Our second reading from Paul’s first letter to the Colossians is often misunderstood, because it is taken out of context.  As he says in the first line, his concern is to relieve their anxieties.  He is making suggestions, not commands, to early believers who expected the second coming of Jesus at any time, certainly not very far off at all.  From that perspective, he is saying to be free of marital obligations allows one to focus completely on preparing for the second coming (being focused on “the things of the Lord”).
 
Later, long after the belief that the 2nd coming would be soon was left behind, the Church began to use this passage to claim that celibacy was a “better” way of life than matrimony, that matrimony was secondary.  But Paul starts this section of his letter saying,
everyone should live as the Lord has assigned, just as God called each one (7:17).  In other words, each of us has a specific vocation or calling from the Lord and we need to live THAT life for the Kingdom,
bringing Christ to the world. No one vocation is better than another: it is what God calls me to, as an individual, that is right for me.
 
There is no need to be comparing vocations or styles of life or professions, etc. What I need to focus on is how I am living the vocation I have been called to: am I living Gospel values, so that others can see the compassion, joy, love, and generosity of Christ in
action?  That is what we have been called to, that is what gives meaning to our lives.
 
The bottom line is not whether we are married or single, celibate or not, cleric or lay, etc.  The important thing is that we bring Christ to those around us by what we say and do.  We will have access to people and situations that no one else does and God wants to use us to bring his love, compassion, and forgiveness to others.  Let’s make sure we are cooperating.  God bless.
 
Church sign of the week: Life is a gift: unwrap your present.

As we move through these first Sundays of Ordinary time, we continue hearing call stories.  Last week we heard about Samuel’s call, as well as Andrew and Peter beginning to follow Jesus. Our Gospel this week presents Jesus calling James, John, Andrew, and Peter to leave everything and start a new life with Him, learning how to be “fishers of people.” Ordinary time begins with call stories to remind us that we, also, were called in baptism, to follow Jesus and to bring others to Him.  Throughout Ordinary time Jesus will be teaching His disciples, including us, how to do that, by what He says and how He lives.

Each one of us, no matter what life God has given us (lay, religious, clerical; single, married, parent; work, profession), has the same obligation to live as Christ did, thus bringing Him into the world.  

How is it that we are to live?  There are two basic obligations: the first is to obey the commandments, that is, love God and not hurt other people.  The second is to show that love of God by reaching out and helping others, especially those most in need.  It is going beyond not hurting others to being concerned and helping them address their needs, especially the most vulnerable. We need to do our best to keep growing in fulfilling these demands.

God knows we can’t be perfect, so when we fail, we need to acknowledge it and ask for forgiveness.  Finally, we need to trust in God’s promises that He accompanies us, supports us, and offers us 
forgiveness.

Our baptismal call is not to be perfect, but to be continually growing in our ability to keep the commandments; help others; ask for forgiveness, as needed; and trust that God is with us. Let us support each other in prayer, that we may always be growing in our ability to fulfill the call God has given us.  God bless.

Church sign of the week (repeated from last week, because it is so relevant): God’s voice is as loud as your willingness to listen. 

Our readings this weekend have two “call” stories.  In the first reading, the young Samuel is sleeping and the Lord calls him.  He thinks it is his mentor, Eli, and three times he goes to Eli before Eli realizes it is the Lord calling and tells Samuel how to respond.  In the Gospel, John the Baptist points to Jesus, two of his disciples follow Jesus who invites them to “Come and see,” and one of them (Andrew) goes and gets his brother, Simon.

There are two points I want to make.  First of all, it is God who calls us.  He initiates the dialog.  Our job is to learn to listen, as did Samuel. Sometimes he does it through other people, both mentors (like parents, advisors, etc.) and ordinary people that we meet and interact with.  Sometimes he calls to us through the circumstance and events of life. Often, he talks to us when we are taking quiet time to be in his presence. A personal example: I was teaching English to college students when one said to me, “I wish you were a priest: you know how to listen to people.” That is what pushed me to enter theology and be ordained.  A call from God??

Second, we need to live in such a way that God can use us to call others, as John the Baptist did for Andrew and Andrew did for Peter. We never know how God will use what we say and do to influence others for the good. I’m sure that student had no idea of the effect she had in my life. Being kind to someone who is rude can change that person’s attitude.  But it is harder for God to use us when we lose it or are being selfish.

The bottom line is this: God uses us to call to others and he calls to us through other people and events.  We need to live so as to be “usable,” while being as alert as possible to hear the call coming to us.  God is walking with us, always: how blessed we are!

Church sign of the week: God’s voice is as loud as your willingness to listen. 

This weekend we celebrate the feast of the Epiphany, the manifestation of Jesus to the whole world through the three Magi.  His manifestation to the Jewish people was through the shepherds. The Magi go to Herod, he consults the religious leaders, and the Magi follow the star to Bethlehem.
 
In this Gospel story, there are three distinct reactions to what is going on.  Herod was threatened by the possibility that his power and position might be challenged. This ultimately led to his horrific act of killing many babies. The second reaction was that of the chief priests and scribes: indifference.  Even though they knew the scriptures, they weren’t even interested enough to go see what was going on. The third reaction was that of the Magi: they knew that something was going on and they were open enough to go out of their way to learn and experience what was happening.
 
These three reactions continue today.  There are those who are hostile to Christ and Christianity, perhaps because belief would demand a change that threatens their lifestyle. Many are indifferent: they have heard the Good News, perhaps they have received some of the sacraments, but they go through life ignoring the whole thing.  Then there are those that have “seen the star” and continue seeking and trying to find Christ in their lives.
 
And you know what?  I suspect each of us might have a mixture of these three reactions within us! For example, a person might accept Christianity, participate in the sacraments regularly, and in many aspects of life attempt to live by Gospel values.  But it might be inconvenient or a challenge to be concerned for those in need or difficult people, so the person ignores or is indifferent to that challenge of our faith life. Some aspects of our faith, like being open to all people (both the shepherds and Magi were outcasts and “unworthy”), might be challenging and scary, thus provoking a hostile reaction in the person.  Thus, all three of these reactions are mingled in that one person.
 
I invite us this week to spend time reflecting on the three distinct reactions presented in the Gospel story of the Epiphany, asking ourselves how much we are seeking Christ like the Magi; how much we might be indifferent, like the religious leaders; and whether or not we have any of the hostility of Herod in us. Of course, our goal is to make the Magi grow in us, while diminishing the other two.
 
May 2024 be a year of growth in our ability to respond to Christ in the people and events of life.  God bless.
 
Church sign of the week: You talk the talk, but do you walk the walk?