St. Paul wrote 1 Corinthians in response to a society that was decaying within morally. His major theological theme or vision was that all Christians serve one Lord. Have Christian unity, and share a common vision. His purpose of the letter was to give the Corinthians guidance in Christian life, how to behave and act, and God’s plan for their salvation.
Corinth could be any town, USA in today’s world of Abortion, HIV/Aids, pornography and numerous other moral defects of our secular society. Paul’s style of writing was friendly, even though his last visit was what he had labeled a saddened visit. It appears there may have been a missing letter to explain the sad visit; however, Corinth was the gateway between the East and the West. It was the second largest port town compared to Athens, made up of Jews, Greeks and Gentiles. Paul had spent almost 18 month’s getting the church started there and had a passion in his heart to help them get organized and focused. Many followers were going in various directions as a result of favoring Apollo, Peter, Paul or none of them. Paul was trying to make them understand that the church already had its leader in Christ and that all Christians serve one Lord. Our parishes, churches, dioceses today still have these difficulties as a result of personal agendas, clicks, and people wanting no change in the way things use to be.
I can really relate to the issues in 1 Corinthians within my own life. I consider myself a servant or steward of God, in addition to providing loving service to those in need. Paul said: For we are God’s coworkers; you are God’s field, God’s building. He ministered to the ministers also.
Another area that has been very dear to me over the past few years is the area of evangelization, stewardship and charity. This is a very broad ministry, however I have spent numerous hours, reading, studying and focusing my discernment in this area. I came from a very poor family and have always had charity, volunteering, and love in my heart for those who are less fortunate then myself.
My faith journey relates to Paul’s theology on love being the greatest gift of all. I am gifted to have been raised in a family that has always been very, very loving regardless of the poverty, social defects and other setbacks. The Catholic faith was very traditional and strong throughout my childhood. The problem I had was it was more fun to be like a Corinthian then a Catholic when I got older and wiser. I thought I needed to make money, be successful, and pride myself in accomplishment. I spent most of my adult life striving to get out of poverty; however the poverty was in my heart and mind. When Christ said blessed are the poor in spirit that was me.
Paul preaches to the Corinthians about the body being the temple of the Holy Spirit. I was blind to that fact up until seven years ago, although raised Catholic. When my mother passed away, I said to myself, there is more to life then striving for accomplishment. It hit me that my body was getting older and I had failed to balance my life. How I ever gave up golf every Saturday and Sunday morning over the past three years to take these theology sessions and go to church on Sunday morning is be on me. The Holy Spirit gave me a gift that day when I was baptized 60 years ago. However it came alive again the day we buried my mother.
Now I can be part of Christ and His work as Paul describes in 1 Corinthians. I can be fed the body of Christ in community with others in my faith. My reconciliation has been very exciting. I have fire in my heart for my faith journey. The basis of Paul’s integrity is his love for individuals, whatever their religious or social situation. I hope and pray that I can follow the footsteps of Paul in my lay ministry to love those who need love, to help bring others back home to our faith, and to humbly continue my faith journey with the same enthusiasm and drive that I have had over the past seven years.
Paul ends his letter talking about our victory over death due to Jesus Christ. I still struggle with mortality issues as others do, however; I am preparing the groundwork for the most exciting journey of all. God’s salvation plan for me was re-written seven years ago, I trust He knows what he is doing.
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Monday, January 28, 2008
Luke’s Gospel - Very Instrumental In My Life
Luke’s Gospel has a particular appeal to me because of his balance. It appears to be written to all, including men, women, rich, poor, lonely, Greeks, Roman, and Gentiles, as well as, sinners and the socially outcasts. Some say Luke was not an eye witness as a third generation Christian but I believe he had better writing skills to include beautiful language, grammar, and vocabulary. In my opinion Luke introduced the gospel with more joy, compassion, and love, because Luke’s Jesus’ was very compassionate and forgiving. His focus on the poor and outcasts explain why some call it the social workers gospel. Luke shows much more healing and forgiveness from Jesus then the Gospels of Matthew and Mark. He also makes it very clear that salvation and the kingdom of God are for the asking. Luke wants his readers to plenty of the joy, trust, faith, hope, endurance, expectation, and exultation of those who respond to the faithful God’s actions in their life.
Most theologians say, Luke’s sources were Mark, Q, and L. I am a great fan of his writings that include the Parables of Jesus. Although his writing depended on earlier accounts, Luke re-worked them with better literary structure and put them a more orderly fashion.
Luke’s Gospel has been very instrumental in my life thus far. I can relate to the Parables and often put myself in the place of the prodigal son, the blind man, or anyone of his characters. The lessons have opened my mind and heart and brought my on-going conversion to new heights. Each and every parable teaches me that you must be genuine in your faith and repent for forgiveness of your sins to seek the salvation of Jesus Christ. Luke talked about the faithful servants in 12:35-45, that we must safeguard what has been entrusted to us to care for until His second coming. In other words, Jesus expects us to carry on the tradition of compassion, love and charity to our neighbors.
My spiritual life is useless unless I expose to the world that 20,000 to 25,000 children a day are dying of starvation, numerous children are being kidnapped each day as slaves to armies and as sex slaves in Africa and other countries. Every 6 seconds a child in this world is dying of starvation. This insanity must stop. This is not the way the world is supposed to be.
Luke‘s Gospel is compassionate and loving in today’s world. In my lay ministry, I would find it the most helpful to use his stories to ease the pain of those that I am in contact with. He shows such compassion, joy and love from Jesus that most people who are suffering would believe his stories as I have.
God must know that each and every one of us is responsible to take part in this journey to help the starving and oppressed. Hopefully, He will use us in an extraordinary way to get this message out to the world that we have a responsibility to feed the children and the oppressed.
Almsgiving makes one clean before God. We cannot earn our way to heaven. However, we do have a responsibility to serve our neighbor and follow the law of loving our neighbor as ourselves. My spiritual life is to include the poor, helpless, and the outcasts. I am from that group as a child and I will always have a place in my heart and soul for the needy. I pray that God will never let me forget where I came from and that He will give me the strength to help my fellow man and women.
This Gospel begins and ends with the holy city and the Temple. Isn’t that what happens to us? I pray that each day we as Christians learn that the gospel is intended to teach us that God intends on us to pay attention to our social sin for what we fail to do, in addition to the sin we commit each day. Our world needs compassion, love, and charity to fulfill the kingdom of God.
When Mother Theresa was asked what we can do to help the problem in Calcutta, she responded that your Calcutta is down the street from where you live in your home town. Go do something in your own Calcutta. As I discern, I pray that God will guide me in the right direction to help my neighbors in this world.
Most theologians say, Luke’s sources were Mark, Q, and L. I am a great fan of his writings that include the Parables of Jesus. Although his writing depended on earlier accounts, Luke re-worked them with better literary structure and put them a more orderly fashion.
Luke’s Gospel has been very instrumental in my life thus far. I can relate to the Parables and often put myself in the place of the prodigal son, the blind man, or anyone of his characters. The lessons have opened my mind and heart and brought my on-going conversion to new heights. Each and every parable teaches me that you must be genuine in your faith and repent for forgiveness of your sins to seek the salvation of Jesus Christ. Luke talked about the faithful servants in 12:35-45, that we must safeguard what has been entrusted to us to care for until His second coming. In other words, Jesus expects us to carry on the tradition of compassion, love and charity to our neighbors.
My spiritual life is useless unless I expose to the world that 20,000 to 25,000 children a day are dying of starvation, numerous children are being kidnapped each day as slaves to armies and as sex slaves in Africa and other countries. Every 6 seconds a child in this world is dying of starvation. This insanity must stop. This is not the way the world is supposed to be.
Luke‘s Gospel is compassionate and loving in today’s world. In my lay ministry, I would find it the most helpful to use his stories to ease the pain of those that I am in contact with. He shows such compassion, joy and love from Jesus that most people who are suffering would believe his stories as I have.
God must know that each and every one of us is responsible to take part in this journey to help the starving and oppressed. Hopefully, He will use us in an extraordinary way to get this message out to the world that we have a responsibility to feed the children and the oppressed.
Almsgiving makes one clean before God. We cannot earn our way to heaven. However, we do have a responsibility to serve our neighbor and follow the law of loving our neighbor as ourselves. My spiritual life is to include the poor, helpless, and the outcasts. I am from that group as a child and I will always have a place in my heart and soul for the needy. I pray that God will never let me forget where I came from and that He will give me the strength to help my fellow man and women.
This Gospel begins and ends with the holy city and the Temple. Isn’t that what happens to us? I pray that each day we as Christians learn that the gospel is intended to teach us that God intends on us to pay attention to our social sin for what we fail to do, in addition to the sin we commit each day. Our world needs compassion, love, and charity to fulfill the kingdom of God.
When Mother Theresa was asked what we can do to help the problem in Calcutta, she responded that your Calcutta is down the street from where you live in your home town. Go do something in your own Calcutta. As I discern, I pray that God will guide me in the right direction to help my neighbors in this world.
Monday, January 21, 2008
The Book of Kings and Today's Society
The culture, religious, and political history that is included throughout the life of David and Solomon were very intriguing to me in many ways. I can see where God called these leaders along with several other characters to create the foundation of the faith I have today. This must be the faith truths of the Hebrew Scriptures. As I read through the various scriptures I am at awe that these individuals can claim to be Gods people with the killings, orgies, conniving, and idol worshipping that took place. However they really are not much different then we are today, with war, abortion, sin, oppression, idols etc.
I am also amazed that God has chosen this group. However, as I read between the lines I realize that David had a mission to build a nation for God. Solomon had a mission to build a temple where Gods people could come to worship and receive forgiveness. Regardless of the character defects these individuals had, they must have pleased God in many ways to have these responsibilities and blessings. They both show that I have a forgiving Father who will accept me for my flaws as well as bless me with my gifts, As long as I use them wisely.
Solomon’s Prayer of dedication, his wisdom, and David’s Psalms have been helpful to me in many ways over the years. Although most were written for the time David and Solomon were living, the content and context still reach out and relate to my world today.
We still have wars, power struggles, sex and lies in today’s age like never before. We still have the rich and the poor, the leaders and the followers, the evil in the world and the blessings of God. We also share the same feelings these people felt of joy, gratitude, sadness, anger, despair, anguish and frustration.
I could write for hours about the subjects above, however the bottom line is that we are still out there searching for our God who is a mystery. We know He has promised us salvation, forgiveness, and a place with Him in Heaven, provided we keep our end of the bargain. (Covenant)
I was recently doing some readings on promises, forgiveness, and community. It works the same today as it did back then, only with new characters with new gifts from God. I can only hope and pray for a more just society, less war, and a community sharing with all. Our leaders and we who have received certain gifts need to keep working at our journey towards God and a continuous conversion of heart. What do you Think?
I am also amazed that God has chosen this group. However, as I read between the lines I realize that David had a mission to build a nation for God. Solomon had a mission to build a temple where Gods people could come to worship and receive forgiveness. Regardless of the character defects these individuals had, they must have pleased God in many ways to have these responsibilities and blessings. They both show that I have a forgiving Father who will accept me for my flaws as well as bless me with my gifts, As long as I use them wisely.
Solomon’s Prayer of dedication, his wisdom, and David’s Psalms have been helpful to me in many ways over the years. Although most were written for the time David and Solomon were living, the content and context still reach out and relate to my world today.
We still have wars, power struggles, sex and lies in today’s age like never before. We still have the rich and the poor, the leaders and the followers, the evil in the world and the blessings of God. We also share the same feelings these people felt of joy, gratitude, sadness, anger, despair, anguish and frustration.
I could write for hours about the subjects above, however the bottom line is that we are still out there searching for our God who is a mystery. We know He has promised us salvation, forgiveness, and a place with Him in Heaven, provided we keep our end of the bargain. (Covenant)
I was recently doing some readings on promises, forgiveness, and community. It works the same today as it did back then, only with new characters with new gifts from God. I can only hope and pray for a more just society, less war, and a community sharing with all. Our leaders and we who have received certain gifts need to keep working at our journey towards God and a continuous conversion of heart. What do you Think?
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
Disciples of Christ In The Reign of God, Not An Easy Job!
Jesus had one ministry focused around the reign of God consisting of six aspects. They were healing, exorcism, teaching, reconciling, being a peacemaker, and his liberating ministry. In today’s world I would consider these six separate ministries with considerable overlapping. It would be a challenge for anyone to follow in Jesus’ footsteps and do as an effective job in these areas as he so profoundly illustrated for the world to witness.
As a disciple of Jesus I do not think he would expect me to attempt any of the above without having the gifts to support them. I can participate with my gifts along with the entire community in our role as Disciples of Christ in the reign of God.
As a young man, who was raised a Catholic, attended a Catholic school, studied under the Baltimore Catechism and fell away from the church during a dark period of my life, I was a great candidate for conversion back to my faith about seven years ago. God slowly began working on me about the time my wife joined the Catholic Church and had myself as her sponsor. This forced me to stop back sliding and take my faith more seriously. The RCIA process was a spiritual awakening for me.
When my mother passed away a few years later, our Lord put the petal to the metal and healed my blindness, raised me from the dead, and led me to a book to read called the “Good Enough Catholic” “A Guide for the Perplexed”, by: Paul Wilkes. I picked this book up at the Church the day of my mom’s funeral and finished it within two days. It helped me realize the hunger in my soul, the spirituality that my mother instilled into me as a child, and my obligation to live my renewed baptismal vows that I took when my wife was baptized. My library has grown from Paul Wilkes book to over 200 books that have helped me develop my faith journey over the past few years with fire in my heart. I am sure my mother is working with Saint Peter to keep that fire burning.
The gifts that God gave me in life consist of being a good servant. It was mostly in the secular arena however I have always focused attention toward charity, volunteering and public service. With ongoing conversion in this faith journey I believe Jesus is forming my discipleship and building a loving relationship with me, through discernment that will continue to grow as I become more and more aware of my calling in service.
Jesus’ ministry described in the above basic ministries present a challenge to any lay person or minister of his gospel if they try to be all things to all people. I am always going to be a rookie when it comes to ministry because there is so much to learn and of course I have my secular job, and family that have been my calling. At 60 years old, I can look back with the mistakes I made in life, add the grace mixed into the gifts God gave me, and say today that I have met the challenge. If I follow the plan that God has provided me, utilize the talent in the Catholic community, and continue to discern his expectations, this venture will continue to be no challenge. Instead it will be a joyful experience to share for the balance of my time here on this planet and yours also, if you let God into your life. What do you think?
"Expect the Best" Mike
As a disciple of Jesus I do not think he would expect me to attempt any of the above without having the gifts to support them. I can participate with my gifts along with the entire community in our role as Disciples of Christ in the reign of God.
As a young man, who was raised a Catholic, attended a Catholic school, studied under the Baltimore Catechism and fell away from the church during a dark period of my life, I was a great candidate for conversion back to my faith about seven years ago. God slowly began working on me about the time my wife joined the Catholic Church and had myself as her sponsor. This forced me to stop back sliding and take my faith more seriously. The RCIA process was a spiritual awakening for me.
When my mother passed away a few years later, our Lord put the petal to the metal and healed my blindness, raised me from the dead, and led me to a book to read called the “Good Enough Catholic” “A Guide for the Perplexed”, by: Paul Wilkes. I picked this book up at the Church the day of my mom’s funeral and finished it within two days. It helped me realize the hunger in my soul, the spirituality that my mother instilled into me as a child, and my obligation to live my renewed baptismal vows that I took when my wife was baptized. My library has grown from Paul Wilkes book to over 200 books that have helped me develop my faith journey over the past few years with fire in my heart. I am sure my mother is working with Saint Peter to keep that fire burning.
The gifts that God gave me in life consist of being a good servant. It was mostly in the secular arena however I have always focused attention toward charity, volunteering and public service. With ongoing conversion in this faith journey I believe Jesus is forming my discipleship and building a loving relationship with me, through discernment that will continue to grow as I become more and more aware of my calling in service.
Jesus’ ministry described in the above basic ministries present a challenge to any lay person or minister of his gospel if they try to be all things to all people. I am always going to be a rookie when it comes to ministry because there is so much to learn and of course I have my secular job, and family that have been my calling. At 60 years old, I can look back with the mistakes I made in life, add the grace mixed into the gifts God gave me, and say today that I have met the challenge. If I follow the plan that God has provided me, utilize the talent in the Catholic community, and continue to discern his expectations, this venture will continue to be no challenge. Instead it will be a joyful experience to share for the balance of my time here on this planet and yours also, if you let God into your life. What do you think?
"Expect the Best" Mike
Monday, January 14, 2008
Thank God for Exodus
The story of Exodus helps me to understand how patient, forgiving, generous, and committed God was to free Israel from bondage, and oppression.
By looking at the path Israel took to freedom, I can relate to it in my own heart and mind. The biggest challenge for me is that they had Moses, Aaron, and the Ark to prove God was going to keep His word. I have to depend on faith. Of course if I mess up I don’t have to worry about Moses putting me to the machete or making me drink down melted gold.
My reflection on the escape from Egypt was rescue from bondage. However, like all good relationships, there has to be provisions, rules, and or covenants to make things work. God picked a man like Moses who was not a ready servant, to do a job for Yahweh. Moses played hard to get, gave plenty of excuses and finally God won the battle. I can relate to this part also and have not had to wait until I was eighty to trust God and become His servant; of course I have no plans to wander around the desert either. It is nice that I can learn from people like Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses and all the other characters in the scriptures, along with my own peaks and valleys of life.
The same God, who set Israel free, has set me free from the chains, bondage and imprisonment that I have experienced in poverty, sin, pride and numerous other character defects over my lifetime. Not to say they are gone, like everyone else I still have many faults and always will. I can at least say my God is forgiving. He will also guided me along the right path to salvation, give me the opportunity to be His servant, and provided the right people in my life to help me find my way back home when I do mess up.
So, I have no pillar of cloud or pillar of fire to lead me through the balance of this faith journey, except my faith that God does not abandon his people, He guides and protects them. As I thirst and hunger for more answers and knowledge I believe He will provide those answers. I have also learned that God provided a way to forgiveness through the Ark. (I wondered why they spent so much time on this part of Exodus). I am pleased through our Catholic Tradition that forgiveness was passed on through the sacrament of Reconciliation. As I stubble along the way, I can thank Moses for playing a role in setting our Christian and Jewish ancestors free and giving the modern day Christians a guidebook in Exodus to discern over.
What do you think?
By looking at the path Israel took to freedom, I can relate to it in my own heart and mind. The biggest challenge for me is that they had Moses, Aaron, and the Ark to prove God was going to keep His word. I have to depend on faith. Of course if I mess up I don’t have to worry about Moses putting me to the machete or making me drink down melted gold.
My reflection on the escape from Egypt was rescue from bondage. However, like all good relationships, there has to be provisions, rules, and or covenants to make things work. God picked a man like Moses who was not a ready servant, to do a job for Yahweh. Moses played hard to get, gave plenty of excuses and finally God won the battle. I can relate to this part also and have not had to wait until I was eighty to trust God and become His servant; of course I have no plans to wander around the desert either. It is nice that I can learn from people like Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses and all the other characters in the scriptures, along with my own peaks and valleys of life.
The same God, who set Israel free, has set me free from the chains, bondage and imprisonment that I have experienced in poverty, sin, pride and numerous other character defects over my lifetime. Not to say they are gone, like everyone else I still have many faults and always will. I can at least say my God is forgiving. He will also guided me along the right path to salvation, give me the opportunity to be His servant, and provided the right people in my life to help me find my way back home when I do mess up.
So, I have no pillar of cloud or pillar of fire to lead me through the balance of this faith journey, except my faith that God does not abandon his people, He guides and protects them. As I thirst and hunger for more answers and knowledge I believe He will provide those answers. I have also learned that God provided a way to forgiveness through the Ark. (I wondered why they spent so much time on this part of Exodus). I am pleased through our Catholic Tradition that forgiveness was passed on through the sacrament of Reconciliation. As I stubble along the way, I can thank Moses for playing a role in setting our Christian and Jewish ancestors free and giving the modern day Christians a guidebook in Exodus to discern over.
What do you think?
Saturday, January 12, 2008
Our Purpose: Love Your Neighbor, Help the Marginalized
“The Judgment of Nations” in Matthew 25:31, is more eschatological (end times) than a parable as sometimes described by theologians and those in ministry. It appears to be describing a real future event that contains the Christology of Jesus’ last judgment of all people. With titles like son of man, shepherd, king, Lord, and terms like sitting on the throne, servant, power and glory, this passage has been interpreted as Christology of Jesus. Using the form criticism and historical method most theologians will agree that this piece of scripture makes for interesting discussion that leads us to loving your neighbor, taking action out of love and understanding our purpose as Christians.
I would like to focus on a few verses and terms of this chapter to illustrate how this affects my daily life and all God’s people in these contemporary times. The sheep and the goat’s metaphor illustrate the good and the evil. The right hand is favored over the left side. And “the least of these” represents people in general. Scholars are somewhat divided on the “all the nations” referred to in this reading. I have taken the side that all nations mean all people.
I have had an opportunity to involve myself in various ministry functions over the past seven years consisting of Charity work, RCIA team, hospital visits, visiting youth shelters, serving at homeless shelters and various other projects. Over this seven year period I have become called to learn more about the areas that Jesus refers to in this gospel, food, drink, welcome, clothing, nursing care and visitation. These six works of mercy are really only illustrative examples of what the passage refers to. The bottom line to me means “love your neighbor”. Whether it’s helping someone change a flat tire or providing basic care for a sick person. The kinds of mercy that Jesus rewards here are within reach of every person.
Reflecting on this gospel has made me aware of the seriousness of the sins of omission. How I have extended love and care for the weakest and most helpless among us is how I have treated Christ. The poor not only include the economically deprived, it also includes all those who suffer oppression and powerlessness. Although, I have a long way to go, I have become an advocate of stewardship as a result of my studies. Parts of my efforts have included small donations to (CRS) Catholic Relief Services. I have also begun writing letters or emails to senators and representatives of Congress on the poor, needy, starving people around the world. Each day I am becoming more motivated and called to take action.
Now as I revisit this passage of the “judgment of nations” I become very uncomfortable about my efforts that I have made thus far. I can do more. I realize that a preferential option of the poor is not an option, it is a mandate. As a disciple of Jesus I need to take action out of love for my neighbors versus worrying about judgment described in this reading. The catch twenty two that most people, including myself get into is how my little contribution can make a difference. I have decided that I can make a difference. Twenty Dollars donated would provide a day’s supply of emergency food for 80-100 malnourished children in Sudan. $500.00 will supply a well for clean drinking water. A visit to a nursing home to offer a reading, the Eucharist or just a friendly smile can help add life to these sometimes forgotten neighbors. Whether I support CRS or my local food bank, visit a hospital or write to my congress Representative, I am standing up for justice and doing something.
I can strengthen the community as a whole by assisting those who are most vulnerable. I need to make it a habit of looking at the world from the perspective of the marginalized. This will require not only continuing to do my little part to share my time, talent, and treasure, (stewardship) with others but to also evangelize my daily contacts with the same enthusiasm and determination that Jesus is promoting in his teaching. Evangelizing and stewardship are the two most misunderstood ministries in the Catholic faith. Maybe my enthusiasm toward these areas will help bring them to the forefront in this blog.
In the developing world 1.2 billion people are living below the international poverty line of earning less than $1.00 per day. It is a sin that 24,000 (plus or minus) people die each day of hunger and hunger related causes. That is one person every 3.6 seconds who was made in the image of God and destroyed by the sin of omission. I must continue to ask, why are people starving around the world? Why is the USA, the richest nation in the world, allowing its people to live in poverty, and to be homeless in this land of opportunity?
Part of the message in Matthew's reading is not just to do each of these acts of mercy, but to preach this gospel message to others until all have heard it. I can never stop questioning an oppressive system that forces billions of our brothers and sisters in our country and around the world to live in poverty. I can never again sit back and accept the fact that literally thousands of defenseless unborn babies are being slaughtered by abortion. Nor can I sit back any longer and live with the fact that over 25 million people have now died of AIDS, which is senseless. Life and dignity of the human person needs to be the moral vision of our society.
My spiritual journey over the past seven years has lead me in various directions and given me a clearer understanding of my obligations and gifts as a disciple of Christ. Regardless of where I land in this journey I will have fire in my heart for those who need to be loved. I pray that through this blog and the efforts of Christians everywhere we can make a difference to stop this insanity. Peace in Christ! Mike
I would like to focus on a few verses and terms of this chapter to illustrate how this affects my daily life and all God’s people in these contemporary times. The sheep and the goat’s metaphor illustrate the good and the evil. The right hand is favored over the left side. And “the least of these” represents people in general. Scholars are somewhat divided on the “all the nations” referred to in this reading. I have taken the side that all nations mean all people.
I have had an opportunity to involve myself in various ministry functions over the past seven years consisting of Charity work, RCIA team, hospital visits, visiting youth shelters, serving at homeless shelters and various other projects. Over this seven year period I have become called to learn more about the areas that Jesus refers to in this gospel, food, drink, welcome, clothing, nursing care and visitation. These six works of mercy are really only illustrative examples of what the passage refers to. The bottom line to me means “love your neighbor”. Whether it’s helping someone change a flat tire or providing basic care for a sick person. The kinds of mercy that Jesus rewards here are within reach of every person.
Reflecting on this gospel has made me aware of the seriousness of the sins of omission. How I have extended love and care for the weakest and most helpless among us is how I have treated Christ. The poor not only include the economically deprived, it also includes all those who suffer oppression and powerlessness. Although, I have a long way to go, I have become an advocate of stewardship as a result of my studies. Parts of my efforts have included small donations to (CRS) Catholic Relief Services. I have also begun writing letters or emails to senators and representatives of Congress on the poor, needy, starving people around the world. Each day I am becoming more motivated and called to take action.
Now as I revisit this passage of the “judgment of nations” I become very uncomfortable about my efforts that I have made thus far. I can do more. I realize that a preferential option of the poor is not an option, it is a mandate. As a disciple of Jesus I need to take action out of love for my neighbors versus worrying about judgment described in this reading. The catch twenty two that most people, including myself get into is how my little contribution can make a difference. I have decided that I can make a difference. Twenty Dollars donated would provide a day’s supply of emergency food for 80-100 malnourished children in Sudan. $500.00 will supply a well for clean drinking water. A visit to a nursing home to offer a reading, the Eucharist or just a friendly smile can help add life to these sometimes forgotten neighbors. Whether I support CRS or my local food bank, visit a hospital or write to my congress Representative, I am standing up for justice and doing something.
I can strengthen the community as a whole by assisting those who are most vulnerable. I need to make it a habit of looking at the world from the perspective of the marginalized. This will require not only continuing to do my little part to share my time, talent, and treasure, (stewardship) with others but to also evangelize my daily contacts with the same enthusiasm and determination that Jesus is promoting in his teaching. Evangelizing and stewardship are the two most misunderstood ministries in the Catholic faith. Maybe my enthusiasm toward these areas will help bring them to the forefront in this blog.
In the developing world 1.2 billion people are living below the international poverty line of earning less than $1.00 per day. It is a sin that 24,000 (plus or minus) people die each day of hunger and hunger related causes. That is one person every 3.6 seconds who was made in the image of God and destroyed by the sin of omission. I must continue to ask, why are people starving around the world? Why is the USA, the richest nation in the world, allowing its people to live in poverty, and to be homeless in this land of opportunity?
Part of the message in Matthew's reading is not just to do each of these acts of mercy, but to preach this gospel message to others until all have heard it. I can never stop questioning an oppressive system that forces billions of our brothers and sisters in our country and around the world to live in poverty. I can never again sit back and accept the fact that literally thousands of defenseless unborn babies are being slaughtered by abortion. Nor can I sit back any longer and live with the fact that over 25 million people have now died of AIDS, which is senseless. Life and dignity of the human person needs to be the moral vision of our society.
My spiritual journey over the past seven years has lead me in various directions and given me a clearer understanding of my obligations and gifts as a disciple of Christ. Regardless of where I land in this journey I will have fire in my heart for those who need to be loved. I pray that through this blog and the efforts of Christians everywhere we can make a difference to stop this insanity. Peace in Christ! Mike
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