Looking and Perceiving: Their role in Putting on Christ

The key words in both of yesterday's readings, Acts 6: 8-15 and Jn 6: 22-29, is "look."  In
Acts, people looked upon Stephen whose face looked like the face of an angel but was perceived as an evil man. As reported in the first reading of today's liturgy,  Acts 7: 51-8:1a, Stephen was stoned to death.  In yesterday's Gospel,  the crowd is looking for Jesus. Immediately, He  sees that they are really looking for another meal and are not at all interested in His teachings or that He is the Holy One sent by the Father to show them, by His service to the poor, the oppressed, the sick and marginalized of his society,  the way to eternal life. 

For what and for whom am I looking? Am I looking for salvation, truth, redemption? Am I seeking Jesus as my Savior? Or am I looking for something else of less importance?  Is my seeking about me or about the Kingdom of God, about God's will "here on earth as it is in heaven"?

In looking at others, through which "set" of eyes is my perception formed? Do I see the divine or do I see shortcomings, weaknesses and evil? Do I, like Stephen's executioners in today's first reading, turn others into objects of scorn, subject to judgment and condemnation? Or do I see others as God sees them: as his beloved sons/daughters, images of the divine, persons whom God has called to become one with the Father as Jesus and the Father are one? Do I see others as perfect in Christ Jesus, as persons loved unconditionally by God and in the process of being sanctified by the circumstances of their lives?  Whichever perception I choose, one will lead me to life with Christ; the other will alienate me from knowing and loving as Christ does and will blind me to Christ's love for me.

God's Power and God's Design: Essential Elements of Reality

Today's Scripture readings, Acts 5:39 and Jn 6: 1-15, remind us of two very important spiritual realities: one, that anything that is of divine origin will persist, thrive and bear fruit that will last into eternity; that whatever is of human origin will destroy itself.  If I live with that truth in mind, would I not be less worried  about situations that I would otherwise fret about?  Would I not function differently, be less angry, less frustrated, less belligerent , less resistive if I were convinced that what I am, or others are called to bring into existence, will in fact happen only if of divine origin, and not come to pass if merely of human origin? Think about it!  Is God not in charge of our lives and of our accomplishments to do good and avoid evil?

In today's Gospel Jesus uses two fish and five loaves of bread to feed 5000 people, reminding us by His actions that whatever little we have the Lord can and does use to bring about a good, if I rely upon Him.  Nothing I, or another offers or has  is too small for His work in this world. If I believe in Jesus' power to take the little I or another has--be it education, natural gifts and talents, creative energies, faith, trust, love, wisdom--would I be saying: "I can't do that, Lord! I'm insignificant, powerless, helpless. I don't have the educational background, the talent, the energy to do that. I am not the right person for that task."  Would I be saying the same thing about another person whom God may be calling to do something that I believe he/she is not capable of doing? Or, in faith, would I believe that "nothing is impossible for God" and that, if it is of God the good desired will be realized through anyone God chooses, including me and you!

The Holy Spirit is Not Rationed

God "does not ration the Holy Spirit" (Jn 3: 31-36).  Ever admire the work of others and wonder how they accomplished what the did in their life-times--people like your own parents, for instance, or people life Mother Teresa, Martin Luther King, Dorothy Day, Pope
Francis or Pope John Paul II or Pope Emeritus Benedict XVi, or the pastor of your parish or the Sisters who taught you in gradeschool, high school, college? Ever wonder how hour favorite author did what he/she did?  The answer, obviously, is through the power of the Holy Spirit.

In today's Gospel, St. John tells us that God "does not ration the Holy Spirit" (Jn 3: 34). Jesus says to Philip in John 14:12-13: "I tell you most solemnly whoever believes in me will perform the same works as I do myself; he [she] will perform even greater works, because I am going to the Father....I will send" (John 16:8) the Advocate, the Holy Spirit to you.

Do I realize that no matter what I want to do in carrying out the inspirations of the Holy Spirit, whatever I want to do in my vocation to further God's Kingdom, I am capable of doing by the power of the Spirit within me?

Wearying God

In today's first reading, Os 7: 10-14; 8:10, the Lord asks Ahaz to request a sign from God. He refuses.  Isaiah confronts Israel and says, in effect, "Isn't it bad enough that you weary each other? Must you also weary your God?" 

How easy for us human beings to weary God! God asks us, through the prophet Micah, for instance, to love tenderly, act justly and do good (cf Micah 6:8).  Through Jesus, just prior to His Ascension, we are asked to go out to the whole world and proclaim the good news.  In doing God's will, Jesus assures us that if we ask anything in His name, He will give it to us. 

Do I truly believe Jesus? do I ask for the help I need to love tenderly, act justly and do good?  Do I believe that Jesus will truly send me the Holy Spirit so that I will be empowered to "preach" the Good News by how I live life as modeled by Jesus in the Gospels?

Our "Emmaus" Journeys

The journey to Emmaus was preceded by a series of events that were intensely emotional:

• Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem
• Jesus proclaimed as king on that triumphal entry
• Jesus perceived as the one who would free the Jews from Roman occupation and return their nation to prominence

Hopes were high, to say the least.  Jesus' disciples were in a state of elation, confidence. They spent three years being taught by the Master, witnessing Jesus healing all kinds of diseases, casting out demons, raising the death to life, confronting hypocrisy, being inclusive of everyone, especially women and children.  Life could not have been better for them.  Then, a week later, all hopes were dashed, shattered, crushed.  Jesus is handed over to the enemy and was put to death.

Think of times in your life when everything was going right for you.  You found your life's partner. You fall in love, dream together of raising a family and being each other's soul mate into old age and until death.  Then suddenly the bubble burst.  Your partner "falls out of love". A bitter divorce follows.  Or your spouse succumbs to a serious addiction, loses a lucrative job and you "fall" into dire poverty, alone, a single parent. Or a sudden illness takes your partner from you.  In religious life and/or priesthood the dream of perfection is pricked, the "balloon" deflates; or the same happens in your personal, professional life. All seems lost. To whom do you go for help? Who accompanies you on your "Emmaus" journey as you attempt to walk away from the painful memories? Who helps you make sense of it all? Who redirects your thinking and shows you the Scriptures and their meaning in your life, restoring your "vision", renewing your hopes, putting you back on a path that strengthens your resolve to start anew with the "Stranger," Christ at your side all of the way?

The Difference Jesus Makes

The Gospel today, Luke 24: 13-35, recounts the incident of two of Jesus' disciples walking a 7-mile trek from Jerusalem to Emmaus.  On the way they discuss the events that had just occurred three days ago: Jesus crucifixion and death, the seemingly tragic end of their Master and Teacher.  As they are talking Jesus, unbeknowst to them,  joins them and asks them what they are discussing.  Saddened, they ask in bewilderment: Don't you know what has happened these past few days; are you a visitor here that you are unaware? "What things?" He asks.  So the two disciples explain everything. Jesus says to them: "How foolish you are! How slow of heart to believe all that the prophets spoke. Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into His glory? Then, beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them what referred to him in all the Scriptures." When they arrive in Emmaus, the disciples beg him to stay with them as it was getting late. He does so. At the meal he takes the bread, breaks it and gives it to them. Then he vanishes from their sight. Their eyes are open and they say to one another: Weren't our hearts burning as He spoke to us?

As you and I discuss serious, troubling issues in our personal lives, Jesus also joins us in our discussion and most times we, too, do not recognize Him.  He is always ready to explain "the Scriptures" of our lives and our sufferings, too, are a necessary part of our own transformation from that in our lives that cause "death" to that which is life-giving. To what do I need to die if others are to be made whole, survive and thrive as happy, productive, joy-filled individuals? What do I need to let go of--what attitudes, behaviors--in order that I, too, will realize my potential to be "Christ" to others and for myself to be truly happy, joyfilled, God-centered individual who make the world a better place?

Mistaken Identity

In today's Gospel, Jn 20: 11-18, Mary Magdalen goes to the tomb. Two angels, one sitting at the head and the other at the feet where Jesus had been laid, ask Mary: "Woman, why are you weeping? They have taken my Lord, and I don't know where they laid him."  Mary turned around and there was Jesus, though she did not recognize Him, thinking He was the Gardener until He called her by name.

Many times messengers "from heaven" ask us why we are troubled, frustrated, angry, sad, weepy? What is our response?  Have we, too,  lost Jesus? Are we, too, wondering who took Him? Or is it another loss that is significant to us that we are grieving?

Mary found the One Thing necessary, the Love of her life, the One who saved her from demons that had been controlling her and alienating her from herself and others.

Have I found the Love of my life?  Have I found Jesus? Do I hear Him calling my name? Am I, in fact, even looking for Him in my life?