To my faithful reader, and you know who you are, sorry it’s been so long!
I’ve been immersed in developing lectures on the 2000 year history of the Church which I have 13 three hour class sessions to cover. Come this fall, I will teach 25 or 30 seminarians of all ages the importance of our past as Christians. To give you a sense of how daunting that seems, next Spring, I will teach another course on The Early Church, about the first 425 years in the same number of lectures. This fall, it merits one class meeting.
But I am completely looking forward to the challenge. I have to say, however, the task has brought unexpected sadness. The reality is, the history of the institution and, frankly, many of its leaders at every level, is dark. Well, if not dark, sad. It is very unpleasant to see how far removed both have been from the basic teaching of Jesus from the very early.
Perhaps the worse thing that happened to the Gospel was for the institution entrusted with it to be tolerated and then legalized during the reign of Constantine in the early 4th century. Very quickly, it not only became the state Church, it became a tool, or willing partner anyway, in the power associated with kings and emperors. But, dear reader, I know you know all this.
And so do I, but it has been tough to be reminded of it again in significant detail. And to be very aware that, while the leadership today may not be personally corrupt and completely caught up in the trappings of power, the Church remains a long way from the teachings of Jesus. That is not to say that none of what Jesus modeled or commanded gets done. Heck, much was done in “those olden days” too. But when the average parish budget is 85% or more dedicated to ministry within the congregation, we’re probably not spending much on the poor, the orphaned, the widowed, or those who need the consolation of the Gospel.
But you know this too, reader. I guess the question many men and women of good will and who love God have been asking and are asking still is, “How long, O Lord? How long?”
Peace,
Jerry+ P.S. I’ll do better about writing. P.P.S. Thanks to those who sent more items for the list from the last post.
Saturday, June 28, 2008
Thursday, June 12, 2008
Natural Highs
When my older son was about 15, we were talking one day and the subject of drugs came up. “Pop, don’t worry. I get high on life,” he blurted. He began to list the things in his life that made him “high.” I believed him. I thought of that when I got an email from my cousin. She had forwarded the following list of natural highs. Don’t hurry through the list. Savor each one. See what happens.
1. Falling in love.
2. Laughing so hard your face hurts.
3. A hot shower.
4. No lines at the supermarket .
5. A special glance.
6. Getting mail.
7. Taking a drive on a pretty road.
8. Hearing your favorite song on the radio.
9. Lying in bed listening to the rain outside.
10. Hot towels fresh out of the dryer.
11. Chocolate milkshake (vanilla or strawberry).
12. A bubble bath.
13. Giggling.
15. The beach.
16. Finding a 20 dollar bill in your coat from last winter.
17. Laughing at yourself.
18. Looking into their eyes and knowing they Love you
19. Midnight phone calls that last for hours.
20. Running through sprinklers.
21. Laughing for absolutely no reason at all.
22. Having someone tell you that you're beautiful.
23. Laughing at an inside joke with FRIENDS
24. Accidentally overhearing someone say something nice about you.
25. Waking up and realizing you still have a few hours left to sleep.
26. Your first kiss (either the very first or with a new partner).
27. Making new friends or spending time with old ones.
28. Playing with a new puppy.
29. Having someone play with your hair.
30. Sweet dreams.
31. Hot chocolate.
32. Road trips with friends.
33. Swinging on swings.
34. Making eye contact with a cute stranger.
35. Making chocolate chip cookies.
36. Having your friends send you homemade cookies.
37. Holding hands with someone you care about.
38. Running into an old friend and realizing that some things (good or bad) never change.
39. Watching the expression on someone's face as they open a much desired present from you.
40. Watching the sunrise.
41. Getting out of bed every morning and being grateful for another beautiful day.
42. Knowing that somebody misses you.
43. Getting a hug from someone you care about deeply.
44. Knowing you've done the right thing, no matter what other people think.
Peace,
Jerry+
1. Falling in love.
2. Laughing so hard your face hurts.
3. A hot shower.
4. No lines at the supermarket .
5. A special glance.
6. Getting mail.
7. Taking a drive on a pretty road.
8. Hearing your favorite song on the radio.
9. Lying in bed listening to the rain outside.
10. Hot towels fresh out of the dryer.
11. Chocolate milkshake (vanilla or strawberry).
12. A bubble bath.
13. Giggling.
15. The beach.
16. Finding a 20 dollar bill in your coat from last winter.
17. Laughing at yourself.
18. Looking into their eyes and knowing they Love you
19. Midnight phone calls that last for hours.
20. Running through sprinklers.
21. Laughing for absolutely no reason at all.
22. Having someone tell you that you're beautiful.
23. Laughing at an inside joke with FRIENDS
24. Accidentally overhearing someone say something nice about you.
25. Waking up and realizing you still have a few hours left to sleep.
26. Your first kiss (either the very first or with a new partner).
27. Making new friends or spending time with old ones.
28. Playing with a new puppy.
29. Having someone play with your hair.
30. Sweet dreams.
31. Hot chocolate.
32. Road trips with friends.
33. Swinging on swings.
34. Making eye contact with a cute stranger.
35. Making chocolate chip cookies.
36. Having your friends send you homemade cookies.
37. Holding hands with someone you care about.
38. Running into an old friend and realizing that some things (good or bad) never change.
39. Watching the expression on someone's face as they open a much desired present from you.
40. Watching the sunrise.
41. Getting out of bed every morning and being grateful for another beautiful day.
42. Knowing that somebody misses you.
43. Getting a hug from someone you care about deeply.
44. Knowing you've done the right thing, no matter what other people think.
Peace,
Jerry+
Thursday, June 5, 2008
Matthew and Us
The calling of Matthew to discipleship in the Sunday Gospel should give all of us great hope. The reason for hope will become clear as the story unfolds.
Being a tax collector meant Matthew was an unlikely person for discipleship. He was almost certainly hated or at least dislike by other Jews, if for no other reason than that what he did consorted with the enemy. And, it was very common that tax collectors were involved in graft and extortion. They weren’t even allowed in the synagogue. A tax collector was such an outcast that their money wasn’t accepted as alms! Seen as so untrustworthy, they couldn’t testify in court! Very likely, Matthew was a pretty unsavory guy.
Yet, even before Matthew himself knew he could be more, could play and important role in announcing the kingdom, Jesus knew it about him. But there is something else here that is marvelous. Jesus didn’t condone Matthew’s choices and life, but he didn’t criticize him either. As far as we know, there was no discussion at all about it. No interview. No accounting asked or given. I think what happened here is that Jesus believed Matthew could live up to the call and renounce his former life.
So here’s the hope. Jesus sees in us the good, the potential we have for the kingdom’s sake. He sees how we may come to be an earthly extension of his heavenly love. He sees how we can by the way we live with others be the presence of his love in their lives, love for which they long, for which they ache, for which they search, sadly often in all the wrong places.
What an affirmation that is for us! If we ever wonder if we have anything to offer anybody, any purpose in life, we just need to remember what Jesus saw in Matthew and what he sees in us.
Jesus eats and drinks with tax collectors and the likes of us. He chooses us! Why? He loves us and we need him. Isn’t that wonderful? We need him and he’s there for us. In our pride and selfishness, greater affronts than the tax collector’s extortion, he’s there without reservation because we need him.
There’s an interesting point here we don’t want to miss. The rabbis of Jesus’ day wouldn’t have criticized Jesus merely because he cared for the outcast, the poor, the sinner. They too welcomed the repentant sinner. What was different was that Jesus sought them out! Just as he seeks us out in our own unrighteousness. This is truly the Good News.
Matthew is apparently so ready to break free of his old life that he drops everything--a considerable everything--and follows Jesus. Matthew threw a dinner party which all the other tax collectors and sinners attended with Jesus as the honored guest. Wouldn’t that make sense? He’s just experienced his life’s and soul’s salvation, wouldn’t he want to share the source of that with everybody he could? Wouldn’t we? Wouldn’t we, being overwhelmed with his love for us, remembering that “while we were yet sinners, he died for us,” wouldn’t we do the equivalent? Of course we would.
How could we do this? We resist the temptation to maim others with our words. We act on those impulses that hit us to make that phone call to a friend or someone in need instead of turning on the TV. We pay attention to those around us, and when we see pain, large or small, we show concern, real concern, not just curiosity. We look for and acknowledge the good in someone rather than focus on real or imagined flaws in them. We trust others because we expect the best from them.
We eliminate criticism, even the uninvited constructive kind, and replace it with acceptance. We abolish the intolerance in our lives that is so much a part of the way of the world, and we replace it with openness and tolerance. We don’t insist on our way, instead we try to respond to the need of another. We don’t demand, we ask. We don’t imagine mean spirited motives in others, instead we try to clarify and understand their actual motive. The list goes on and on. These are just a few ways we love, not as the world loves, but as God loves.
“Follow me,” Jesus invites. “Follow me,” Jesus commands. “Follow me,” Jesus implores. “We will,” we respond. Let our prayer be for the continuous presence of the Spirit to strengthen us in this ministry of grace with which we’ve been entrusted.
A little long, but then I've missed the rest of the week! Peace to you.
Jerry+
Being a tax collector meant Matthew was an unlikely person for discipleship. He was almost certainly hated or at least dislike by other Jews, if for no other reason than that what he did consorted with the enemy. And, it was very common that tax collectors were involved in graft and extortion. They weren’t even allowed in the synagogue. A tax collector was such an outcast that their money wasn’t accepted as alms! Seen as so untrustworthy, they couldn’t testify in court! Very likely, Matthew was a pretty unsavory guy.
Yet, even before Matthew himself knew he could be more, could play and important role in announcing the kingdom, Jesus knew it about him. But there is something else here that is marvelous. Jesus didn’t condone Matthew’s choices and life, but he didn’t criticize him either. As far as we know, there was no discussion at all about it. No interview. No accounting asked or given. I think what happened here is that Jesus believed Matthew could live up to the call and renounce his former life.
So here’s the hope. Jesus sees in us the good, the potential we have for the kingdom’s sake. He sees how we may come to be an earthly extension of his heavenly love. He sees how we can by the way we live with others be the presence of his love in their lives, love for which they long, for which they ache, for which they search, sadly often in all the wrong places.
What an affirmation that is for us! If we ever wonder if we have anything to offer anybody, any purpose in life, we just need to remember what Jesus saw in Matthew and what he sees in us.
Jesus eats and drinks with tax collectors and the likes of us. He chooses us! Why? He loves us and we need him. Isn’t that wonderful? We need him and he’s there for us. In our pride and selfishness, greater affronts than the tax collector’s extortion, he’s there without reservation because we need him.
There’s an interesting point here we don’t want to miss. The rabbis of Jesus’ day wouldn’t have criticized Jesus merely because he cared for the outcast, the poor, the sinner. They too welcomed the repentant sinner. What was different was that Jesus sought them out! Just as he seeks us out in our own unrighteousness. This is truly the Good News.
Matthew is apparently so ready to break free of his old life that he drops everything--a considerable everything--and follows Jesus. Matthew threw a dinner party which all the other tax collectors and sinners attended with Jesus as the honored guest. Wouldn’t that make sense? He’s just experienced his life’s and soul’s salvation, wouldn’t he want to share the source of that with everybody he could? Wouldn’t we? Wouldn’t we, being overwhelmed with his love for us, remembering that “while we were yet sinners, he died for us,” wouldn’t we do the equivalent? Of course we would.
How could we do this? We resist the temptation to maim others with our words. We act on those impulses that hit us to make that phone call to a friend or someone in need instead of turning on the TV. We pay attention to those around us, and when we see pain, large or small, we show concern, real concern, not just curiosity. We look for and acknowledge the good in someone rather than focus on real or imagined flaws in them. We trust others because we expect the best from them.
We eliminate criticism, even the uninvited constructive kind, and replace it with acceptance. We abolish the intolerance in our lives that is so much a part of the way of the world, and we replace it with openness and tolerance. We don’t insist on our way, instead we try to respond to the need of another. We don’t demand, we ask. We don’t imagine mean spirited motives in others, instead we try to clarify and understand their actual motive. The list goes on and on. These are just a few ways we love, not as the world loves, but as God loves.
“Follow me,” Jesus invites. “Follow me,” Jesus commands. “Follow me,” Jesus implores. “We will,” we respond. Let our prayer be for the continuous presence of the Spirit to strengthen us in this ministry of grace with which we’ve been entrusted.
A little long, but then I've missed the rest of the week! Peace to you.
Jerry+
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