As Followers of the Way, we are a people who rejoice in new life won by Jesus Christ. In reality we are an Easter People. As we gather this Easter Sunday in prayer and celebration, our hearts joyfully shout Alleluia! Jesus Christ is risen! We are the stewards of the Easter Alleluia.
As earthen vessels, we hold the precious treasures of new life and faith. The new life in Jesus Christ has been given to us through the living waters of baptism; and faith that offers our lives meaning and purpose. Both are gifts from God who did not spare His only Son to show us the depth of His commitment and love for us.
As we celebrate these gifts during this Easter Season we are called to be messengers of God’s peace, forgiveness, and hope. Each day we have opportunities to carry this message to others in our homes, work places, schools, and neighborhoods. We can rely on God to give us the courage and strength to persevere in this mission. Together, as God’s people, we can also encourage and nurture one another by our acts of love and acts of service.
On behalf of our entire staff, I wish all the people of our faith community a Blessed Easter. I pray that our Risen Lord will continue to touch your hearts with peace, joy, and love. Celebrate well. Rejoice heartily. Be faithful stewards of the Easter Alleluia!
Father John
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Monday, March 29, 2010
Extravagant Love
Wow! Where has Lent gone? Here we are....already in Holy Week. We've entered into Jerusalem with Palm Sunday, and today we find Jesus with his friends Lazarus, Martha and Mary. He is with his friends having a meal. In the gospel reading today we see Jesus being anointed by Mary with a costly perfumed oil that Judas takes exception with. Mary anoints his feet and dries them with her hair. What an intimate moment. What an extravagant love!
How many of us would be so extravagant with a loved one? How about with someone we like? How about with someone we don't even know? Love does not nicely calculate the cost. Love gives its all, and its only regret is that it still has not more to give.
It is quite fitting that we remember on this Monday of Holy Week the love of God given to us through the sacrifice of his son. It is extravagant! It goes beyond the comprehension of human understanding, beyond reason. God's love for us goes to great depths and humility to lift us up beyond our sinfulness and limitations.
The gospel reminds us as well that the "house was filled with the fragrance of the oil." Do you smell the fragrance of God's sacrificial love poured over you this week? That fragrance should remind us how far God is willing to go to find us, to redeem us and to love us. May the fragrance of God's eternal and unconditional love permeate your entire being during this Holy Week.
Fr. Mark
How many of us would be so extravagant with a loved one? How about with someone we like? How about with someone we don't even know? Love does not nicely calculate the cost. Love gives its all, and its only regret is that it still has not more to give.
It is quite fitting that we remember on this Monday of Holy Week the love of God given to us through the sacrifice of his son. It is extravagant! It goes beyond the comprehension of human understanding, beyond reason. God's love for us goes to great depths and humility to lift us up beyond our sinfulness and limitations.
The gospel reminds us as well that the "house was filled with the fragrance of the oil." Do you smell the fragrance of God's sacrificial love poured over you this week? That fragrance should remind us how far God is willing to go to find us, to redeem us and to love us. May the fragrance of God's eternal and unconditional love permeate your entire being during this Holy Week.
Fr. Mark
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Learn to Listen. Listen to Learn.
Learn to listen. Listen to learn. When I first heard this saying it caused me to reflect, for several days, on my own practice of listening. Here is what I continue to learn about listening.
1). Listening is different than mere hearing. Listening requires that I am present to the person that I am hearing. It means that as I strive to focus on the person speaking, I refrain from jumping to conclusions, fast-tracking their thoughts, and formulating my response before they are finished speaking. A good rule of thumb for me to check on my being present to another is to be attentive to the urge to interrupt others as they speak.
2). Listening is a practice of patience. It challenges me to slow down, and to keep my own agenda in right-size proportion. Each person has her/his perspective on life from their own experiences. To listen to them is a chance to deepen my own understanding and learning about the mystery of life. It reminds me that I don’t have the final say on life. Patient listening doesn’t always mean that I agree with what I hear yet I am called to offer respect to the person. As I remind myself to practice patient listening it also helps me to be respectful.
3). Listening requires perseverance. The skill of listening takes time, practice, and commitment. I wish I could say that I have mastered it. Yet I know that I am better than I was at it and still need to keep learning. Each person that speaks to me is an occasion to listen with attentiveness, patience, and respect.
This is the posture that Scripture presents of Jesus and his interactions with others. In his listening others had a sense that they were heard and respected. Jesus also spoke the Truth in this same spirit of listening. As we know, some only heard His words while others listened to them. Those who listened were filled with the Spirit and Truth.
As we move towards the closing days of Lent I encourage us to reflect on our listening skills. Am I merely hearing words or am I listening with attentiveness, patience, and perseverance? To my family? To my friends? To my inner self? To my God?
Father John
1). Listening is different than mere hearing. Listening requires that I am present to the person that I am hearing. It means that as I strive to focus on the person speaking, I refrain from jumping to conclusions, fast-tracking their thoughts, and formulating my response before they are finished speaking. A good rule of thumb for me to check on my being present to another is to be attentive to the urge to interrupt others as they speak.
2). Listening is a practice of patience. It challenges me to slow down, and to keep my own agenda in right-size proportion. Each person has her/his perspective on life from their own experiences. To listen to them is a chance to deepen my own understanding and learning about the mystery of life. It reminds me that I don’t have the final say on life. Patient listening doesn’t always mean that I agree with what I hear yet I am called to offer respect to the person. As I remind myself to practice patient listening it also helps me to be respectful.
3). Listening requires perseverance. The skill of listening takes time, practice, and commitment. I wish I could say that I have mastered it. Yet I know that I am better than I was at it and still need to keep learning. Each person that speaks to me is an occasion to listen with attentiveness, patience, and respect.
This is the posture that Scripture presents of Jesus and his interactions with others. In his listening others had a sense that they were heard and respected. Jesus also spoke the Truth in this same spirit of listening. As we know, some only heard His words while others listened to them. Those who listened were filled with the Spirit and Truth.
As we move towards the closing days of Lent I encourage us to reflect on our listening skills. Am I merely hearing words or am I listening with attentiveness, patience, and perseverance? To my family? To my friends? To my inner self? To my God?
Father John
Friday, March 12, 2010
Remembering my mother...
Below is a quote from Dietrich Bonhoeffer, a German Lutheran theologian from the 20th century:
"Nothing can make up for the absence of someone whom we love. And it Would be wrong to find a substitute -- we must simply hold out and see it through. That sounds very hard at first, but at the same time it is a great consolation, for the gap as long as it remains unfulfilled preserves the bond between us. It is nonsense to say that God fills the gap. God doesn't. On the contrary, God keeps it empty. And so, helps keep alive our former communion with each other, even at the cost of pain."
Yesterday, March 11, was the 7th anniversary of my mother’s death. Each year it brings with it all kinds of emotions….from the joy of remembering a particularly happy memory to the depths of sorrow and grief. I did miss her terribly yesterday.
But each year I am reminded of this quote. To remember that the depth of grief is just as deep as the love that we shared. When we love another person, whether that be a parent, a child, a spouse, a friend, we take the risk of losing them, even to death. We love hoping that the physical presence will always be there. But, in reality we know that that is not true. Death does come and we become separated physically.
I am reminded each year on her anniversary how even though she is gone from time and space, she lives on in eternity. Her spirit, the very life that God gave her, lives on. So, the gap, that empty space that lives in me because of her physical absence, remains open and wounded. It hurts. But, I cannot and will not fill it with anything or anyone else because that space is sacred…it is reserved for my mother, her life, her spirit, and her love.
This is true for all of us, especially when we need God. In the empty space that is filled with hurt and pain, we are called to allow the very life and spirit of God to come and fill it with peace, life, and love. This allows us to keep the communion alive that we share with each other, with our loved ones who have gone on to eternal life, and with our loving and faithful God.
Fr. Mark
"Nothing can make up for the absence of someone whom we love. And it Would be wrong to find a substitute -- we must simply hold out and see it through. That sounds very hard at first, but at the same time it is a great consolation, for the gap as long as it remains unfulfilled preserves the bond between us. It is nonsense to say that God fills the gap. God doesn't. On the contrary, God keeps it empty. And so, helps keep alive our former communion with each other, even at the cost of pain."
Yesterday, March 11, was the 7th anniversary of my mother’s death. Each year it brings with it all kinds of emotions….from the joy of remembering a particularly happy memory to the depths of sorrow and grief. I did miss her terribly yesterday.
But each year I am reminded of this quote. To remember that the depth of grief is just as deep as the love that we shared. When we love another person, whether that be a parent, a child, a spouse, a friend, we take the risk of losing them, even to death. We love hoping that the physical presence will always be there. But, in reality we know that that is not true. Death does come and we become separated physically.
I am reminded each year on her anniversary how even though she is gone from time and space, she lives on in eternity. Her spirit, the very life that God gave her, lives on. So, the gap, that empty space that lives in me because of her physical absence, remains open and wounded. It hurts. But, I cannot and will not fill it with anything or anyone else because that space is sacred…it is reserved for my mother, her life, her spirit, and her love.
This is true for all of us, especially when we need God. In the empty space that is filled with hurt and pain, we are called to allow the very life and spirit of God to come and fill it with peace, life, and love. This allows us to keep the communion alive that we share with each other, with our loved ones who have gone on to eternal life, and with our loving and faithful God.
Fr. Mark
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Lenten "Pit Stop"
Here we are on the fourth Sunday of Lent. How did we get here so fast? Holy Week and Easter are three weeks away. Our Lenten journey so far has challenged me, and hopefully all of us, to reflect on our heart’s desire, our willingness to be transformed, and our vigilance to listen to God’s voice and to follow God’s lead.
Reflecting, willingness, and attending are the action steps for our journey of Lent. Some days I find taking these steps more difficult than others. And I am learning to say that “that’s OK.” Just because they are not as smooth as I expect doesn’t imply that they are less worthy of pursuing. You and I can continue to learn about ourselves-in-relationship-with-God-and-others even in our moments of hesitancy or resistance.
My word of encouragement is that wherever we find ourselves on the journey during these days of Lent, God is right there with us. God reminds us that the journey is about living our lives as faithful as we are able to His Word. One day at a time. Striving for progress and loving as God loves us.
Father John
Reflecting, willingness, and attending are the action steps for our journey of Lent. Some days I find taking these steps more difficult than others. And I am learning to say that “that’s OK.” Just because they are not as smooth as I expect doesn’t imply that they are less worthy of pursuing. You and I can continue to learn about ourselves-in-relationship-with-God-and-others even in our moments of hesitancy or resistance.
My word of encouragement is that wherever we find ourselves on the journey during these days of Lent, God is right there with us. God reminds us that the journey is about living our lives as faithful as we are able to His Word. One day at a time. Striving for progress and loving as God loves us.
Father John
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Doppelganger
A few weeks ago on Facebook, we were introduced to Doppelganger week. Doppelganger is a German word that means "double goer." It is used to indicate any double or look-alike of ourselves. "You look so much like...." Our doppelganger is our look-alike.
In today's gospel reading from Matthew, Peter asks Jesus "If my brother sins against me, how often must I forgive him? As many as seven times? Jesus then launches into a parable about the Kingdom of heaven. We read the story of the king who wants to settle accounts with his servants. The servants are called in to pay their debt to the king. In this account, the first servant is unable to pay his debt and is reduced to asking for compassion and patience. The King feels compassion for him and forgives his debt.
Immediately after, the servant comes upon a fellow servant who is indebted to him. Yet, he offers no forgiveness and treats him harshly. Does this first servant not see that this fellow servant is his doppelganger, his look-alike?? That was him 2 minutes ago!! Did he not even allow the gift of forgiveness to seep into his own being and transform him? I guess not, or else he would have noticed himself in the fellow servant and offered that gift to him as well.
Do we see our doppelgangers in the people that we meet on a daily basis? Do we see them in the people whom we are unable to forgive? Do we see ourselves in them?
This week our Lenten theme is Vigilance. We are encouraged to discard the possessions that get in the way of our being able to see and experience the very life and presence of God. How about the possession of forgiveness? Are we able to give that away so that, in the process of forgiving another we experience a greater presence of God? Seeing the other as a doppelganger, an image of ourselves may help us offer the very thing to them that may be needed for their liberation and our liberation. God offers us forgiveness to liberate us. Can we do the same to our look-alike to be liberated and to liberate us as well?
Fr. Mark
In today's gospel reading from Matthew, Peter asks Jesus "If my brother sins against me, how often must I forgive him? As many as seven times? Jesus then launches into a parable about the Kingdom of heaven. We read the story of the king who wants to settle accounts with his servants. The servants are called in to pay their debt to the king. In this account, the first servant is unable to pay his debt and is reduced to asking for compassion and patience. The King feels compassion for him and forgives his debt.
Immediately after, the servant comes upon a fellow servant who is indebted to him. Yet, he offers no forgiveness and treats him harshly. Does this first servant not see that this fellow servant is his doppelganger, his look-alike?? That was him 2 minutes ago!! Did he not even allow the gift of forgiveness to seep into his own being and transform him? I guess not, or else he would have noticed himself in the fellow servant and offered that gift to him as well.
Do we see our doppelgangers in the people that we meet on a daily basis? Do we see them in the people whom we are unable to forgive? Do we see ourselves in them?
This week our Lenten theme is Vigilance. We are encouraged to discard the possessions that get in the way of our being able to see and experience the very life and presence of God. How about the possession of forgiveness? Are we able to give that away so that, in the process of forgiving another we experience a greater presence of God? Seeing the other as a doppelganger, an image of ourselves may help us offer the very thing to them that may be needed for their liberation and our liberation. God offers us forgiveness to liberate us. Can we do the same to our look-alike to be liberated and to liberate us as well?
Fr. Mark
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Practice what you preach....and who you are
In today's gospel reading from Matthew, Jesus says, "The scribes and the Pharisees have taken their seat on the chair of Moses. Therefore, do and observe all things whatsoever they tell you, but do no follow their example. For they preach but they do not practice."
During this season of Lent here at St. Charles, we are Pledging Lent Together. We follow a theme through the week to use during our prayer time. This week's theme is Transfiguration. We are encouraged to sit with something beautiful. Why not sit with the very word of God. The gospel reading reminds us that what we are to practice what we preach. These are good words for us to ponder, to sit with, and to be transformed by. Do we practice what we preach?
Practicing what we preach, I believe, is not just about an external action that corresponds with our words. It is about a deep reality that comes from God and is planted within us. It is God's very word within us that gives us life. And from that life comes a corresponding action. Our actions come from the very life of God. Our practices come from our being attentive to God in his word proclaimed, allowing it to seep deep within us, transform us, and move us to activity that manifests the very life of God in our community and world. We practice, we act because we are inspired and loved by God.
Sit with something beautiful today...God's word...and be transfigured.
Fr. Mark
During this season of Lent here at St. Charles, we are Pledging Lent Together. We follow a theme through the week to use during our prayer time. This week's theme is Transfiguration. We are encouraged to sit with something beautiful. Why not sit with the very word of God. The gospel reading reminds us that what we are to practice what we preach. These are good words for us to ponder, to sit with, and to be transformed by. Do we practice what we preach?
Practicing what we preach, I believe, is not just about an external action that corresponds with our words. It is about a deep reality that comes from God and is planted within us. It is God's very word within us that gives us life. And from that life comes a corresponding action. Our actions come from the very life of God. Our practices come from our being attentive to God in his word proclaimed, allowing it to seep deep within us, transform us, and move us to activity that manifests the very life of God in our community and world. We practice, we act because we are inspired and loved by God.
Sit with something beautiful today...God's word...and be transfigured.
Fr. Mark
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