In our Gospel passage, when Jesus says to his disciples, "Let not your hearts be troubled," he is really touching the hearts of all human beings. We are all deeply troubled about many things: things about ourselves, our relationships, our future, our society and world. The list is long. In the face of this, Jesus reminds us that our lives are not merely isolated and meaningless phenomena. Our lives are the creation of God, and for the duration of our lives, Jesus offers himself as our lifelong companion.
Jesus then speaks of the destiny of our lives. Life in this world is not all that there is! This may seem fairly obvious to most Christians, yet the sad fact is that many Christians are so influenced by the culture we live in that they no longer see their lives as being lived out as part of a greater life. We need to be reminded of this greater life by Christ's clear and most direct words to us in this passage(vvs. 2 and 3).
Thomas' cry expresses something we all feel. What is the purpose of human life and how do we live it? Jesus' response to Thomas applies to all of us. The way we try to live our lives is the way that Christ did. The truth we try to find in life, and the meaning we attach to our life, is the meaning that Christ saw for his life. For Jesus, the truth about life is that it is a gift from God. The way to live it is to give it back to God in service day by day in all that we do. For Jesus, this was the way and the truth and the life. So it is for us.
The age old question, both inside and outside of the religious community is, who was Jesus and who is he for Christians. The discussions will continue to the end of time since Jesus Christ is a profound and eternal mystery. But we can look at what Jesus says in our passage to Philip in order to hear a great truth about Jesus which we can hold onto always. Philip asked Jesus to show him God. It is something we all desire – to know the essential meaning and source of life. But Jesus turns to Philip and tells him that he, Philip, has already seen a portrait of God in this very friend, Jesus, the one with whom he is talking.
Jesus is our window into the nature of God. Whenever we are conscious of Jesus presence with us, we are also becoming aware of God's working within us. To know such things, and to believe them, and then to use them as the basis for our approach to life, is to have tremendous spiritual resources and blessings available to us, day by day. Thanks be to God!
Love,
Fr. Bob+
Sunday, May 22, 2011
Sunday, May 15, 2011
15 May
The world that Jesus knew was very familiar with the figure of the shepherd. Shepherds were absolutely vital to the economy. Ironically, they were not paid very well, in spite of the fact that their work entailed not only long hours outside, but also a great deal of danger, particularly from the threat of wolves. The shepherd always led the flock and was responsible for finding pasture. Any suggestion that the image of the shepherd makes Jesus out to be merely gentle and nurturing is very far from the truth. What is very significant about the shepherd’s role is that it called for a person who was prepared to be gentle and tough, nurturing and driving.
In the language of this passage, there are many would-be “shepherds” today who try to manipulate and exploit people for questionable ends. The name Madoff comes to mind – you may think of others. We might think of the thief of which Jesus speaks as being among these people. A particularly false shepherd is one who leads young people to drug use. Such a shepherd comes, says Jesus, for no reason other than “to steal and to kill and to destroy.” Jesus says of his followers that if they are wise, they will not follow such a stranger, but instead, flee from him.
Jesus then tries to get us to understand our relationship with him. As an image, he uses the door which was part of every sheepfold. Jesus speaks of our “going in and out” by the door which, in a spiritual sense, is Jesus himself. What this means is that a Christian sets out to use Christ’s path or way, to do everything “through Christ,” in short, to live life through Christ’s grace and help.
Jesus then says something we tend to miss in our culture and way of living. He says “I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.” Notice that he does not say he came that we might merely have religion!! Christ offers himself to us not only as the Lord of our religious experience, but as the Lord of our total human experience. We hear this and we nod our heads in agreement, but actually there is a great deal in our culture and society, and in ourselves, that resists this and fights against it.
The truth is that for a Christian, Jesus is the door through which one enters into every aspect of life, into one’s office or shop or plant. Christ is the door through which a Christian enters into a theater or library or art gallery - anything. What we really mean by saying this is that for a Christian, no area of life is outside the guidance and the grace and the companionship of Christ. I hope you truly experience this in your journey this Eastertide.
Remember: Christ is Risen! And you are a follower of the Resurrected Christ. Alleluia!
Love,
Bob+
In the language of this passage, there are many would-be “shepherds” today who try to manipulate and exploit people for questionable ends. The name Madoff comes to mind – you may think of others. We might think of the thief of which Jesus speaks as being among these people. A particularly false shepherd is one who leads young people to drug use. Such a shepherd comes, says Jesus, for no reason other than “to steal and to kill and to destroy.” Jesus says of his followers that if they are wise, they will not follow such a stranger, but instead, flee from him.
Jesus then tries to get us to understand our relationship with him. As an image, he uses the door which was part of every sheepfold. Jesus speaks of our “going in and out” by the door which, in a spiritual sense, is Jesus himself. What this means is that a Christian sets out to use Christ’s path or way, to do everything “through Christ,” in short, to live life through Christ’s grace and help.
Jesus then says something we tend to miss in our culture and way of living. He says “I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.” Notice that he does not say he came that we might merely have religion!! Christ offers himself to us not only as the Lord of our religious experience, but as the Lord of our total human experience. We hear this and we nod our heads in agreement, but actually there is a great deal in our culture and society, and in ourselves, that resists this and fights against it.
The truth is that for a Christian, Jesus is the door through which one enters into every aspect of life, into one’s office or shop or plant. Christ is the door through which a Christian enters into a theater or library or art gallery - anything. What we really mean by saying this is that for a Christian, no area of life is outside the guidance and the grace and the companionship of Christ. I hope you truly experience this in your journey this Eastertide.
Remember: Christ is Risen! And you are a follower of the Resurrected Christ. Alleluia!
Love,
Bob+
Monday, May 9, 2011
8 May
In this season of Easter, we celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus. That is the central event, the focus of our attention. But there is another story that we follow in this season: the story of Jesus' followers. Jesus' appears to them several times and gradually they grasp the new reality: Jesus is alive. What is more important is what happens to them after the Resurrection. They change. Before they were followers; now they are leaders. They become Easter people.
Perhaps the most striking example of this change is Peter. In the stories that we hear in Holy Week, Peter is afraid, cowardly. He claims to be devoted to Jesus, even willing to die for him, but when things get tough, Peter weakens. He turns away from Jesus, denying his relationship to the one whom he called Lord and Teacher.
In today's lesson from Acts, we see a changed Peter. He is preaching to a large crowd of people. He claims Jesus to be the Messiah. He charges the crowd with responsibility for Jesus' death. When they ask what they can do, he tells them to repent and be baptized. And, we learn, after hearing Peter’s words, about a thousand people are baptized.
In this season, we too become Easter people. May we draw strength from the examples of Peter and the other disciples. May we resolve to live out our baptismal promises. To love one another. To treat every human being with respect. To work for peace and justice in the world.
Deacon Sue Nebel+
Perhaps the most striking example of this change is Peter. In the stories that we hear in Holy Week, Peter is afraid, cowardly. He claims to be devoted to Jesus, even willing to die for him, but when things get tough, Peter weakens. He turns away from Jesus, denying his relationship to the one whom he called Lord and Teacher.
In today's lesson from Acts, we see a changed Peter. He is preaching to a large crowd of people. He claims Jesus to be the Messiah. He charges the crowd with responsibility for Jesus' death. When they ask what they can do, he tells them to repent and be baptized. And, we learn, after hearing Peter’s words, about a thousand people are baptized.
In this season, we too become Easter people. May we draw strength from the examples of Peter and the other disciples. May we resolve to live out our baptismal promises. To love one another. To treat every human being with respect. To work for peace and justice in the world.
Deacon Sue Nebel+
Monday, May 2, 2011
1 May
Today is the Second Sunday of Easter, often known in the Church as Low Sunday. Low because attendance is significantly smaller than the large crowds of Easter Sunday. Low because we feel a certain letdown after the glorious celebration of the Resurrection. Each year on this Sunday, we hear the account of two of Jesus’ post-Resurrection appearances to his followers. First, he appears to a group of them, but one of them (Thomas) is not there. In the second account, Thomas is present. Told by the others that they have seen Jesus, Thomas refuses to believe that Jesus is real unless he can see and touch him. People often refer to this Gospel passage as the story of “doubting Thomas.”
I have a certain sympathy for Thomas. I am not sure that “doubting” is an appropriate label for him. Instead, I understand Thomas as someone who struggles to believe. To comprehend the impossible. Jesus has died. Now, Thomas is told, Jesus is alive. People have seen him. It is too much. Thomas cannot expand the limits of his understanding to take in this new reality—at least at first. Then, Jesus appears and invites Thomas to reach out and touch him. In that moment, Thomas recognizes Jesus and declares, in a dramatic affirmation of belief, “My Lord and my God!”
In this Easter season, let us remember Thomas. Let us recognize Thomas in ourselves. In our own struggle to stretch the limits of our own understanding. To take in the reality of the Resurrection: Jesus alive in us, in our lives.
Peace,
Deacon Sue Nebel+
I have a certain sympathy for Thomas. I am not sure that “doubting” is an appropriate label for him. Instead, I understand Thomas as someone who struggles to believe. To comprehend the impossible. Jesus has died. Now, Thomas is told, Jesus is alive. People have seen him. It is too much. Thomas cannot expand the limits of his understanding to take in this new reality—at least at first. Then, Jesus appears and invites Thomas to reach out and touch him. In that moment, Thomas recognizes Jesus and declares, in a dramatic affirmation of belief, “My Lord and my God!”
In this Easter season, let us remember Thomas. Let us recognize Thomas in ourselves. In our own struggle to stretch the limits of our own understanding. To take in the reality of the Resurrection: Jesus alive in us, in our lives.
Peace,
Deacon Sue Nebel+
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