Andrew followed and Scotland was impressed

As he walked by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the lake—for they were fishermen. 19And he said to them, ‘Follow me, and I will make you fish for people.’ 20Immediately they left their nets and followed him. (Matthew 4:18-20)
The Roman Catholic Lectionary offers texts for the celebration of the feast of Saint Andrew. Who is this Patron Saint of Scotland? Matthew’s gospel tells us that he was Peter’s brother and that they both were fishermen. The group of people who Jesus invited to follow Him was unusual. Fishermen became evangelists. Men of few words spread the Word. Our identity is not “what we do”. Our identity is not “what we think”. Like Andrew, our identity is discovered when we follow Him. Andrew preached in many places in the Ancient world. St. Andrew is honoured as their chief patron by Russia and Scotland.

Hope for Life in Advent

Today the Roman Catholic Lectionary marks the beginning of a new liturgical year. The messages of the new year are similar to the messages which ended the previous year. Be Alert! The experience of the in dwelling Spirit which opens our being to the invitation to welcome the Incarnation and to become aware of the distractions in our lives which dampen the experience of Life and the dispositions which make hope difficult. Hope is the essence of prayer. Hope is the communication with the Divine. The Advent season is the opportunity to celebrate and exercise Hope for our prayer and the return of order to our lives.
To do this we are called to check up on the disorders within and around us to which Jesus is constantly arriving. I write the following with some care, based on experience. We do not really want a Savior! We want an approver. We do not want a negative judge whom we fear, but an approving and benevolent assessor. Most Christians, it seems to me on this first Sunday of Advent, want to sweep away their pasts or presents and hope that the God of Vengeance doesn’t see even the carpet under which have been swept the disorders. A second group of Christians wants to pretend that the disorders or need for integrity do not exist and they stay alert to their denials. A third group spends their lives obsessed with their doing nothing but the right and corrects things so that a savior for them is quite unnecessary. (Gillick SJ, 2009)

Works Cited
Gillick SJ, L. (2009, November 29). Daily Reflection. Retrieved November 2009, 2009, from Creighton University's Online Ministries : http://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/112909.html

Seeing the signs

Luke recounts Jesus telling His disciples to observe the sign of the fig tree in the Gospel from today’s Roman Catholic Lectionary. This passage is placed with the account of the end times in Daniel. I am drawn to think of Richard Rohr and his explanation of the development of “the third eye” among contemplative Christians. This type of “living in the Now” brings insight and vision about the present moment. In that “Naked Now” the Presence is detected. It becomes as clear as the fruit of the fig tree. The time which Jesus and Daniel speak of begins NOW. The timeless Divine is not prisoner to a timeline. The Spirit within is eternal.

End Times and Now Times

The Roman Catholic Lectionary places the story of Daniel in the Lion’s Den with Luke’s account of Jesus commentary on the destruction of Jerusalem and the “end days”. The challenge of Daniel might be with the condemnation of the men who had opposed Daniel, their children and their wives in the Lion’s Den. The “natural justice” of a penalty which is based on the harm you have done another is somewhat expected. The “sins of the father are vested on the sons” is a cliché with some evidence in reality. The Divine mercy for the evil doers appears to be absent in Daniel. The destruction of Jerusalem is evil. Historically, Jerusalem has known defeat at the hands of the enemies of Israel during those times when the people have lost the connection with the Divine as “Chosen people”. The Covenant between God and people is life for Jerusalem. Death and destruction can return without contact with that Life. Jesus reminds us that the “Son of Man” restores that Life and that those who see the Son of Man coming should rise and be redeemed. The “historical” setting of these episodes may suggest that the message is also ancient. The battle between good and evil is constant. The “Son of Man” is the consistent link to redeem that battle.

Hold on ...Endurance!

Today in the Roman Catholic lectionary, Luke relates Jesus advice about endurance. The followers of the Way are perceived by the religious orthodoxy of the day as being dangerous to the dogmas and doctrines which have maintained control in human hands and have comforted those who are uncomfortable with the call to transformation at the core of authentic spiritual journeys. There will be persecutions, then and now. Endurance, which for the believer, is rooted in hope in the Promise is the quality that is needed to overcome. “We shall overcome” is the chant of those who moved against the social orthodoxy in the last century. We are further along for their endurance.

Here today gone to Mira

The readings today in the Roman Catholic Lectionary bring thoughts of the kingdoms and rulers in human history that have come and gone throughout time. Luke tells of Jesus reflection on the temporal nature of earthly kingdoms, even that represented by the magnificent Temple in Jerusalem. The so called signs of the end are seemingly always present. We, perhaps, always contain the seeds of our own destruction. Geo-politics and the continuing climate change are visible in the world. The Temple that we are individually, the Temple of the indwelling Spirit, also endures violence and revolution against the peace and sanctity of the soul. The seeds of the destruction of our Temple may also be close at hand, yet the Promise offers hope that we would not reject the life which will sustain our Temple.

Open to the possibilities

The decision to be open to the possibilities is crucial in the journey towards greater spiritual enlightenment. Luke in the Roman Catholic Lectionary for today, shows Jesus pointing out the widow who puts “all she has” into the Temple collection. The widow demonstrates movement away from self aggrandizement and control of all of life’s events toward the active participation in the will of the Divine. This demands openness to change and Providence. The Four Young Israelites at the Babylonian Court from the Book of Daniel are similarly blessed by the unity of their action and the Divine Will. Life is the fruit of activating our relationship with the Divine

King and Contradictions in the Kingdom

In 1925 Pope Pius XI created the feast of Christ the King. The Roman Catholic Lectionary offers Scripture passages to celebrate the feast. The person of this Pope, the Church and society in the “twenties” and the political situation in the world contained many contradictions and paradoxes. The path of wisdom in our journey requires that we deal with and live with paradox and tension between apparently contradictory ideas and actions. Pius XI proposed social action for Christians in the face of communism, National Socialism, secularism and a time (the 20th Century) when ‘might is right’ can be contrasted sharply with the image of Jesus before Pilate proclaiming "Christ's peace in Christ's kingdom". (motto of PiusXI)

Chris Birthday Today

My oldest son Chris is 32 today. It was a very blessed day when he was born. He radiated love and support to me from the first moments. He still does. Thank God for Christopher!

Tough To Tidy Temple

The return from defilement of things sacred is celebrated in the Scripture from today’s Roman Catholic Lectionary. The Temple of Jerusalem is the physical focus but the Temple of the in dwelling Spirit, people, are the focus of our reflection. The people paradox is that we are both “earthen vessels” of the Divine Spirit and host to the “robbers and thieves” which wrestle for control in our relationships with others. The return from defilement to sacred is the living of Resurrection, often on a daily basis. The Journey, as David proclaims, gives us pause to reflect and respond with praise.

The Journey goes to Jerusalem

The movement of Jesus to Jerusalem in Luke’s Gospel from today’s Roman Catholic Lectionary is increasing the tension among the disciples and the crowds. The casting out of demons and the healing continues. Jesus seems to be searching for the faith that will allow the crowds to come with Him in the decision to accept the will of the Father, to be overcome by love and to be transformed in union with the Divine. Rohr suggests that God has worked with remnants and the leavening agents throughout salvation history. The Scriptures from Maccabees tell of a time when the few responded to maintain the Covenant. The ‘few’ people that respond are ‘chosen’. They are not ‘special’ but bear the same challenge and suffering of Jesus in the desire that “all be saved”.

We really can know the best choice

The ‘time for decision’ appears to be a theme running through the Scriptures of the Roman Catholic Lectionary today. What might be the basis of each scenario presented? Is there a common theme? The Seven sons in Maccabees who accept execution instead of betrayal of their customs and covenant, the psalmist who prays for deliverance and the story that Jesus tells in Luke’s Gospel of the difference between the servants who invested their talents well and those who excused themselves. Underlying each scenario is the decision to act according to the understanding of the will of God. There is a choice and in our self, where the Divine indwells, is the necessary understanding to make the choice that continues and expands that awareness of the Presence within.

Invite to the tree top

Searching out a character from the Roman Catholic Lectionary for today that might give us pause to think is quite easy. Zacchaeus, the unpopular and ritually unclean, tax collector who steps out to encounter Jesus and ends up as Jesus host certainly demonstrates that open ourselves faith discussed by Richard Rohr in “the Naked Now”.

Neither Jew nor Gentile

The Roman Catholic Lectionary today brings us into a couple of examples of the understanding of the relationship with the Divine that Richard Rohr writes about in “The Naked Now” We apparently invite spiritual and temporal trouble when we resort to dual thinking. The Israelites were often caught between the extremes of Jew and Gentile. In the excerpt from Luke’s gospel we see that the blind man must “step out”. He must be open to change. He must have faith.

The Disorder in End Times Images

Nature is observed, in the Northern hemisphere, to follow seasons. Ancient people marked the significant changes in the seasons with feasts. The spring, with new life, is the Easter season for Christianity. November, as the life around us dies and is changing our landscape, is the end of the year in the Roman Catholic Lectionary. Thinking about the end or the ‘end times’ can be troublesome and confusing for people. It is often challenging to find religious or scriptural references which are clear and unambiguous. We often seek prophets who tell us about what is to come. Larry Gillick suggests…
Here, as we near the end of this liturgical year, we are invited to face Jesus as the norm, the model, the person Who is offering a way to know and accept what is ultimately good for us. Strictly, by ourselves, we would always be in states of confusion about what is reckless and what is reverent. This confusion can become a comfortable and irresponsible way of crashing through our lives and those around us. Jesus is the divine wake-up call for us to rise and shun the luxury of sleep-living. (Gillick S.J., 2009)
Works Cited
Gillick S.J., L. (2009, November 15). Daily Reflection. Retrieved November 15, 2009, from Creighton University's Online Ministries: http://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/111509.html

Guidance and Gift

The Roman Catholic Lectionary this morning may be presenting two different ideas for our mutual consideration. It seems that the persistence of the widow against the unjust judge in Luke’s gospel shows our role in making things work for us. The author of Wisdom and the psalmist proclaim how the might of God has taken care of His people against their enemies. What is it? God Us? A partnership? How are persistence and Hope in God’s promise related? Isn’t persistence a “Gift of the Spirit.” I think Richard Rohr would find much here for contemplation.

Right before our eyes... Paradox!

Foolishness is a condition of mind which occasionally causes the wise to fumble and flounder. The Roman Catholic Lectionary offers two visions of foolishness. The supposedly wise who fail to try to perceive or to ponder the great questions of the relationship of the observed universe to the Divine and the personal life to all life are stumbling through the life experience. Luke continues to point to the offer from Jesus to be open to paradox and able to add to our understanding a tension with values which are counter to our ‘common sense’. For from the greatness and beauty of created things comes a corresponding perception of their Creator (Wisdom 13) Those who try to make their life secure will lose it, but those who lose their life will keep it. (Luke 17).

The Spirit of Wisdom

The Roman Catholic Lectionary today addresses the question of the Coming of the Kingdom. We look to prophets and seers to answer this question. Jesus was asked to share His understanding. He answered that in fact, ‘the kingdom of God is among* you.’ (Luke 17). The indwelling of the Spirit of God strikes the author of the Book of Wisdom as the greatest of gifts in life. ‘For she is a breath of the power of God, and a pure emanation of the glory of the Almighty;’ (Wisdom 7). Richard Rohr, in the Naked Now, suggests that our being will ‘resonate’ in response to this in dwelling Kingdom.

Remembrance Day Roman Catholic Lectionary Saint Martin of Tours,

On Remembrance Day, the Roman Catholic Lectionary recognizes Saint Martin of Tours. See post below for the story.

Their grandparents went to war

For many years, I accompanied the boys of the 1st Sackville Cub Pack to the Cenotaph for the commemoration of respect for those who had died in military sevice for the Country. To the boys, this was about events mostly in the time of their grandparents. Now, sadly, the events are as recent as today. If my grandchildren are going to remember war as something long ago, we need to begin to make that happen. On Remembrance Day, the Roman Catholic Lectionary recognizes Saint Martin of Tours, bishop with a Memorial day. One story of St. Martin who lived in the 4th century and who served as a soldier in a Roman guard, tells of his refusal to carry arms into battle. The day when this certainly would have resulted in his death on the battlefield the opponents sought a peace treaty. Today Luke brings us to the region between Samaria and Galilee, where the Samaritans people considered by the Jewish people as unclean lived. Jesus encounters and cures ten lepers. The one who returns to thank him is a Samaritan. Jesus proclaims that the faith of the unclean leper has saved him. I believe Richard Rohr would echo that our movement toward the Divine requires us to take the step, to act in faith. Isaiah 2 looks to the time when we “they shall beat their swords into ploughshares, and their spears into pruning-hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.” Those to whom war is personal, veteran, soldier, widow, widower, father, mother, son, daughter of those who serve, and those who die in service are the most ardent in the hope for the end of war. Perhaps Martin of Tours is the Saint for this day where we need the faith of the Samaritan to change our attitude toward war.

The Temple within

The Feast of the DEDICATION OF ST.JOHN LATERAN is today. In the Roman Catholic Lectionary, John tells the story of the cleansing of the Temple by Jesus. Jesus answered them, ‘Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.’ John explains that Jesus is referring to the Temple that is His body. The indwelling of Jesus through the Holy Spirit is the relationship at the core of Christianity. All humans are invited to this relationship. It cannot be destroyed. Jesus exhorts us to clean out the obstacles to development of this intimacy with the Divine.

Giving with Impact

The 32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time, in the Roman Catholic Lectionary, offers us a comparison between the arrogant behavior of some and the simple humility of others. Luke places Jesus at the entrance to the Temple after He warns His disciples not to imitate the Scribes. The gift of the widow, all she had, is brought to the attention of the disciples. She has given more. We can recognize the generosity of some among us who give their time, talent and treasure without reserve. The giver is the one who realizes their own giftedness. Giving all is the response to knowing “all is gift”. Professional fund raising organizations know that “givers give”. The more economically disadvantaged areas of Canada are, per capita, the more generous.

November Snow Victory and Shrewdness

Boldness, the victory of our God, the praise of shrewdness and early snow in November. Things are not crystal clear today. The Roman Catholic Lectionary offers some pardoxical images of the relationship between the human with need for power and control and the Divine to whom we attribute these qualities yet has only need to love? ( Happy Birthday Pat!).

Who is not a member?

In the Roman Catholic Lectionary Luke presents Jesus response to the criticism of the religious authorities that he was welcoming sinners and eating with them. The parables He tells are familiar but I find myself, in the light of reading Richard Rohr’s “The Naked Now”, pausing to reflect on the hidden or non dual experience that may be represented here.
‘Which one of you, having a hundred sheep and losing one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after the one that is lost until he finds it?
The sheep, that Jesus refers to, belong to the searcher. The religious authorities were not open to having the sinners belong to the dinner gathering. The message of belonging was difficult for those who criticized Jesus. They probably believed that the owner would search for the lost sheep. The idea that Jesus was looking at the Pharisees as the lost sheep comes to mind. They would see themselves as being like Jesus, believers. Perhaps Jesus is in search of them. Those who cast others out are perhaps in need of being found and returned to the flock?

Retirement Planning

I listen this morning to the a CBC interview with a person who is saving a lot of money for retirement. The dedication to having as much as I can when I retire is very large. The Roman Catholic Lectionary, today presents the supremacy of love as the goal and source of life. Luke shows that Jesus telling a story about planning ahead. The surprise is that discipleship and possessions appear to be in conflict. The “love of things” is not the relationship that Paul exhorts. Jesus planning parables may be for us to consider the burden of possessions?

Non Dual searching for Presence

The psalmist writes in today’s Roman Catholic Lectionary, that his soul is calmed like a child with its mother. The psalmist seems to be experiencing Presence. I hope today to continue reading in “The Naked Now” by Richard Rohr. At the same time, I am thinking about an interview, after his latest book, with Bishop John Shelby Spong who ponders the question of the ultimate mystery; death and what happens next. This interview is available as a podcast from CBC Tapestry. Psalmist, Franciscan seer and Episcopal Bishop all identify a living state which, when it is in contact with the Divine resonates with life and will be seen as a life with the “Marks of the True Christian” cited today by Paul in his letter to the Romans. Luke tells the “The Parable of the Great Dinner” where Jesus shares that those who are expected and invited to live in this Presence may decline the invitation. The grace will have its effect of bringing many, the unexpected, to the Banquet.

Saints know blessing

Today, the Solemnity of All Saints in the Roman Catholic Lectionary, is the day to recall holiness we have experienced in the people we have known. The Beatitudes, the spiritual platform of Jesus, are presented. Many people we know, humble, grieving, peacemakers, meek, merciful and resolute are described as “blessed”. Today we might think of them as saints.

Blessedness is described as something of God, holiness or blessedness,
being displayed through human actions. We are inside-outside people. Being
blessed is based on God's sharing part of the essence of God with us and then
our doing something from that inside gift by sharing it in small
and/or large deeds. We are not holy by what we do. We are holy because of the
very essence of God shared with us. We receive it, believe it, and not achieve
it!

(Gillick, 2009)
Gillick, L. S. (2009, Nov 1). Daily Reflection. Retrieved Nov 1, 2009, from Creighton University's Online Ministries: http://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/110109.html