"When he got out of the boat, at once a man from the tombs who had an unclean spirit met him. The man had been dwelling among the tombs, and no one could restrain him any longer, even with a chain." Mk 5: 2-3
There are all kinds of prisons. Some are physical in nature with bars and alarm bells and bobbed wire to make sure prisoners cannot escape. Others are internal and in many ways they are more restrictive than the prisons that house law breakers. Trapped in our expectations or by our fears and anxieties, we worry excessively about everything from the weather to our health and our financial security, and too often forget Jesus' reminder that we should not worry but remember that God takes care of everyone and everything. Prisons like this are painful, disempowering and unnessary.
Unfortunately, like the man dwelling in the tombs, it is difficult for our friends and family to restrain us. Too concerned with our own opinion or reputation, we stop listening, reject the insights of others and isolate ourselves. Only when we ask for help, and find time to pray more often and simply do we begin to turn the corner and discover there is a way out of our prison. Letting go of our need to have everything and everyone in place, we discover that the Lord can be our strength,
Today, ask for the grace to walk out of the prison of your own pride.
What are the chains that bind you and our society?
Sunday, March 2, 2014
Saturday, March 1, 2014
Keeping Up Appearances
"Learn from the way the wild flowers grow. They do not work or spin. But I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was clothed like one of them." Mt 6: 28-29
There is a very funny British comedy that airs most weeks on the Public Broadcasting Stations around the country which focuses on a woman who is desperate to impress others with her clothes, her home, her china and her sophistication. As she manipulates her husband to go along with her zany schemes and avoids her less than proper sister and brother-in-law, we are invited to laugh at what happens to us when we are more interested in how others see us than in becoming the people God wants us to be.
Unfortunately, our desire to impress others with our wit, wisdom intelligence, money, power or influence can lead us far from the path of faith. When we allow ourselves to obsess about how others see and experience us, we risk living a lie. Overly concerned with impressing friends and foes with our good life and lifestyle, we wear an unrealistic mask that traps us in perfectionism and often leaves us exhausted.
Jesus is clear when asking us not to worry about appearances and other matters we can't really control. In his day, his disciples were under constant pressure to be "good Jews", and were regularly assailed by leaders who rejected Jesus' interpretation of the law. In the end, Jesus reminds us to stop worrying about how others see and only pay attention to how God views us. When we are committed to those in need, and help those without power, we please God and have no need to worry about the judgments of others.
Today, pray to be yourself before God and others.
What area of life do you still want others to see you as successful?
There is a very funny British comedy that airs most weeks on the Public Broadcasting Stations around the country which focuses on a woman who is desperate to impress others with her clothes, her home, her china and her sophistication. As she manipulates her husband to go along with her zany schemes and avoids her less than proper sister and brother-in-law, we are invited to laugh at what happens to us when we are more interested in how others see us than in becoming the people God wants us to be.
Unfortunately, our desire to impress others with our wit, wisdom intelligence, money, power or influence can lead us far from the path of faith. When we allow ourselves to obsess about how others see and experience us, we risk living a lie. Overly concerned with impressing friends and foes with our good life and lifestyle, we wear an unrealistic mask that traps us in perfectionism and often leaves us exhausted.
Jesus is clear when asking us not to worry about appearances and other matters we can't really control. In his day, his disciples were under constant pressure to be "good Jews", and were regularly assailed by leaders who rejected Jesus' interpretation of the law. In the end, Jesus reminds us to stop worrying about how others see and only pay attention to how God views us. When we are committed to those in need, and help those without power, we please God and have no need to worry about the judgments of others.
Today, pray to be yourself before God and others.
What area of life do you still want others to see you as successful?
Friday, February 28, 2014
Praying for Healing
"Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The fervent prayer of a righteous person is very powerful." Jas 5:16
Admitting our mistakes and sins against others is often the first step towards healing. Only when we take responsibility for what we have done to hurt others, especially when we have seriously harmed their reputations, are they able to accept our apology and begin to recover. James knew how devastating back biting, slander and calumny could be to the health of the early Christian community and was determined to address it. Fissures within and among ourselves can soon become unbreachable divides if we don't recognize them for they are and seek ways to reform our lives.
The early church struggled with serious differences of opinion about how to welcome new converts to Christianity from the gentile world, and we can only imagine the conversations between leaders like Peter, Paul and James, the Elder. Some believed that every convert had first to commit themselves completely to the law of Moses. Others, like St Paul, in the fifteenth chapter of the book of Acts writes, "Why, then, are you now putting God to the test by placing on the shoulders of the disciples a yoke that neither our ancestors nor we have been able to bear? (Acts 15:10)
In our day, we continue to struggle with how best to look at and treat other religious traditions. Pope John Paul II, no doubt because he personally experienced the horrors of the holocaust against Jews, worked hard and long to help Catholics address their antisemitism. Pope Francis is following in John Paul's footsteps. In his address to the newly created Cardinals, Francis strongly encouraged them to work for peace and to against discrimination imposed on minorities and other people who are "excluded" by attitudes of superiority and condescension.
The work of healing unnecessary divisions between and among Christians and other religions continues to be hugely important in a world so divided by sectarian and religious violence. With St James we must remember that the prayer of the righteous is very powerful.
Today, pray for the strength to seek healing with anyone against whom you have sinned.
What do you think are the best means to heal the unnecessary divisions among religions?
Admitting our mistakes and sins against others is often the first step towards healing. Only when we take responsibility for what we have done to hurt others, especially when we have seriously harmed their reputations, are they able to accept our apology and begin to recover. James knew how devastating back biting, slander and calumny could be to the health of the early Christian community and was determined to address it. Fissures within and among ourselves can soon become unbreachable divides if we don't recognize them for they are and seek ways to reform our lives.
The early church struggled with serious differences of opinion about how to welcome new converts to Christianity from the gentile world, and we can only imagine the conversations between leaders like Peter, Paul and James, the Elder. Some believed that every convert had first to commit themselves completely to the law of Moses. Others, like St Paul, in the fifteenth chapter of the book of Acts writes, "Why, then, are you now putting God to the test by placing on the shoulders of the disciples a yoke that neither our ancestors nor we have been able to bear? (Acts 15:10)
In our day, we continue to struggle with how best to look at and treat other religious traditions. Pope John Paul II, no doubt because he personally experienced the horrors of the holocaust against Jews, worked hard and long to help Catholics address their antisemitism. Pope Francis is following in John Paul's footsteps. In his address to the newly created Cardinals, Francis strongly encouraged them to work for peace and to against discrimination imposed on minorities and other people who are "excluded" by attitudes of superiority and condescension.
The work of healing unnecessary divisions between and among Christians and other religions continues to be hugely important in a world so divided by sectarian and religious violence. With St James we must remember that the prayer of the righteous is very powerful.
Today, pray for the strength to seek healing with anyone against whom you have sinned.
What do you think are the best means to heal the unnecessary divisions among religions?
Thursday, February 27, 2014
Searching for God
"He pardons all your iniquities, he heals all your ills. He redeems your life from destruction, he crowns you with kindness and compassion." Ps 103: 3-3
Knowing or grasping God completely is impossible, but we must keep trying, and the scriptures offer us any number of images of God all of which can help at different times in our lives. Psalm 103 asks us to imagine God as a healer, someone who is anxious to be with us and make us whole. No matter how broken our life might feel, God's compassion and kindness will triumph over the darkness if only we only God to be God.
At the same time, no matter how hard we try, there are times when God's healing seems far away. A friend has recently been diagnosed with cancer of the bone and the doctors are not yet sure how much the cancer has spread. Living with this kind of uncertainty is trying at best, and depressing at worst. When news of our own frailty or the serious illness of friends emerges, it strikes us like a hammer, and our spirits are often numb as we try to process what is happening,
In between times, those moments when we do not know what we are facing, are frightening and confusing. Some friends will encourage us to think of the glass as half full. Other will push us to face the reality of our life leaking away, and while both can be helpful, we may not be able to handle much of anything until our spirits catch up with your minds and bodies. The unembellished truth that God wants to heal us may feel like empty words.
The simplest response we can make to times of struggle and confusion is usually the best. Ask for the grace to accept whatever is happening in your life and you can be sure, no matter how weak your prayer might feel, that it is what God ask of each of us. If we only thank God when we are feeling good about ourselves or our families, if we only praise God when life is going according to our plans, our faith will be unable to navigate the turbulent waters of doubt. God is merciful. God is kind. God understands and wants only to be close to us at all times, no matter where we are.
Today, ask God to let you know how close God is.
What images of God help you most to live life honestly as it happens?
Knowing or grasping God completely is impossible, but we must keep trying, and the scriptures offer us any number of images of God all of which can help at different times in our lives. Psalm 103 asks us to imagine God as a healer, someone who is anxious to be with us and make us whole. No matter how broken our life might feel, God's compassion and kindness will triumph over the darkness if only we only God to be God.
At the same time, no matter how hard we try, there are times when God's healing seems far away. A friend has recently been diagnosed with cancer of the bone and the doctors are not yet sure how much the cancer has spread. Living with this kind of uncertainty is trying at best, and depressing at worst. When news of our own frailty or the serious illness of friends emerges, it strikes us like a hammer, and our spirits are often numb as we try to process what is happening,
In between times, those moments when we do not know what we are facing, are frightening and confusing. Some friends will encourage us to think of the glass as half full. Other will push us to face the reality of our life leaking away, and while both can be helpful, we may not be able to handle much of anything until our spirits catch up with your minds and bodies. The unembellished truth that God wants to heal us may feel like empty words.
The simplest response we can make to times of struggle and confusion is usually the best. Ask for the grace to accept whatever is happening in your life and you can be sure, no matter how weak your prayer might feel, that it is what God ask of each of us. If we only thank God when we are feeling good about ourselves or our families, if we only praise God when life is going according to our plans, our faith will be unable to navigate the turbulent waters of doubt. God is merciful. God is kind. God understands and wants only to be close to us at all times, no matter where we are.
Today, ask God to let you know how close God is.
What images of God help you most to live life honestly as it happens?
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