9/12/2020 I Forgive YouDear friends on the journey,
On September 6, 2018 Botham Jean was killed by Amber Guyger. Thirteen months later Amber was convicted of murder and sentenced to ten years in prison. The circumstances of this case are important, but not the whole story. You may recall that Amber was a white female police officer who entered what she thought was her apartment to find Botham, a young black man, sitting on her couch. Thinking he was an intruder, she fatally wounded him. Later it was revealed that it was in fact not her apartment. She entered Botham’s home where he was unarmed, sitting on the couch eating ice cream. I believe the lesson here is forgiveness. At the sentencing hearing, Botham’s brother Brandt, in his victim impact statement, told Amber that he loved her as a person, wanted only the best for her, and offered his forgiveness for her actions that had ultimately taken his brother’s life. Brandt then asked permission to hug the defendant Amber. Gasps, tears and sniffles filled the courtroom during their oneminute embrace. What struck me most deeply in this tragic story was young Brandt. How could someone forgive the murderer of a loved one? How could an 18yearold have such wisdom? He said it repeatedly in his statement…God. It was clear that his Christian faith has so strongly shaped this young man and his values. He understood that God would forgive her, and that he should too. I wonder if I could do the same thing. Could I offer forgiveness to someone who hurt me so deeply? To this point in Matthew’s Gospel, Jesus is revealing the secrets of the kingdom of God. We’ve had the Beatitudes back in chapter six followed by his teachings on the dangers of wealth, the importance of denying oneself, and thinking as God does. In today’s parable, Jesus offers another insight: God’s mercy and the necessity of forgiveness. Grace, mercy, compassion and forgiveness not only describe the kingdom of God in heaven, they are also the keys to God’s kingdom on earth and how to live a happy life now. Today’s gospel holds us to a higher standard in God’s kingdom and teaches us about the freedom that comes with forgiveness. Nelson Mandela said it well: “Not forgiving someone is like drinking poison and expecting the other person to die.” The resentment, anger, pain, and grudges we harbor only bind us. Only when we ask God’s forgiveness and we forgive others can we make space for God’s grace and mercy in our lives, thus in turn our transgressor’s life. The rub is in the place of forgiving and not forgetting. Forgiveness is not forgetting nor condoning but an opportunity to learn a lesson and more about ourselves and another. This is the place of growth and transformation and to encounter Jesus, the ultimate sacrifice for our forgiveness. 9/5/2020 A Gentile or a Tax CollectorIt’s a curious line, in today’s Gospel: “… treat him as you would a Gentile or a tax collector.” Brothers and sisters sin against each other with some frequency. What are we to do when sinned against, offended, hurt, or emotionally bleeding? Sometimes people regret their own offenses, often as soon as the transgression takes place. Some do not. What do we do then? Should we just let our hurt lie there, unresolved? Should we make an issue of it? Should we rage against those who cut us? Should we sulk or withdraw in hurt? The stages Jesus sets before us make profound sense. First, and sensibly, try to resolve things quietly, just between the two of you. Not every good intentioned individual is also sensitive. Some, when they discover their words or actions are hurtful, will be truly repentant. It may take some explanation for them to understand the consequences of what they’ve done. If there is any good will at all, and there often is, calm explanations will work better here than angry finger pointing, irony or guilt making. This approach of the Lord has the advantage of not shaming the other publicly. Second, when a quiet conversation fails to work, bring in witnesses, where possible. This can be a necessary stage since some, even those of general good will, fail to listen to people close to them, family or friends. Familiarity can breed deafness as well as contempt. The practice of drawing in two or three witnesses draws upon the requirement of Deut 19:15 and Num 35:30 that, for any serious offense, the testimony of multiple witnesses was required. Having a few others, somewhat more distant, may lead your offending siblings to hear the weight of their actions in a new way. Third, consult with the church. I’m often drawn into some of the most painful family situations, to listen and provide counsel. Sometimes the distance I have from the situation, and the freedom I have from the deep emotions poisoning people’s relationships, provide me with the clarity needed to intercede without heated passions, but with sympathy. I haven’t saved every marriage, or resolved every parent/child dispute, but I have been helpful for many. Then, and only then, when even the intervention of the church fails, comes the curious encouragement to treat the offender as we might “a Gentile or tax collector.” In Matthew’s world, they were the outsider born in sin, the irredeemable foot soldier of Rome’s financial oppression. Do you have a way of treating Gentiles and tax collectors? I know I don’t … and that may be the very point. I have no expectations of tax collectors. Perhaps the invitation is to address, not the offender, but myself. If I can’t change my “brother” then, perhaps, I’m going to have to change myself, my own expectations. If my brother or sister can’t or won’t turn from what hurts me, do I continue to give them enduring control over my emotions, denying me peace of mind and happiness? As I have no expectations of “Gentiles or tax collectors,” perhaps I need to have no expectations of my unrepentant, offending siblings.
8/28/2020 Get Behind MeDear Faith Family,
I hope you are all doing well. We have had small glimpses of normal life recently. At least for me, normal life showed a small glimpse of itself when live sports began. Not only is it comforting for me to see these events because of my addiction to live sports, but it is also comforting because it reminds me of what life was like before this unfortunate pandemic. I, like most of you, have found myself to feel a wide range of emotions these past months. I have felt the anxiety that has come with the “new normal,” I have found myself overthinking my relationships with loved ones and I also have felt plenty of doubt when thinking about when this will end. In this weekend’s Gospel, Jesus explains to His disciples that he will suffer, be put to death and raised on the last day. If I were Peter, I would have also been hyper focused on the whole “suffering and dying” part, just like he did. That’s why I don’t blame him for his response of wanting to save Jesus from this suffering. Obviously, Jesus set him straight. While Jesus’ response seems harsh, it is definitely just. How many times in our lives have we focused on just suffering without the positives that God can bring through them? While Jesus did mention his suffering and death, he also explicitly mentions that he will be raised from the dead. How many times in our lives have we focused on the suffering in our lives and have ignored the miracles that are right in front of us? I know that this time has been difficult. And for all those who have lost loved ones, or have loved ones that are currently sick, you are absolutely in my prayers. Somehow though, in the face of real tragedy, we have to try our hardest to embrace eternal life and understand that where sin is present, grace is present even more. How do we do this? Somehow, through the virtue of faith, we have to stop “thinking not as God thinks, but as humans do.” 8/21/2020 Listening for God's Voice in the StormHello Friends,
Here we are in late August, nearing the end of a summer unlike any other we have experienced. Many of us pine for the experiences of the previous summer during which graduations, Confirmations, weddings, vacations and other communal gatherings and celebrations were taken for granted, but now seem like a dream. While we have adapted and adjusted to live within the COVID19 pandemic, we have also had to come to terms with our limitations. Trying to make sense of our present reality, we hear from lots of voices who, exercising some authority, are asking us to make sacrifices and conduct ourselves for the greater good. Unfortunately, not all these voices agree with each other and many offer contradictory views. For many, these conflicting voices and views are not exclusive to elected officials and public health authorities. Sometimes differing views manifest themselves within the smaller circle of family and friends and even within ourselves. Our gospel today provides us guidance on how to discern the voices we should be attentive to. Jesus asks his disciples (and us) “who do you say that I am?” (Matt 16:15) Peter’s confession that Jesus is the Son of the living God comes not from human authority but from God directly. For Peter to “hear” God, he had to create a space in his heart to be receptive to God’s message. This required him to block out other distracting voices including his own internal voices of doubt. You may recall the gospel from two Sundays ago when Peter tried to walk on the water toward Jesus but started sinking when he doubted Jesus’ message and authority (Matt 14:2233). Jesus commissions Peter to be the rock of his Church not because Peter came up with the correct answer, but because Peter was willing to see past the limitations of human authority and seek the greater wisdom that only God can provide. Listening for God’s voice amidst our distractions and doubts is not easy. The demands of juggling work, school and family often within the physical confines of isolation within our homes does not seem to allow for any time for us to hear God’s voice. Also, we have become so accustomed to the constant barrage of news and social media that it is difficult for us to spiritually “sit still.” Like Peter, we are invited to listen for the authentic voice of God for the answers that will guide us through the current storm we are experiencing. Doing this requires setting aside some part of the day for prayer and reflection. This will seem like an impossible task especially for those of you with children at home just starting up the fall term having to start the school year via online and virtual instruction. Bishop Robert Barron, in a homily he shared during a recent Confirmation liturgy, suggested a simple but powerful prayer. Whether you are experiencing a moment of happiness or a time of great challenge, praying “Come Holy Spirit” is an effective way of inviting God into your life. 8/14/2020 But Are All Welcome Though?Dear Friends,
Over the main doors at the entrance to our Cathedral (Our Lady of the Angels), there is an inscription that reads “My house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples.” If that sounds familiar, it’s because it comes from this weekend’s first reading. Here the LORD is telling the Chosen People that foreigners who act justly will be welcomed to his holy mountain and their sacrifices will be acceptable to him. This is just one of many instances in the Hebrew scriptures where the LORD is teaching his people that the door is wider open than they thought; that there are more seats at the table than they knew. At our mass of dedication in 1995 the song “All Are Welcome” by Marty Haugen was sung, and we’ve sung it occasionally since. It’s a beautiful tune with great lyrics. The 5th verse (which often enough we don’t get to sing because of the length of the entrance procession) says this (emphases mine): Let us build a house where all are named, their songs and visions heard And loved and treasured, taught and claimed as words within the Word. Built of tears and cries and laughter, prayers of faith and songs of grace, Let this house proclaim from floor to rafter: all are welcome in this place.1 I’m sure we aspire to be the kind of community and church where all truly are welcome, but are we? Do we still have work to do? I think we do. But if our understanding of what it means to be a welcoming inclusive community is still unfolding, we must just keep trying to be better. When this pandemic is resolved and we are able to gather once again, what will it look like? What will it be like? This brings us to this weekend’s Gospel reading where Jesus is a bit harsh with a Canaanite woman begging for help for her daughter who is in torment. “I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel.” Eventually Jesus relents and heals her daughter because of the woman’s great persistence and great faith. “But sir, even the dogs eat the scraps that fall from their masters’ tables.” Some whose wisdom and knowledge I respect have said that this story is evidence of Jesus “growing in wisdom” (Luke 2:52). In other words, his understanding of his ministry, and for whom he was sent grew from just being savior to Israel to having been sent to all people – and it was the Canaanite woman’s “badgering” that helped him to come to that realization. Of course, no one wants to be on the wrong side of a Mama Bear advocating for her child! That’s not to say that great faith and persistence in prayer are not great values – of course they are. But if Jesus’ understanding of his mission evolved, then we need not be discouraged if ours must also. Then we can sing “All are welcome” and it can be far more than just self-congratulatory. So, let’s “build a house”! |
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