Today, in God’s Lavish Mercy, our readings carry a few strident tones.
The description of the perfect Christian household in Paul’s world feels a little uncomfortable for us in today’s culture:
Similarly, older women should be reverent in their behavior, not slanderers, not addicted to drink, teaching what is good, so that they may train younger women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled, chaste, good homemakers, under the control of their husbands, so that the word of God may not be discredited.
We understand what Paul was driving at – harmonious, loving and faith-filled families that would nurture the growing Church. But times, attitudes, and understandings change, and the words don’t work so well today.
Our Gospel presents a bit of the same discomfort. It’s hard for us to relate to servanthood, slavery, and unequal accessibility to “the table”.
Jesus said to the Apostles: “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’?
Sometimes the “dissonance” of words or cultural concepts in ancient scriptures might cause us too miss the point. Here’s what I found once I cracked through these passages in my prayer.
From Titus:
A deep self-respect and a reverent mutuality in our relationships allow God’s Presence to be felt in the world. They are the signs that draw others to grace.
From Luke:
We don’t “deserve” anything from God. All that God gives us is given in lavish mercy and infinite generosity. Everything we are and have is GIFT. Therefore we are bound in gratitude to live in love and worship, and to work for the wholeness of all Creation.
Poetry and Music:
Enjoy the poetry of the mystic Rumi, words very much in the tone of John of Cross.
Today, in God’s Lavish Mercy, our readings raise and answer some powerful questions. How does faith inspire moral responsibility? What is the relationship between moral commitment and leadership? How do we measure a person’s “communal righteousness”?
Paul asks these questions with respect to bishops and presbyters, and the standards are stringent – extending even to the leader’s family.
… appoint presbyters in every town, as I directed you, on condition that a man be blameless, married only once, with believing children who are not accused of licentiousness or rebelliousness
In our Gospel, Jesus is direct and practical about how morally good a leader needs to be:
Jesus said to his disciples, “Things that cause sin will inevitably occur, but woe to the one through whom they occur. It would be better for him if a millstone were put around his neck and he be thrown into the sea than for him to cause one of these little ones to sin.
Choosing leaders, trusting them, moving forward with them to a chosen future is something we do not only in our faith communities, but also in the civic arena. Even though we try mightily to separate religion and politics, these will inevitably touch because they so significantly affect the human person.
I find it interesting that these readings permeate my thoughts and prayers as many of us in the United States prepare to vote tomorrow. How might my faith direct me to choose those candidates who lead toward inclusivity, peace, mutual charity, and care for the vulnerable?
What I need as I ponder these questions is exactly what the disciples requested of Jesus. In our Gospel, Jesus instructs the disciples on sin, repentance and forgiveness — all of which we encounter within the struggling community of faith. Hearing him, the disciples immediately realize what it is they most need to engage the challenges before them:
Lord, increase our faith!
Let us join their prayer today for unity and love in our faith and civic communities.
Thought: By voting, we help answer Pope France’s prayer:
I beg the Lord to grant us more politicians who are genuinely disturbed by the state of society, the people, the lives of the poor!
Today, in God’s Lavish Mercy, one theme threaded through our readings is that of “The Law”.
“Law” is a frustratingly elastic word and concept which runs the gamut from tyranny to benevolent guidance depending on who administers it.
In both our first reading and our Gospel, we find people trying to curtail the freedom of others by invoking the Law. In 2 Maccabees, King Antiochus attempts to incorporate the Jewish people by fracturing their religious practice, that which identifies and unites them as Jews. On the surface, the story seems to be about eating pork, and one might wonder if that resistance is worth dying for.
But the real conflict is between tyrannical domination and spiritual freedom, between “Empire” and “Kingdom” – a struggle we have seen endlessly repeated through history and current events.
When “law” is interpreted to advantage some and suppress others, it is no longer law. The essence of law is always the wise administration of mercy balanced with justice. The understanding of such law grows from covenanted relationship with the Creator who wills the good and wholeness of all Creatures.
In today’s Gospel, some Sadducees (perhaps sincere, but more likely trying to trap Jesus) ask him to solve a hypothetical problem regarding marriage in the afterlife.
Jesus doesn’t bite. He explains to the questioners that eternal life transcends all their human perceptions of time, relationship and law. The earthly laws by which we either bind or free one another in this world evaporate in Heaven. Only Mercy and Justice order eternal life in the Kingdom of God. ultimately, “law” is alignment of heart with God’s.
Paul tells us that we are called to be examples of that eternal kingdom now. He knows how hard it is, and so he blesses us:
May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who has loved us and given us everlasting encouragement and good hope through his grace, encourage your hearts and strengthen them in every good deed and word.
May God’s law of love align our hearts so that we – like the Maccabees, like Jesus – will have the courage and strength to live it in a sometimes hostile world.
Poetry: The Higher Pantheism – Alfred, Lord Tennyson
The sun, the moon, the stars, the seas, the hills and the plains,- Are not these, O Soul, the Vision of Him who reigns?
Is not the Vision He, tho’ He be not that which He seems? Dreams are true while they last, and do we not live in dreams?
Earth, these solid stars, this weight of body and limb, Are they not sign and symbol of thy division from Him?
Dark is the world to thee; thyself art the reason why, For is He not all but thou, that hast power to feel “I am I”?
Glory about thee, without thee; and thou fulfillest thy doom, Making Him broken gleams and a stifled splendour and gloom.
Speak to Him, thou, for He hears, and Spirit with Spirit can meet- Closer is He than breathing, and nearer than hands and feet.
God is law, say the wise; O soul, and let us rejoice, For if He thunder by law the thunder is yet His voice.
Law is God, say some; no God at all, says the fool, For all we have power to see is a straight staff bent in a pool;
And the ear of man cannot hear, and the eye of man cannot see; But if we could see and hear, this Vision-were it not He?
Today, in God’s Lavish Mercy, our first reading shows Paul shepherding in the very early days of Christianity. His ministry throughout the Mediterranean basin guided early Christians as the Church planted its first harvest.
Paul lets us know that this ministry of leadership is not easy – that he relies on the good will of the communities he serves:
You were, of course, concerned about me but lacked an opportunity. Not that I say this because of need, for I have learned, in whatever situation I find myself, to be self-sufficient.
Paul seems to refer specifically to material help, but certainly he values even more the spiritual and moral loyalty of his followers.
In our Gospel, Jesus offers us a sermonette that can, at first, seem a little confusing. His tone, as he speaks to a group of Pharisees, is somewhat ironic. But his bottomline message is this: loyalty to God, not to material things.
The thread running through all these passages? The work of the Church needs both our spiritual and material loyalty to thrive – whether in Paul’s time, or Christ’s, or our own.
The Pharisees pretended such loyalty, but Jesus challenged them:
You justify yourselves in the sight of others, but God knows your hearts …
A sobering challenge against which to measure ourselves!
Poetry: All Your Secrets – Omar Khayyam
All thy secrets are known to the wisdom of Heaven
God knows them hair by hair and vein by vein.
I admit that by power of hypocrisy you may be able
to deceive men, but what will you do before Him who
knows your misdeeds one by one in every detail?
Music: Thank You for Giving to the Lord – Ray Boltz
Today, in God’s Lavish Mercy, we pray with Psalm 122, one of the Psalms of Ascent prayed as the community of Israel prepared to worship.
Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.
The community was happy to be able to gather at the Temple/Jerusalem which was more than a physical place of worship. The Temple/Jerusalem was a stable symbol of God’s power and faithful presence to Israel. It was so significant a symbol that, even when destroyed, its power sustained the community of believers.
The “Temple” became much more than a building; Jerusalem much more than a city. The very concepts grew into living realities with which the believer formed a dynamic relationship. Within that relationship, the believer could meet and explore the mystery of God.
“Temple/Jerusalem” became an icon of one’s faith relationship with God.
As the psalm indicates, the believer must go out of oneself to dwell within this icon, to grow in this relationship. It is a place of full spiritual integration achieved through a lifting of the spirit into the joyful discipline of grace.
Jerusalem, built as a city with compact unity. To it the tribes go up, the tribes of the LORD.Psalm 22:3-4
The essence of this graceful transformation is to respond with profound gratitude to God’s invitation to love and mercy. Such a response raises our hearts to a new understanding of God’s Presence in every aspect of our lives.
According to the decree for Israel, to give thanks to the name of the LORD. In it are set up judgment seats, seats for the house of David.Psalm 22:4-5
The psalm verses not included in today’s reading tell us that once we begin to live this sacred relationship, we become a force for peace and justice among our sisters and brothers.
For the peace of Jerusalem pray: “May those who love you prosper! May peace be within your ramparts, prosperity within your towers.” For the sake of my brothers and friends I say, “Peace be with you.” For the sake of the house of the LORD, our God, I pray for your good.Psalm 22: 6-9
These verses seem like such a good prayer today.
Poem: from Rumi
Remember, the entrance door to the sanctuary is inside you.
Music: Fill This Temple Once Again – Don Moen and Benny Hinn
Today, in God’s Lavish Mercy, we meet the Shepherd bringing the lost lamb home. Haven’t we all, at sometime in our lives, been carried on those sacred shoulders?
Whether by our own prayers, or the prayers of those who love us, have we not been rescued from sorrow, foolishness, isolation or fear?
This beautiful Gospel assures us of the one thing we most deeply need – we are cherished, irrevocably, by God.
Today, if we need to ride those shoulders, let us trust ourselves to them in prayer.
If, by grace, we are already home, let us pray for those feeling most lost or abandoned – those most beset by a hostile world. May our merciful action help lift them to peace and the sweet scent of God so close beside them.
Poetry: The Good Shepherd – Brian Yapko
I enjoyed this poem which imagines Jesus still as a youngster experiencing a night as a shepherd. Mary and Joseph think it might not be the right vocation for him after his traumatic overnight!
My count of sheep was off as twilight fell And father’s friend, Ben Ezra’s lamb was gone! I had to find her! Searching past the well I climbed the rocks exhausted but pressed on. Delay could mean her life! She’d failed to heed My shepherd’s call and so risked being killed! Some wild beast might capture her and feed. I could not let her unstained blood be spilled!
Great danger filled that dark and craggy hill. My fear was deep! And then my torch went dim! Oh, why did I avoid my father’s will To one day be a carpenter like him? Because my father’s friend was gravely ill. I loved his sheep, so father made a plan For me to herd them just one year until I’m old enough to be declared a man.
I found the frightened lamb inside a cave Cornered by a wolf of knife-sharp claw. The fiercest wolf I’ve seen! How could I save This little sheep? I thrust my staff to draw Away the beast. He snarled, bit my wrist And mauled my side. In agony, I heard The wolf’s attack, too wounded to resist. But then, thank God, a miracle occurred!
I closed my eyes and with a trembling voice Said “Help me, father!” And the fierce wolf froze! He yelped, then fled as if he had no choice! I clutched the lamb and wept till the sun rose. Still shaking I then rose up on my feet. I kissed the lamb and said don’t be afraid For now you’re safe. She cried a grateful bleat. She knew I’d saved her and the price I paid.
My parents say I may no longer herd And must devote my life to nails and wood; But angels fill my dreams and leave me stirred To try to be a shepherd—one who’s good— Who shields his sheep from wickedness and strife. I love them all, the good ones and the lost; I’ll fear no evil that might take my life, For I think their salvation’s worth the cost.
Music: I Will Carry You – Sean Clive
I will carry you when you are weak. I will carry you when you can’t speak. I will carry you when you can’t pray. I will carry you each night and day.
I will carry you when times are hard. I will carry you both near & far. I’ll be there with you whenever you fall. I will carry you through it all.
My arms are wider than the sky, softer than a little child, stronger than the raging, calming like a gentle breeze. Trust in me to hold on tight because
I will carry you when you can’t stand. I’ll be there for you to hold your hand. And I will show you that you’re never alone. I will carry you and bring you back home.
Not pain, not fear, not death, no nothing at all can separate you from my love. My arms and hands will hold you close. Just reach out and take them in your own. Trust in me to hold on tight. I will carry you.
Today, in God’s Lavish Mercy, we remember the beloved Holy Souls who have gone before us. They are never far from us. Some of us may visit cemeteries today. Some will place a list of names upon the altar. But all of us will whisper their names: grandparents, parents, spouses, children, brothers, sisters and beloved friends — meeting each name in a sacred memory.
May those memories, whatever they contain, be transformed by our loving prayers. May whatever grief remains in us be blessed by the grace of faith and thanksgiving. And may the Holy Ones we honor today brighten us with some of their overwhelming Eternal Light in God.
Poetry: All Souls Day – Frances Bellerby, (1899–1975) was an English poet, novelist and short story writer. “Her poetry is imbued with a spiritual awareness encoded through the natural environment while her political socialism is more evident in her prose”. (from The Encyclopedia of British Women’s Writing – Jane Dowson)
Let’s go our old way by the stream, and kick the leaves as we always did, to make the rhythm of breaking waves.
This day draws no breath – shows no colour anywhere except for the leaves – in their death brilliant as never before.
Yellow of Brimstone Butterfly, brown of Oak Eggar Moth – you’d say. And I’d be wondering why a summer never seems lost
if two have been together witnessing the variousness of light, and the same two in lustreless November enter the year’s night…
The slow-worm stream – how still! Above that spider’s unguarded door, look – dull pearls…Time’s full, brimming, can hold no more.
Next moment (we well know, my darling, you and I) what the small day cannot hold must spill into eternity.
So perhaps we should move cat-soft meanwhile, and leave everything unsaid, until no shadow of risk can be left of disturbing the scatheless dead.
Ah, but you were always leaf-light. And you so seldom talk as we go. But there at my side through the bright leaves you walk.
And yet – touch my hand that I may be quite without fear, for it seems as if a mist descends, and the leaves where you walk do not stir.
Music: Lux Aeterna- Eternal Light – Michael Hoppé
Lux aeterna Lux aeterna luceat eis, Domine, cum sanctis tuis in aeternum, quia pius es.
Requiem aeternam dona eis, Domine, et lux perpetua luceat eis.
May light eternal shine upon them, O Lord, with Your saints forever, for You are Mercy.
Eternal rest give to them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them.
Today, in God’s Lavish Mercy, we celebrate all those canonized and uncanonized sisters and brothers who lived their lives in Christ with gusto and fidelity.
The feast of All Saints, on its current date, is traced to the foundation by Pope Gregory III by (731–741) of an oratory in St. Peter’s for the relics “of the holy apostles and of all saints, martyrs and confessors, of all the just made perfect who are at rest throughout the world”. (Wikipedia)
I’ve personally known many of these saints, whether I fully recognized their sanctity or not. They have lived in my family, school, neighborhood, parish, ministries, and workplaces. Some were clothed as nuns and some as beggars. Some taught me by words and some by silence. I knew some by name, others by grace. Now they have all joined the eternal family watching over us and cheering for us.
There they have formed communion with my more recognized and favorite holy friends like Mary, Joseph, Teresa of Avila, Catherine of Siena, Kateri Tekawitha, Anna the Prophet, John XXIII, and of course Catherine McAuley.
What a wonderful day to know that these beloveds of God are our sisters and brothers, who pray with and for us that we may one day rejoice with them in eternal light.
Who are the saints that speak especially to your heart? Take time to have a nice conversation with them on this glorious feastday!
If you are interested in learning more about the saints, this is a wonderful book by Father James Martin, SJ.
Poetry: All Saints Day – Ada Cambridge, (1844 – 1926), later known as Ada Cross, was an English-born Australian writer. She wrote more than 25 works of fiction, three volumes of poetry and two autobiographical works. Many of her novels were serialized in Australian newspapers but never published in book form.
“But they are at peace.”
Never to weary more, nor suffer sorrow,— Their strife all over, and their work all done: At peace—and only waiting for the morrow; Heaven’s rest and rapture even now begun.
So tired once! long fetter’d, sorely burden’d, Ye struggled hard and well for your release; Ye fought in faith and love—and ye are guerdon’d, O happy souls! for now ye are at peace.
No more of pain, no more of bitter weeping! For us a darkness and an empty place, Somewhere a little dust—in angels’ keeping— A blessèd memory of a vanish’d face.
For us the lonely path, the daily toiling, The din and strife of battle, never still’d; For us the wounds, the hunger, and the soiling,— The utter, speechless longing, unfulfill’d.
For us the army camp’d upon the mountains, Unseen, yet fighting with our Syrian foes,— The heaven-sent manna and the wayside fountains, The hope and promise, sweetening our woes.
For them the joyous spirit, freely ranging Green hills and fields where never mortal trod; For them the light unfading and unchanging, The perfect quietness—the peace of God.
For both, a dim, mysterious, distant greeting; For both, at Jesus’ cross, a drawing near; At Eucharistic gate a blessed meeting, When angels and archangels worship here.
For both, God grant, an everlasting union, When sin shall pass away and tears shall cease; For both the deep and full and true communion, For both the happy life that is “at peace.”
Music: All Saints Day – featuring “Lifesong” by Casting Crowns (lyrics below)
Empty hands held high Such small sacrifice Now joined with my life I sing in vain tonight
May the words I say And the things I do Make my lifesong sing Bring a smile to you
Let my lifesong sing to you Let my lifesong sing to you I want to sign your name To the end of this day
Lord led my heart was true Let my lifesong sing to you Lord I give my life A living sacrifice To reach a world in need To be your hands and feet
So may the words I say And the things I do Make my lifesong sing Bring a smile to you
Let my lifesong sing to you Let my lifesong sing to you I want to sign your name To the end of this day
Knowing that my heart was true Let my lifesong sing to you Hallelujah, Hallelujah let my lifesong sing to you Hallelujah, Hallelujah let my lifesong sing to you
Hallelujah,… Let my lifesong sing to you Let my lifesong sing to you I want to sign your name To the end of this day
Knowing that my heart was true Let my lifesong sing to you Let my lifesong sing to you Let my lifesong sing to you I want to sign your name To the end of this day Lord led my heart was true Let my lifesong sing to you
Today, in God’s Lavish Mercy, what a beautiful prayer Paul spreads over his listeners. It is a prayer that calls all believers to live in love, peace, and reverence for one another:
Brothers and sisters: If there is any encouragement in Christ, any solace in love, any participation in the Spirit, any compassion and mercy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, with the same love, united in heart, thinking one thing.
Philippians 2:1-2
Reading this passage, I was immediately struck by the awareness of how much opposite messaging we receive in today’s world.
In the arenas of entertainment, politics, civic life, and – sad to say – even religion, we often hear a message contradictory to Paul’s. We hear civic and supposedly “religious” leaders tell their followers to attack, shun, fight, and even “hang” the other. Night after night on our TVs, we watch fictional characters act out the hate and crime that has become normalized in our culture. Our video games, music and movies are drowning in blood, hate and anger.
Sometimes, I am just astounded that we entertain ourselves with murder, war, rape and other outrages against human beings!
With the vicious attack on Paul Pelosi this week, as in so many other horrendous incidents of unbridled hate, we see a perpetrator sickened and abetted by the violent rhetoric our society has allowed. And perhaps even worse than the crime itself, we see political leaders not only minimizing the atrocity, but mocking the victim!
If St. Paul were here, what would he say?
where is the encouragement in Christ?
where is the solace in love?
where is the participation in the Spirit?
where is the compassion and mercy?
As a matter of fact, if St. Paul were here, I think he would wail in sadness!
In Luke’s Gospel, Jesus tells us what a society should look like when it respects God and God’s Creation. It should be impelled by the deepest respect and tenderness toward the self and the other:
When you hold a lunch or a dinner, do not invite your friends or your brothers or sisters or your relatives or your wealthy neighbors, in case they may invite you back and you have repayment. Rather, when you hold a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind; blessed indeed will you be because of their inability to repay you. For you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.
Luke 14:12-14
Bottom line is this: a lot of people just don’t buy Paul’s or Jesus’s message. A lot of people would rather live for themselves to the expense of others.
But we’re not just “a lot of people”. We are Christ’s, and we must examine our speech, attitudes, choices and behaviors for anything that contradicts his message of love, mercy, inclusion, and mutual reverence.
The contradictions are subtle. Discovering and uprooting them takes honest and humble prayer. It requires a good look at how we entertain ourselves, how we confront those we disagree with, who we criticize and how we do it.
Several years ago, I was shocked when someone close to me announced, “I hate Obama!” I asked her why and she said, “I just do. I don’t need a reason!”
Where does all the hate in our culture come from? And, oh, how much more does it tell us about the haters than the ones hated! And of course, the essential question, “What can we do about it?”
Jesus made it simple. He told us to look around the “table” of our attitudes, behaviors and choices.
Who is welcome? Who is shunned? Who is embraced as a human being? Who is objectified and dispensed with as unimportant.
As in all solutions, we can begin with ourselves. Ridding ourselves of these contradictions requires that we listen to ourselves to see if, how, and why we ever use the word “hate”. Only then might we cleanse our hearts of its subtle poisons.
Prose: Two thoughts today
The enemy is fear. We think it is hate, but it is really fear.
Mahatma Gandhi
Who would I be, and what power would be expressed in my life, if I were not dominated by fear?
Paula D’Arcy
Music: At My Table – JJ Heller – a kinda fun video to watch!
Today, in God’s Lavish Mercy, we have three wonderful readings to enrich our prayer.
In our passage from Wisdom, we can picture the pray-er sitting down with God to express admiration, thanks and love.
Before the LORD the whole universe is as a grain from a balance or a drop of morning dew come down upon the earth. But you have mercy on all, because you can do all things; and you overlook people’s sins that they may repent. For you love all things that are and loathe nothing that you have made; for what you hated, you would not have fashioned.
In his letter to the Thessalonians, Paul prays a beautiful blessing over the community – a blessing which, by grace, transcends through time to us:
We always pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling and powerfully bring to fulfillment every good purpose and every effort of faith, that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, in accord with the grace of our God and Lord Jesus Christ.
In Luke’s Gospel, Jesus meets a height-challenged scribe who is intensely interested in seeing the rumored Messiah:
Zaccheus 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.”
Notice that Jesus doesn’t just wave or look at Zacchaeus with a wry smile at his perch. Jesus incorporates Zacchaeus into the embrace of salvation.As Wisdom says, Jesus “loves all things that are..” And as Paul says, “powerfully brings to fulfillment every good purpose and every effort of faith…”
I think there are times in every life when we need to stretch to find God. We may need to climb faith’s tree and dangle over the confusions of life in the hope of grasping grace. Friends, all of us, no matter how tall we might be, have been Zaccheaus! Am I right? When we are, let”s listen for the One Who calls our name!
Poetry: Zacchaeus – George Macdonald (10 December 1824 – 18 September 1905) was a Scottish author, poet and Christian minister. He was a pioneering figure in the field of modern fantasy literature and the mentor of fellow writer Lewis Carroll.
To whom the heavy burden clings, It yet may serve him like a staff; One day the cross will break in wings, The sinner laugh a holy laugh.
The dwarfed Zacchaeus climbed a tree, His humble stature set him high; The Lord the little man did see Who sought the great man passing by.
Up to the tree he came, and stopped: “To-day,” he said, “with thee I bide.” A spirit-shaken fruit he dropped, Ripe for the Master, at his side.
Sure never host with gladder look A welcome guest home with him bore! Then rose the Satan of rebuke And loudly spake beside the door:
“This is no place for holy feet; Sinners should house and eat alone! This man sits in the stranger‘s seat And grinds the faces of his own!”
Outspoke the man, in Truth‘s own might: “Lord, half my goods I give the poor; If one I’ve taken more than right With four I make atonement sure!”
“Salvation here is entered in; This man indeed is Abraham’s son!” Said he who came the lost to win- And saved the lost whom he had won.
Music: He Called Me by My Name – Fr. Christopher Cuelho, OFM
Lavish Mercy 