A long time ago, in a place that’s near, but that seems so far away, an experience that left a lasting impression occurred. I was preparing to leave for college orientation and one of my aunts was at my family’s home visiting. She came into mine and my sister’s room as I was packing some clothes and we had a conversation. I don’t recall how long it lasted or even what we were talking about, but I do recall how it felt to have here there. She was so caring and genuinely interested in being present to me in those moments. I often think of that day with fondness and remember feeling so loved by her, both then, and every time it’s come to mind since then. There were pearls of wisdom, simply in her presence.
I’m not sure that I ever told her how much that time together meant to me, but I will always remember it, along with her hugs, as if embracing one with all her heart and soul—the very definition of Love.
In the second reading for the 7th Sunday of Easter (1 John 4:11-16), it is written:
“Beloved, if God so loved us, we also must love one another. No one has ever seen God. Yet, if we love one another, God remains in us, and his love is brought to perfection in us.”
Consider taking some time to reflect on the verses above and how they come into play in daily life including interactions with those who are known by you and those who are yet to be known by you (strangers). In what ways might you better cooperate with God in working to bring love to perfection in you as well as through you?
What does it mean to be productive? And how does that definition differ based upon the task or subject matter involved?
Oftentimes, productivity is judged based on things that can be measured or compared. However, the most impactful or most productive things in life are not necessarily widely valued by society, nor can they always be measured or necessarily seen.
In the Gospel for the fifth Sunday of Easter (John 15:1-8), Jesus says, “I am the vine, you are the branches. Whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit, because without me you can do nothing.” (verse 5). Jesus is providing an image that can be used to reflect on both the tangible and the non-tangible.
Think about personal interactions you have had over time and how they have impacted you. We all have experiences where what someone says or does, or doesn’t say or do, has affected us in one way or another. Where or what is the fruit of these experiences? What was in your heart at the time, and what’s happening now as you recall them?
Jesus says, “If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask for whatever you want and it will be done for you. By this is my Father glorified, that you bear much fruit and become my disciples.” (John 15:7-8).
Consider Jesus’s words in this Gospel as an invitation to contemplate how we, as human beings, treat, engage, and communicate with each other, and what comes of it. What fruit is being nurtured and growing out of the way we are with each other? How is love reflected? And what tweaks or changes might be appropriate so that the Way does not get lost along our way?
Moving forward, how might Jesus’s words better inform your thoughts, actions, and decisions? What is it that you desire? Spend some time praying with this and whatever insights are revealed.
The human heart is always drawn by love. – St. Catherine of Siena
Depending upon one’s experiences, certain words can bring to mind a particular image or situation. Hearing or seeing the word, “murmur,” many people might think of the human heart and the condition of a heart murmur, speaking in a low volume as in under one’s breath, or perhaps a hushed conversation between a number of people within a larger setting. Interestingly, in any of these cases, the murmur, or anything else that may be transpiring, can be of no significance, or the opposite. And, as always, the only way to know more certainly is by tuning in more closely.
While searching to discover what’s going on may seem pretty basic or obvious, human nature often leads us toward conjecture, murmuring amongst ourselves rather than seeking the source directly and looking for the answers or understanding there.
In the Gospel according to John, chapter 6, verses 41-51, the people are in disbelief, and maybe confused about Jesus’s statement that he is the bread of life that has come down to earth from heaven. Filled with questions, and likely doubt, with a limited knowledge of who Jesus really is, they are quietly speaking amongst themselves. They are looking for answers from each other, even though none of them understand what was said or what Jesus meant by it. What might this passage, and what follows from it, look like if instead of asking each other, the people asked Jesus directly about his statements, and took careful notice of his response together with his actions?
Moving forward to the way that Jesus responds to the hushed voices going on around him, regarding him, it is as if Jesus is simply saying, “Stop,” to the gossip and speculation. He does not enter into the grumbling. He does not succumb to it, and the questions the people were asking each other instead of engaging directly with Jesus, go unanswered, while Jesus continues to focus on Truth, and giving voice to it. After all, the fact of the matter is that more often than not, it really is as simple as continually asking Jesus for help in seeing something for what it is, saying, “Stop,” to nonsense, understanding and embracing what is of genuine importance, and listening, so as to recognize when and how to be moved.
The Jews murmured about Jesus because he said, “I am the bread that came down from heaven,” and they said, “Is this not Jesus, the son of Joseph? Do we not know his father and mother? Then how can he say, ‘I have come down from heaven’?” Jesus answered and said to them, “Stop murmuring among yourselves. No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draw him, and I will raise him on the last day. It is written in the prophets: They shall all be taught by God. Everyone who listens to my Father and learns from him comes to me. Not that anyone has seen the Father except the one who is from God; he has seen the Father. Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever believes has eternal life. I am the bread of life. Your ancestors ate the manna in the desert, but they died; this is the bread that comes down from heaven so that one may eat it and not die. I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world.”
With all the volatility throughout the world right now, it can be difficult to wade through differences of opinion and the debates, sometimes heated, that come from them. Socrates said, “True wisdom comes to each of us when we realize how little we understand about life, ourselves, and the world around us.”
Oftentimes, in situations that engender competing factions, the best way to proceed is by laying aside one’s own point of view, at least temporarily, and trying to understand the experience of others.
Earlier this week, I received an email that contained statistics that were not the most recent statistics available. However, beyond the numbers, the message contained some examples of social injustice in areas that I am not sure I had previously considered. What shined through loud and clear was that it can be easy to become isolated or insulated from the experience of others. More often than not, there is a greater tendency to try to find the place where one fits in, and then, to comfortably live and stay there. Inevitably, by doing so, diversity and openness become lost more easily, and learning lessens. The voices and the experience of others… those on the edges or completely outside of the place where we have come to reside, become invisible or simply “not my experience,” so they may be dismissed, without much consideration.
This is the crux of the matter… of many matters. When there is little or no room for consideration, or an unwillingness to separate from what is comfortable, preferred, presumed, or seen as “known,” there is also usually little or no room for true dialogue or change—something more than superficial. Without open and honest listening and sharing, without coming together, how can we possibly come to understand?
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with all of you. – 2 Cor 13:13
As I gazed out across the quiet, mostly still water, there were a number of Canadian geese slowly making their way to the other side of the pond. They appeared to be in a sort of formation. It was one that could be labeled more interesting or captivating than their typical landside behavior and the annoyance caused by the parting “gifts” they often leave behind.
Although the geese were not in a straight line, they were all pretty much in a row. They were moving together, eventually all in the same direction and with a similar, if not the same, purpose. They were united, even if only by the species to which they belong; not all that different than any other species.
Oftentimes amidst disagreement or unrest, it may seem that all we have is the knowledge that we are the same, but also simultaneously not the same.
When at an impasse, it can be tempting to throw up one’s hands and not only walk away, but also to stay away. While sometimes, this is necessary and perhaps truly for the best, Jesus cautions his disciples not to do so too easily or too quickly. For even in weighing the pros and cons and allowing them to inform and guide decisions, the heart—in all its depth, and holding knowledge of a different kind—can be left behind or squeezed out.
Jesus said to his disciples:
“If your brother sins against you,
go and tell him his fault between you and him alone.
If he listens to you, you have won over your brother.
If he does not listen,
take one or two others along with you,
so that ‘every fact may be established
on the testimony of two or three witnesses.’
If he refuses to listen to them, tell the church.
If he refuses to listen even to the church,
then treat him as you would a Gentile or a tax collector.
Amen, I say to you,
whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven,
and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
Again, amen, I say to you,
if two of you agree on earth
about anything for which they are to pray,
it shall be granted to them by my heavenly Father.
For where two or three are gathered together in my name,
there am I in the midst of them.” – Matthew 18:15-20
We are to help each other to stay true… to stay in formation—connected—so that we do not get lost and so that the equation does not leave cunning intellect and surface emotions to dominate and direct rather than Wisdom.
In the final analysis, I believe in man, in spite of men – Elie Wiesel
I recall summer days during childhood when my father would attach sprinklers to a few hoses spread around the yard to water the grass. Then, every so often, he would move each sprinkler to a new location to ensure each section of grass was watered. I remember looking forward to “sprinkler days” back then especially on long, hot, humid days.
My siblings and I used to run through the lines of water at times to cool off, or around them at other times to avoid getting wet. Still other times, we would pick the sprinkler up when least expected, aiming it at the others, whether wanted or not, for a surprise cooling off. And then, every so often, one of us might slip away to remove the sprinkler head, replace it with the “super spray” nozzle and proceed to provide a more powerful cooling off experience for the others. Overall, we had a lot of fun, and admittedly some “disagreements” too.
There were three sprinklers altogether. Two of them were straight and about a foot long with several holes along the length. The sprayer would move from one side to the other, from 0 to 180 degrees, shooting lines of water along the way. Then there was the “wacky” sprinkler. It had three prongs that came out from the center which would rotate around, 360 degrees, as it sprayed a line of water sideways from each prong. The circular motion caused the lines of water to be wilder, and perhaps crazier, than the lines of water that the other sprinklers emitted. Despite its flair and pizzazz, the “wacky” sprinkler was the least desirable for cooling off. However, at the end of the day, both types of sprinklers accomplished their job, watering the grass sufficiently. And, while the “super spray” nozzle was great for sibling sneak attacks, it was less effective and not considered as an option for watering the lawn.
With events that have transpired across the world this past week, and what seems a continuous growing trend of intolerance and inability to dialogue in dignified and respectful ways, somehow I found myself thinking of the “wacky” sprinkler spraying water in every which way. Yes, it was wild and crazy, but it still had a purpose and value so we tolerated it and used it as it could be used. Then there was the “super spray” nozzle with its harsh and often cold rush of water, but even that, if used properly could be used to water the lawn.
There are many happenings throughout the world that can be upsetting and downright improper. Sometimes, it can be easy to become enflamed by what we cannot comprehend and by what seems “way out there” to us. It can be tempting to join the frenzy or to turn away and refrain from any kind of engagement. Somewhere in between, there are answers and there is common ground. Somewhere there is the fountain, the spring… the Source that provides life rather than strife. It is up to each of us to seek it and to work toward it, so that we may come together rather than be torn apart.
There is something special about being beachside early evening before the sun takes leave of the day. Oftentimes, as the day time masses thin out and before the night time crowd heads into full swing, there is a lull… a window through which one can see and hear more clearly the ocean. At this time, one can also see his/her full shadow or spread belongings freely where just a short while earlier space was rather sparse.
Sitting there looking and listening to the waves breaking and feeling a gentle breeze can be very relaxing, almost entrancing. While this may be an experience one could label as being good, it can also be limiting. It can turn from being a respite into being an escape. And while we all need a break from time to time, it is also important to consider one’s trends and tendencies, and to where they lead.
A few weeks ago, there was a re-run of a Simon & Garfunkel concert that was held in New York’s Central Park in 1981. It was hard to believe that this event had taken place 36 years ago and featured songs that were even older than that. One of the things that I found particularly striking, as I listened, was the phrase, “Silence like a cancer grows.”
Silence can often be the great pretender. It may seem safe and masquerade as the voice of reason or the way of peace, when it may actually be a dangerous route to travel. While silence and the path of least resistance may be appealing, in the long haul, they can quietly and subtly cause destruction and promote decay and indifference. More often than not, when all is quiet, all is not well.
Sometimes we can be drawn into a false sense of well-being and enticed toward the easy way out. We can be lured toward that which, on the surface, might be perceived as “good.” We can also be tempted to gloss over or to look the other way… cajoled into making no waves or steering clear of anything that might possibly lead to confrontation or dissent.
The Bible, in both the Old Testament and the New Testament, contains a plethora of verses with the exact words, or something very similar to, “do not be afraid.” Many times, whether we recognize it or not, fear is at the root of silence. Many times we can be lulled into sitting quietly, peacefully looking and listening to the breaking waves, not even realizing that our backs are turned to the Light.
Jesus said:
“Fear no one.
Nothing is concealed that will not be revealed,
nor secret that will not be known.
What I say to you in the darkness, speak in the light;
what you hear whispered, proclaim on the housetops.
And do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul;
rather, be afraid of the one who can destroy
both soul and body in Gehenna.” – Matthew 10:26-28
During the winter months, some animals hibernate, some migrate, and others adapt. All animals, whether of the hibernating, migrating or adapting kind, need to prepare for the change of seasons. What remains constant year-round, though, is the need for energy. Even the hibernating animals need energy throughout their deep sleep.
On what is a very cold day, on which a deep sleep can be very tempting, as I catch up with news from throughout the week, I find myself pondering the things that are written (and spoken). From where do these things come? What is the source?
It is written… (Luke 4).
As I reflect on the happenings of the week, I wonder, “Written by whom?” and “For what purpose?” Not only that but, “What led to ‘it’ being written?” There are so many questions one could ask and so many possible ways of answering them, but at the end of the day, the most important questions seem to be, “Who is being served by the questions? Who is being served by the answers? How is that which is written being used?”
Filled with the Holy Spirit, Jesus returned from the Jordan
and was led by the Spirit into the desert for forty days,
to be tempted by the devil.
He ate nothing during those days,
and when they were over he was hungry.
The devil said to him,
“If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread.”
Jesus answered him,
“It is written, One does not live on bread alone.”
Then he took him up and showed him
all the kingdoms of the world in a single instant.
The devil said to him,
“I shall give to you all this power and glory;
for it has been handed over to me,
and I may give it to whomever I wish.
All this will be yours, if you worship me.”
Jesus said to him in reply,
“It is written: You shall worship the Lord, your God,
and him alone shall you serve.”
Then he led him to Jerusalem,
made him stand on the parapet of the temple, and said to him,
“If you are the Son of God,
throw yourself down from here, for it is written: He will command his angels concerning you, to guard you,
and: With their hands they will support you,
lest you dash your foot against a stone.”
Jesus said to him in reply,
“It also says, You shall not put the Lord, your God, to the test.”
When the devil had finished every temptation,
he departed from him for a time. – Luke 4:1-13
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