Becoming aware

What Is Your Opinion…

“The proof is in the pudding” is a familiar phrase when looking at or trying to assess a situation. Originally, this proverb was “The proof of the pudding is in the eating,” but over time words were dropped and it morphed into “The proof is in the pudding.” Either way, the intended meaning is that judgment is best based on one’s experience. This is not to say that the experiences of others should not matter, but rather that one’s own experience is a necessary component.

In the Gospel for the Twenty-sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time (Matthew 21:28-32), Jesus tells the story of two sons and their response to their father’s request, “go out and work in the vineyard today.” There is the son who says yes, but then does not follow through and the son who says no, but then changes his mind and does as his father requests. One of the ways we can look at this parable is to see it as a reminder that it’s never too late to change one’s mind or attitude and for one’s actions to follow suit. Going a little deeper, there is always an invitation to pay closer attention to our words and actions, and what goes into them. Oftentimes, we can miss or ignore God’s will, but with openness to something different than our initial response, we can overcome missteps.

Thinking about the two sons, in addition to sharing a father who made the same request of each of them, they are in the same place, at the same time. They share history and their words and actions, their choices, are adding or detracting in the present. Part of what they have in common is that they share space and, whether knowingly or not, they are helping to shape the direction of the future.

What is influencing their choices? And how does time affect them and their ability to be in tune with their internal influences?

In times where opinions are more widely and loudly expressed than ever and thrown out into the universe by all kinds of media, it can be easy to defer taking time to consider all things and to form fully informed personal opinions. However, fully informed personal opinions that include some sort of firsthand experience are perhaps more important than ever. And while impatience seems to rule the world and jam-packed schedules can make it more and more tempting to move through daily life on sound bites and to rush to judgment on fragmented information, that often opens the doors for outside influences to hold more weight than they deserve, and for one to be distracted and swayed in a direction that is less than.

To fully taste or experience the pudding requires taking time to ingest, and digest, it. It’s interesting that Jesus starts the parable of the two sons with the question, “What is your opinion?” What’s it like to consider Jesus as wanting to know your opinion? Not just in a surface kind of way, but deep down and in the nitty-gritty details.

How are you inspired by the thought that Jesus values both you and your fellow human beings in terms of thoughts, feelings, and experiences? In what ways do you ask Jesus for his opinion?

Jesus said to the chief priests and elders of the people:
“What is your opinion?
A man had two sons.
He came to the first and said,
‘Son, go out and work in the vineyard today.’
He said in reply, ‘I will not,’
but afterwards changed his mind and went.
The man came to the other son and gave the same order.
He said in reply, ‘Yes, sir, ‘but did not go.
Which of the two did his father’s will?”
They answered, “The first.”
Jesus said to them, “Amen, I say to you,
tax collectors and prostitutes
are entering the kingdom of God before you.
When John came to you in the way of righteousness,
you did not believe him;
but tax collectors and prostitutes did.
Yet even when you saw that,
you did not later change your minds and believe him.” – Matthew 21:28-32

First Things First…

The readings for the Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time offer an opportunity to consider priorities and the values that elevate some over others.

In the first reading (1 Kgs 3:5, 7-12), we can see that Solomon acknowledges that although he is king, he needs God’s grace if his desire to rule wisely is going to be fulfilled. He knows that to do right requires more than his own knowledge, perception, and opinions. He understands that he needs to be able to have a sense of more than what he can surmise, and this is why he asks God for a discerning heart (and mind) when he could’ve asked for anything else at all. His top priority is not solely for himself, but for the benefit of all whom he serves as king.

In the psalm, we read the response, “Lord, I love your commands.” (Ps 119:97a). Again, we see reliance on God, as well as value and priority placed on God’s words as providing what is necessary. The psalmist tells of how God’s words are precious, carrying kindness and compassion, and expresses a desire to honor God’s words by living them (“For in all your precepts I go forward; every false way I hate” – Ps 119:128). Then the psalmist says, “The revelation of your words sheds light, gives understanding to the simple.” (Ps 119:130). Again, we see evidence of fulfillment of a desire for truth and understanding as well as a continued desire to be led by God. It’s important to remember that the psalmist has experienced the grace of God directly, just like Solomon. It is in the words of God through intimate, personal exchanges that Solomon and the psalmist come to know in a particular moment what is good and right and wise in God’s eyes.

When we read further, in the second reading, St. Paul stresses relationship with God. In essence, he is saying that when priorities and values are centered in and through God, we become like the Love who created us.

“We know that all things work for good for those who love God,
who are called according to his purpose.
For those he foreknew he also predestined
to be conformed to the image of his Son,
so that he might be the firstborn
among many brothers and sisters.
And those he predestined he also called;
and those he called he also justified;
and those he justified he also glorified.” – Rom 8:28-30

This brings us to the Gospel reading (Mt 13:44-52) and an invitation to prayer and reflection on priorities and values.

Jesus said to his disciples:
“The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure buried in a field,
which a person finds and hides again,
and out of joy goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.
Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant
searching for fine pearls.
When he finds a pearl of great price,
he goes and sells all that he has and buys it.
Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net thrown into the sea,
which collects fish of every kind.
When it is full they haul it ashore
and sit down to put what is good into buckets.
What is bad they throw away.
Thus it will be at the end of the age.
The angels will go out and separate the wicked from the righteous
and throw them into the fiery furnace,
where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.

“Do you understand all these things?”
They answered, “Yes.”
And he replied,
“Then every scribe who has been instructed in the kingdom of heaven
is like the head of a household
who brings from his storeroom both the new and the old.” – Mt 13:44-52

The word of God is the revelation of God, and through our graced experiences, we participate in the living word of God. Take some time to pray and reflect on your life through the lens of being a participant in the word of God? What comes to mind? What feelings arise from within? And in what ways do you feel inspired by the word of God, yesterday… today… as you think about the future?

Signs and Wonder…

Approaching the intersection of two busy streets, cones and temporary stop signs come into view, and then fallen lines disrupting service to the traffic lights that normally direct cars safely from one side to the other. It’s interesting how in driving or using other forms of transportation, one not only learns to look for signs, but also to be guided by them in reaching destinations safely.

Similarly, as one journeys through life, guidance comes, and prayers are often answered through signs, coming in various forms of interaction with God and others. Sometimes, in both times of light and times of darkness, whether personal or societal, it can be easy to miss signs, lose sight of, or take for granted, experiences of grace. The scripture readings throughout Advent and Christmas, remind us of God’s faithfulness and guiding presence, especially to Mary and Joseph, leading up to and beyond the birth of Jesus.

Through allowing or inviting God to be the source of their path and the sustenance of their hope, Mary and Joseph were not only drawn into their God-given purpose, but they were also led all the way through to its fulfillment… teaching us that the path can be difficult, the road uncertain, but that there can also be great joy when we embrace the spirit of Christmas—a heart full of light, and hope in the Lord.

All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God. – Psalm 98:3c

A Christmas Prayer: Lord, help me to remember your faithfulness, and to be open to the signs and guidance you place along my path. Turn my gaze always toward you, Emmanuel, as the source of all hope, that my heart may faithfully embrace the spirit of Christmas all year long, leading me to notice and appreciate the beauty and goodness of all creation, and the heart and soul of those I encounter each day.

Which Way…

With the pitter patter of rain and dense mist earlier in the week, it became more and more challenging to see clearly. However, once the rain slowed, visibility improved ever so slightly. Then, as we continued, we exited an area that was overcome with fog. Once more our vision was restored more fully, until that is, we came across the next pocket of thick mist and its partnering wave of rain. Overall, in slowing down, the weather, although an obstacle, did not pull us off course or lead us astray. Remaining focused on the road, we found our way, and eventually, arrived safely.    

In the Gospel reading for the Thirty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time (Luke 19:1-10 below), we read that Zacchaeus was searching for Jesus, “but he could not see him because of the crowd.” The crowd, perhaps like waves of rain and dense like fog, was an obstacle, yet Zacchaeus remained focused on his desire “to see who Jesus was.” Allowing himself to be led by the longing of his heart, Zacchaeus does not get lost in the crowd or become discouraged. Nor does he push through the crowd or use whatever means he may have had as a wealthy tax collector. Rather, Zacchaeus seems to abandon any such notions and instead, he lets go of his status as he looks to overcome the limitations of his physical stature and climbs a tree to get a glimpse of Jesus.

Next, comes perhaps the most important part of this passage. What does Zacchaeus do in response to his encounter with Jesus? He owns his previous actions and changes his ways. He vows to repair any damage he has done and to adjust how he operates. He promises to extend not only his pocketbook, but also his heart to others, especially those in need. He does not deny the truth, but instead rightfully embraces it.

The Lord is near to all who call upon him, to all who call upon him in truth. – Psalm 145:18

Zacchaeus truly wanted to know who Jesus was and was willing to let go of all he had to find out. Not only that, but once he experienced Jesus for himself, he was also willing to let go of all he had known. In joining the way of Jesus, he was not going for something that would lead him to become less tolerant or accepting or disparage and drag him and others down. The changes Zacchaeus makes are ones aligned with honesty, integrity, respect, and dignity. These are all hallmarks of life-giving choices; ones that honor and praise the beauty of God and all God’s creation.

So, while the rain falls where it may, and the fog may seem endless as if extending well beyond the horizon, as for the Way, it remains clear as can be, if only one is open to it.        

At that time, Jesus came to Jericho and intended to pass through the town.
Now a man there named Zacchaeus,
who was a chief tax collector and also a wealthy man,
was seeking to see who Jesus was;
but he could not see him because of the crowd,
for he was short in stature.
So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore tree in order to see Jesus,
who was about to pass that way.
When he reached the place, Jesus looked up and said,
“Zacchaeus, come down quickly,
for today I must stay at your house.”
And he came down quickly and received him with joy.
When they all saw this, they began to grumble, saying,
“He has gone to stay at the house of a sinner.”
But Zacchaeus stood there and said to the Lord,
“Behold, half of my possessions, Lord, I shall give to the poor,
and if I have extorted anything from anyone
I shall repay it four times over.”
And Jesus said to him,
“Today salvation has come to this house
because this man too is a descendant of Abraham.
For the Son of Man has come to seek
and to save what was lost.” – Luke 19:1-10

Humility: Against the Grain or With It…

It’s said that only 10% of the energy received from the sun by a plant or tree (a.k.a. a producer) is transferred to the consumer of that plant or tree, and as one moves up the chain, although 10% keeps getting passed along to the next level, the amount of energy becomes less. This means that the further away from the original source one is, more consumption or effort is necessary to achieve or capture the same amount of energy that the plant or tree receives as a producer. As for the 90% of the energy that is retained by producers, it is used for growth and reproduction as well as some of it simply escaping as heat into the atmosphere.

It’s intriguing to think about only 1/10th of the energy received from the original source, the sun, as being passed along from the 1st level to the next, and only 1/10th of that lesser amount going to the next level, and so on. Yet, despite this comparatively small portion shrinking at each level, life not only goes on, but also evolves. It calls to mind last Sunday’s Gospel when in response to the disciples asking for an increase in faith Jesus said, “If you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you would say to [this] mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you.” (Lk 17:5-6). It also leads to this Sunday’s readings and a key component of faith.

Although the way of the world might urge one and all to seek what is big, bold, or grand, and to make it known, the readings for the Twenty-eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time (shown below) offer an opportunity to contemplate humility. In the first reading (2 Kgs 5:14-17), Naaman, a successful and celebrated commander of King Aram’s army, is cured of leprosy by submerging himself in the Jordan seven times at the direction of the prophet Elisha. Yet, it is only by taking time to go back and look behind the scenes at the prior verses of this passage, that one can see or be reminded that it was at the urging of servants that Naaman made his way to Elisha, eventually overcame his notions and resistance to listening to the prophet, entered the waters of the Jordan, and was healed. Had Naaman dismissed his servants’ perspectives without consideration and continued to be bound up by his judgments, preferences, and ideas about the unexpected and less than grand actions Elisha instructed him to take, the healing would not have been possible. It’s important to consider humility as requiring an openness to considerations that originate and/or extend beyond oneself.

Turning to the second reading (2 Tim 2:8-13), St. Paul continues to exhort and encourage Timothy, to draw strength from the truth, keeping and carrying on the faith. While St. Paul is recognized for the tendency to be long on words, his point is always focused on the glory of God and eternal life. In this passage he writes, “Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, a descendant of David: such is my gospel, for which I am suffering, even to the point of chains, like a criminal. But the word of God is not chained.” (v. 8-9). What’s it like to reflect on this vision or belief that, even though forces that seek to hold back, limit, or impose restraints on God-given freedom exist, the word of God, and therefore God, remains unchained and is not held back. How do you invite or allow the ever-unchained God into your times of challenge to comfort, sustain, and empower you? What’s it like to embrace or re-embrace, “I can’t, but God can,” and experience humility in this way?

Now, moving on to the Gospel According to Luke (Lk 17:11-19), we come back to a passage involving not 1, but 10 lepers. Jesus meets them as he is making his way to Jerusalem. They all call out to Jesus, asking for pity and they all listen when he tells them, “Go show yourselves to the priests.” (v. 14). However, only one of them becomes aware that he has been healed and goes back to Jesus to express gratitude. Jesus asks where the other 9 who were cleansed are, and goes on to tell the leper who returned, and whom he identifies as a foreigner, that his faith has saved him.” As you think about this passage, what is your first thought or feeling? What strikes you most?

It can be effortless to jump to a place of judgment either toward the one who returned or the 9 who did not. What happens though when you look again and shift your attention in this passage solely to Jesus? As you continue to reflect on this week’s readings, notice where you tend to look for or to celebrate examples of humility in your life? Share your observations with Jesus?

Humility beckons us away from focusing too much on thinking about who or where we are and draws us toward truth and unity. We are called not to shrink, but to open our hearts to all, to seek God (the Source) in all things, remembering to strive to embrace what is eternal while living within the limited reality of this world. Humility is not only letting God be God, but also asking for the grace to relinquish what we can, trust that we are more than what’s measurable, and that what’s left is and will be enough.

First Reading:
Naaman went down and plunged into the Jordan seven times
at the word of Elisha, the man of God.
His flesh became again like the flesh of a little child,
and he was clean of his leprosy.

Naaman returned with his whole retinue to the man of God.
On his arrival he stood before Elisha and said,
“Now I know that there is no God in all the earth,
except in Israel.
Please accept a gift from your servant.”

Elisha replied, “As the Lord lives whom I serve, I will not take it;”
and despite Naaman’s urging, he still refused.
Naaman said: “If you will not accept,
please let me, your servant, have two mule-loads of earth,
for I will no longer offer holocaust or sacrifice
to any other god except to the Lord.” – 2 Kgs 5:14-17

Second Reading:
Beloved:
Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, a descendant of David:
such is my gospel, for which I am suffering,
even to the point of chains, like a criminal.
But the word of God is not chained.
Therefore, I bear with everything for the sake of those who are chosen,
so that they too may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus,
together with eternal glory.
This saying is trustworthy:
If we have died with him
we shall also live with him;
if we persevere
we shall also reign with him.
But if we deny him
he will deny us.
If we are unfaithful
he remains faithful,
for he cannot deny himself. – 2 Tm 2:8-13

Gospel Reading:
As Jesus continued his journey to Jerusalem,
he traveled through Samaria and Galilee.
As he was entering a village, ten lepers met him.
They stood at a distance from him and raised their voices, saying,
“Jesus, Master! Have pity on us!”
And when he saw them, he said,
“Go show yourselves to the priests.”
As they were going they were cleansed.
And one of them, realizing he had been healed,
returned, glorifying God in a loud voice;
and he fell at the feet of Jesus and thanked him.
He was a Samaritan.
Jesus said in reply,
“Ten were cleansed, were they not?
Where are the other nine?
Has none but this foreigner returned to give thanks to God?”
Then he said to him, “Stand up and go;
your faith has saved you.” – Lk 17:11-19

Light Along the Way…

Heading out to somewhere that was new to us, we carried an excitement along the way. After quite some time on foot and feeling a little weary, we unexpectedly came to a tunnel. We had no idea how long it was or what was involved in getting through it. On top of that, all we could see was that it was pitch black inside. However, knowing it was part of the route and using one of the tools we had, a cellphone flashlight, we proceeded step by step, shining the light so we could see, and making our way through each curve until eventually we saw light coming from the opening on the other side.

However, if we didn’t have a flashlight, or a tool, to help us navigate through the darkness, I’m not sure we would have gone through that tunnel. Instead, we probably would’ve found a way around it or turned around and headed back to where we began. And, while finding a way around an obstacle or avoiding it, may be harmless in some cases, in others it is not. Sometimes the measures one may take to circumnavigate or escape a situation, may also lead to compromising, in one way or another, the well-being of oneself and/or others.  

Considering the readings for the Twenty-seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time, they provide advice, wisdom, and encouragement to strive to serve God, not man, and to trust in God’s plan and in God’s ways. This is important no matter the time or place, but most especially in troubling or challenging times and environments.

If the knowledge that there is light at the end of the tunnel, and a way to make it through darkness, was enough to sustain courage, integrity, and faithfulness on its own, humankind would not fall prey to the shortcuts, traps, and tricks along the way. Faith is the tool that holds the keys and keeps one and all together; hearts, souls, and minds. It enables one “to be more than,” infused with grace, driven by truth and trust to face challenges, and find and follow the way through darkness; oftentimes leading one to discover a depth they never knew existed within them.  

Take some time to read the Scripture passages from the Twenty-seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time (Hab 1:2-3; 2:2-4, Ps 95:1-2, 6-7, 8-9, 2 Tm 1:6-8, 13-14, and Lk 17:5-10 – shown below). Contemplate them in relation to today’s world. What are your concerns? What are some of the phrases or images that inspire you? Allow your heart and mind to draw together. Invite Jesus into the process and see what happens.

How long, O Lord?  I cry for help
but you do not listen!
I cry out to you, “Violence!”
but you do not intervene.
Why do you let me see ruin;
why must I look at misery?
Destruction and violence are before me;
there is strife, and clamorous discord.
Then the Lord answered me and said:
Write down the vision clearly upon the tablets,
so that one can read it readily.
For the vision still has its time,
presses on to fulfillment, and will not disappoint;
if it delays, wait for it,
it will surely come, it will not be late.
The rash one has no integrity;
but the just one, because of his faith, shall live. – Hab 1:2-3; 2:2-4

R. If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.
Come, let us sing joyfully to the Lord;
let us acclaim the Rock of our salvation.
Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving;
let us joyfully sing psalms to him.
R. If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.
Come, let us bow down in worship;
let us kneel before the Lord who made us.
For he is our God,
and we are the people he shepherds, the flock he guides.
R. If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.
Oh, that today you would hear his voice:
“Harden not your hearts as at Meribah,
as in the day of Massah in the desert,
Where your fathers tempted me;
they tested me though they had seen my works.”
R. If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.
– Ps 95:1-2, 6-7, 8-9

Beloved:
I remind you, to stir into flame
the gift of God that you have through the imposition of my hands.
For God did not give us a spirit of cowardice
but rather of power and love and self-control.
So do not be ashamed of your testimony to our Lord,
nor of me, a prisoner for his sake;
but bear your share of hardship for the gospel
with the strength that comes from God.
Take as your norm the sound words that you heard from me,
in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.
Guard this rich trust with the help of the Holy Spirit
that dwells within us. – 2 Tm 1:6-8, 13-14

The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith.”
The Lord replied,
“If you have faith the size of a mustard seed,
you would say to this mulberry tree,
‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you.
“Who among you would say to your servant
who has just come in from plowing or tending sheep in the field,
‘Come here immediately and take your place at table’?
Would he not rather say to him,
‘Prepare something for me to eat.
Put on your apron and wait on me while I eat and drink.
You may eat and drink when I am finished’?
Is he grateful to that servant because he did what was commanded?
So should it be with you.
When you have done all you have been commanded,
say, ‘We are unprofitable servants;
we have done what we were obliged to do.'” – Lk 17:5-10

Vantage…

Facing the ocean from the walk above or the sand upon the beach it’s easy to stay in place and feel content, and to do so without anywhere near the effort taken to get there. Not only that, but also to slide toward becoming removed from reality—all the lives that exist in various states on and all around the beach and the city or town that encompasses it—and the opportunity to take a life-giving part in it. It’s interesting to think about how swiftly one can be transported to “a world without cares,” with the sound of each wave that breaks upon the shore or the refreshing feeling as each wave washes over everything in its path.

Now, what’s it like to imagine that perhaps this (being caught up in the surroundings) is what it was like for the rich man in the Gospel according to Luke (chapter 16, verses 19-31), before he died?

When we read the Gospel for the Twenty-sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time (below), we learn that a poor man named Lazarus was a constant fixture at the rich man’s door. However, we are not told anything about an interaction(s) between the rich man and Lazarus. This is likely because what matters more than whether the rich man was unaware of, ignored, was indifferent to, or held disdain for Lazarus, is the distance that his worldly aims and wealth put between his ability to help and his desire to do so.

While the rich man was alive, he experienced what is sold in today’s world as “the good life.” However, it led him to becoming insulated from a complete picture of reality (not everyone has it good). And without that, it’s understandable that it would be harder for him not only to choose more wisely, but also to recognize that his openness to, and desire for living in ways that are generative had become diminished.

Neither the rich man nor his brothers could learn from the past (Moses and the prophets), not because the knowledge and wisdom wasn’t available to them, but because their hearts were divided. This—the chasm—is what prevented them from receiving the grace they really needed and making choices for the greater good.

May we be more aware and set our hearts on God to strip away the falsehoods that lead us astray, and to close the chasm that pulls us apart.

Jesus said to the Pharisees:
“There was a rich man who dressed in purple garments and fine linen
and dined sumptuously each day.
And lying at his door was a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores,
who would gladly have eaten his fill of the scraps
that fell from the rich man’s table.
Dogs even used to come and lick his sores.
When the poor man died,
he was carried away by angels to the bosom of Abraham.
The rich man also died and was buried,
and from the netherworld, where he was in torment,
he raised his eyes and saw Abraham far off
and Lazarus at his side.
And he cried out, ‘Father Abraham, have pity on me.
Send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue,
for I am suffering torment in these flames.’
Abraham replied,
‘My child, remember that you received
what was good during your lifetime
while Lazarus likewise received what was bad;
but now he is comforted here, whereas you are tormented.
Moreover, between us and you a great chasm is established
to prevent anyone from crossing who might wish to go
from our side to yours or from your side to ours.’
He said, ‘Then I beg you, father,
send him to my father’s house, for I have five brothers,
so that he may warn them,
lest they too come to this place of torment.’
But Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the prophets.
Let them listen to them.’
He said, ‘Oh no, father Abraham,
but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’
Then Abraham said, ‘If they will not listen to Moses and the prophets,
neither will they be persuaded if someone should rise from the dead.'” – Luke 16:19-31

In Plain Sight…

Waiting for the show to begin,
But maybe it never stopped.
Still, wondering what the next scene may hold,
And noticing how the stage is set.
Then, up high and to the right,
Along the border,
Sidelined and on the corner,
A character, in all honesty,
Sitting there, also waiting,
To tell the story,
And to make it known,
Whether funny or not,
The truth behind and around,
As well as within it.

God made Truth with many doors to welcome every believer who knocks on them. – Kahlil Gibran

In the Fabric…

It’s challenging, to say the least, to live in a world where tangible assets not only overwhelmingly drive motivation, but also speculation and modes of operation. And even more than that, status and materialism push humankind toward pursuits that are often so far removed from the stirrings and movements of grace that seek to connect and strengthen hearts.

St. Ignatius of Loyola wrote, “For it is not knowing much, but realizing and relishing things interiorly, that contents and satisfies the soul.” Yet, as suggested in Ecclesiastes, the human condition is such that we continue to toil under the sun to know more, do more, win more, and so on. But for what kind of gain? and at what cost?

Here is one who has labored with wisdom and knowledge and skill,
and yet to another who has not labored over it,
he must leave property.
This also is vanity and a great misfortune.
For what profit comes to man from all the toil and anxiety of heart
with which he has labored under the sun?
All his days sorrow and grief are his occupation;
even at night his mind is not at rest.
This also is vanity. – Ecc 2:21-23

Looking around, or tuning in to the pulse of society, one can only wonder, with that beat, what kind of “more” will ever be enough? And in the process, what happens to the hearts involved? There’s ebb and flow of course, but in what ways and to what degree do they drift? And at what point does the unfamiliar become all too familiar?

Turning to Psalm 95, the psalmist writes, “If today you hear God’s voice, harden not your hearts.” Before that, a call to turn back to the One who knows.

Teach us to number our days aright,
that we may gain wisdom of heart. – Ps 90:12

Remember, ask and you shall receive. However, as always, there’s choice in how one responds.

St. Paul urges us forward, let go of that which binds one to the earth and drags one down. Instead, be grounded to, as well as through, that which is elevated and fulfilling in a far greater way.

If then you were raised with Christ, seek what is above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.
Think of what is above, not of what is on earth. – Col 3:1-2

Be true… be not only baptized into Christ, but also put on Christ. Think about it. How does the heart and mind of Christ infuse your soul? How does it influence choices as you face challenges and navigate this world?

In the Gospel according to Luke (chapter 12:13-21), Jesus tells the parable of the rich man who had such a surplus at harvest that he replaced his barns with even bigger ones so he could essentially rest on his laurels and live off all that he had store up. While this parable can lead one to reflect on possessions and sharing or helping others from what one has, it can also be a catalyst to considering more closely how one’s pursuits affect the fabric of one’s being. Aside from the tangible, from what has one’s heart moved away? To what has one’s heart moved toward? And most importantly, where is God in all of that?

Beyond the Cover…

Spending the better part of the week surrounded by a plethora of books and various other media, it’s interesting to think about the variety of characteristics held within, as well as characters passing through, a public library.

Looking at the rows upon rows of books that are all around, it’s hard not to be fascinated by the fact that there’s always more to learn. This is not as in a conquest, but rather as in an opportunity, if one is open to it. And even more than that, no matter how vast, neatly ordered, and organized the books and other media may be, the contents of them serve everyone best, only when contemplated and taken into consideration with the range of human experience and love, and the knowledge it imparts into one’s heart.

Frequently viewed as a destination for those searching knowledge, know-how, a place to work, or a group of one sort or another, the library is also a place for those seeking shelter from outside. However, regardless of the time of day or reason for entering, when the library is open, none are turned away. Instead, they are welcome to come in as they are, and become a unique part of the inviting, peaceful environment. Imagine that in a place full of books!

Sometimes we think we know, but until we seek to look beyond the distortions, we honestly cannot.