see Jesus in each other. We are all called to set aside our impatience, our short tempers, and see Jesus in our family and to be Jesus to them.

Not so easy, I know. But maybe we could set aside some time each day for a simple family activity, whether it’s to play a silly game or perhaps to bake some bread – that seems rather appropriate for today! Forget about the argument from yesterday or the meltdown from this morning. Forget about the mess you might make, forget about the cleanup! Just work together, play together and, in the process, maybe see Jesus in each other!

Knead to Know

Open Market, Jerusalem

John 6:30-35

I had the opportunity this past Saturday to reconnect with my altar servers and help them prepare to return to serving Mass. In the past 13 months or so, I was keenly aware of how much they missed their ministry. So from time to time, I stayed in touch with them by dropping off goodie bags filled with chocolate chip cookies, zucchini chocolate muffins and, of course, samplings of my zucchini bread.

So when we met, I told them that now we are back in the swing of things, I won’t have to do any more deliveries of baked goodies! One eighth grader immediately piped up “You mean, now we have to start making our own zucchini bread?”

Yes, there has been a lot of baking going on at Deacon Bill’s house over the past year or so. I even included baking bread to my list! Even now, I am making 2 loaves every week! It’s meticulous, time-consuming work but oh so rewarding. But I admit I had to work my way up to baking bread with a lot of trial and mostly error!

Well, so much for yesterday’s budding faith that the crowd following Jesus seemed to be showing. Today it becomes obvious – all they are interested in is another miracle – give us another meal, give us more bread like Moses did with manna in the desert. It’s like they are a group of little kids in front of a magician – ooh, cool, do it again! Oh wait, I think I already said that yesterday. Jesus’ response, however, is not one of action, but of words. I am the Bread of Life! Your fathers had manna from heaven in the desert but I am giving the Bread of Eternal Life!

Jesus offers us the Bread of Life, His own Body and Blood in the Eucharist. We know that, in order to attain eternal life, it is going to take work, effort, prayer, good works, time and a lot of patience, especially with ourselves. But it is worth the effort, right? We all spent months separated from our family and friend! Those long months were also a painful separation from the Mass and from reception of the Eucharist. As we slowly transition back to some sense of normal liturgical services, let us spend time with God in prayer and meditation. May we stop looking for quick, easy miracles like the crowd in today’s Gospel. Set aside time for just you and God. And be patient! Give yourself the time for your faith to grow and rise. And don’t be so anxious and worried about how things will turn out! And remember that God is here and He has the words, the Bread, of eternal life!

I pray that, as we return to Mass on a regular basis, we do so with a deeper reverence and gratitude for the gift of Jesus’ Body and Blood!

Little Miracles

Sunrise in Galilee

John 6:22-29

In no way am I any sort of magician! However I have had my moments! Back when the grandsons were little, I could always amaze them by making my thumb or their nose disappear and then re-appear. Or maybe it was finding a quarter behind their ear. They loved that one so much that they wanted me to keep repeating it. Wonder why! Even when I was teaching, I would always have an assortment of brain-teasers, seemingly impossible puzzles on my desk or a ‘simple’ card trick where they would pick a card, tear it up and then find it again in a sealed envelope! No matter what I pulled out of my hat, the response was always the same. Do it again! Show me another one!

Today’s Gospel picks up after Jesus had fed the crowd with the multiplication of loaves and fishes. He then quickly leaves and apparently walks across the Sea of Galilee to Capernaum. His disciples eventually follow Him. The next morning, the crowds wake to find them all gone. And instead of being satisfied with the events of the previous day, they all go looking for Jesus, like a group of star-struck fans. They finally grab boats, cross the Sea of Galilee and find Him in Capernaum.

Talk about persistence! The crowd wanted more from Jesus. They followed Him. At this point, it’s probably safe to say they were at least curious, much less looking for another free meal. But they put a lot of effort into locating Him. So maybe this was the beginning of faith for them and not just a desire to fill an empty stomach. And so Jesus continues to teach them how to grow in their budding faith and how to receive the food of eternal life. You have to do the works of God and you have to believe in Me!

And maybe they were looking for another miracle, something to top the loaves and fishes. Maybe the crowd was clamoring for Jesus to ‘show them another one.’ But His response is clear. Don’t spend your life waiting and hoping for that one big lightning bolt miracle. Don’t let it cloud your judgment and your sight so that you completely miss the little miracles right in front of your eyes every day. It’s not about the big thing, the big miracles – multiplication of loaves and fishes, walking on water. It’s about simple things: sunset, the smile of our little child, the unexpected hug with the words “I love you, dad”. It’s about a star-lit night and the sound of silence sitting by a stream.

Appreciate the miracles all around you and, most importantly, BELIEVE! Believe in the Creator and in the Son who redeemed us all!

You Be Jesus!

Praying at the Wailing Wall

Luke 24:35-48

We have heard part of this Gospel story before and recently, on the Thursday after Easter Sunday. At that time, we reflected on the 2 disciples as they travelled on the way to Emmaus, disheartened and downcast after Jesus’ crucifixion and death. And we reflected on the journey that we all take through life, with its ups and downs, trials and tribulations. And we were reminded that, no matter what we were going through, Jesus was still right there beside us, that we are never alone.

Today’s Gospel picks up right after the events on the road to Emmaus. The disciples have returned to Jerusalem and recounted their story of meeting Jesus and recognizing Him in the breaking of the bread. And then Jesus appears to all of them and speaks words of comfort. And after eating a piece of fish, He teaches them the meaning of the Scriptures! And He then commands them to preach His message to all nations and to be witnesses of the Faith! He commissions them to be Christ-like and to spread the Word!

Imagine their response! Who, me? I keep getting this image of the old Life cereal commercial – I’m not gonna try it, you try it! Let someone else go first! It reminds me of a story!

There’s a story about a young mother who was preparing pancakes for her sons, Kevin, age 5 and Ryan, age 3. The boys began to argue over who would get the first pancake. Their mother saw the opportunity for a moral lesson. So she said to the boys: “If Jesus were sitting here, He would say, ‘Let my brother have the first pancake. I can wait.’” Kevin turned to his younger brother and said, “Ryan, you be Jesus!

We are all Christian! We are all called to be Christ-like. But if we are really honest with ourselves, none of us really wants the job! To be Christ to others? Nope, too tough, too demanding! I mean, we are only human. Let’s face it, in one sense Kevin gets it! He recognizes that being Christ-like is tough. But even though he knows it’s the right thing to do, he chooses the easy way and passes it off to his brother.

We know we are hurting during this difficult time and we certainly know there are others who are also struggling - sad, despondent, downcast, just like those 2 disciples on the way to Emmaus. We have all traveled that road, and certainly more than once over the past 13 months. And we also know all those friends and family members who are continuing to struggle to raise themselves up out of the darkness of despair and fear!

Look out for them. Offer a word of encouragement. Call them to see how they’re doing. Wave to them from across the street. Send a card or an email. Find a way to let them know they aren’t alone, that you are walking this path with them. Remind them (and yourselves) that even though the road to Emmaus was filled with tears and sadness, the road back to Jerusalem was one of hope, filled with the joy of the Resurrection.

Be a good neighbor. Be a good friend or relative, Be JESUS!!

It Was a Dark and Stormy Night

Sea of Galilee

John 6:16-21

I have been on a cruise only once in my life and that one time was more than enough! Now I cannot complain about the endless supply of food and drink; that was amazing. But there was one night when we got slammed by a storm and it was not pleasant. I can remember trying to walk down the main aisle, lurching back and forth as the ship swayed up and down, left and right, and I tried to stay upright. I remember very clearly that every single handrail on the ship was covered with small white paper bags for “emergencies.” Not a pleasant thought! It was, at times, terrifying and humbling, having no control over the situation.

The Apostles in today’s Gospel have a similar experience. They are seasoned fishermen and they know the risks and the dangers. And yet they are terrified! Weary after rowing 3 or 4 miles, buffeted with wind and waves, and then here comes Jesus walking on the water! It’s no wonder they were afraid.

We have all had our share of storms these past 13 months or so. Some were physical hurts; most were mental – depression, stress, worry, uncertainty, even hopelessness and despair! There were/are times when we felt completely alone and abandoned, unsure of what the future, much less the present, holds in store for us.

But take heart and really listen to today’s Gospel; it provides us calm in the midst of the storm. Consider this – when the Apostles saw Jesus, their very first thought was to bring Him into the boat with them. All they wanted was for Jesus to be close to them and then they knew they would be safe. And Jesus’ first words to them? Do not be afraid!

A good lesson for us all! When times get difficult, don’t be afraid to call out to Jesus, to ask Him to draw close to you and protect you. He is closer than you think! And He truly does bring peace to fearful hearts!

The Needs of the Many

Loaves and Fishes –Tabgha

John 6:1-15

It seems that, at every stoplight these days, there is someone standing there with a handmade sign! Out of work! Lost my job! Need money! Need food! Can you help? It’s a familiar and a sad sight. And yet, for most of us, the response is also all too familiar. Sometimes we stare straight ahead and hope they keep walking by! We pretend there is no one there and instead we focus intently on the stoplight! Sometimes we check our cash and decide we don’t have enough to give to make a difference; so we give them nothing. And sometimes we just give what we have!

The need for help and the need to respond are always there, present and immediate! And not just at a traffic signal! We see the opportunity to help every day -when we walk down the street, in the grocery store parking lot when someone is struggling with their shopping cart, over the backyard fence when the neighbor loses their grip on the ladder, or when a friend calls in the middle of the night in search of a comforting voice. The need is there! The opportunity to respond is there!

The story of the miracle of the multiplication of the loaves and fishes in today’s Gospel is a familiar one. And the Gospel provides so much detail in the telling of the story – the abundant grass, the specific number of loaves and fishes, the boy who brings them, the number of people gathered, the disciples complaining about the size of the crowd and the impossibility of feeding them and the number of baskets of leftovers. All very familiar!

But maybe there is one detail we tend to overlook – the responses of Philip and Andrew! Jesus addressed both of them directly – what should we do? Philip’s answer is swift and dismissive. We can’t help them; we don’t have enough money to feed them all! And Andrew? His response is - let’s see what we do have! There is a very real need to be filled here; the people are hungry and tired! And these 2 disciples respond very differently! Philip focuses on what they don’t have – money. And so he says “no way.” Andrew focuses on what they do have – 5 loaves and 2 fish!

Jesus, in His compassion and love, saw the needs of the crowd gathered before Him. And He offered Philip and Andrew the chance to respond to their need. He offers us also that same opportunity. Now granted, there are certainly times when we just can’t stop and help someone out – heading to the ER or late for that make or break meeting. But the opportunities to see a person in need and to address that need happen every day. And while we can’t always give all that someone needs, we can at least give what we have, even if it’s only 5 loaves or a couple of fish.

So consider this – today’s story is not just a miracle story about Jesus’ compassion for the hungry crowd. It is also a reminder to us to bestow that same compassion on others.

Can I Get a Witness?

Cave Chapel at Gethsemane

Acts of Apostles 5:27-33

Now that the baseball season has begun, it feels like a small sense of normality is happening. And with it comes a flood of memories about baseball games, hot dogs, popcorn and ‘take me out to the ball game.’ It reminds me of the very first game I ever went to. My Dad took us to the old RFK Stadium to watch the Senators play. I can still remember the first sight of the playing field; I don’t think I ever saw grass so green and so lush before; it was beautiful. We sat in the first row of the upper deck along the third base line and, at one point, I almost caught a foul ball. Even today I can still remember the names of every single player on the team, the smell of that fresh-cut grass and the taste of that ballpark hot dog!

The only thing that would have made the experience better is if I had been able to go onto the field and maybe toss the ball around or take a swing or two. But that wasn’t to be! As wonderful as the experience was, I was only a spectator and not an active participant. I was a witness!

Funny word – witness! It can mean a couple of very different things. In one aspect, it refers to a bystander, an onlooker of the action but not an active participant – just like my watching a baseball game. But if you look at its root in Olde English, it can also mean testimony, not merely viewing something but testifying to it, giving witness! And that is what’s happening in today’s first reading from the Acts of the Apostles. The Apostles are brought before the Sanhedrin after they had been warned NOT to preach about Jesus! But they persisted! They were not just witnesses to Jesus’ words and miracles and Resurrection! They continue to ‘witness’ to their faith in their daily lives. Filled with the Spirit, they give testimony to Jesus’ life, death and Resurrection! They share their belief that Jesus is truly the Son of God.

But let’s be clear – ‘witness’ is not just a simple intellectual exercise. It is not merely a mind game; it is not just a string of words! Witnessing to Jesus involves our entire self – body and soul, head and heart. It means that we are called to live out that belief in our daily lives! We are called to demonstrate that belief in our actions with others. And not just once, not just occasionally but day in and day out. Our life is to be a reflection of our belief! We are all called to a life of witness!

Wow! Things just got a lot more difficult. How in the world can I do that? I know I’m gonna mess up; I know I am gonna stumble and fall. I can’t do this by myself! Today’s Gospel addresses that as well. “God does not ration out the gift of the Spirit.” The Spirit! The Spirit will be there to guide us, support us, calm us down and energize us to move forward.

You are not alone! Believe in me and trust in the Spirit! Quit sitting on the sidelines; stop being just a bystander! Be a witness to your Faith!

In Pursuit!

Raising Jairus’ Daughter, Magdala

John 3:16-21

If you’ve ever seen a protest march or a parade, a football game, a political rally or a peace/justice march, you have seen these numbers: John 3:16! That’s it, just one simple verse, no long story or parable, no extended narrative or collection of wise sayings. John 3:16! And if you never understood it, you probably went to a Bible to look it up. Perfect advertising to get you to open up a Bible! One single sentence, simple and direct!

“God so loved the world that he gave his only-begotten Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life.”

Too often, I think we picture this life as a journey, trying to stay on the right path to get to God as if God is sitting still. It’s as if God is stuck on a mountain and it’s our task to find our way to Him. All the action depends on us and God is just sitting there waiting for us. This verse shows us something completely the opposite. God doesn’t just wait around for us; God pursues us; He doesn’t wait for us to look for Him; He comes to us!

And His motivation? Love, pure and simple! He loves us so much that He wants to be with us; He wants us to be with Him forever. So He doesn’t wait; He came to us as His Son, Jesus. He took on human form to be with us, to lead us, to suffer and die for us. And all of this, out of love! I know it’s been said before: the cross is not just a sign of suffering and death; it is a sign of love, so much love that God has for us. So much that He is willing to do anything for us so that we can share in His divine life, so that we might not perish but have eternal life.

God pursues us every day! He is not 3000 miles away on the top of a mountain. He is right here in the neighbor who needs groceries, in the child who needs help with homework, in the friend who needs to talk and unburden. All we need to do is turn around, see Him and respond with the same love that He has for us.

Great Spirit, lead me today on the path of love!