Therefore, if you bring your gift to the altar, and there recall that your brother has anything against you, leave your gift there at the altar, go first and be reconciled with your brother, and then come and offer your gift. Matthew 5: 23-24
Jesus teaches a profound lesson in today’s Gospel. We cannot be in balance with God if we are out of balance with our neighbor.
In the “court” of God’s justice, that balance resides not in judgment or vengeance. It resides in a love beyond “liking” — in reconciliation, forgiveness, mercy, patience, hospitality, reverence, and service toward one another.
Today, in God’s Lavish Mercy:
We realize that we can’t like everybody. We can’t feel good toward everybody. We can’t approve of everybody. But we can choose to be Christlike to everybody.
May we grow in that grace, inspired by the awareness that we are One in God with all Creation.
Poetry: One Hundred Love Sonnets: XVII – Pablo Neruda
I don’t love you as if you were a rose of salt, topaz, or arrow of carnations that propagate fire: I love you as one loves certain obscure things, secretly, between the shadow and the soul.
I love you as the plant that doesn’t bloom but carries the light of those flowers, hidden, within itself, and thanks to your love the tight aroma that arose from the earth lives dimly in my body.
I love you without knowing how, or when, or from where, I love you directly without problems or pride: I love you like this because I don’t know any other way to love, except in this form in which I am not nor are you, so close that your hand upon my chest is mine, so close that your eyes close with my dreams.
You are the light of the world. A city set on a mountain cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and then put it under a bushel basket; it is set on a lampstand, where it gives light to all in the house. Just so, your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father. Matthew 5:14-16
Jesus tells us to let our light shine before others. Is this an invitation to show off or be prideful? Definitely not. It is a call to shine with “beatitudenal goodness” that gives glory to God.
We can take Jesus’s words as an invitation to spiritual transparency. We should, by our actions and choices, proclaim that we live in faith, hope, charity, and gratitude. The important part of the lampstand is the flame that it lifts up. So too with us – the important part of our faith is the witness it gives to the Gospel.
Today, in God’s Lavish Mercy:
We pray for the simplicity and integrity of soul that allows God to shine through us.
Poetry: Let Your Light Shine – Marianne Williamson
Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It is not just in some of us, it is in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.
Music: We Are the Light of the World – Jean A. Greif
When his parents saw him, they were astonished, and his mother said to him, “Son, why have you done this to us? Your father and I have been looking for you with great anxiety.” And he said to them, “Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?” But they did not understand what he said to them. He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was obedient to them; and his mother kept all these things in her heart. Luke 2: 48-51
Mary’s heart is formed in the image of the God who was her child. She, our Mother and Sister, conveys to us in human tenderness, the Divine Compassion that may sometimes seem inaccessible to our imperfect faith.
She was just a young girl when God espoused her for the purpose of our redemption. Still her utter “Fiat” opened her soul to the transformation that only sacrificial love can accomplish.
Today, in God’s Lavish Mercy:
We reflect on Mary’s immutable alignment to the heart of Jesus, begun in the womb, confirmed on Calvary. We ask her guidance in patterning our hearts to Jesus as we meet him in the Gospel.
Prose: Caryll Houselander – The Reed of God
In this great fiat of the little girl Mary, the strength and foundation of our life of contemplation is grounded, for it means absolute trust in God, trust which will not set us free from suffering but will set us free from anxiety, hesitation, and above all from the fear of suffering. Trust which makes us willing to be what God wants us to be, however great or however little that may prove. Trust which accepts God as illimitable Love.
One of the scribes came to Jesus and asked him, “Which is the first of all the commandments?” Jesus replied, “The first is this: Hear, O Israel! The Lord our God is Lord alone! You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. The second is this: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these.” Mark 12:28-31
In this Gospel passage, Jesus really puts the spiritual life in a nutshell: Love God and love neighbor.
It’s pretty self-evident that to achieve holiness one must love God. But loving the neighbor is a far different story. Depending on our views in life, we might have a hard time with the annoying, Democrat/Republican, irresponsible, refugee, gay, unemployed, or subsidiary-dependent neighbor. Who is our neighbor, really? Or more to the point, who isn’t?
Today, in God’s Lavish Mercy:
Let’s work to understand and embrace all persons, indeed all Creation, as neighbor. Doing so, what is required of us in response?
Thought: from Fred Rogers
“All we’re ever asked to do in this life is to treat our neighbor —especially our neighbor who is in need— exactly as we would hope to be treated ourselves. That’s our ultimate responsibility.”
Prayer: from Walter Brueggemann
On our own, we conclude: there is not enough to go around
we are going to run short of money of love of grades of publications of sex of beer of members of years of life
we should seize the day seize our goods seize our neighbours goods because there is not enough to go around
and in the midst of our perceived deficit you come you come giving bread in the wilderness you come giving children at the 11th hour you come giving homes to exiles you come giving futures to the shut down you come giving easter joy to the dead you come – fleshed in Jesus.
and we watch while the blind receive their sight the lame walk the lepers are cleansed the deaf hear the dead are raised the poor dance and sing
we watch and we take food we did not grow and life we did not invent and future that is gift and gift and gift and families and neighbours who sustain us when we did not deserve it.
It dawns on us – late rather than soon- that you “give food in due season you open your hand and satisfy the desire of every living thing.”
By your giving, break our cycles of imagined scarcity override our presumed deficits quiet our anxieties of lack transform our perceptual field to see the abundance………mercy upon mercy blessing upon blessing.
Sink your generosity deep into our lives that your muchness may expose our false lack that endlessly receiving we may endlessly give so that the world may be made Easter new, without greedy lack, but only wonder, without coercive need but only love, without destructive greed but only praise without aggression and invasiveness…. all things Easter new….. all around us, toward us and by us
all things Easter new.
Finish your creation, in wonder, love and praise. Amen.”
Music: Good Neighbor – Evan Craft
We may not look the same Ya might talk different too Got a long long list of differences Between me and you Different colors different stories Even different politics But He’s calling us now To lay it all down Get back to the heart of it And be a good, good, good Good, good neighbor Learn to love each other with The love of the Savior Make room at the table And share the hope that we got And be a good, good Good neighbor And show the world we got a good God I’ve read the good book Every word in black and red But is my faith alive if I live my life And I don’t do what it says Love your God with all your heart and soul Love your neighbor as yourself And be Jesus to a broken world That’s crying out for help And be a good, good, good Good, good neighbor Learn to love each other with The love of the Savior Make room at the table And share the hope that we got And be a good, good Good neighbor And show the world we got a good God Yeah, we got a good God, oh There’s room for everybody In the family of God There’s room for everybody In the family of God Make room at the table share The hope that we got ‘Cause there’s room for everybody in The family of God The family of God And be a good, good, good Good, good neighbor Learn to love each other with The love of the Savior Make room at the table And share the hope that we got And be a good, good Good neighbor And show the world we got a good God And show the world we got a good God And show the world we got a good God There’s room for everybody In the family of God There’s room for everybody In the family of God
For this reason, 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. 2 Timothy 1: 6-8
Paul has a deep affection and hope for Timothy. He sees the light of faith burning brightly in him. He encourages Timothy to not take his faith for granted but to ignite it fully by his unwavering commitment to live and preach the Gospel.
Today, in God’s Lavish Mercy:
We thank God for the gift of our faith, for those who have encouraged its growth, and we ask for courage to stir up that gift by the witness of our lives.
Poetry: As Kingfishers Catch Fire – Gerard Manley Hopkins
As kingfishers catch fire, dragonflies draw flame; As tumbled over rim in roundy wells Stones ring; like each tucked string tells, each hung bell's Bow swung finds tongue to fling out broad its name; Each mortal thing does one thing and the same: Deals out that being indoors each one dwells; Selves — goes itself; myself it speaks and spells, Crying Whát I dó is me: for that I came.
I say móre: the just man justices; Keeps grace: thát keeps all his goings graces; Acts in God's eye what in God's eye he is — Chríst — for Christ plays in ten thousand places, Lovely in limbs, and lovely in eyes not his To the Father through the features of men's faces.Poetry:
Music: Fan into Flame – John Michael Talbot
I remind you now to fan into flame The gift that God has bestowed When my hands were laid upon you, The gift of the Spirit of God.
The gift that God has given to us, Is no cowardly spirit at all. But one that is strong and loving and wise – The gift of the Spirit of God.
So you, my son, you must be strong, In the grace which is yours in Christ. The teaching you have heard through me, Hand onto the trustworthy ones.
The Spirit, God has given to us Is no cowardly spirit at all.
But one that is strong and loving and wise – The gift of the Spirit of God, The gift of the Spirit of God.
Therefore, beloved, since you are forewarned, be on your guard not to be led into the error of the unprincipled and to fall from your own stability. But grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory now and to the day of eternity. Amen. 2 Peter 17-18
Peter tells his listeners that ” …we await new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.” But in the meantime, we must be alert for all that would distract us from Gospel truth and practice.
Peter’s world opposed the message of the Gospel. So does our world, filled now with unprincipled politics, economics, communication, and even “religious” propaganda. These forces fall against the believer like so many dominoes deconstructing the pattern of our faith.
Today, in God’s Lavish Mercy:
Once again we ask for strength and insight to see the Gospel clearly and to stay aligned to its beauty and truth. This can be accomplished only by prayer, and developing a reverent familiarity with the Gospel. Further, reading reputable spiritual guides is important to enrich our understanding of the sacred word.
Poetry: Am I True to Myself? – Edgar A. Guest
I have to live with myself and so I want to be fit for myself to know. I want to be able as days go by, always to look myself straight in the eye;
I don’t want to stand with the setting sun and hate myself for the things I have done. I don’t want to keep on a closet shelf a lot of secrets about myself
and fool myself as I come and go into thinking no one else will ever know the kind of person I really am, I don’t want to dress up myself in sham.
I want to go out with my head erect I want to deserve all men’s respect; but here in the struggle for fame and wealth I want to be able to like myself.
I don’t want to look at myself and know that I am bluster and bluff and empty show. I never can hide myself from me; I see what others may never see;
I know what others may never know, I never can fool myself and so, whatever happens I want to be self respecting and conscience free.
Music: Keep Me Faithful – written by James Montgomery (1771-1854); adapted by Cornerstone Collective
Make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, virtue with knowledge, knowledge with self-control, self-control with endurance, endurance with devotion, devotion with mutual affection, mutual affection with love. 2 Peter 1:5-7
Is there a “formula” for holiness? Not a magic one, for sure. But Peter offers us, in logical sequence, some common elements that lead us deeper into God. As we pray with Peter’s advice, each element opens a whole chapter in self-examination and spiritual reorientation.
Poetry: Batter My Heart – John Donne
Batter my heart, three-person'd God, for you As yet but knock, breathe, shine, and seek to mend; That I may rise and stand, o'erthrow me, and bend Your force to break, blow, burn, and make me new. I, like an usurp'd town to another due, Labor to admit you, but oh, to no end; Reason, your viceroy in me, me should defend, But is captiv'd, and proves weak or untrue. Yet dearly I love you, and would be lov'd fain, But am betroth'd unto your enemy; Divorce me, untie or break that knot again, Take me to you, imprison me, for I, Except you enthrall me, never shall be free, Nor ever chaste, except you ravish me.
Music: Holiness – Micah Stampley
Micah Stampley has a multi-octave vocal range spanning from bass-to-first soprano and is well known for that. His voice has literally staggering power and sensitivity. He has never had any formal vocal training. He says about his own voice: “It’s just a sound that God has given me, I think He just kind of fine tuned my vocal chords and gave me this high register. I can sing bass and/or soprano naturally. It’s pretty amazing and to be honest, I can’t explain it. It’s just something that happens whenever I feel the presence of God come over me. I sing at heights that I never thought any man would sing. (Wikipedia)
Build yourselves up in your most holy faith; pray in the Holy Spirit. Keep yourselves in the love of God and wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life. Jude 17: 20-21
Jude’s epistle indicates that we have responsibility to keep our faith strong. He also suggests that faith is an evolutionary process enriched by practice and reflection.
Today in God’s Lavish Mercy:
Let’s take a look at how, by God’s grace, we have grown in our faith over the years. What circumstances have deepened us in our spiritual understanding? How have we refined our spiritual practices to ready ourselves for transformation? What curves in the road have tested us? What heights have blessed us? What depths have matured us?
Poetry: To Find God – Robert Herrick
Weigh me the fire; or canst thou find A way to measure out the wind? Distinguish all those floods that are Mixed in that wat’ry theater, And taste thou them as saltless there, As in their channel first they were.
Tell me the people that do keep Within the kingdoms of the deep; Or fetch me back that cloud again, Beshivered into seeds of rain.
Tell me the motes, dust, sands, and spears Of corn, when summer shakes his ears; Show me that world of stars, and whence They noiseless spill their influence.
This if thou canst; then show me Him That rides the glorious cherubim.
Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to Jesus and said to him, “Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you.” He replied, “What do you wish me to do for you?” They answered him, “Grant that in your glory we may sit one at your right and the other at your left.” Jesus said to them, “You do not know what you are asking. Can you drink the chalice that I drink or be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?”…
… You know that those who are recognized as rulers over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones make their authority over them felt. But it shall not be so among you. Rather, whoever wishes to be great among you will be your servant; whoever wishes to be first among you will be the slave of all. Mark 10: 35-38; 42-44
James and John are filled with the enthusiasm of their calling, but they are young in its understanding. They look past the challenge of their present circumstances to the glory on its other side. Jesus sets their ambition straight, as he does ours. First we must drink the cup that Jesus drank.
Today, in God’s Lavish Mercy:
We too want our ultimate destination to be a place beside Christ. But to come to that place, we must follow Jesus closely in the choices of our own lives.
Poetry: Create in Me – Anna Beth Fore
Create in me a pure heart filled with love, joy, and peace. Calm these inner struggles and give my soul release.
Renew my love and passion for my Savior and my King. Fill me with psalms and songs, an offering to you I bring.
Cleanse me every day, Lord, and make me pure and holy. Comfort me with your Spirit as he lives inside of me.
Transform me with your love, your mercy, and your grace. Strengthen me when I am weary so that I can finish the race.
Welcome me with open arms when my life on Earth is done. Let the angels sing, “Hallelujah,” when the battle on Earth is won.
Music: Are You Ready to Drink the Cup? – Cyprian Consiglio
Gird up the loins of your mind, live soberly, and set your hopes completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Like obedient children, do not act in compliance with the desires of your former ignorance but, as he who called you is holy, be holy yourselves in every aspect of your conduct, for it is written, Be holy because I am holy.
1 Peter 1: 13-16
Our reading from Peter uses strong phrases to direct our hearts fully to Christ.
Gird up the loins of your mind
Let your hopes rest completely on grace
Do not act from your former ignorance
Be holy
When my niece was a young teen, she had a placard in her bedroom that read “Put on your big girl pants and deal with it.” I thought it was an amazing charge for a thirteen-year-old kid. But she expected it of herself and proved eminently capable of practicing the advice.
James is giving early Christians the same kind of advice. Our capability to respond lies in the hope we place in the grace of Jesus Christ.
Today, in God’s Lavish Mercy:
We ask for courage and fidelity in our commitment to Christ and to the Gospel.
Poetry: Don’t Quit – Edgar A. Guest
When things go wrong, as they sometimes will, When the road you’re trudging seems all uphill, When the funds are low but the debts are high, And you want to smile but you have to sigh, When care is pressing you down a bit… Rest if you must, but don’t you quit!
Life is strange with its twists and turns, As every one of us sometimes learns, And many failures turn about When we might have won had we stuck it out. Don’t give up though the pace seems slow… You may succeed with another blow.
Often the struggler has given up When he might have captured the victor’s cup; And he learned too late when the night came down, How close he was to the golden crown.
Success is failure turned inside out… And you can never tell how close you are It may be near when it seems so far. So stick to the fight when you’re hardest hit It’s when things seem worst that you must not quit.
Lavish Mercy 