Discipleship

Receive the Light…

After completing a loop around the central portion of the park, we chose to bear right, stepping off the smoother cement walkways and onto the leaf covered dirt pathways. As we continued moving forward, venturing further along the way, we came across an evergreen tree, nestled between the ones that were bare. Its branches were decorated with a sprinkling of colorful, shiny ornaments. A pleasant surprise, making us glad we had stepped in that direction, going forth another way, different than what we first intended.

OChristmasTree

In a world filled with so many choices, what a blessing that no matter which path one might choose or be led unto, there is often something bright to be discovered, and always, there is the Light of God. It shines in each moment of each day… whether from above through signs of wonder… from within through hopes and dreams, and all that one may envision… or from the words, actions, and examples of others.

However, in the midst of Light, shining since the beginning of time, how dark the world must have seemed, when Mary and Joseph were turned away, struggling to find a place to birth their child. And, how dark the world must have seemed when Joseph and Mary fled Bethlehem with the infant Jesus. How dark the world can seem at times today.

Yet, despite the darkness, nothing can stop the birth of Jesus and the fulfillment of God’s plan for each of us. Nothing can take away the Light one chooses to receive.

The grace of God shines forth with love and honor, opening doors, making space, creating outlets… building up goodness in so many ways.

God is light, and in him there is no darkness at all. – 1 John 1:5

Shine

Brothers and sisters:
Put on, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved,
heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience,
bearing with one another and forgiving one another,
if one has a grievance against another;
as the Lord has forgiven you, so must you also do.
And over all these put on love,
that is, the bond of perfection.
And let the peace of Christ control your hearts,
the peace into which you were also called in one body.
And be thankful.
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly,
as in all wisdom you teach and admonish one another,
singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs
with gratitude in your hearts to God.
And whatever you do, in word or in deed,
do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus,
giving thanks to God the Father through him.   – Colossians 3:12-17

Ahead of the Game…

It seems that often, so much emphasis is placed on coming up with strategies to conquer whatever may be deemed as standing in the way of the accomplishment of goals. Yet, sometimes… actually all the time, the best way to prepare, is not to outright plan, but rather to develop an approach that is True, then trust… believe… and cling to it, come what may.

Remember, you are not to prepare your defense beforehand,
for I myself shall give you a wisdom in speaking
that all your adversaries will be powerless to resist or refute.
You will even be handed over by parents, brothers, relatives, and friends,
and they will put some of you to death.
You will be hated by all because of my name,
but not a hair on your head will be destroyed.
By your perseverance you will secure your lives. – Luke 21:14-19   

SunOfJustice

But for you who revere my name, there will arise
the sun of justice with its healing rays. – Malachi 3:20A

An Homage…

Heading toward Boston, a favorite moment, for as long as I can recall, has been the moment at which the Rainbow Swash by Corita Kent, spread across a large gas tank, comes into view to the right of the highway. In my youth, I remember staring out the car window with anticipation, looking forward to seeing the splash of colors. I was too young to be aware of any controversy that may have swirled around those colors and that design.

Now much older, still, no matter the time of year… no matter the weather of a particular day, those stretches of color always seem so bright, jumping out as if for joy. So alive. Too alive to be held back or contained by a dreary backdrop of any kind.

Regardless of how something may or may not be intended, what springs up along the way can often be channeled into a source of guidance and inspiration for those following the Way. Frequently, controversy, unrest, and all that comes with it, can cause blindness to what is good, honorable, and true. Let go, and remember, nothing is beyond the grace of God.

“Love the moment and the energy of that moment will spread beyond all boundaries.” – Corita Kent

CoritaKentLove

God said: This is the sign of the covenant that I am making between me and you and every living creature with you for all ages to come: I set my bow in the clouds to serve as a sign of the covenant between me and the earth. – Genesis 9:12-13

The Ways of Wisdom…

Typically, the shortest route, or what seems like the most direct one, is a heavy favorite. Often making a straight line more appealing or desirable from the outset. In the Bible, straight paths are referred to on a number of occasions.

Over time, these examples of paths being made straight (or clear) by the grace of God, have often been reworded and turned into moral directives, such as “follow the straight and narrow.”

What is “the straight and narrow”? From whom does it come? And, why follow it?

Turning back to scripture, perhaps Wisdom is the straight and narrow (no nonsense) from God, calling and moving us, with a desire to make the way clear and lead us closer to God, by way of the Holy Spirit.

Who can know God’s counsel,
or who can conceive what the Lord intends?
For the deliberations of mortals are timid,
and unsure are our plans.
For the corruptible body burdens the soul
and the earthen shelter weighs down the mind that has many concerns.
And scarce do we guess the things on earth,
and what is within our grasp we find with difficulty;
but when things are in heaven, who can search them out?
Or who ever knew your counsel, except you had given wisdom
and sent your holy spirit from on high?
And thus were the paths of those on earth made straight,
And people learned what pleases you,
And were saved by Wisdom. – Wisdom 9:13-18

In the Gospel according to Luke, chapter 14, verses 25-33, there is wisdom in Jesus’ words about discipleship, however unconventional his initial words may be. When Jesus uses a form of the word, “hate,” in conjunction with one’s closest of relatives and oneself, certainly, this would be unexpected as well as shocking to those who were with him. So much for wisdom being refined or in a pretty package.

Next, Jesus explains further. Discipleship comes with trials and tribulations. Not only that, but it also requires an awareness and desire as well as a resolve to faithfulness and commitment to God, above all. Jesus calls us to be “all in.”

What does this mean from a practical standpoint? What does being “all in” look like? More often than not, it is what it feels like, more than what it looks like.

Wisdom, if heeded, carries one in various directions at various times (often unexpected or unconventional), while creating and sustaining a sense of following the straight and narrow. Just as God is infinite and ever-present, so are the ways of being a good and faithful disciple.

Wisdom

Great crowds were traveling with Jesus,
and he turned and addressed them,
“If anyone comes to me without hating his father and mother,
wife and children, brothers and sisters,
and even his own life,
he cannot be my disciple.
Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after me
cannot be my disciple.
Which of you wishing to construct a tower
does not first sit down and calculate the cost
to see if there is enough for its completion?
Otherwise, after laying the foundation
and finding himself unable to finish the work
the onlookers should laugh at him and say,
‘This one began to build but did not have the resources to finish.’
Or what king marching into battle would not first sit down
and decide whether with ten thousand troops
he can successfully oppose another king
advancing upon him with twenty thousand troops?
But if not, while he is still far away,
he will send a delegation to ask for peace terms.
In the same way,
anyone of you who does not renounce all his possessions
cannot be my disciple.” – Luke 14:25-33

If You’re Going to Get Swept Away…

The waves of high tide were breaking as they continued their forward rush, splashing onto and washing over the steps and nearby rocks. Once there, they would lose steam and reverse direction. As they flowed back toward the sea in a more gentle way, just beyond, the next wave waited its turn to rush in, like the ones before it.

To watch the waves dance, and to listen to their song can be quite calming. To ride them, exhilarating, joyful, or perhaps unnerving depending on the day, the circumstances, or the conditions. Nonetheless, it is in experiencing the waves that we come to know them or to have a sense about them, and in doing so, see something about ourselves in the process. (There is always more than one side in learning.)

Just like waves, in the back and forth of life, it can be easy to get thrown around, washed away, or swept up based on experiences that may not be our own. While it can be helpful, at times, to hear an “expert’s” reporting, instinct and inner wisdom, are vital too.  Hildegard of Bingen wrote, “We cannot live in a world that is not our own, in a world that is interpreted for us by others. An interpreted world is not a home. Part of the terror is to take back our own listening, to use our own voice, to see our own light.”

In chapter 16, verses 12-15, Jesus tells his disciples that they will be guided by the “Spirit of truth.” He does not say that they will be guided by Peter, John, or anyone else. This is not to say that they (as well as us) should not consult or listen to each other, but rather that the Wisdom of God seeks to make itself known to each individual, and that the Holy Spirit works to guide and lead us to what is wise—to what is truly best.

With so many voices in the world that look to grab and hold our attention, or to determine our choices, it is especially important to seek and to know, as well as to grow, the gifts given to each of us in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

IntoTheWater

Jesus said to his disciples:
“I have much more to tell you, but you cannot bear it now.
But when he comes, the Spirit of truth,
he will guide you to all truth.
He will not speak on his own,
but he will speak what he hears,
and will declare to you the things that are coming.
He will glorify me,
because he will take from what is mine and declare it to you.
Everything that the Father has is mine;
for this reason I told you that he will take from what is mine
and declare it to you.” – John 16:12-15

50…

The Apostles waited as the Lord had instructed them. Then, at the appointed time, the Holy Spirit came upon them.

Then there appeared to them tongues as of fire,
which parted and came to rest on each one of them.
And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit
and began to speak in different tongues,
as the Spirit enabled them to proclaim. – Acts 2:1-4

The Spirit empowered them to be more than they could be on their own. It propelled them onward in the glory of God, spurring them into action, and moving them toward the work entrusted to them. In order for this to happen though, the Apostles needed to be willing participants. That is, they needed to be open to receiving the gift of the Holy Spirit. They needed to allow themselves to be filled up. They also needed to remain open in order to allow themselves to be led in a way that the Spirit could flow through them… through their words and their actions.

On Pentecost, the Apostles received the Holy Spirit, a Divine gift that would help them to fulfill their purpose and accomplish their mission in life. For true Spirit, purpose, and mission, like all that is Divine in nature, its end is always communal, always intended to be shared for the good of one as well as the good of many.

Each day, we awake, the image of God, and as we go about the day, we encounter the Divine, whether it is in passing or for a more extended period. Each day, the Divine encounters us, whether we are open to receiving it or not. The opportunities are endless, and usually, in time, all the pieces are together and suddenly, they become aligned.

Lord, send out your Spirit, and renew the face of the earth. – Psalm 104:30

Fire

Egg Salad…

A few weeks ago, as I was helping to set up bowls with vinegar, water, and dye tablets to color some hard boiled eggs, my daughter and son were discussing decorating ideas and opinions. Every year since they were around preschool age, they have helped with decorating Easter eggs. They started out just scribbling with crayons or putting stickers on eggs that had already been dyed, but over time they moved toward dying the eggs as well.

Over the years, it has been interesting to watch how each of them approach and go about dying and decorating, and the interactions that occur in the process. And while they have access to all the same tools and resources on the table, when completed, although we still have the same dozen of eggs that we started with, each egg has come to life in a different way.

Earlier today, as I opened a carton of eggs, I recalled the colorful eggs of Easter. It called to mind how engaged my son and daughter are, as are most people, when they can express themselves and participate in a way that is meaningful to them while remaining true to the heart of their beliefs, values, and traditions.

Perhaps that is what was so appealing to so many people in the early Church. There were twelve Apostles. They were not identical. They were not clones, nor were they trying to be. They had distinct personalities, gifts, talents, strengths, and weaknesses. They had disagreements, but when they remained focused on Jesus’ life and example, fixed on striving to be faithful to the will of God, and open to each other through the guidance of the Holy Spirit (in whatever direction it took them whether known or new), the Church evolved, there was room for all, and through the grace of God, the numbers grew exponentially.

In the end, we are all part of the same recipe… the same plan. It is time for our differences, to once again, through our shared belief, become our greatest strength.

The Glass Across the Way…

As I looked at the stained glass window across the hall, at first I took in its pattern and the colors in it. Then, it was interesting to notice the way the light came through it, and the way the different sections of glass distorted or hid what was on the other side. It was only at the base of the window that one could see pretty clearly, what was outside; and, I imagine, one who was outside could see in, too.

Oftentimes, situations, relationships, and interactions can be like looking through glass. They can range from those where the glass may seem impenetrable to those where the glass is transparent, with nothing to hide. Yet, even in those cases where the glass is very dark, light is still able to shine through it.

Look at Pilate, Herod, one of the criminals alongside Jesus, and the centurion (Luke 23:1-49). In the midst of all that was happening through the trial and crucifixion of Jesus, light was shed and truth was revealed to them. What did they do with it? What do we do with it?

This is what the Passion of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is all about. In all moments, even in the moments when life seems darkest or situations seem impossible, there is still light with and within us, and where there is light, there is always a way… the Way.

The more we can allow ourselves to be transparent in our relationship with God, the more we shine, and the more we shine, the better we are able to see, and live, the Way.    

EPWindow

The elders of the people, chief priests and scribes,
arose and brought Jesus before Pilate.
They brought charges against him, saying,
“We found this man misleading our people;
he opposes the payment of taxes to Caesar
and maintains that he is the Christ, a king.”
Pilate asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?”
He said to him in reply, “You say so.”
Pilate then addressed the chief priests and the crowds,
“I find this man not guilty.”
But they were adamant and said,
“He is inciting the people with his teaching throughout all Judea,
from Galilee where he began even to here.”

On hearing this Pilate asked if the man was a Galilean;
and upon learning that he was under Herod’s jurisdiction,
he sent him to Herod who was in Jerusalem at that time.
Herod was very glad to see Jesus;
he had been wanting to see him for a long time,
for he had heard about him
and had been hoping to see him perform some sign.
He questioned him at length,
but he gave him no answer.
The chief priests and scribes, meanwhile,
stood by accusing him harshly.
Herod and his soldiers treated him contemptuously and mocked him,
and after clothing him in resplendent garb,
he sent him back to Pilate.
Herod and Pilate became friends that very day,
even though they had been enemies formerly.
Pilate then summoned the chief priests, the rulers, and the people
and said to them, “You brought this man to me
and accused him of inciting the people to revolt.
I have conducted my investigation in your presence
and have not found this man guilty
of the charges you have brought against him,
nor did Herod, for he sent him back to us.
So no capital crime has been committed by him.
Therefore I shall have him flogged and then release him.”

But all together they shouted out,
“Away with this man!
Release Barabbas to us.”
— Now Barabbas had been imprisoned for a rebellion
that had taken place in the city and for murder. —
Again Pilate addressed them, still wishing to release Jesus,
but they continued their shouting,
“Crucify him!  Crucify him!”
Pilate addressed them a third time,
“What evil has this man done?
I found him guilty of no capital crime.
Therefore I shall have him flogged and then release him.”
With loud shouts, however,
they persisted in calling for his crucifixion,
and their voices prevailed.
The verdict of Pilate was that their demand should be granted.
So he released the man who had been imprisoned
for rebellion and murder, for whom they asked,
and he handed Jesus over to them to deal with as they wished.

As they led him away
they took hold of a certain Simon, a Cyrenian,
who was coming in from the country;
and after laying the cross on him,
they made him carry it behind Jesus.
A large crowd of people followed Jesus,
including many women who mourned and lamented him.
Jesus turned to them and said,
“Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me;
weep instead for yourselves and for your children
for indeed, the days are coming when people will say,
‘Blessed are the barren,
the wombs that never bore
and the breasts that never nursed.’
At that time people will say to the mountains,
‘Fall upon us!’
and to the hills, ‘Cover us!’
for if these things are done when the wood is green
what will happen when it is dry?”
Now two others, both criminals,
were led away with him to be executed.

When they came to the place called the Skull,
they crucified him and the criminals there,
one on his right, the other on his left.
Then Jesus said,
“Father, forgive them, they know not what they do.”
They divided his garments by casting lots.
The people stood by and watched;
the rulers, meanwhile, sneered at him and said,
“He saved others, let him save himself
if he is the chosen one, the Christ of God.”
Even the soldiers jeered at him.
As they approached to offer him wine they called out,
“If you are King of the Jews, save yourself.”
Above him there was an inscription that read,
“This is the King of the Jews.”

Now one of the criminals hanging there reviled Jesus, saying,
“Are you not the Christ?
Save yourself and us.”
The other, however, rebuking him, said in reply,
“Have you no fear of God,
for you are subject to the same condemnation?
And indeed, we have been condemned justly,
for the sentence we received corresponds to our crimes,
but this man has done nothing criminal.”
Then he said,
“Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”
He replied to him,
“Amen, I say to you,
today you will be with me in Paradise.”

It was now about noon and darkness came over the whole land
until three in the afternoon
because of an eclipse of the sun.
Then the veil of the temple was torn down the middle.
Jesus cried out in a loud voice,
“Father, into your hands I commend my spirit”;
and when he had said this he breathed his last.

The centurion who witnessed what had happened glorified God and said,
“This man was innocent beyond doubt.”
When all the people who had gathered for this spectacle
saw what had happened,
they returned home beating their breasts;
but all his acquaintances stood at a distance,
including the women who had followed him from Galilee
and saw these events. – Luke 23:1-49

Awaken to the Light…

A few nights ago I had fallen asleep while other household members were still up and about. Suddenly though, I was awake again. Someone had turned on the hallway light, which extended its reach into the room where I was sleeping. And while the light was rather intrusive that night, more often than not, the light is exactly what we need.

According to the Gospel of Luke, Peter, John, and James accompanied Jesus up the mountain to pray, but at some point, the three disciples were “overcome by sleep” (Luke 9:32). During their sleep, Jesus is not only joined by the prophets Moses and Elijah, engaging in discussion with them, but also becomes transfigured, his appearance changing and his clothing giving off great light.

Peter, John and James, awoken seemingly by the intense light, witness Jesus’ transfiguration and the presence of the prophets alongside him. This is shortly followed by a cloud that envelops them, creating both darkness and fear. Yet it was in this cloud and undoubtedly their confusion about what was going on, that God speaks to them, shedding light by revealing the truth as well as providing instruction—“This is my chosen Son; listen to him” (Luke 9:35).   

While the disciples cannot account for what happened while they were sleeping, now that they are awake they do have a responsibility with regards to what they had witnessed. At the time appointed by Jesus (Matthew 17:9; Mark 9:9), they will give voice to what they saw and experienced that day on the mountain.

As we go through life, we all have moments where we experience or witness the glory of God. We also have moments where we witness the opposite of that. Whichever it may be, we are always called to testify and give witness to the truth.

The Light always wakes us up, but it is up to us how we respond.

ThePath_Akiane
In order to choose the right path we do not have to figure out the wrong one— we just need to follow the light. – The Path by Akiane Kramarik

Jesus took Peter, John, and James
and went up the mountain to pray.
While he was praying his face changed in appearance
and his clothing became dazzling white.
And behold, two men were conversing with him, Moses and Elijah,
who appeared in glory and spoke of his exodus
that he was going to accomplish in Jerusalem.
Peter and his companions had been overcome by sleep,
but becoming fully awake,
they saw his glory and the two men standing with him.
As they were about to part from him, Peter said to Jesus,
“Master, it is good that we are here;
let us make three tents,
one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”
But he did not know what he was saying.
While he was still speaking,
a cloud came and cast a shadow over them,
and they became frightened when they entered the cloud.
Then from the cloud came a voice that said,
“This is my chosen Son; listen to him.”
After the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone.
They fell silent and did not at that time
tell anyone what they had seen.  – Luke 9:28B-36

Rock the Boat…

On a big lake, slouched down at one end of a small canoe-like boat, the joy of my childhood anticipation and enthusiasm at the opportunity for me and one of my sisters to accompany a relative who was going fishing had been rapidly replaced by shaky nerves almost immediately upon embarking from the shore. I was 9 or 10 years old at the time, and although it was so long ago, I vividly remember the experience.

It was early one muggy summer evening and, outside of bugs sporadically buzzing around, there seemed to be no movement in the air. The area around the lake was blanketed in the browns and greens of the many trees that encircled it. The sky seemed as if being slowing drained of its light as the day progressed toward an end. And the lake, when glancing across to the other side, seemed as still as the air.

I could not fathom why the boat was rocking and swaying the way it was when there seemed to be so much at rest around it. I remember feeling like I could not wait to get back to land. My relative was standing and fishing, and my sister was sitting more upright than I. She was searching for any signs of life on and in the water. As she described what she saw over the edge of the boat, I would periodically straighten up enough to get a brief glimpse of what she was talking about before sliding back down into what seemed a safer position.

Then, at one point my sister excitedly said, “Look at that!” To which I reacted, without thought. I sat upright and both of us looked and leaned in the same direction, shifting the weight inside the boat. Luckily the boat did not tip, but the incident did provide a heart racing moment for all of us in the boat, and undoubtedly for the inhabitants of the water in close proximity to it.

As much of a jolt as the experience of almost tipping the boat was, it was also life-altering for the better. The rock and sway of the boat, that had been almost unbearable from the time we had departed from the shore, somehow was not so bothersome any more. And it was as if the fear of being anything other than tucked in or sheltered inside the boat, was tossed out, during those uncertain moments of rapidly rocking back and forth from the sudden shift of weight.

From that point onward, my sister and I both sat upright, together. Taking in, talking, sharing, and discovering the wonder of all that was over the edge of the boat, and all around us.  The time passed and as it began to get darker outside, we returned to the shoreline, made our way back to the car, and eventually home.

My sister and I did not have our own nets, fishing line, rods, and bait, as we sat in the boat, on the lake, fishing that day. However, we had all we needed—we had each other, and we had God. In a time when there are great efforts being made to “Fish for people” (or to evangelize), sometimes, it’s a matter of rocking the boat, in order to wake up and find the fish.

RockTheBoat

While the crowd was pressing in on Jesus and listening
to the word of God,
he was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret.
He saw two boats there alongside the lake;
the fishermen had disembarked and were washing their nets.
Getting into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon,
he asked him to put out a short distance from the shore.
Then he sat down and taught the crowds from the boat.
After he had finished speaking, he said to Simon,
“Put out into deep water and lower your nets for a catch.”
Simon said in reply,
“Master, we have worked hard all night and have caught nothing,
but at your command I will lower the nets.”
When they had done this, they caught a great number of fish
and their nets were tearing.
They signaled to their partners in the other boat
to come to help them.
They came and filled both boats
so that the boats were in danger of sinking.
When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at the knees of Jesus and said,
“Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man.”
For astonishment at the catch of fish they had made seized him
and all those with him,
and likewise James and John, the sons of Zebedee,
who were partners of Simon.
Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid;
from now on you will be catching men.”
When they brought their boats to the shore,
they left everything and followed him. – Luke 5:1-11