The Question of Hunger

Matthew 15:34-37: The Question of Hunger

Jesus said to them, “How many loaves do you have?” “Seven,” they replied, “and a few fish.” He ordered the crowd to sit down on the ground. Then he took the seven loaves and the fish, gave thanks, broke the loaves, and gave them to the disciples, who in turn gave them to the crowds. They all ate and were satisfied. 

Many times I contemplate the condition of our world and the serious problem of hunger, especially among our children. We don’t have to go far to witness this. Children go hungry in our own neighborhoods, and it is a truth that I have difficulty reconciling. I often ask myself the following question: If God is a God of love, then why do so many suffer in our world, especially the innocent? It is not an easy question to answer. However, in his commentary on this passage, Frank Doyle offers an eye-opening answer:

There is a crucial element in [Matthew 15:34-37] we cannot overlook. It was not Jesus but his disciples who distributed the food. In our world there is an abundance. Food production outpaces population growth. If there is hunger, malnutrition and other unmet needs, it is because we, God’s stewards, are failing in our task of distribution. If there is hunger and suffering and death, it is not the work of God. It is our failure to work. (Living Space)

Doyle argues what we often ignore: Hunger is not an issue of God’s lack of care; it is, rather, and issue of our own neglect and greed. If I look in my own trash, I see an abundance of discarded food. And it pains me to know that there are those, especially children, who cannot get a satisfying meal. Now, I am not thinking about feeding people out of my trash can, but the discarded food stands as a reminder. Am I being God’s steward, God’s distributor of plenty? The answer is not one I like to hear. But I pray for God’s grace to do a better job with loving my neighbor. Amen. 

Peace, 

Stan

Be Prepared

Matthew 24:42 -- Be Prepared!

Therefore, stay awake! For you do not know on which day your Lord will come. 

When I was a kid, I belonged to the Boy Scouts of America (BSA). And one of the first things I learned was the group’s motto: “Be Prepared!” As an 11-13 year-old, being prepared meant something totally different than it does as a 47-year-old father of four. Below the surface, however, the basis of that preparation is the same. To be prepared is to think and act ahead, equipping myself for any situation that might happen. But as the BSA taught me, preparation is not just for the self; it is primarily for the good of others. Preparation puts us in a better position to serve others. For if we are serving, we are loving, too. Service involves self-sacrifice, care, time, and generosity, all things for which we must be prepared. Our faith life is no different. If we want to be ready for the coming of Jesus, whether it is the end of times or the end of our own corporeal time, we must be prepared, prepared to give, love, offer ourselves, and empty ourselves. Preparation is no easy task, though. We cannot do it on our own. Thankfully, God is infinitely generous and gives us the necessary grace to persevere and prepare. 

So I ask myself: Am I prepared? Does my life reflect self-sacrifice, care, time, and generosity? I always need work in this area, so I pray for God’s grace to strengthen me. Amen. 

Peace, 

Stan

Living in Truth

Luke 19:45-47 -- Living in Truth

Jesus entered the temple area and proceeded to drive out those who were selling things, saying to them, "It is written, My house shall be a house of prayer, but you have made it a den of thieves." And every day he was teaching in the temple area. The chief priests, the scribes, and the leaders of the people, meanwhile, were seeking to put him to death[.]

Being true to ourselves, true to what our conscience tells us is right and good in the context of our faith, is a serious challenge. Truth is the enemy to those who live lives of falsehood. And if I am honest, I fall into this category at times. I like to believe that which is comforting and self-confirming. But what is true, what is of God, is often antagonistic to my personal preference, especially when my desires put last the love of others.  In his commentary on this passage, Frank Doyle states:

Jesus is an example of the true prophet. He speaks as a messenger of God and is indeed God’s own Son. He stands as a counter-witness to all that is against truth, love and justice and as such inevitably incurs the anger and hostility of those who have power, power based on falsehood, on self-interest, corruption and injustice.

Our Church, in its communities and through individuals, is called on to continue that mission of counter-witness. It will win us the support and admiration of some but also the hostility, the anger and even the violence of others. This is something we should not at all be surprised at nor something we should try to avoid. Our only concern must be always to speak the truth in love.

God will take care of the rest. Because, ultimately, truth, love and justice will prevail.

Doyle’s point is that we cannot have truth our way, the way of self-service, power, and personal gain. Truth should never include dishonesty, injustice, and self-interest. Instead, truth entails honesty, self-giving love, and putting the other person first. And everything Jesus exemplifies with his life and teaching, points to this truth. But his is not an easy truth to live, for truth is often of high personal cost. 

As I realize my own short-comings, I know that my way is often not Christ’s way. And I pray for God’s grace to change me, to transform my life into a life where I see, understand, and live more truthfully. 

Peace, 

Stan

Doyle, Frank. “Living Space Friday of Week 33 of Ordinary Time – Gospel: Sacred Space.” 

Living Space , Irish Jesuits, https://livingspace.sacredspace.ie/o1336g/.

Not and End but a New Beginning

Luke 21:7-8 -- The End as the Now

Then they asked him, "Teacher, when will this happen? And what sign will there be when all these things are about to happen?" He answered, "See that you not be deceived, for many will come in my name, saying, 'I am he,' and 'The time has come.' Do not follow them!

Frank Doyle writes:

There is another end we all have to face and which is totally outside our control: the end of our bodily life [on earth].

Are we ready for that? There is only one effective way to prepare: to live each day fully in the company of Jesus. We do not prepare for the end by guaranteeing our future (we can’t) but by living fully with God and for God at every moment of every day.

We can do this:
* by personal prayer
* by absorbing the message of the Gospel so much into our way of seeing life that it permeates everything we say and do; we become “other Christs” by learning to find Jesus, to love and respond to him in every person, in every place and in every experience of our daily life.

Then, no matter when Jesus comes to take us away, we will be more than ready. We will meet not as strangers but as dear and intimate friends who know each other well.

Doyle, Frank, SJ. "Living Space: Thirty-Third Sunday in Ordinary Time." Living Space, Irish Jesuits,

    livingspace.sacredspace.ie/OC331/.

Our Status and Choices

Wisdom 6:6-7 -- A Pick-Me-Up

For the lowly may be pardoned out of mercy

but the mighty shall be mightily put to the test.

For the Lord of all shows no partiality,

nor does he fear greatness,

Because he himself made the great as well as the small,

and he provides for all alike . . .

I prefer to be meek, to realize that no matter how many wonderful blessings I have in life -- faith, family, career, health, home -- all are generous gifts of God. Not one blessing is self-created. I take comfort, moreover, in knowing that God is generous, shows no partiality, and loves us all no matter our "status" in this world. Don't get me wrong; the choices we make seriously matter. For making the right choices is part of our path toward God's will. Although I often fall, making many poor choices, God is always there to remind me that his pardon and mercy are tangible, always ready to lift me back up. And I need a lot of lifting. 

Have a blessed rest of the week!

The Proximity of God

Psalm 145:18: The Proximity of God

The Lord is near to all who call on him,

to all who call on him in truth.

Recently, I have been calling on God a lot. As a challenged father of a teenager, as a devoted disciple who often feels lost, as a husband, as a teacher, and as a neighbor I call on God with regularity praying,  “God, help me, strengthen me, guide me. . .” And in faith I know he is always near, especially in my times of struggle. But that knowledge doesn’t always translate into real life experience. Sometimes I can’t help but feel like God is far away. God does not promise, however, that we will always feel consoled. What he promises, instead, is that he will always be with us, even in our doubts and desolation. And much like the disciples in the boat on the sea, nearly swamped by a quick-rising storm, we call on Jesus, too: “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” (Mark 4:38). The Scripture does not end with God’s silence. It ends with Jesus rising and quieting the storm: “He woke up and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, ‘Peace! Be still!’” (Mark 4:39). 

Loving God, please grant me the faith to always call out to you and the gift of being filled and guided by your Spirit. Amen. 

Peace, 

Stan

Faith is a Journey

Luke 17: 15-16 -- Faith is a Journey

And one of [the ten lepers], realizing he had been healed, returned, glorifying God in a loud voice; and he fell at the feet of Jesus and thanked him. He was a Samaritan.

Not too long ago, I lived a life of little faith. And in that empty experience, there were times when I would desire something more, compelled to ask questions for which I did not know the answer. Faith and religion, then, were phoney words to me. Why would I ever consider going to church, an institution full of haters and hypocrites? 

Well, the church has not changed. It is still full of liars. It is still an institution of ignominy. It is still a scandalous place. But what I failed to see then that I see now is that the church is the imperfect Body of Christ. And in the same way that Jesus invited the tax collectors, prostitutes, and prodigals of first-century Palestine, he invites me today. I am the church that I once avoided, willing, through grace, to face my faults and walk toward conversion. And it has only been through Christ’s grace and healing, therefore, that I continue to persevere. 

Every time I read the story of the grateful Samaritan, I am reminded of how thankful I am for God’s healing grace. Let us all remember to take a moment today to thank God for the many blessings in our lives. 

Peace, 

Stan

Money Problems

1 Timothy 6:9-11: Money Problems

For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, and in their eagerness to be rich some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pains. But as for you, man of God, shun all this; pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance, gentleness.

I don’t know about you, but I always seem to have money problems. Whenever my bills are due, they get paid, thanks be to God. But there never seems to be enough for the few extras that my wife and I would like to have. We usually have just enough or a little less than enough to pay for our monthly expenses. It all gets paid, but we wish we had a little more. And then, as soon we get a little more, our expenses go up -- increase in taxes, pre-school costs, car payment, insurance, and the list goes on. When can we get a break and get ahead?

Paul’s advice is exactly what I need to hear. He says, essentially, to stop fixating on the things we can get and spend. They do not bring true happiness. Instead, we should pursue eternal things like being kind and loving to those around us. We should exercise gentleness and self-giving toward others. We should deepen our faith and endure the difficult path that sometimes comes our way. When we focus on connecting with and reflecting the love of God toward others, we transform our outlook and experience a life-changing paradigm shift. 

Dear God, thank you for the many blessings in my life. Forgive me for looking the other way and for being distracted by temporary things. Please grant me the grace to be the person of love, caring, and self-giving that you created me to be. In Jesus Christ I pray, amen. 

Peace, 

Stan

God's Patience

1 Timothy 1:15-16 -- God’s Patience

Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst. But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience as an example for those who would believe in him and receive eternal life.

Paul has the humility to admit that he is “the worst of sinners,” showing that God’s forgiveness is a true gift and nothing that he deserves. If Paul, a persecutor of the early Christian church, can be forgiven and used as a vessel of God’s grace to others, then there is hope for everyone. Let us never forget this. God loves each one of us, even when we are at our lowest point. There is no limit to God’s love or his desire to see us repent and change our wayward trajectory in life. Through faith, Jesus uses each of us to reach out to others in hope and kindness, love and mercy, if we just put ourselves into his care, trusting in the loving grace he gives each of us no matter our sins. 

Always remember that God loves each of us without limit. So when we encounter the person who tries our patience, makes us angry, or shatters our peace, never forget that God loves that person without limit as well. And although it is often a challenge, maybe we, too, can find a way to love and offer hope to the difficult people in our lives, too. For God knows I am a difficult person, too, but my flawed nature has only increased his presence in my life. 

This week, instead of wishing that difficult person would go away, let us find a place in our hearts to welcome them and reflect the patience and love only God can give. 

Peace, 

Stan

Prioritizing Jesus

Luke 14:26 -- Priorities

Jesus turned and said to the crowd, “Those who come to me cannot be my disciples unless they love me more than they love father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, and themselves as well.”

What does it mean to be dedicated to Christ? If we interpret Luke 14:25-27 literally, we fall into the same trap as do many who read the Bible -- the trap of biblical literalism. There is still a minority of Christians who believe the Bible is the exact words of God -- exclusive of historical context, literary form, cultural norms, and figures of speech -- meant to be taken at face value. But the majority of practicing Christians read the Bible as God’s inspired word breathed into human hands by the Holy Spirit. Those human hands, moreover, were subjected to all of the literary, historical, and cultural norms of their time. 

Reading this passage, then, is to understand that it uses hyperbole, or exaggeration not meant to be taken literally but used as a means of emphasis. Luke wants his readers to understand the weight of Jesus’ words. To follow Jesus is to prioritize his way in all aspects of our lives. Jesus must come first. This does not mean that we neglect our families or ourselves. Quite the contrary, Jesus’ words mean that loving him first will change us within. And through this change, we are better equipped to love those closest to us with a deeper, self-sacrificing love. 

Heavenly Father, we love you with all our hearts, minds, souls, and strength because you loved us first. Please give us the grace to prioritize your Son in our walk of faith so that we can better love those around us. In Jesus Christ we pray, amen. 

Peace, 

Stan

True Humility

Luke 14: 8, 10-11 -- What Humility Looks Like

Jesus said, "When you are invited by someone to a wedding banquet, do not recline at table in the place of honor. Rather, when you are invited, go and take the lowest place. For every one who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted."

When it comes to life, one of the toughest things to get past is our own egos. My ego gets me in trouble quite often. As much as I try, I find myself prioritizing what I want and veiling it in what others want. This means that, yes, I want to do good for others. But what that good looks like is often something I prefer to do and not, rather, what the other person truly needs. I call this egocentric giving, and I do it more often than I like to admit. 

True humility, instead, is to unselfishly do good for others. That good, moreover, is to provide what the other truly needs, despite our own comfort zone and preferences. When I do something for someone else, it means doing what they need me to do, not what I prefer. For instance, if my wife asks me to paint our room rose pink, I paint it rose pink. My ego, however, spurns me to suggest a “better” color, one that I prefer. Then the room gets painted a color for me, not her. This is egocentric giving, and it taints the love I intend to give. Conversely, true humility would be to paint the room her color because it is for her needs. And on the rare occasion that I get this right, true humility is immeasurably better for both the giver and receiver. 

Jesus reminds us throughout the Gospels that a humble life, a life of self sacrifice, is what God desires for each of us. Jesus himself models this all the way to the cross.

I pray that love, humility, and self-giving replace the instances in life where we may be drawn to selfish behavior. In Jesus Christ’s name I pray, amen. 

Peace, 

Stan

The Narrow Door of Love

Luke 13: 23-24, 30 -- Welcoming All

Someone asked Jesus, “Lord, will only a few people be saved?” He answered them, “Strive to enter through the narrow door, for many, I tell you, will attempt to enter but will not be strong enough. . . . For behold, some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last.”

Throughout many Christian communities -- churches, small groups, people who profess deep faith in Jesus -- we see hypocrisy. Today is no different from Jesus’ time on earth. People in the first-century Jewish communities felt they were the “chosen ones,” and that their status as children of Abraham entitled them to salvation in the kingdom of God. They believed, moreover, the title of “first” was theirs, and that they could reject Jesus as Savior. For they had Moses, Jacob, and Abraham as their ancestry. And in this section of Luke’s Gospel as well as in Mark and Matthew, Jesus teaches the opposite: There is no such thing as entitlement in the kingdom of God. And yes, even the lowly Gentiles will displace the Jewish community members who believe they have a reserved seat in the kingdom. 

When we look around our own faith communities and see only those polished, upstanding citizens seated in our pews and welcomed into our churches, we must recall Jesus’ words. When our doctrines ostracize people who are wonderfully different, people who don’t fit the “norm” of sin-avoiding church-goer, we must recall Jesus’ words. And when we ourselves make mental notes of people who appear to “live in sin” and cast mental stones at them, we must recall Jesus’ words: “For behold, some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last.”

Make no mistake. The narrow door is not a door owned by any one Christian community, nor is it governed by any of the doctrines our denominations may teach. The narrow door is one of love and action; it is a door of outreach, mercy, welcome, and acceptance. 

Loving God, I pray that we all look to enter through the narrow door of your loving way. Grant us the humility to see all people with your merciful eyes and to welcome them with your loving heart. In Jesus Christ we pray, amen. 

Peace, 

Stan

The Average Joe

Matthew 1:20-21, 24 -- God Blesses the Ordinary

But just when [Joseph] had resolved to [quietly dismiss Mary], an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” . . . When Joseph awoke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took her as his wife. . .

Recently, I took a short vacation with my family to a town nestled in the mountains of Pennsylvania. And I had an opportunity to visit a local church to attend what we call in my faith tradition a Holy Day celebration. Upon entering the church, blessing myself with holy water, genuflecting at the pew, and doing my best to be focused and open to God, I looked up and noticed that there were eight beautiful stained glass windows depicting the story of Joseph, the foster father of Jesus. One window, however, offered me a reminder of how God blesses the ordinary. 

According to Matthew’s Gospel, Joseph was a righteous man and unwilling to expose Mary to any shame, for she was pregnant. And as we know, Joseph was not the biological father of Mary’s child. This meant that if Mary were exposed, she would be stoned to death. Joseph, then, decided he would quietly break off their plan to marry. But in a dream, God sent an angel to reassure Joseph about marrying Mary, revealing the divine paternity of her child. Although we imagine Joseph as extraordinary since he was chosen by God for his part in the story of salvation, Joseph was an ordinary person like any of us. 

The stained glass window depicts this amazing story. It shows Joseph’s sleeping encounter with the angel. The angel reaches out to bless the head of the sleeping Joseph with a vision of Mary holding the child Jesus in her arms. Joseph’s position in the image depicts obedience. 

The image reminds me that we are called to do God’s work on this earth. In our ordinariness, we, too, are called to be part of the salvation story on earth. The stained glass image reminds me that when we choose to do something out of love, God blesses us and sends us forth as purveyors of the Good News of Jesus Christ. What challenges are we asked to surmount for the sake of love today? 

Heavenly Father, we ask you to bless and guide us in our daily lives so that we can be the voice, eyes, ears, feet, and hands of love in this world. In Jesus Christ we pray, amen. 

Peace, 

Stan

Servant Leadership

Matthew 20:26-28 (NRSV): The Attitude of Service

Jesus said, “Whoever wishes to be great among you must be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you must be your slave; just as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many.”

Being great, being first, is the American way. Isn’t it? We are a competitive people always looking for a better way to grow and increase our worth. We work hard, save, and purchase products that make our lives easier and happier. At work, we look to climb the corporate ladder. At home, we look to increase our social standing among our neighbors. Competition and material pleasure go together. And on the surface, there is nothing wrong with working hard and earning a comfortable living. Our ambitions, however, often take priority in our lives at the expense of those around us. 

Jesus, in this passage from Matthew’s Gospel, corrects his disciples who a few verses earlier are vying for power and control over each other. James and John creatively and indirectly ask, through their mother’s request, to be Jesus’ right and left-hand men. Jesus’ message is clear: His way is one of service, humility, sacrifice, and self-giving. And anyone who follows him, will seek to follow this model of servitude. 

Jesus flips the tables of human understanding regarding power and social status. Leadership and greatness are positions of servitude and sacrifice. And the example Jesus gives is the sacrifice of his life for all. To live, in essence, is to die to self and live for the love of God and others. That is one tall order that so often defies the habits of humanity. 

How, then, do I strive to live as Jesus teaches? Not without struggle and imperfection, that’s for sure. But I can start with baby steps. I can start with the next person I see. If I make them the priority by listening, caring, giving, and being present, then I am striving to be more like Jesus. Living in service to others is something I get wrong every day. But it does not mean that I quit. It is a beautiful thing to know that God is such a forgiving father who loves us no matter our faults. All God asks is that we continue to try. 

Heavenly Father, help me to love and give myself to others more each day. And thank you for your patience. In Jesus Christ I pray, amen. 

Peace, 

Stan

How to Be Truly Happy

Philippians 2:3-4 (NRSV) - True Happiness

Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility regard others as better than yourselves. Let each of you look not to your own interests, but to the interests of others.

One of the biggest problems with being human is chasing happiness. It is in our DNA to find the next thing that brings us lasting pleasure. Even in our desire to give to others, we often choose something that we ourselves prefer. For instance, when I want to treat my family to lunch, I often suggest restaurants I either like or can more easily afford. Yes, we can be selfish even in our giving. 

Paul’s words to the Philippian church remind me that true happiness is never laced with personal preference. True happiness is bereft of all selfishness. True happiness, moreover, is total submission to the interests of others. For I am never happier than when I abandon my own desires for the smiles, joy, and contentment of others. Although I may feel a buzz of delight when I treat myself to something, it never lasts. Instead, it is a temporary flare of excitement that fizzles into a smoky finish. 

So why do I continue to chase the false flare of personal preference? Because I am very human and, therefore, flawed. I am, like those early Philippian parishioners, in need of Paul’s instruction -- a reminder that being more like the love of Jesus in this world is the only way to feel true personal satisfaction in anything. 

Loving Father, I pray to be more like your Son. For Jesus came to this earth exemplifying humility and love for others over himself. Grant, dear God, that I, too, can do the same for those you have given me to love. In Jesus Christ I pray. Amen. 

Peace, 

Stan

Paul’s Prayer

Ephesians 3:14-21 (NRSV): Paul’s Prayer

For this reason I [Paul] bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth takes its name. I pray that, according to the riches of his glory, he may grant that you may be strengthened in your inner being with power through his Spirit, and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith, as you are being rooted and grounded in love. I pray that you may have the power to comprehend, with all the saints, what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

Now to him who by the power at work within us is able to accomplish abundantly far more than all we can ask or imagine, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

Paul’s prayer says it all. In this letter to the universal church, I am reminded of the vast depths of God’s love and how it “surpasses knowledge.” Too many times I have tried to reason out the limits of his limitless love. But let us never forget that despite every personal shortcoming, God loves us beyond knowing. 

Too often, lost in my own spiritual confusion, I isolate myself from God’s love. But this isolation is self-created and the opposite of reality. God’s love, Paul reminds us, is always present, especially in our times of doubt. This is beautiful reassurance! And always remember -- no matter the hardship, struggle, loss, or doubt -- Paul prays that we are strengthened through the Holy Spirit and “rooted and grounded,” through faith, to the love of Christ dwelling in our hearts. Amen.

Peace, 

Stan

How to Live Jesus' Example

Matthew 7:24-25 -- Active Love

Everyone who hears these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock. The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on rock.

At the end of the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus reiterates an important truth about being his faithful follower: We should act in the way of love that Jesus both models and teaches. Being a disciple is based on this foundation, namely living out the love and self sacrifice that Jesus models. This doesn’t mean that we become homeless, itinerant preachers, sacrificing our lives for the liberation of others. Very few are called to that extreme. But what is our calling? How are we to act on God’s will and Christ’s example in our lives?

When I was eleven, a friend invited me on a weeklong trip to a lakehouse in Maine. We joined his dad, stepmother, grandfather, and aunts and uncles in a cozy four-bedroom house with picturesque views and immediate access to the water. But this trip happened at a difficult time in my life. 

My mom and dad had just gone through a separation and divorce, and the context of that family dissolution was ugly, the experience still raw. As a pre-teen beginning the throws of adolescence, I was in a vulnerable, confusing emotional space. I was volatile and overly sensitive. My behavior on that trip was less than ideal: I was unappreciative, secretive, and withdrawn. That family, however, acted in a way of love, answering my dejection with hospitality and kindness. 

I vividly remember feigning sleep one day instead of going out on the water. I just wanted to stay away from people. My friend did not understand but, in frustration, let me be. Outside of the door, I heard his father in muffled tones say, “He is having a rough time. His parents just divorced and he’s hurting. Cut him some slack and be a friend. Let him sleep.” I will never forget the positive impact of those words, for I am writing about them now, 35 years later. 

It is experiences like the above that convince me of God’s presence in the lives of all who actively love, even in the smallest ways. This family chose to be kind, loving, forgiving, and hospitable -- even when their guest did not reciprocate. 

Jesus reminds us of the opportunity we have in life to follow his example, to be the ensigns of his love in this world. Sometimes it seems impossible, but with God’s grace, all things are possible. 

Loving God, please guide us to love the people you send to us, despite their faults and ours. In Jesus’ name we pray, amen. 

Have a blessed week!

Stan

Breaking the Cycle of Hate Starts with Me

Matthew 7:1-5 -- Why Can’t I Break the Cycle?

[Jesus said,] “Do not judge, so that you may not be judged. For with the judgment you make you will be judged, and the measure you give will be the measure you get. Why do you see the speck in your neighbor’s eye, but do not notice the log in your own eye? Or how can you say to your neighbor, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ while the log is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your neighbor’s eye.”

Another day goes by, and I am caught in a slew of condemning thoughts. I tell myself that I will not judge, gossip, or talk about the struggles of others. But what do I do? The opposite. Sure, I try to avoid it, telling myself that I will listen and not contribute. In the end, however, being passive is being permissive. Why can’t I break the cycle of hate?

I am a coward, fearing that I will be hated and judged, too. If I confront the people who tempt me, many of whom I love, then I not only block them out of my life but come off looking like a self-righteous prig.

I despise confrontation. I do everything I can in life to get along and be peaceful with others. I could boldly state, “I don’t want to do this!” However, I am weak and ineffective at confronting others and standing up for how I feel. Instead, I choose to be quiet and permissive.

When I examine my conscience, I can see that I, too, am guilty of the same level of sins and questionable behaviors as those at whom I permissively point the finger. And I thank God he gives me the knowledge and understanding of my faults. It would be worse, clearly, if I were not aware. I am comforted by God’s direction and corrective insight, my feelings of guilt and need for conversion.

How, then, do I become a person of Christ’s acceptance, love, mercy, and forgiveness? How do I stand outside of the circle of hate? It starts with grace. There is nothing I can do without it. And when God offers his grace, I must cooperate, change, and act upon it. Those last three are the challenge, however.

Loving God, I pray to be a more loving person. I pray to be a person who, like your Son, does not judge but instead loves, accepts, heals, and forgives all people no matter their sins and circumstances. In Jesus Christ I pray, amen.

Have a blessed week,

Stan

A New Creation?

2 Corinthians 5:17, 19 -- Transformation

So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new! . . .  that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them.

To be “in Christ” is to profess our faith in Jesus, to do our best to follow his way, truth, and life which are exemplified by his love. To be “in Christ” is to be redeemed by his loving sacrifice on the cross. To be “in Christ,” moreover, is to know that no matter our faults, sins, personality issues, and failures we are “a new creation.”

Being “a new creation” does not mean we are instantaneously made perfect. It means, instead, that we are given the grace to gradually transform. This transformation is a lifetime endeavor, stretching over a different trajectory for each individual. Paul, however, reminds us that no matter our “tresspasses,” God loves, redeems, and calls each of us into union with him through his Son.

As we go forward this week, let us recall the new creation we are through our faith in Jesus Christ, praying that God’s grace transform each of us in his love. Amen.

Have a blessed week!

Stan

What it Means to Be Saved

[God] saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works but according to his own purpose and grace. This grace was given to us in Christ Jesus before the ages began. . .

2 Timothy 1:9 (NRSV)

In The Biggest Lie in the History of Christianity: How the Modern Culture Is Robbing Billions of People of Happiness, Michael Kelly's thesis is that the "biggest lie" is a culturally-influenced spiritual deadening: Modern culture says we cannot be people of kindness and love. Kelly calls these kind, loving actions "Holy Moments," (his capitalization; not mine) which becomes a cliché phrase throughout this short book.

Yes, I agree that many people, including yours truly, could be more loving and self giving. As a Christian, I try my best to model my thinking and actions after Jesus' teachings and example, but I am a flawed human being (in Christian-speak, a "sinner"). So I get it wrong most of the time. Kelly says that this is "the lie," and the lie becomes the excuse that robs people of their journey to holiness. Although in certain instances, this can be true, I do not wholeheartedly agree.

When we lay the responsibility of holiness on everyone as if it were something we must earn and work toward, we make a life of faith competitive one upmanship begging the question: Are we good enough for God? This brings stress, confusion, anxiety, and discouragement to the faithful. It, too, is what drives people away from much of the hypocrisy in the Christian church. And it is not the message found in the New Testament books. We are not a people of self-manufactured grace and do-it-yourself salvation. That's why, in the story of Christianity, God became human to live, love, suffer, and die for us. Because since "the fall," mankind gets it wrong. And yes, God loves us that much -- so much that through this incomprehensible love, he lived a life of love among us and died for each of us. Now we can't sit around, hate, cause chaos, and ignore our neighbor all of our lives. It is our responsibility as human beings to do our best to love the person in front of us, and I mean an active, self-giving kind of love. This isn't just a Christian concept either; all of the five major religions espouse a love for neighbor.

But Kelly's argument implies a traditionalist view -- one that is a salvation based on what we do or works righteousness. Again, don't get me wrong, I believe that we should be more like Jesus and love all people, despite our shortcomings. But as I get older, I see that many of us -- especially me -- struggle in this area.

This circles back to most of what Paul says in the New Testament letters; God’s grace is a free, unmerited gift. It costs nothing but our faith in Jesus Christ. And it is through that faith that God’s grace reaches into us, transforms us, and guides us to live lives of kindness and love.

Have a loving, blessed week!

Stan