Life

Out of Bounds…

In the Letter to the Romans, St. Paul writes, “Do not conform yourselves to this age but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and pleasing and perfect.” (Romans 12:2). Although he was writing to people of a different time than us, how appropriate this instruction or advice is for any age. After all, looking around and considering all of creation, there’s not only a broad spectrum of living things, but also cycles or seasons of change that occur across each category, and all created in the image of the Creator. With all of this, it’s not too hard to imagine God as being far more dynamic than any one generation, society, or age might deem.

Still though, it can be easy to move through a task, a day, or more with “a place for everything and everything in its place” mindset, whether as an individual or within a group or an organization. Perhaps St. Paul is reminding us not to get hung up on making things fit into our existing notions, to the extent that we leave no room to perceive the new things that God is doing or trying to teach us (Is 43:19). After all, how can God reveal to us, even a portion of insight to God’s will or a shimmer of the expanse and depth of God’s love, if one has already made up their mind and is so fixed and unwilling to consider something other?

This is not to say that one should never hold fast to a value or notion, but rather to be cautious of excluding possibilities outside of the ones already recognized or held.

In the Gospel for the Twenty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time, Jesus says to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are an obstacle to me. You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do.” (Matthew 16:23). He says this because Peter’s response comes out of his own understanding and is not based on listening to and considering what was said or communicating with Jesus.

When Jesus reveals that he will be killed, it does not fit the narrative of Peter’s notion of what’s to come of the Anointed One. The influence of Peter’s response is not of God. It is rigid, does not consider what the Anointed One has said, and leaves no room for possibilities outside of what Peter “knows”.

Again, looking around and considering all of creation, there is change, there is fluidity. God is not rigid. And, having been created in God’s image, humankind is not meant to be rigid either. To hold fast? Yes, but first and foremost to God. This is so that everything else not only falls into place in a way that is most fitting, but also in a way that is blessed and does not serve to block the flow of God’s grace from extending in ways beyond our own understanding.

Jesus began to show his disciples
that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer greatly
from the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes,
and be killed and on the third day be raised.
Then Peter took Jesus aside and began to rebuke him,
“God forbid, Lord! No such thing shall ever happen to you.”
He turned and said to Peter,
“Get behind me, Satan! You are an obstacle to me.
You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do.”

Then Jesus said to his disciples,
“Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself,
take up his cross, and follow me.
For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it,
but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.
What profit would there be for one to gain the whole world
and forfeit his life?
Or what can one give in exchange for his life?
For the Son of Man will come with his angels in his Father’s glory,
and then he will repay all according to his conduct.” – Matthew 16:21-27

What’s Inside…

Opening the oven door as the kitchen timer worked its way toward zero seconds, an unanticipated outcome awaited. The bread inside, although cooked through, was not quite what was expected. Shocked at its stature and the rather dense outcome, and wondering what happened, I revisited all that went into its making. First, I envisioned all the steps, and then opened cabinet doors to look again at some of the baking ingredients, but nothing stood out.

Upon thinking some more, and feeling certain that baking powder was added, I thought perhaps it was expired and had lost its potency. Then, there it was. In the process of re-examining, the problem was revealed. It wasn’t baking powder after all that was used. The canister had the same shape, height, color, and text, but rather than containing baking powder, it held cornstarch. And although the bread tasted almost the same as any other banana bread that was made, its consistency and body was not at all the same.

Contemplating the Gospel passage for the Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time (Matthew 13:24-43) and reflecting on Jesus’ words as he tells the parables of weeds among wheat, the mustard seed, and the yeast, one is reminded of the importance of what goes into things. Or, in other words, what makes them up or influences them. Are there hidden ingredients? What’s the intent, the source, or motivation, and what, ultimately, is being sought?

So how does one really know what’s what with so much that is conflicting and competing in the midst of what can be confusing and misleading times? How does one distinguish between what things look like and what they really are, and decipher what’s happening around them and how it might be influencing them?

Prior to the Gospel, in this week’s readings, we read:

“The Spirit comes to the aid of our weakness;
for we do not know how to pray as we ought,
but the Spirit himself intercedes with inexpressible groanings.
And the one who searches hearts
knows what is the intention of the Spirit,
because he intercedes for the holy ones
according to God’s will.”—Romans 8:26-27

To discover what’s real, or what’s true, one must not only be willing to take a good look inside and out, but also be willing to look again, and then some more, searching with a heart that is sincere and an openness to the possibility that what looked like baking powder might not have ever been baking powder at all.

Creator Creating…

In the course of a day,
One might experience
Many kinds of ground,
Here and there,
Or maybe none at all.
Yet, whatever it may be,
Peace and inner strength await,
While Guidance subtly leads the way,
Where many paths abound.
Willing accompanists through the hours,
Perhaps hidden, under cover,
But always working, nonetheless.
Never kicking back,
Or losing sight.

Whether to relax,
Or continue striving,
Never a question,
Or even a passing thought.
Constant presence, patient…
Never rushing through
On the way to something,
Somewhere or someone else.

Always within reach,
Or better yet, within.
Whether running ahead
Falling back,
Or not too far behind,
Keeping pace,
Or simply being still.
No matter how,
What, where, or when,
Everlasting Love,
Constant Source,
Holding all in deep affection.

Thus says the LORD:
Just as from the heavens
the rain and snow come down
and do not return there
till they have watered the earth,
making it fertile and fruitful,
giving seed to the one who sows
and bread to the one who eats,
so shall my word be
that goes forth from my mouth;
my word shall not return to me void,
but shall do my will,
achieving the end for which I sent it. – Isaiah 55:10-11

What Is…

As the leaves made their way to each other,
Stretching out from the branches that held them up,
Creating a barrier, distorting all that lay behind,
The air among them became thick, and hazy too.
It’s true what’s lost is found, but so too,
Is it true that some things are better lost,
Or rather not found but overcome.
Not all things that return are welcome,
Nor should they be.
What binds One and all together, that’s what is Supreme.
Enlightening to the soul,
Expanding hearts and minds,
Extending a will that is free,
Created to stand up and do more than just survive.
Yes, the meek shall inherit the earth,
But not by turning eyes from the blind,
As they pounce and plunder,
Putting down and shutting out,
Igniting fires that are not Divine.
What is True, what is Just,
Brings together and raises up,
Working things out to what is best.
These are the tests of our times.
Never mind what’s yours, what’s mine.
What is True, what is Just,
Beckons one and all.
It shall not shrink… it shall not sink.
These are the tests of our times.

Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. – Mt 10:39

The Bread of Life…

Breaking free of all that is clutter,
To step away can be a struggle.
More than noise and expectations,
Theories and persuasion.
Competing, always competing,
Ever disguising might as right.
What is it with this clutter,
Going round both day and night?

It can be hard and very trying,
To move beyond its reach,
Or to strive to rise above it.

Yet, sometimes a willing heart,
Into the wide and open air,
Is all it really takes.

Then, leaning back, to catch a glimpse,
And take a breath so deep,
It carries inner strength and peace.
Filled with hope and gentle wisdom,
It’s time to return to what was left behind.
Somehow, it’s all the same,
But also, very different.

Because the loaf of bread is one, we, though many, are one body, for we all partake of the one loaf. – 1 Cor 10:17

Trust in Faith…

Out of place,
But right at home,
Very much at ease.
More than content
To simply be,
Like flowers will
And often do.
Accepting grace,
Blooming faith.
Paying homage,
Chosen, yes, chosen,
And gently put in place.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Ignited by the Spirit…

Do you recall being in a group of people, partaking in an experience, whatever it might have been, and having anything that might normally serve to create a wedge or cause a disturbance, fade away? What was that like?

Oftentimes, when such experiences occur, it’s because there is a shared focus and desire that outweighs all the things that might otherwise interfere and distract individuals away from being influenced by the Spirit that moves them toward embracing what is mutually beneficial to all. In other words, it happens when one lets go and detaches from being driven by what is more immediately self-serving or earthly. This then leaves room to be led by the Spirit.

In chapter 2 of the Acts of the Apostle’s, it is written,

And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit
and began to speak in different tongues,
as the Spirit enabled them to proclaim.

Now there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven staying in Jerusalem.
At this sound, they gathered in a large crowd,
but they were confused
because each one heard them speaking in his own language.
They were astounded, and in amazement they asked,
“Are not all these people who are speaking Galileans?
Then how does each of us hear them in his native language?” – Acts 2:4-8

This is an example of the Spirit breaking down barriers that would seek to prevent the Good News from being shared, lived, and spread across the face of the earth. Reading on, we learn more about the many different places from which the crowd came. Undoubtedly, they also had different ideas on how to live and how to go about doing things.

We are Parthians, Medes, and Elamites,
inhabitants of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia,
Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia,
Egypt and the districts of Libya near Cyrene,
as well as travelers from Rome,
both Jews and converts to Judaism, Cretans and Arabs,
yet we hear them speaking in our own tongues
of the mighty acts of God.” – Acts 2:9-11

What’s it like to contemplate the way that the Spirit enabled the disciples of Jesus, who were, for all intents and purposes, more alike than not, to communicate with those who spoke different languages and were foreign to them?

Notice how the Spirit enabled the disciples, and further defined the notion of discipleship, to become more diverse while at the same time bringing about greater unity. Also consider the posture of the disciples. In chapter 1 of the Acts of the Apostles, we read that they, “devoted themselves with one accord to prayer” and we see that play out in the choice of Matthias to join them (v. 15-26) as well as in their choices going forward. Again, they are united in prayer with hearts that desire to be led to “do the right thing” (what is good and just) more so than choosing based on personal preference or bias. This is what happens when there is a genuine striving to do what is best.

On this Pentecost, in a world that continues to face such great division and strife, the words of Thomas Merton seem so appropriate, “My dear brothers and sisters, we are already one. But we imagine we are not. And what we have to recover is our original unity. What we have to be, is what we are.”

Take some time to meditate on these words. Pray with what comes to mind and how your heart is moved. What does the Spirit want to show you?

When you send forth your spirit, they are created, and you renew the face of the earth. – Ps 104:30

You Were There…

There were dancers,
Dancing as they do,
Faces aglow with joy,
Balleting here and there,
Everywhere…

There were singers,
Singing as they do,
Reaching notes both high and low,
In every piece and in each act,
Throughout…

There were actors,
Acting as they do,
More than lines upon a page,
Evoking thought and feeling,
From within…

Beautiful to the eye
And moving to the soul,
Through their feet they worshipped,
Through their words they prayed,
Great strength exercised with ease.

With movements so fluid,
Gentle and precise,
Everywhere and throughout,
From within, there is no doubt,
You were there.

I believe I shall see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. – Ps 27:13

Ascending…

In the perpetual quest
So quietly pursued,
Rising up and reaching out.
Catching to the eye,
Inviting to the soul,
A symbol and a sign,
Whether seen by one or not.

Aspiring to something greater.
Ascending from the earth,
Leaving worms to worm it out.
So simple, yet so not.

Seeking to be found,
Finding what is sought,
Staying true, ever knowing,
Not so much is all that deep.
Not so much is lasting.

The earth is crying,
Tearing everywhere,
Calling out for something real.
Not just some trick or worse,
Not a passing trend or racket.

And authenticity, if it’s true,
Can’t be bought.

May the eyes of your hearts be enlightened, that you may know what is the hope that belongs to God’s call. (Ephesians 1:18)

As It Always Does…

The trees, becoming more life like
As they continue to grow deeper
Into their shades of spring,
Fill the air with hope,
And instill a sense of trust.
Not a sign of exactly what’s to come,
But still a sign that’s telling.
The sun will rise,
As it always does.
The sun will set,
As it always does.
Everything else?
All that lies between?
That will come and go,
As it always does.
Leaving behind the hope of days to come,
And the soul keeping faith,
Despite not knowing,
As it always does.

Jesus said to his disciples: “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You have faith in God; have faith also in me.” (Jn 14:1).