Pastoral Reflections Finding God In Ourselves by Msgr. Don Fischer

Gospel Luke 2:22-35 When the days were completed for their purification according to the law of Moses, the parents of Jesus took him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord, just as it is written in the law of the Lord, Every male that opens the womb shall be consecrated to the Lord, and to offer the sacrifice of a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons, in accordance with the dictate in the law of the Lord. Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon. This man was righteous and devout, awaiting the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he should not see death before he had seen the Christ of the Lord. He came in the Spirit into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus to perform the custom of the law in regard to him, he took him into his arms and blessed God, saying: "Lord, now let your servant go in peace; your word has been fulfilled: my own eyes have seen the salvation which you prepared in the sight of every people, a light to reveal you to the nations and the glory of your people Israel." The child's father and mother were amazed at what was said about him; and Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, "Behold, this child is destined for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be contradicted (and you yourself a sword will pierce) so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.” Reflection In this week of readings, we're going to see a repeated pattern. Ordinary individuals, not people of the temple, not people of high learning, are manifesting to Mary and Joseph something so extraordinary about their son. Simeon represents the waiting, the long waiting of Israel for this moment, and he, as a symbol of faith, has always believed that the Messiah would come. He walks into the temple and encounters Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, and knows somehow, deep inside of him, this is the one. It's a beautiful image of the way the Holy Spirit works in ordinary people, and how he affirms the promises that are unfolding daily in our life. Closing Prayer Father, make us attentive to those around us who carry perhaps a way of seeing that we don't see. Let us pay attention to the fact that you always seem to work with others, to be able to work with us. Help us to read the signs of those around us. And we ask this in Jesus' name, Amen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

FEAST OF THE HOLY FAMILY Original Airdate: December 29, 2019 Sirach 3:2-6, 12-14 | Colossians 3:12-21 | Matthew 2:13-15, 19-23 Oh God, who pleased to give us the shining example of the holy family, graciously grant that we may imitate them in practicing the virtues of family life in the bonds of charity and so, in the joy of your house, delight one day in eternal rewards.  Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God forever and ever, amen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Gospel John 20:1a and 2-8 On the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene ran and went to Simon Peter and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and told them, "They have taken the Lord from the tomb, and we do not know where they put him." So Peter and the other disciple went out and came to the tomb. They both ran, but the other disciple ran faster than Peter and arrived at the tomb first; he bent down and saw the burial cloths there, but did not go in. When Simon Peter arrived after him, he went into the tomb and saw the burial cloths there, and the cloth that had covered his head, not with the burial cloths but rolled up in a separate place. Then the other disciple also went in, the one who had arrived at the tomb first, and he saw and believed. Reflection Yesterday, the scriptures reminded us of the cost of discipleship, and what we need to understand is when we go through pain and suffering, it is a transformation, not something to be frightened of. We need transition. We need evolution of consciousness. We need to grow. So the church focuses on this day on how it went with Jesus. The ultimate thing that he did was stand close to his father, revealing nothing but love and truth and he was rejected, he was murdered and he rose. It's a mystery of transformation. What seems like death, what seems like loss is just the opposite. It is new life. Closing Prayer Father, as we journey with you, as we invite you to live within us and resonate through us, give us the courage to know whatever setback that we encounter is not something negative, but something that draws us closer into who you are, and who we are, and how we are to work together. And we ask this in Jesus' name, Amen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Gospel Matthew 10:17-22 Jesus said to his disciples: "Beware of men, for they will hand you over to courts and scourge you in their synagogues, and you will be led before governors and kings for my sake as a witness before them and the pagans. When they hand you over, do not worry about how you are to speak or what you are to say. You will be given at that moment what you are to say. For it will not be you who speak but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. Brother will hand over brother to death, and the father his child; children will rise up against parents and have them put to death. You will be hated by all because of my name, but whoever endures to the end will be saved.” Reflection I believe the church celebrates this feast of Saint Stephen immediately after we receive the good news of God's presence in the world, we listen to the very real image of evil. There is a power in the world that is whole opposed to who God is and who Jesus wants us to become. And yet we know that there is a way in which that work is essential. To not be afraid. To hold on to what you believe, even if it means the loss of your life. These are signs and wonders of the faith that God has given us to do the work of the Son of God, to bring his message of life and goodness to the world, despite whatever dangers there may be. Closing Prayer Father, we need to be realistic. We need to understand there is a spirit that is so opposed to who we become. When God enters into us and we resonate and share his wisdom, his power, his healing, his love. Keep us strong, keep us dedicated to this work no matter what the cost. And we ask this in Jesus' name, Amen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Gospel John 1:1-5, 9-14     In the beginning was the Word,         and the Word was with God,         and the Word was God.     He was in the beginning with God.      All things came to be through him,         and without him nothing came to be.     What came to be through him was life,         and this life was the light of the human race;     the light shines in the darkness,         and the darkness has not overcome it. The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world.     He was in the world,         and the world came to be through him,         but the world did not know him.     He came to what was his own,         but his own people did not accept him. But to those who did accept him he gave power to become children of God,  to those who believe in his name,  who were born not by natural generation  nor by human choice nor by a man's decision  but of God.     And the Word became flesh         and made his dwelling among us,         and we saw his glory,         the glory as of the Father's only Son,         full of grace and truth. Reflection It was 4000 years from Adam and Eve to this moment in history when Jesus entered into the world. When God took human flesh and awakened us to a world that we could never have dreamt of, a world in which he would share his presence with you and with me, and transform the world and bring us into the kingdom of God. This is the moment that is most important for us to understand and to embrace and to participate in making God present in the world. Closing Prayer Father, nothing is more important than our understanding of the role that each of us share. And that role has something beautifully about us being engaged in bringing you, your wisdom, your truth, your life into the world. Bless us in this work. Keep us vigilant in our task. And we ask this in Jesus' name, Amen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Gospel Luke 1:67-79 Zechariah his father, filled with the Holy Spirit, prophesied, saying: “Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel; for he has come to his people and set them free. He has raised up for us a mighty Savior, born of the house of his servant David. Through his prophets he promised of old that he would save us from our enemies, from the hands of all who hate us. He promised to show mercy to our fathers and to remember his holy covenant. This was the oath he swore to our father Abraham: to set us free from the hand of our enemies, free to worship him without fear, holy and righteous in his sight all the days of our life. You, my child, shall be called the prophet of the Most High, for you will go before the Lord to prepare his way, to give his people knowledge of salvation by the forgiveness of their sins. In the tender compassion of our God the dawn from on high shall break upon us, to shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death, and to guide our feet into the way of peace.” Reflection This passage gives us a keen insight into what it means to be a prophet to prophesy. As you listen to this, you wonder, how did Zechariah know that this would be the ministry of John? John's ministry was so unusual, so radically different. But it does imply that the Holy Spirit does reveal to people things they can't fully understand yet, and yet they are assigned to all of us of a message that is coming not just from humans, but from the Holy Spirit who is working through human beings, accomplishing the task of bringing salvation to the world. Closing Prayer Father, the beauty of a ministry like John the Baptist was to break with the old and introduce the new, it never ceases to be necessary. Always we're called to renew our understanding from what we've been told to what we now know through the work of the Holy Spirit. Bless us with the capacity to change. And we ask this in Jesus' name, Amen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Gospel  Luke 1:57-66 When the time arrived for Elizabeth to have her child she gave birth to a son. Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown his great mercy toward her, and they rejoiced with her. When they came on the eighth day to circumcise the child, they were going to call him Zechariah after his father, but his mother said in reply, “No. He will be called John.” But they answered her, “There is no one among your relatives who has this name.” So they made signs, asking his father what he wished him to be called. He asked for a tablet and wrote, “John is his name,” and all were amazed. Immediately his mouth was opened, his tongue freed, and he spoke blessing God. Then fear came upon all their neighbors, and all these matters were discussed throughout the hill country of Judea. All who heard these things took them to heart, saying, “What, then, will this child be? For surely the hand of the Lord was with him.” Reflection It's interesting that this transition involved two men, John the Baptist and Jesus the Messiah. And when you look at it carefully, you recognize that they were both so important in being able to create a new image of who God is. A God not distant, not in the temple only, but somehow breaking free of that structure and filling people's hearts with love, understanding, compassion. What an amazing transformation and how amazing John was in making sure this happened. He took us through the liminal space of transition that we still are somehow always engaged in, because each person has to go through it. That's the gift to this figure of John. Closing Prayer Father, always we find ourselves as we grow in consciousness, going through thresholds of new insights, new revelations. Bless us in this work of transformation. It is the call of the gospel, is each of us announcing the fullness of the Kingdom of God. And we ask this in Jesus' name, Amen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Gospel Luke 1:46-56 Mary said: “My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my savior. for he has looked upon his lowly servant. From this day all generations will call me blessed: the Almighty has done great things for me, and holy is his Name. He has mercy on those who fear him in every generation. He has shown the strength of his arm, and has scattered the proud in their conceit. He has cast down the mighty from their thrones and has lifted up the lowly. He has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty. He has come to the help of his servant Israel for he remembered his promise of mercy, the promise he made to our fathers, to Abraham and his children for ever.” Mary remained with Elizabeth about three months and then returned to her home. Reflection There's something almost shocking about the ordinariness of the coming of God into the world. The Old Testament is filled with images of the divine residing in a place, and people in charge of doling out grace, acceptance. And now Mary is there to announce a new era, a new time when God Himself is going to come into the world. It is amazing this happened to a woman who had very little to do with the temple, very little to do with the organized religion, but was simply a woman who understood and who said yes. Closing Prayer Mary is our model. She is the human being who brought Christ into the world. Each of us are called to do something very much like that, to manifest the wisdom, the love, the forgiveness of Jesus to the world. Let us recognize her as our model, turn to her in our need. And we ask this in Jesus' name, Amen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

 FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT Original Airdate: December 18, 2022 Isaiah 7:10-14 | Romans 1:1-7 | Matthew 1:18-24 Pour forth, we beseech you, oh Lord, your grace into our hearts that we, to whom the incarnation of Christ, your Son, was made known by the message of an angel, may, by his passion and cross, be brought to the glory of his, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God forever and ever, amen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Gospel Luke 1:26-38 In the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town of Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the house of David, and the virgin's name was Mary. And coming to her, he said, “Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you.” But she was greatly troubled at what was said and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus. He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father, and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever, and of his Kingdom there will be no end.” But Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I have no relations with a man?” And the angel said to her in reply, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God. And behold, Elizabeth, your relative, has also conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month for her who was called barren; for nothing will be impossible for God.” Mary said, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.” Then the angel departed from her. Reflection Of all the stories in Scripture of miraculous births, none is more important and more significant than the one that you have just heard about in this gospel. Mary, chosen before to be the Mother of God, is told by an angel that she will become pregnant. Her response is not, this can't be, this doesn't make sense. Her response is only, how will I do this with you? How will it happen? Tell me what it will be like. And then the angel makes it clear. Miraculous infusion of life into her womb, and this life is going to save the world. And she understands, I know on some level the importance of this and her humble response. I will do whatever you want. I am a handmaid of you, O Lord. Bless me with the ability to do this. She's the model of acceptance of grace. Closing Prayer Father, as we near this Christmas season, we know that we are invited to imagine this event happening within each of us. The gift is being given to us, and we need to be in that same disposition as Mary of saying, how can I be who you need me to be in my family and my friends, in my circle, at my work? Who can I be for you to make you present to them? It's an enormous gift and a beautiful, wonderful way of life. And we ask this in Jesus' name, Amen Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Gospel Luke 1:26-38 In the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town of Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the house of David, and the virgin's name was Mary. And coming to her, he said, “Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you.” But she was greatly troubled at what was said and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus. He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father, and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever, and of his Kingdom there will be no end.” But Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I have no relations with a man?” And the angel said to her in reply, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God. And behold, Elizabeth, your relative, has also conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month for her who was called barren; for nothing will be impossible for God.” Mary said, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.” Then the angel departed from her. Reflection Of all the stories in Scripture of miraculous births, none is more important and more significant than the one that you have just heard about in this gospel. Mary, chosen before to be the Mother of God, is told by an angel that she will become pregnant. Her response is not, this can't be, this doesn't make sense. Her response is only, how will I do this with you? How will it happen? Tell me what it will be like. And then the angel makes it clear. Miraculous infusion of life into her womb, and this life is going to save the world. And she understands, I know on some level the importance of this and her humble response. I will do whatever you want. I am a handmaid of you, O Lord. Bless me with the ability to do this. She's the model of acceptance of grace. Closing Prayer Father, as we near this Christmas season, we know that we are invited to imagine this event happening within each of us. The gift is being given to us, and we need to be in that same disposition as Mary of saying, how can I be who you need me to be in my family and my friends, in my circle, at my work? Who can I be for you to make you present to them? It's an enormous gift and a beautiful, wonderful way of life. And we ask this in Jesus' name, Amen Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Gospel Luke 1:5-25 In the days of Herod, King of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah of the priestly division of Abijah; his wife was from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. Both were righteous in the eyes of God, observing all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blamelessly. But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren and both were advanced in years. Once when he was serving as priest in his division's turn before God, according to the practice of the priestly service, he was chosen by lot to enter the sanctuary of the Lord to burn incense. Then, when the whole assembly of the people was praying outside at the hour of the incense offering, the angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right of the altar of incense. Zechariah was troubled by what he saw, and fear came upon him. But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, because your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall name him John. And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He will drink neither wine nor strong drink. He will be filled with the Holy Spirit even from his mother's womb, and he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God. He will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah to turn the hearts of fathers toward children and the disobedient to the understanding of the righteous, to prepare a people fit for the Lord.” Then Zechariah said to the angel, “How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years.” And the angel said to him in reply, “I am Gabriel, who stand before God. I was sent to speak to you and to announce to you this good news. But now you will be speechless and unable to talk until the day these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled at their proper time.” Meanwhile the people were waiting for Zechariah and were amazed that he stayed so long in the sanctuary. But when he came out, he was unable to speak to them, and they realized that he had seen a vision in the sanctuary. He was gesturing to them but remained mute. Then, when his days of ministry were completed, he went home. After this time his wife Elizabeth conceived, and she went into seclusion for five months, saying, “So has the Lord done for me at a time when he has seen fit to take away my disgrace before others.” Reflection We have another story about someone being invited by God to participate in the evolution of the salvation of humanity. Individuals called into this role. And it is fascinating that there are a number of them, Abraham for one, Mary, and now Elizabeth.  Where there is a miraculous birth, not just an ordinary birth, but something is given at a moment that is going to have to take time to germinate, to grow and to find fullness. The beautiful image of the way God works with you and with me. An insight comes a new way of seeing something, and all of a sudden it changes everything slowly and evolves until it gives birth to virtue, to a new life. God is always interested in new birth. That's what this season of Christmas is leading us to. The most important image that we could have of God's will to become one of us. Closing Prayer Father, you continue to reveal the natural way in which you invite us to be engaged with you in this work of salvation history. Open us to all the images in Scripture, all the ways in which we have experienced our own personal life, and let us pay attention to these moments of new birth. Of being infused with a new insight in the delight of watching your grace bring it to fullness. We ask this in Jesus' name, Amen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Gospel Matthew 1:18-25 This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about. When his mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found with child through the Holy Spirit. Joseph her husband, since he was a righteous man, yet unwilling to expose her to shame, decided to divorce her quietly. Such was his intention when, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home. For it is through the Holy Spirit that this child has been conceived in her. She will bear a son and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: Behold, the virgin shall be with child and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel, which means “God is with us.” When Joseph awoke, he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took his wife into his home. He had no relations with her until she bore a son, and he named him Jesus. Reflection Two people living an ordinary life fell in love and decided to get married. And before their marriage could take place, even though they were betrothed, which is like a commitment to be married, Mary receives this extraordinary message. And when you think about it, what was she doing? Imagining if this could actually happen to her? I mean, I find it fascinating because she was no different than the rest of us. In one sense, she was human. Yes, she was free of sin, but she was a human being with the same fears and wonders and worries. She hears this news and Joseph hears it, and he understands. How clearer could it be that the coming of Jesus into your life and mine comes in ordinary ways? When we simply have to say to ourselves and to God, I accept, I believe I will become part of what you want me to be a part of. It's a gift called faith, and it means everything. Closing Prayer Father, the extraordinary is consistently coming to us through the ordinary. Help us to be attentive, to listen, to wonder, and to believe that things happen in a way that they have so much more meaning than we thought. So give us the wisdom to discern all that is happening in our world, in our life. And we ask this in Jesus' name, Amen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Gospel Matthew 1:1-17 The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham. Abraham became the father of Isaac, Isaac the father of Jacob, Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers. Judah became the father of Perez and Zerah, whose mother was Tamar. Perez became the father of Hezron, Hezron the father of Ram, Ram the father of Amminadab. Amminadab became the father of Nahshon, Nahshon the father of Salmon, Salmon the father of Boaz, whose mother was Rahab. Boaz became the father of Obed, whose mother was Ruth. Obed became the father of Jesse, Jesse the father of David the king. David became the father of Solomon, whose mother had been the wife of Uriah. Solomon became the father of Rehoboam, Rehoboam the father of Abijah, Abijah the father of Asaph. Asaph became the father of Jehoshaphat, Jehoshaphat the father of Joram, Joram the father of Uzziah. Uzziah became the father of Jotham, Jotham the father of Ahaz, Ahaz the father of Hezekiah. Hezekiah became the father of Manasseh, Manasseh the father of Amos, Amos the father of Josiah. Josiah became the father of Jechoniah and his brothers at the time of the Babylonian exile. After the Babylonian exile, Jechoniah became the father of Shealtiel, Shealtiel the father of Zerubbabel, Zerubbabel the father of Abiud. Abiud became the father of Eliakim, Eliakim the father of Azor, Azor the father of Zadok. Zadok became the father of Achim, Achim the father of Eliud, Eliud the father of Eleazar. Eleazar became the father of Matthan, Matthan the father of Jacob, Jacob the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary. Of her was born Jesus who is called the Christ. Thus the total number of generations from Abraham to David is fourteen generations; from David to the Babylonian exile, fourteen generations; from the Babylonian exile to the Christ, fourteen generations. Reflection If you happen to be a lecture in a parish, and comes your turn to be the reader you're hoping is not this reading. It's so interesting because people say, well, why does this matter? And it does matter essentially to understand how God is working in your life, and in my life. He's so connected to the ordinary. You're listening to a kind of an ancestral.com report about who your relatives are. And it's interesting and curious to think that your generations go back, but can you realize that what God is saying is, from the beginning of time, I have been working with ordinary people in ordinary circumstances, slowly enabling them to grow and evolve and change until they were ripe and ready to receive the most extraordinary gift. Mary, being infused with the Holy Spirit and giving birth to Jesus. It happened naturally. It continues to grow and happen naturally. I look back at the generations in my family and they were different than I am, and each generation somehow learns from the generation before. That's the process of evolving into the people that God calls us to be. The family that ultimately is the final goal is you living in God with God and feeling those around you. Closing Prayer Father, it's hard for us to realize that these things, marvelous things that you have accomplished in the world, were done in such a simple, ordinary, human way. It's all about us understanding how human you are and how your humanity, when it is directed toward us, awakens in us something so natural that we cannot not be drawn to your beauty, your wonder, your grace that comes to us through most ordinary ways. And we ask this in Jesus' name, Amen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Gospel  Matthew 21:28-32 Jesus said to the chief priests and the elders of the people: “What is your opinion?  A man had two sons.  He came to the first and said, ‘Son, go out and work in the vineyard today.'  The son said in reply, ‘I will not,' but afterwards he changed his mind and went.  The man came to the other son and gave the same order.  He said in reply, ‘Yes, sir,' but did not go.  Which of the two did his father's will?”  They answered, “The first.”  Jesus said to them, “Amen, I say to you, tax collectors and prostitutes are entering the Kingdom of God before you.  When John came to you in the way of righteousness, you did not believe him; but tax collectors and prostitutes did.  Yet even when you saw that, you did not later change your minds and believe him.” Reflection The beautiful part of this reading for me is we're in this world to go through a process called conversion. Transformation. We start with one truth or one half truth, or one lie or whatever, and we move closer and closer to what we are called to be in truth. And the whole thing that is important for one to understand is we have to change, continue to change. The Pharisees would not. And so Jesus points out, I came into the world to change people, to awaken them, to renew them. And the Pharisees were not interested at all. Closing Prayer Father, why should we ever be ashamed of something that we have done that is wrong, or something that we misunderstood? It's part of the plan. It's why you have made it so clear to us that your response to us in our failures is nothing but love, forgiveness, and the power to change. Bless us with that conviction that we should never be afraid to face where we have made mistakes, or when we continue to make mistakes. Help us to be transformed. And we ask this in Jesus' name, Amen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Gospel Matthew 21:23-27 When Jesus had come into the temple area, the chief priests and the elders of the people approached him as he was teaching and said, "By what authority are you doing these things? And who gave you this authority?" Jesus said to them in reply, "I shall ask you one question, and if you answer it for me, then I shall tell you by what authority I do these things. Where was John's baptism from? Was it of heavenly or of human origin?" They discussed this among themselves and said, "If we say 'Of heavenly origin,' he will say to us, 'Then why did you not believe him?' But if we say, 'Of human origin,' we fear the crowd, for they all regard John as a prophet." So they said to Jesus in reply, "We do not know." He himself said to them, "Neither shall I tell you by what authority I do these things.” Reflection It's easy to see why Jesus was in conflict with the leaders of the temple. They were hypocrites, and one of their great mistakes is clearly shown in this passage, for Jesus makes it clear that they're not interested in truth, but only in manipulating things so that they work out in favor of them. It underscores for all of us, any time we drift from the truth, we're in trouble. We're likely to find ourselves in a place that we never wanted to be. We are likely to be doing things we never thought we would do. It's so essential that we just say one thing to God over and over again. Tell me what is true. Show me what is true. Let me live out what is true. Closing Prayer Father, we get lost. We get so many things in our heads all day long. Bless us with a clarity about one single thing. The only thing that is important. The only true authority in our life is whatever is true, and we grow in consciousness over generation after generation to see and to feel that truth. Bless us with the fruit of that work. And we ask this in Jesus' name, Amen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

 THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT Original Airdate: December 11, 2023 Isaiah 35:1-6a, 10 | James 5:7-10 | Matthew 11:2-11   Oh God, who see how your people faithfully await the feast of the Lord's nativity, enable us, we pray to attain the joys of so great a salvation and to celebrate them always with solemn worship and glad rejoicing through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God forever and ever, amen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Gospel Matthew 17:9a, 10-13 As they were coming down from the mountain, the disciples asked Jesus, "Why do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?" He said in reply, "Elijah will indeed come and restore all things; but I tell you that Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him but did to him whatever they pleased. So also will the Son of Man suffer at their hands." Then the disciples understood that he was speaking to them of John the Baptist. Reflection In this gospel Peter, James and John have just witnessed the Transfiguration. Jesus turning into light. Enlightenment. And there on either side is Elijah, the prophets and Moses, the law. And what it's saying clearly to the disciples that there is a radical change coming where all that has gone before will be transformed into something radically new, called the Kingdom of God. It's important to recognize all the stages that went into this transition, because in a sense, we all go through something like that, leaving behind that which is not really productive and entering into a productive kingdom of God. Closing Prayer Father, we have this major story, and yet we today are living in the final times. We're living in the time of the Kingdom of God. Help us to discern the work that we are engaged in as we continue to move forward and not fall back into things that lead to violence, destruction. The Kingdom of God that is being established is about life, hope, love, connection. And we ask this in Jesus' name, Amen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Gospel Luke 1:39-47 Mary set out and traveled to the hill country in haste to a town of Judah, where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the infant leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit, cried out in a loud voice and said, “Most blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. And how does this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For at the moment the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the infant in my womb leaped for joy. Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled.” And Mary said: “My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my savior.” Reflection If we look at the lives of Mary and Elizabeth, it's hard to imagine what they must have felt. But it's clear in the way they describe their relationship to each other. It's they're there for each other, and they have no ego. They simply are so overwhelmed by the way God has entered into their lives. There's no competition, is just awe that we are being used for something so marvelous, so wonderful. And not even understanding what it would be. Or how much it would cost them. They're the models of humility. Closing Prayer  Father, to be a human being and yet be called into roles that are so powerful and so transforming or destructive. It's amazing how we need to remind ourselves over and over again, that we are surrendering to a plan that you are in charge of, not we, but you are the source of everything, and you are the revealer of the direction we are going. And we ask this in Jesus' name, Amen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Gospel Matthew 11:11-15 Jesus said to the crowds: “Amen, I say to you, among those born of women there has been none greater than John the Baptist; yet the least in the Kingdom of heaven is greater than he.  From the days of John the Baptist until now, the Kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent are taking it by force.  All the prophets and the law prophesied up to the time of John.  And if you are willing to accept it, he is Elijah, the one who is to come.  Whoever has ears ought to hear.” Reflection John the Baptist is the one who makes clear the corruption, and the way in which the temple is so designed that it can do nothing more than destroy, it cannot give life. And in emphasizing that, he draws people's attention to what is coming. John the Baptist is the announcer, he is the proclaimer of a kingdom that he will not participate in the way each of us are called and invited to participate in it. Closing Prayer  Father, there are so many signs and wonders that point us to you. Help us to be receptive and open, just as John the Baptist needed people to understand his message of the end of a system, and the announcement of a new system. Help us to proclaim the new Kingdom over and over, by our example, our enthusiasm, our trust. And we ask this in Jesus' name, Amen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Gospel Matthew 11:28-30 Jesus said to the crowds: "Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for yourselves. For my yoke is easy, and my burden light.” Reflection Most of us think about work as something that's a burden. Something we have to do. But Jesus is inviting his disciples to reimagine it. That the work that Jesus has been given is not a work that he does, but a work that God does through him. So what he's longing for his disciples to understand is the yoke of being a follower of Christ is not to be the source of the work, but to be the vessel of the work. And when you understand that, you'll understand how easy it is and how light a burden it is to allow something to work through you, rather than labor at being the source itself. Closing Prayer Father, you keep telling us over and over again you dwell within us, you are in our hearts. When we align our wills to yours, we will find ourselves accomplishing things beyond our imagining. It's not our work, it is our participation in your work. Bless us with that kind of acceptance and peace. And we ask this in Jesus' name, Amen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Gospel  Matthew 18:12-14 Jesus said to his disciples: "What is your opinion? If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them goes astray, will he not leave the ninety-nine in the hills and go in search of the stray? And if he finds it, amen, I say to you, he rejoices more over it than over the ninety-nine that did not stray. In just the same way, it is not the will of your heavenly Father that one of these little ones be lost."  Reflection I often wonder how the disciples would receive a simple story like this, based on their own human experiences of being preoccupied by what is lost and wanting always to find it. Jesus is describing God, God's life in you and in me, and he's saying that he is very, very much engaged in the work of finding us, searching for us, helping us back into the flock. It's a beautiful image of the church, of a community of people who care deeply for one another. Closing Prayer Awaken our imaginations to the beauty of a simple story like this that reminds us over and over again that we don't have a distant God, a God who is not connected to us. He's deeply connected. He's inside of us. He worries about how we're doing, and his energy, his grace, his Holy Spirit guides us always. And we ask this in Jesus' name, Amen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Gospel Luke 1:26-38 The angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town of Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the house of David, and the virgin's name was Mary. And coming to her, he said, "Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you." But she was greatly troubled at what was said and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. Then the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus. He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of Davidhis father, and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever, and of his Kingdom there will be no end." But Mary said to the angel, "How can this be, since I have no relations with a man?" And the angel said to her in reply, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God. And behold, Elizabeth, your relative, has also conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month for her who was called barren; for nothing will be impossible for God." Mary said, "Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word." Then the angel departed from her. Reflection When the angel Gabriel tells Mary that she is to be the mother of the Messiah, he also reveals another special birth. Elizabeth, her cousin, who is way past the time of being able to have a child, is also pregnant, and this child will be named John. It is important to note that John is the necessary link, the transition, the liminal space through which the world will understand fully the corruption of the old, and the beauty and the dignity and the value of the new. Closing Prayer Father, there's a continual work, a continual transformation from religion that has a power over us and a spirit that can enter into us and infuse us with the gifts that we're here to share with one another. Bless us in this continual transition. Never let us get lazy. Let us not fall back to what is simple and easy. Let us continue to work with this great mystery. And we ask this in Jesus' name, Amen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT Original Airdate: December 4, 2022 Isaiah 11:1-10 | Romans 15:4-9 | Matthew 3:1-12    Almighty and merciful God, may no earthly undertaking hinder those who set out in haste to meet your Son, but may our learning of heavenly wisdom gain us admittance into his company, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God forever and ever, amen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Gospel Matthew 9:35–10:1, 5a, 6-8 Jesus went around to all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the Gospel of the Kingdom, and curing every disease and illness. At the sight of the crowds, his heart was moved with pity for them because they were troubled and abandoned, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few; so ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest." Then he summoned his Twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits to drive them out and to cure every disease and every illness. Jesus sent out these Twelve after instructing them thus, "Go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. As you go, make this proclamation: 'The Kingdom of heaven is at hand.' Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, drive out demons. Without cost you have received; without cost you are to give.” Reflection We've been focusing all week on the healing power of Jesus. Encountering someone who needs a gift from God. But we have to be careful, because the work of being a follower of Jesus is to create small kingdoms of individuals like minded, trusting in one of their believing in this power of the spirit within them to create a life giving environment. The healing that God has promised to us enables community to thrive. Individuals to get past their own egos and to be caring most about those around them. It's a beautiful image of the Kingdom of God. That's what we're here for, and that's what's happening now. Closing Prayer Father, life can become a distraction or can become something that is a kind of workshop for everything that God is asking us to become. Help us to see it as a place where we can learn how to develop a community of life giving friends. That's the goal. That's the work. The Kingdom of God is near, it is at hand, it is already here. And we ask this in Jesus' name, Amen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Gospel Matthew 9:27-31 As Jesus passed by, two blind men followed him, crying out, "Son of David, have pity on us!" When he entered the house, the blind men approached him and Jesus said to them, "Do you believe that I can do this?" "Yes, Lord," they said to him. Then he touched their eyes and said, "Let it be done for you according to your faith." And their eyes were opened. Jesus warned them sternly, "See that no one knows about this." But they went out and spread word of him through all that land. Reflection The message that this reading contains is that there is something so essential about us opening our hearts or minds to something far beyond what we could ever understand. And so when we look at the blindness of these two men and God's desire, God's Spirit in Jesus longing to help them to see. The important thing is what they're going to see is the truth, the essence of what life is. That they will know that the Holy Spirit is given to every human being and awakens in them. The power that that spirit is intended to be used for. To help other people to see, to understand, to know. Closing Prayer Father, the Holy Spirit is the one that enlightens. And the image of being healed of blindness is a simple image of being freed from everything that is not true. Free from all the illusions and half truths that we are stuck with because they were given to us in such a vulnerable age. Bless us with freedom to know you fully, to see the truth. We ask this in Jesus' name, Amen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Gospel Matthew 7:21, 24-27 Jesus said to his disciples: “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,' will enter the Kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven. “Everyone who listens to 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 buffeted the house.  But it did not collapse; it had been set solidly on rock.  And everyone who listens to these words of mine but does not act on them will be like a fool who built his house on sand.  The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and buffeted the house.  And it collapsed and was completely ruined.” Reflection Jesus is talking about alignment. Aligning your heart with God's heart. Aligning your mind with the truth that God has revealed to us. There's no way to enter the kingdom of God, a place of fullness and peace, without basing everything that you are making decisions on, basing it in the truth. Truth of who you are. Truth of who God is and the dynamic that he longs to establish between us. All of that has got to become real. Not just an idea, not just a thought, but something you're experiencing in. When you experience God, you are on a rock foundation because nothing will separate you from him once you've found him. Closing Prayer Father, it is clear that we cannot understand you or begin to feel your presence transforming us until we accept you exactly as you are and accept ourselves as we are. We are far from you in some ways, and very close in other ways, but keep us always aware of that connection. You are in us. We are in you. And it's in this union that we will find life. And we ask this in Jesus' name, Amen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Gospel Matthew 15:29-37 At that time: Jesus walked by the Sea of Galilee, went up on the mountain, and sat down there. Great crowds came to him, having with them the lame, the blind, the deformed, the mute, and many others. They placed them at his feet, and he cured them. The crowds were amazed when they saw the mute speaking, the deformed made whole, the lame walking, and the blind able to see, and they glorified the God of Israel. Jesus summoned his disciples and said, "My heart is moved with pity for the crowd, for they have been with me now for three days and have nothing to eat. I do not want to send them away hungry, for fear they may collapse on the way." The disciples said to him, "Where could we ever get enough bread in this deserted place to satisfy such a crowd?" 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. They picked up the fragments left over–seven baskets full. Reflection It would be impossible to separate the healing power of Jesus from his ministry. It had to be the most amazing experience to see so many people healed, one after another, after another. And they realized that what this is trying to teach them is that there's a way in which we must understand God's presence in our life. He's not here to tell us what to become or to do. He's here to enable us. Gift us. Feed us with whatever we need to find fullness in this world that God has shared with us. It's an amazing gift and it's important that we remember it. Keep it foremost in our mind. Everything we do is through the gift of God's presence in us. Closing Prayer Father, you have revealed to all of us through your son the deep longing you have for our wholeness. Bless us with an awakening of this gift and help us to rely upon it always. It is not something we can work for, it is something we can only humbly receive. And we ask this in Jesus' name, Amen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Gospel  Luke 10:21-24 Jesus rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, "I give you praise, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for although you have hidden these things from the wise and the learned you have revealed them to the childlike. Yes, Father, such has been your gracious will. All things have been handed over to me by my Father. No one knows who the Son is except the Father, and who the Father is except the Son and anyone to whom the Son wishes to reveal him." Turning to the disciples in private he said, "Blessed are the eyes that see what you see. For I say to you, many prophets and kings desired to see what you see, but did not see it, and to hear what you hear, but did not hear it.” Reflection It's fascinating to wonder what it would be like for Jesus as a human being, to have the Holy Spirit dwelling within him, that he would know that he had the power to heal, to transform, to teach. And what he's trying to make his disciples aware of is this is a very, very wonderful, exciting time that he is initiating into the world. The time of revealing the fullness of who God is. And what he's saying in private to the disciples, is that there have been so many people seeking the wisdom of who God is and could never find it or discover it as fully as they can now. Now that Christ is the incarnate God, and he is revealing who God truly is. Closing Prayer Father, we live in these special times. Times of full revelation of who you are. And to any of us who is aware of the offering of this gift, it's up to us to say, yes, I want it, I need it. I long to see you as you are. Take away every blindness. Take away every doubt. That's our prayer. And we ask this in Jesus' name, Amen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Gospel Matthew 8:5-11 When Jesus entered Capernaum, a centurion approached him and appealed to him, saying, "Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed, suffering dreadfully." He said to him, "I will come and cure him." The centurion said in reply, "Lord, I am not worthy to have you enter under my roof; only say the word and my servant will be healed. For I too am a man subject to authority, with soldiers subject to me. And I say to one, 'Go,' and he goes; and to another, 'Come here,' and he comes; and to my slave, 'Do this,' and he does it." When Jesus heard this, he was amazed and said to those following him, "Amen, I say to you, in no one in Israel have I found such faith. I say to you, many will come from the east and the west, and will recline with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob at the banquet in the Kingdom of heaven.” Reflection What strikes me in this reading is the words. He was amazed. There's one other time in the scriptures that Jesus is amazed and it's a negative. And the other one, it is simply the fact that he looked at the neighbors and his friends that he grew up with, and when the he described who he was, they were absolutely super closed. Could not fathom it. This ordinary man could be something more than what he seems to be. In this case, it's someone has got an understanding, a clear understanding of the way the world works. The centurion was fully conscious of a system. When there is authority and when his authority over others, they tell them what to do. And they must respond. They do respond. That's the way the system works. That's always asking of those that listen to Jesus. Just understand this is how it works. God can do what he promises. Trust in him. Believe in him and it will lead to fullness, transformation, awakening. Full consciousness. Please take a moment to reflect and then I'll close with the prayer. Closing Prayer Father, it's interesting how many things and how many situations have taught us certain things. In some of the things that we've learned, we have to unlearn. We have to let go of. And so please, if there is anything it is that doesn't believe that Jesus can do what he promises. Free us from that. Free us so that we can receive and drink of his healing power. And we ask this in Jesus name. Amen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT Original Airdate: November 27, 2022 Isaiah 2:1-5 | Romans 13:11-14 | Matthew 24:37-44 Grant your faithful, we pray, almighty God, the resolve to run forth to meet your Christ with righteous deeds at his coming so that, gathered at his right hand, they may be worthy to possess the heavenly kingdom.  Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God forever and ever, amen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Gospel Luke 21:34-36 Jesus said to his disciples: "Beware that your hearts do not become drowsy from carousing and drunkenness and the anxieties of daily life, and that day catch you by surprise like a trap. For that day will assault everyone who lives on the face of the earth. Be vigilant at all times and pray that you have the strength to escape the tribulations that are imminent and to stand before the Son of Man.” Reflection One of the gifts of the Holy Spirit is full consciousness. Understanding the nature of life, understanding the nature of the Kingdom. It is always going to include things that are destructive seemingly, and that they are dangerous and destructive to us. And we have to be ready to understand that that's part of the process. Other times it's everything is working and we're filled with gratitude. That's part of the process. So always we need to be vigilant. Everything has its purpose. Everything has its time and always the intention of the God who created us and allows our life to be what it is, is because of his love. Closing Prayer Father, everything has its place. Everything is for us, no matter what it is. Difficulty. Pain. Joy. Enthusiasm. Help us to stay with you in all that you offer us, so we truly can grow in the Kingdom of God. And we ask this in Jesus' name, Amen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Gospel Luke 21:29-33 Jesus told his disciples a parable. "Consider the fig tree and all the other trees. When their buds burst open, you see for yourselves and know that summer is now near; in the same way, when you see these things happening, know that the Kingdom of God is near. Amen, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things have taken place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.” Reflection The image of feeling that summer is coming, and that fruitfulness is coming is a beautiful image of the way in which we live in this kingdom of God. We know that every day the kingdom becomes more real, more near to us. And so what we need to always have is a conviction that the Holy Spirit, the Word of God, the truth is constantly touching everything, and everything has a response that is a bursting forth of life. Closing Prayer Father, there is something about the time of year when the cold and the empty seem to fade into a rich abundance of life and light. Help us to see that is what the kingdom is. It's never losing sight that there's a spring time. There's a new life time always coming very near. And we ask this in Jesus' name, Amen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Gospel Luke 17:11-19 As Jesus continued his journey to Jerusalem, he traveled through Samaria and Galilee. As he was entering a village, ten persons with leprosy met him. They stood at a distance from him and raised their voices, saying, “Jesus, Master! Have pity on us!” And when he saw them, he said, “Go show yourselves to the priests.” As they were going they were cleansed.  And one of them, 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. Jesus said in reply, “Ten were cleansed, were they not? Where are the other nine?  Has none but this foreigner returned to give thanks to God?”  Then he said to him, “Stand up and go; your faith has saved you.” Reflection Many people turn to God, most especially when they have something they can't deal with. And so they go to him and pray and ask him to do something for them. God is doing something for us all the time. God is granting us all kinds of favors over and over again, and what he longs for us to do is simply to pause long enough to give him thanks. Gratitude. Appreciation for the life that we are leading. Life is a gift understood that way, we are always filled with gratitude. Closing Prayer Father, as we gather around the table today with friends and family. Let us give thanks for them. The gift they are, the struggles that we have with them. If they are difficult to get along with, the growth they bring to us. Bless us with the recognition of the gift of everyone in our life. And we ask this in Jesus' name, Amen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Gospel Luke 21:12-19 Jesus said to the crowd: "They will seize and persecute you, they will hand you over to the synagogues and to prisons, and they will have you led before kings and governors because of my name. It will lead to your giving testimony. Remember, you are not to prepare your defense beforehand, for I myself shall give you a wisdom in speaking that all your adversaries will be powerless to resist or refute. You will even be handed over by parents, brothers, relatives, and friends, and they will put some of you to death. You will be hated by all because of my name, but not a hair on your head will be destroyed. By your perseverance you will secure your lives.” Reflection When someone is treated poorly, when they are persecuted, when they are threatened with death, the typical response to that is major resistance. But what Jesus is describing here is there's a way in which if you accept it without resistance, there's a testimony that is so powerful. To see a person not take care of themselves implies that someone is taking care of them, that they will not really ultimately be harmed. It had to be very confusing, and certainly created anger toward one who would have this gift when they did not. Closing Prayer Father, when we experience someone who simply refuses to be angry or resentful for the things that happen to them, it is very much of a puzzle. How can they do that? Where do they find that kind of acceptance? And it comes because they understand you, they know you, and they know that anything that comes to you is for you, and it is a witness that is so important. And we ask this in Jesus' name, Amen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Gospel  Matthew 10:28-33 Jesus said to his Apostles: "Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; rather, be afraid of the one who can destroy both soul and body in Gehenna. Are not two sparrows sold for a small coin? Yet not one of them falls to the ground without your Father's knowledge. Even all the hairs of your head are counted. So do not be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows. Everyone who acknowledges me before others I will acknowledge before my heavenly Father. But whoever denies me before others, I will deny before my heavenly Father.” Reflection The last line can be disturbing if not understood clearly. Jesus makes clear he has deep love and deep concern for all of us. He knows everything about us and he also has one unique quality. He honors our freedom. He refuses to make us believe in him. And what he's saying, ultimately is, if you choose not to accept me, I cannot force you to do that. And if you don't do that, I can't reach you. I can't heal you. I can't help you. Closing Prayer The love that God has for us is hard for us to grasp. It's a love that is freely offered and must be freely received. There's great sadness in Jesus when he says the last line of this passage, because he knows he cannot make you do anything that you don't choose. So bless us God with a constant, consistent choice for all the gifts that you give us. And we ask this in Jesus' name, Amen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Gospel Luke 21:1-4 When Jesus looked up he saw some wealthy people putting their offerings into the treasury and he noticed a poor widow putting in two small coins. He said, "I tell you truly, this poor widow put in more than all the rest; for those others have all made offerings from their surplus wealth, but she, from her poverty, has offered her whole livelihood.” Reflection What's the difference in this passage between wealthy people and a poor widow? And why is the poor widow's gift so rich? It's simply because the rich do not understand their need for God. They don't understand that the very thing they are is always because of God's care, God's love. That disposition of a heart when it generously gives to others, is a much greater gift. Closing Prayer Father, fill us with your richness. Fill us with your gifts. We are not enough. We know our need for you, and when you are within us, we are in such a better place to offer who you are to the people around them. And we ask this in Jesus' name, Amen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Originally aired on November 24, 2019. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Gospel Luke 20:27-40 Some Sadducees, those who deny that there is a resurrection, came forward and put this question to Jesus, saying, "Teacher, Moses wrote for us, If someone's brother dies leaving a wife but no child, his brother must take the wife and raise up descendants for his brother. Now there were seven brothers; the first married a woman but died childless. Then the second and the third married her, and likewise all the seven died childless. Finally the woman also died. Now at the resurrection whose wife will that woman be? For all seven had been married to her." Jesus said to them, "The children of this age marry and remarry; but those who are deemed worthy to attain to the coming age and to the resurrection of the dead neither marry nor are given in marriage. They can no longer die, for they are like angels; and they are the children of God because they are the ones who will rise. That the dead will rise even Moses made known in the passage about the bush, when he called 'Lord' the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob; and he is not God of the dead, but of the living, for to him all are alive." Some of the scribes said in reply, "Teacher, you have answered well." And they no longer dared to ask him anything. Reflection One of the things that Jesus brought into consciousness in his story as it unfolds in the New Testament, is how we have to go beyond the logical, beyond the ordinary, enter the world of mysticism and mystery. And in this particular passage, it seems to me that the Sadducees are using their minds, and Jesus inviting people to live not so much in your mind, but in a heart relationship with God, an intimacy with him. Where the promise is, nothing will harm you and you will always live. Nothing can destroy you. Closing Prayer Father, bless us with the confidence that comes from knowing who you really are. Help us not to ever doubt that your plan for us is that we grow, we evolve, we become more who we are and we ultimately live with you forever. And we ask this in Jesus' name, Amen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Gospel Luke 19:45-48 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, but they could find no way to accomplish their purpose because all the people were hanging on his words. Reflection Jesus is pointing out a weakness that all institutions have. The reason the temple was established, so that people could find God and be bathed in his care and his love. And instead those who led that temple turned it into a place where people were used and abused. What a beautiful image of the way in which we need to always be careful and attentive to whether or not an institution is there in service, or whether it is in the service of themselves. Closing Prayer Corruption is something that is part of life, and it is something that we must always be conscious of and father, we ask you to bless us with an awareness when we see it, not to condemn it, but to somehow not engage in it. And we ask this in Jesus' name, Amen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Gospel Luke 19:41-44 As Jesus drew near Jerusalem, he saw the city and wept over it, saying, “If this day you only knew what makes for peace– but now it is hidden from your eyes. For the days are coming upon you when your enemies will raise a palisade against you; they will encircle you and hem you in on all sides. They will smash you to the ground and your children within you, and they will not leave one stone upon another within you because you did not recognize the time of your visitation.” Reflection We see in this reading an image of corruption. It often involves closing off the truth and being engaged with people who believe in the lie. And that's a perfect image I think, of what happens to institutions, what happens to places that will not open themselves to the grace and the mercy and the forgiveness of God. It's a dangerous place to be shut off and refuse to hear the truth. Closing Prayer Father, keep us close to you. Keep us engaged with you. It's so frightening when we choose to isolate ourselves from your wisdom. It is death. It is destruction. Protect us Lord from that. And we ask this in Jesus' name, Amen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Gospel Luke 19:11-28 While people were listening to Jesus speak, he proceeded to tell a parable because he was near Jerusalem and they thought that the Kingdom of God would appear there immediately. So he said, "A nobleman went off to a distant country to obtain the kingship for himself and then to return. He called ten of his servants and gave them ten gold coins and told them, 'Engage in trade with these until I return.' His fellow citizens, however, despised him and sent a delegation after him to announce, 'We do not want this man to be our king.' But when he returned after obtaining the kingship, he had the servants called, to whom he had given the money, to learn what they had gained by trading. The first came forward and said, 'Sir, your gold coin has earned ten additional ones.' He replied, 'Well done, good servant! You have been faithful in this very small matter; take charge of ten cities.' Then the second came and reported, 'Your gold coin, sir, has earned five more.' And to this servant too he said, 'You, take charge of five cities.' Then the other servant came and said, 'Sir, here is your gold coin; I kept it stored away in a handkerchief, for I was afraid of you, because you are a demanding man; you take up what you did not lay down and you harvest what you did not plant.' He said to him, 'With your own words I shall condemn you, you wicked servant. You knew I was a demanding man, taking up what I did not lay down and harvesting what I did not plant; why did you not put my money in a bank? Then on my return I would have collected it with interest.' And to those standing by he said, 'Take the gold coin from him and give it to the servant who has ten.' But they said to him, 'Sir, he has ten gold coins.' He replied, 'I tell you, to everyone who has, more will be given, but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. Now as for those enemies of mine who did not want me as their king, bring them here and slay them before me.'" After he had said this, he proceeded on his journey up to Jerusalem. Reflection There's an image hidden in this reading that I only have recently discovered. These people are looking for the Kingdom of God to be established, to be finished so that they can receive all of its benefits. But it's clear what Jesus has in mind in terms of the kingdom of God is a process, a continual work, and the work is you and I have been gifted with something that's valuable. Our task is to share it, and when we share the gift that God has given, we multiply it. And what's clear in this king that has come to rule, this kingdom of God, is his intense desire that we are gifted so that we may be gifting others, not just afraid to make a mistake, but willing to put ourselves out there and whatever gift we have to share it with the most open and generous spirit. That's the kingdom of God. Closing Prayer Father, bless us with an awareness of the things that we are given so that we can be clearly confident that they don't come from us, they come from you. Give us courage in generously sharing them with those around us. And we ask this in Jesus' name, Amen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices