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Archive for August, 2023

Sirach 36 and 37: Relationships

Posted in Favorite, tagged , on August 22, 2023| Leave a Comment »


Sirach 36 and 37: Relationships

Tuesday, August 22, 2023relationships-shaidysworld

Most of all, pray to God to set your feet in the path of truth.

We live in a world crowded with relationships – social relationships – professional relationships – family relationships. Some of these are intimate, others superficial. Today’s reading contains this verse about relying on God for advice just before the epilog on Wisdom and Temperance. It contains much more.

A man may be wise and benefit many, yet be of no use to himself.

How many people do we know will fill this description? Will people describe us in this way?

Is it not a sorrow unto death when your bosom companion becomes your enemy?

How many times have we been betrayed? How many times have we betrayed the trust placed in us?

Be on the alert when one proffers advice, find out at first of all what he wants.  For he may be thinking of himself alone.

How much do we value the words of a friend? Do our words have value for others?

Come to our aid, O God of the universe, and put all nations in dread of you!  . . . Give new signs and work new wonders . . . Show mercy to the people called by your name . . . Reward those who have hoped in you, and let your prophets be proved true.  Hear the prayer of your servants, for you are ever gracious to your people; thus it will be known to the very ends of the earth that you are the eternal God.

And the people say . . .

A favorite from May 27, 2008.

For an article about the significance of platonic relationships, click on the image or visit: https://www.michigandaily.com/opinion/the-beauty-of-platonic-relationships/

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Deuteronomy 4:1-8: The Advantages of Fidelity

Posted in Favorite, tagged , , , , on August 21, 2023| Leave a Comment »


Deuteronomy 4:1-8: The Advantages of Fidelity

Monday, August 21, 2023faithfulness-2

For what great nation is it that has gods so close to it as the Lord, our God, is to us whenever we call?

Last week we celebrated the Feast of the Assumption of Mary, the mother of Jesus.  She is considered by most to be the first Apostle of Christ when she proclaimed the Magnificat which we hear in Luke 1:46-55.  With the giving of her fiat, her statement to God that his will be done in her, the completion of the world’s salvation is assured.

For what great nation is it that has gods so close to it as the Lord, our God, is to us whenever we call?

We reflect on our willingness to believe that God accomplishes all that he promises and we realize that sometimes we have difficulty believing that God actually walks among us.

For what great nation is it that has gods so close to it as the Lord, our God, is to us whenever we call?

When we consider the message of this portion of Deuteronomy we also think about the enormity of all that is promised to us in the covenant, that we might be sisters and brothers in and of Christ.

For what great nation is it that has gods so close to it as the Lord, our God, is to us whenever we call?

Fidelity is a quality found infrequently in our society in which some of us change friends and intimacy as often as we change shoes. The fidelity we see in the young girl Mary is astounding when we consider the usual consequence of stoning to death for a girl who conceives without being married. The fidelity we hear about in the covenant entered into by Abraham, mediated by Moses, and brought to fruition through Mary is something too great and too wonderful to be believed and yet the benefits are so abundant to us that we cannot take in their enormity.

For what great nation is it that has gods so close to it as the Lord, our God, is to us whenever we call?

Calling on God is something that some of us do too seldom. God wants nothing more than to help, to heal, to transform and to keep the promises he has made. God accompanies us in our journey and rejoices when we ask for help, celebrates when we return home, and sings with joy when we remind others of how much we are loved by God.

For what great nation is it that has gods so close to it as the Lord, our God, is to us whenever we call?

God’s story is almost too wonderful to tell. It is certainly too wonderful to be believed and yet we are assured daily of God’s presence. Let us delight in the promise of great reward for fidelity.

For what great nation is it that has gods so close to it as the Lord, our God, is to us whenever we call?

Our God is a faithful and patient, forgiving and just God. Our God moves among us, keeping promises God makes. Our God awaits our call.

Adapted from a favorite written on August 15, 2010.

Image from: http://www.chapelofgrace.org.uk/faithfulness/

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Matthew 10:34-39: Dividing Us

Posted in Favorite, tagged , , , on August 20, 2023| Leave a Comment »


Matthew 10:34-39: Dividing Us

Iron-Curtain-Border-Facilities-higher-res-available

The European Iron Curtain

Sunday, August 20, 2023

God often speaks in sudden and surprising ways.

We know from life experience that fire has the potential to both destroy and heal, to either bring all to ash or to cauterize and cure. Jesus explains to his followers in today’s citation that when we say yes to his invitation what we agree to is our willing entrance into a life of hardship, tension, prophetic courage, and even rebellion. Yet as grim or as unhappy as this life might seem on the surface, a life in Christ shuns temporary pleasure in exchange for eternal joy.

To die to self in order to allow God to enter is the key to life in Christ. I have said to my close friends that a few years ago I realized that I was trying to manage my daily problems on my own, thinking that I need not bother God with things that seem so trivial in the light of the events reported on the evening news. Yet through my pain I came to understand that rather than fear the sensation of falling down a deep well backwards with no way to even guess if there were a bottom to this pit, and rather than scrabble with my hands at the sides of the well, what God was calling me to was a life in which I willingly pull my hands away from the sides of the well to cross them on my chest and to fall into the hands of God that then eased me down this frightening tube. After a time of free fall, I realized that the dreaded dark bottom of this well was opening into a flood of light. I also understood that my willingness to allow all that I am and all that I do to descend into what I could not see and could not predict gave me the gift of total and eternal sustenance. The waters I thought were waiting at the bottom of this well were, in fact, non-existent; for it is at the bottom of this well that I found God waiting.

A green zone now occupies the former Iron Curtain zone

A green zone now occupies the former Iron Curtain zone

Injury, crisis, strife, cataclysm, catastrophe, division, a fire that burns with a killing intensity. All of these, when faced with the love of Christ, disappear as dust to leave in their place a serenity that will always abide.

The fire that Christ brings can heal when we hand all back to God that we have been given, the gifts as well as the pain. The divisions we thought insurmountable have conjoined and fused in a blaze of Christ’s love to form a bond that can never be broken, a peace that can never be destroyed.

Adapted from a reflection written on June 17, 2009.

For more on the greening of the Iron Curtain zone, click on the images above, or visit: http://www.thebigroundtable.com/stories/boys-loved-birds/

Tourists walk along the Wall at the former East German border in the village of Moedlareuth, about 300 kilometres (186 miles) south of Berlin, July 24, 2009. A tiny village of 50 residents straddling the former border dividing East and West Germany and nicknamed “Little Berlin” has preserved its own 100-metre section of the Iron Curtain — for tourists. Picture taken July 24, 2009. REUTERS/Fabrizio Bensch (GERMANY POLITICS ANNIVERSARY SOCIETY)

For another reflection on radical trust, visit the Falling Down the Well page on this blog. 

For more about the Green Curtain, visit: https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/iron-curtain-green-belt-park

Images from: https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/iron-curtain-green-belt-park and https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna32329195

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Matthew 12: A Gentle Mastery

Posted in Favorite, tagged , on August 19, 2023| Leave a Comment »


Matthew 12: A Gentle Mastery

Saturday August 19, 2023gentleness_380_253_90

We see how Jesus heals, and we see how his comforting words and restorative gestures threaten the authorities who question how and why he is able to perform miracles. We hear the request for a sign, and we hear own words challenging Jesus’ goodness. We know that Jesus shows us The Way; yet we are not certain that we are up to his invitation. We are led and protected by our loving Creator; yet we hesitate to follow closely. We are imbued with God’s Spirit; yet we worry and defy God’s wisdom. Today’s Favorite is adapted from a reflection written on August 4, 2009.

At the close of Matthew 11 Jesus urges to give our burdens to him – for he is strong and we are weak, he is meek and humble, willing to carry not only our burdens but our beings. This is how much we are loved.

Chapter 12 is one in which Jesus heals, preaches, confronts evil, explains how we might become vineyard workers with him, and describes his true brothers and sisters. Us.  We see his gentle mastery of both deceit and goodness. We are given a manual or road map to follow when we have questions or when we have lost our way. Jesus does not deluge us with all the information we will ever need to live good and full and happy lives; rather, he gives us just enough information, just enough insight to get us to the next place in our journey. He even asks that those who are healed not yet make public his identity for it is not yet time for the entire plan to be revealed.

glassofwater-fullI heard a good homily this past week-end about Jesus’ gentle mastery. Monsignor was expanding the idea that we best receive God’s messages when we are empty of self and most vulnerable. He explained that we are like an empty cup or glass that God’s hand is moving toward a life-giving faucet to be filled with water that sustains us for eternity. He asked us to search the Gospel to examine Jesus’ methodology, and then he pointed out that Jesus does not overwhelm his followers with so much information that there is a system overload. Rather than turn on the water source full force which would splash the water out of the empty glass, Jesus turns the tap lightly – just enough to let the refreshing, healing water flow gently. As I listened, I pictured myself putting an empty vessel under a full-flowing spigot and I saw the water gushing everywhere, never filling the glass. I also pictured myself putting the same empty vessel under a gentle flow and I saw the glass fill almost immediately. There is more than enough when we take things as we can handle them. Just so does God interact with us.

water into glassChapter 12 of Matthew gives us an opportunity to read this part of Jesus’ story with new eyes, the eyes of one who arrives empty, seeking to be gently filled. And when we have had a full and good drink, we might turn to help those who follow behind. We too, might, with patience and with care, become gentle masters who turn the tap softly for those who are empty and weak.

For an interesting reflection on Jesus and gentleness, click on the image of the bird in hands above, or visit: https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/are-you-gentle-like-jesus 

Water flowing into a glass images from: https://usinglight.com/2013/04/11/glass-of-water/ and https://www.pinterest.com/pin/499899627396862354/

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Matthew 21:18-22: Withering the Fig Tree

Posted in Favorite, tagged , , , , , , on August 18, 2023| 1 Comment »


Matthew 21:18-22: Withering the Fig Treea-fig

Friday August 18, 2023

This week we have looked at the many ways in which  Jesus wants to heal us. We have seen him give sight to those who are blind, hearing to those who are deaf, and movement to those who are paralyzed. All he asks in return is that we use the gifts he freely gives us to bear fruit for the kingdom. Today we look at a Favorite adapted from a reflection written on October 26, 2009.

In today’s reading we come across a story that is troubling for some: the sudden way in which Jesus withers a fig tree that has not produced fruit. Here Jesus has just entered Jerusalem and has cleansed the temple of the money changers. In the next portion of this story we will see Jesus’ authority questioned and we will sit at the Master’s feet to listen to a series of parables. Footnotes tell us that we might see Jesus’ actions here as ill-tempered and arbitrary, but it is really a prophetic act portending the judgment that is to come upon Israel “that with all its apparent piety lacks the fruit of good deeds and will soon bear the punishment of its fruitlessness”.  (Senior 45) Here too, besides this obvious portending of the future, Jesus affirms the amazing power of faith – that if we believe we too might cause trees to wither and mountains to be lifted up.  What we read is a strange dichotomy that causes us to think . . . a tool which any good teacher will use: The placement of a puzzle before students so that they might be called to think outside of the normal typical story.  What is Jesus doing when he withers the tree?

We might pose the theory that Jesus would win more converts if he had caused the tree to flourish; but then we miss the importance of our own free will. We, like the fig tree, have been planted in our particular place. We, like the fig tree, may have to exert ourselves to bear fruit. We, like the fig tree, will be held to an accounting of our stewardship of the gifts we have been given.

figIn one of our favorite stories, Queen Esther shrinks from the work she sees lying before her because she fears the loss of her own life and the lives of her fellow Jewish exiles. When she balks, her uncle Mordecai reminds her: Even if you now remain silent, relief and deliverance will some to the Jews from another source; but you and your father’s house will perish. Who knows but it was for a time like this you obtained the royal dignity? (Esther 4:14) Who knows for which moment in time our gifts are meant? Who are we to parcel them out in a miserly fashion or to decide to keep these gifts safely tucked away for ourselves?

In Luke 12:48 at the close of the parable about the watchful servant, we hear Jesus remind us that much will be demanded of those who have been given much. We might think of this today as we move through our many small and big chores. What is it we have been given that we are asked to share? What can we do to be certain to produce fruit with the gifts we are given? And do we ourselves have the faith to wither trees and move mountains?

Tomorrow, a gentle mastery.

Senior, Donald, ed. THE CATHOLIC STUDY BIBLE. New York, Oxford University Press, 1990.45. Print.  

For other views on this reading, click on the images above or visit: http://www.christianity.com/blogs/dr-ray-pritchard/how-did-the-fig-tree-wither-so-quickly.html and https://witkowskiblog.com/2017/09/05/fig-trees-and-empty-faith/

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Matthew 9:1-8: Gossipy Whispering

Posted in Comparing Scripture, tagged , , , , , , , on August 17, 2023| Leave a Comment »


Matthew 9:1-8: Gossipy Whispering

Thursday, August 17, 2023

Mathieu Ignace van Bree: Christ Heals the Paralytic

Mathieu Ignace van Bree: Christ Heals the Paralytic

Too often when we come into contact with those among us who suffer physical or mental differences, we turn away in alarm or surprise. Or worse, we give in to the temptation to whisper about someone’s condition without realizing that our behavior is clearly visible. Our gossipy whispering is audible.

Jesus teaches us a difficult lesson today.

Jesus knew what they were thinking, and said, “Why this gossipy whispering? Which do you think is simpler: to say, ‘I forgive your sins,’ or, ‘Get up and walk’?” 

We know that in ancient times – and still in some cultures today – afflictions are seen as divine punishment for sin. Jesus forgives with the authority given him by the Creator.

Jesus teaches us how to measure our compassion today.

“Get up. Take your bed and go home”.

In our hearts and minds we are grateful when we do not suffer, grateful when we walk in bounty. We also know that God’s grace blesses us with the gifts that make it possible for us to earn a living, to afford shelter, food and clothing. Although in many societies we believe that everyone is entitled to an equal opportunity, we also must know that not everyone is equally endowed.

Jesus teaches us how to heal today.

And the man did it. The crowd was awestruck, amazed and pleased that God had authorized Jesus to work among them this way.

In a world that is strangely topsy-turvy, we know that we are responsible for our response to God’s call more than we are responsible for our fame, wealth or power. Jesus calls us to put aside our gossipy whispering and invite those among us who are paralyzed in any way to join us. Jesus invites all to come together with whatever gifts we have to build the infinite and boundless kingdom.

Jesus teaches us about goodness today.

When we use the scripture link above and the drop-down menus to explore other translations of this story, we hear God’s call as healing and compassionate kingdom-builders.

To learn more about Jesus’ miracles, click on the image above or visit: http://iconsandimagery.blogspot.com/2012_10_01_archive.html  

Tomorrow, withering the fig tree. 

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Mark 7:36-37: Our Words

Posted in Uncategorized, tagged , , , , on August 16, 2023| Leave a Comment »


Mark 7:36-37: Our WordsThe-Power-of-our-Words-Vision-Wall-Poster-copy

Wednesday, August 16, 2023

He’s done it all and done it well. He gives hearing to the deaf, speech to the speechless.

God has gifted us with the gift of words. Today we reflect on the purpose of this gift and the use of our own words in our daily lives.

“Watch your words diligently. Words have such great power to bless or to wound. When you speak carelessly or negatively, you damage others as well as yourself. This ability to verbalize is an awesome privilege, granted only to those I created in my image. You need help in wielding this mighty power responsibly.

“Though the world applauds quick-witted retorts, My instructions about communication are quite different: Be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry. Ask My Spirit to help you whenever you speak . . . If [people around you] are silent, pray before speaking to them. If they are talking, pray before responding. These are split-second prayers, but they put you in touch with My Presence. In this way, your speaking comes under the control of My Spirit. As positive speech patterns replace your negative ones, the increase in your joy will amaze you”. (Young 126)

jesus callingIn her wonderful devotional, JESUS CALLING, Sarah Young bases daily reflections on scripture. She brings us wisdom that we might want to use in a modern climate of insults and one-liner sound bites are meant for broadcast news. Jesus comes to as THE WORD of the loving presence that created us in an image of goodness and compassion. When we take in the words that flood around us it is so frequently difficult to distinguish truth from lie; but what is easier to distinguish is ego versus selflessness, greed versus generosity, false fruit versus abundant fruit. When we are confused about whose words we are to believe or reject, Young presents us with a distillation of God’s message: we must rely on the Spirit for guidance, we must depend on Jesus as an example, and we must trust in the Creator who has created us in God’s image in and for love alone.

Tomorrow, healing the paralyzed man.

Young, Sarah. Jesus Calling. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2004. Print.

Image from: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/power-words-reyaz-mohemmad/?trk=mp-reader-card 

JESUS CALLING image from: https://play.google.com/store/books/details?id=KsPNZ_EY1BgC&source=productsearch&utm_source=HA_Desktop_US&utm_medium=SEM&utm_campaign=PLA&pcampaignid=MKTAD0930BO1&gl=US&gclid=CNj9qrvFpc4CFUGFNwodH9QC2w&gclsrc=ds

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Mark 7:31-37: The Deaf

Posted in Prayer, tagged , , , , , , on August 15, 2023| Leave a Comment »


Mark 7:31-37: The Deaf

Tuesday, August 15, 2023

Ottheinrich Folio: Jesus Heals a Man who is Deaf and Mute

Ottheinrich Folio: Jesus Heals a Man who is Deaf and Mute

And it happened. The man’s hearing was clear and his speech plain—just like that.

We rise in the morning to greet another day . . . just like that.

We move through our communities without major mishap . . . just like that.

We have enough to eat and enough to drink . . . just like that.

We have health care, networks, access to information . . . just like that.

We interact with family, friends and colleagues . . . just like that.

We lay tired heads on plump pillows . . . just like that.

For those of us on the planet who have received the gift of so much, including the gift of hard work that allows us to enter into the marketplace to compete fairly with others, we must remember that despite all our thinking otherwise, all that we have is by the grace of God . . . just like that.

For those of us on the planet who are hampered and even imprisoned and murdered by unjust regimes, we must remember that despite all the solidarity God’s people might muster, all that they were promised has been taken away . . . just like that.

As we move through our day giving thanks for the words we hear, let us remember that despite all the rancor they may contain, we might allow God’s love to transform the world’s hatred into joy when we remember the Law of Love that Jesus shows us through the miracle of healing . . . just like that.

As we move into the evening giving thanks for the words we use, let us remember that despite all the wisdom they may contain, they may easily fall on deaf ears . . . just like that.

And so we pray.

Wise and gentle God, knowing that all that we have and all that we are comes from you, remind us to keep eyes, ears and hearts open in gratitude to you.

Strong and persistent God, understanding that words – whether spoken or unspoken – are powerful instruments of both fear and love, remind us to measure our words and be mindful of their effect.

Merciful and loving God, believing that truth endures beyond lies, integrity outlives deceit, and love is greater than any evil, remind us that our very existence relies on your compassion and fidelity.

We ask this through Christ our Lord, the healer of all that is wrong, the bearer of all that is praiseworthy. Amen.

For more on the Ottheinrich Folio, visit: http://www.facsimilefinder.com/facsimiles/ottheinrich-s-bible-facsimile

Image from: https://catholicexchange.com/

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Matthew 9:32-34: The Mute

Posted in Comparing Scripture, tagged , , , , , on August 14, 2023| Leave a Comment »


Matthew 9:32-34: The Mute

Monday, August 14, 2023

Tissot: Jesus heals a Mute Man Possessed by Demons

James Tissot: Jesus heals a Mute Man Possessed by Demons

The crowds were amazed and said, “Never has anything like this been seen in Israel.” But the Pharisees said, “By the ruler of the demons he casts out the demons.”

As always, when goodness happens, evil will be lurking nearby, looking for an opportunity to douse the light, hoping that the darkness will take over. When we have no moral compass night and day look the same to us. Truth and lies have no boundaries. Deceit and honesty are difficult to discern. The innocent suffer as the wily take over. But this describes the world in which we live. In the Kingdom, the Beatitudes hold sway. The broken-hearted, the poor in spirit, the meek, the hungry, the thirsty, those who mourn and suffer persecution, the merciful, the pure of heart, those reviled in the name of goodness, all of these have value.

When we are confused or frustrated by the events around us we might turn to Matthew 5 to the new Rules for the Road that Jesus gives us so clearly. The inversion of values will not make sense to the unscrupulous or greedy, but what do we do when we are up against those who cheat a system meant for good or who look out only for themselves? How do we address such darkness? And must we speak or act when confronted by violence that takes advantage of the innocent?

Today we read about Jesus bring speech to a man who could not speak and we see that the crowds were amazed for never before had they seen such authority used to heal someone afflicted and disadvantaged. Those in power, on the other hand, are alarmed. We know the end of this story as does Jesus; still, he moves forward with his acts of healing, opening eyes that cannot see and ears that cannot hear. Are we as willing as he is to step into the darkness, bearing the light of The Word?

We are not Jesus, we tell ourselves. We are not expected to interfere with those who hold so much authority and power, we say as we comfort one another, so we will let someone else speak up. But is this the case? Are we – who have the gift of speech and the ability to use it – expected to remain mute in fear and confusion when we have the Beatitudes to guide us? Or might we use the words the Spirit gives us to bring clarity to obfuscation? Might we use our strength in Christ to shed light in the darkness? Might we use the power of Christ’s love, in solidarity with others, to bring about kingdom moments in a world waiting for freedom and honesty?

We have this to ponder today as we compare the translation above with other versions using the scripture link and drop-down menus. 

Image from: https://www.brooklynmuseum.org/opencollection/objects/13421

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