#morsels4meditation

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Carrot Cake out of this world. This is a fitting image for my blog post Good Take Out meditating on gospel readings for January 8th 2019.  Check it out.

[morsels4meditation-blog]

Good Take Out

Good Take Out

“I am certain that Jesus did not multiply every loaf and fish,” the Jesuit sighed.

“It does not make sense that people would follow Jesus and walk away from their villages without taking food with them.”

I remember the shock waves that went through me as listened to this Jesuit priest active in the charismatic movement argue this point.  Was this priest preaching blasphemy to our intimate gathering?  I mean believing this miracle is only a miracle of getting people to share, does it diminish from the power of Jesus?   Where is the supernatural in that?  So, what was this miracle of the loaves and fishes all about, and how does it speak to us today? Was Jesus a “miracle man” or just a charismatic leader who got others to share their snacks.  Or was He a bit of both?  Come with me as I explore this question.

First, I confess as I imagine this gospel scene, I picture Jews being so spellbound by Jesus’s teachings that they are lured into the wilderness not thinking to pack a picnic basket.  I want to believe Jesus to be that charismatic. This is consistent with what we saw before as the would-be apostles abandoned their fishing posts and followed the dreamer who told Nathaniel in Hebrew code that He was the Chosen One, the arrival of the revolutionary Nat was thirsting for.  My Jesus is that magnetic.   I see him as funny, in love with life, deeply spiritual, an entertainer, and an idealist that was a grounded in realism when the situation demanded it.  I think it made common sense to support him, plus you just felt good being in his company.

Second, the realist part of me says the distribution of appetizers had to start with one group at a time.  I could easily envision something like a donation basket going around and spectators dropping on the plate a morsel or two.   Perhaps Jesus was utilizing the psychology of human nature.  I admit that once I am fed, if I am completely full, I have no problem giving excess food away.  

Further, at potlucks, corporate Christmas parties, or other social gatherings involving food, dishing out the left-overs is a fact of life embedded in our culture.  Was this an accurate picture of Jewish cultural practices as well? I believe so.  I mean my Jesus is a realist; passing the food collection plate around at the right moment might have been just what the good doctor ordered to get the former fishing crew out of their jam.  It’s all in the timing.

Third, in my heart I want to believe Jesus did it all and multiplied every ‘pan and pescado’.  (Espanol offers the best alliteration here.)  Afterall, the Christ was eventually going to brand himself as the Bread of Life.  Was this a good public relations’ move at this juncture of His ministry?  That’s food for thought.  He was already on the people’s radar as a magician considering he pulled off the infamous food-water trick at the Wedding of Cana as His debut. Was this the attention-grabbing moment He was pining for?  Jesus was on center stage and a God-man in love with His people.  He had so much He wanted to share.  Was the audience ready?  

Well, thanks for your interest.  I believe the ‘take out’ from this miracle meal today centers on what Jesus did accomplish here.  Let’s look at the evidence.  The disciples sat people down in groups of one hundred.  He took what little bread and fish the apostles had and blessed them.  The apostles distributed the fruit of His blessing to the villagers.  Five thousand men were fed. Twelve wicket baskets of scraps were left over.  When news of this event spread, more people began to pay attention to Him.  

At this point in my life, I am concentrating on the partnership that existed in this miracle of multiplication.  I am looking to God and myself to get me out of this jam of being underemployed and unhappy. Just as it is going to take all God and all me to get me into a vocation that fits my shape of talents and gifts, so too we can grasp from this story that God is asking the same of us today. He is asking for our all.  And He is telling us that His all is much greater than our all.  Give a little, gain a lot.  Now, that’s some good take out.

Morsel for Meditation: How am I giving my all, or not giving my all, to be the best version of myself?  How can I let God give His all?      

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Prophecy and Piercing

Prophecy and Piercing

Yes, here's the revelation that comes along with the celebration of this fifth and sixth day of this Christmas octave, an authentic life in Christ brings both prophecy and piercing.  It came from the lips of Simeon himself who, being stuck in a temple waiting for the Christ, knew all about God's spiritual piercing.  He too was told the prophecy that he would not be dismissed from this life until he had an encounter with Jesus.  And true to His Word, God made good on His promise.  

The unique characteristic about a life of faith with God in control of our destiny is that promises are fulfilled but not in the way we foresee them being fulfilled.  God not only goes outside the box, He invents His own box, and then moves outside of it.  We see this time, and time again in the Bible.  The Old Testament stories of Abraham, Moses, Joseph, David, etc. up onto Jesus himself this trend of God finding a way to work around people's free will to get His way accomplished is remarkable. Recall, St. Paul's life for instance.  He used his own free will to persecute God's Church.  He was doing the exact opposite of what God wanted, yet God used his conversion story to reach out to the Gentiles.

Jesus's story is a supreme example of God getting His will accomplished.  Can you say mind-blown? Jesus Christ is the most successful loser in all of history.  His destruction on the cross brought about God's ultimate victory of making us His kids forever.  Our transition from His friends to His kids, who could have foreseen that would happen if He allowed His Jewish Church leaders mutilate and torture His son to a horrific death?  No one ever saw that coming, and yet there it was in prophecy throughout the whole of salvation history.  

Plus, on top of that who can ever say "but God, you don't know how I feel,"?  Jesus living here on Earth, and dying at the hands of His own people, well He does know every human sensation and emotion period, end of story.  Therefore, in all of us, who live in Him, we will do the impossible. We will let Him work within our freewill, not around it, to let His will be done.  We will believe when there is no hope in sight. We will trust when doubt surrounds us. We will receive the prophecy and then watch as God makes it happen.  

Morsel for meditation: If I look through the Bible what prophecies is the Holy Spirit speaking through me or to me personally at this point in my life?  Is my doubt getting in the way of letting them happen?  Remember, Christ's life has He not taught us any less?   You can't taste freedom, until you first risk blood.   You must trust in the impossible, and you must love all and serve all doing it.  That's everyone's cause and effect.  But is it also their prophecy and piercing?  

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Impostors

Christmas Octave Day Four

Impostors

There is a part in every hero's journey where he must deal with impostors.  These can be false selves.  These can be deceptions such as a disguised desire for money and fame in our thirsts for a life of charity.  These can be deceivers who claim to be someone they are not.  Sooner or later, following along a hero's plight, impostures lurk behind every twist and turn of the terrain of an effective storyline. 

Here's the secret. The light of truth always reveals the impostor. That light source is an intentional, intimate relationship with Jesus Christ.  Again, I think that is the secret St. John wants to tell us today.  If you want to know the depth of love in a man, gauge his proximity to Jesus. 

In today's gospel, we once again meet up with Herod.  Herod was playing the part of the ultimate poser.  He was going to kill the Messiah out of jealousy.  His plan to kill all babies between the ages of two and under was mad.  It made no sense.  He knew when the star appeared in the sky, and it wasn't two years ago.  Jealousy had overtaken his sense of logic.  Killing thousands, meant in the long run decreasing future tax revenues. Further, by killing these holy innocents, Herod was fueling desire through rebellion for his own destruction as their leader.  But Herod let his emotions lead him into rash action. 

Now, St. John explains, after hearing this story, I have two choices.  I could condemn Herod as a bloodthirsty killer.  I could separate myself from this dictator and proclaim that I am not like him in any way, shape, or form.  However, as we discussed yesterday, I am living my faith life from the front pew.  Christianity is again not for sissies.  That means it involves taking some honest perspectives and making accurate evaluations of self. 

I cannot honestly look down from an imagined pedestal, or point fingers from a far at Herod, calling him names, because I have done some terrible things to others and myself in my lifetime here on this planet too.  Through the eyes of Christ's love, I can see how I have deceived to get what I thought I wanted.  I can admit that I have experienced strong emotion and allowed it to flow into unjust words and action. 

I must admit that Herod lived in me.  Because he had the same thought patterns that I have triggered in myself those of rage, jealousy, pride, and deception, I cannot isolate myself from him or any other tyrannical ruler, and say they are evil, and I am better. 

If I have participated in the same sin even if in smaller degrees, I justly cannot condemn them for their actions.  Recalling the words of the Our Father "forgive those who trespass against you, as I have forgiven you," I digest the teachings of authentic love.  This love does not keep score.  It frees. 

This love reveals the impostor, the hypocrite in us all and says it's okay.  "Life is hard. Don't do it again.  Make better decisions but stop judging others. You are far from perfect yourself."  That is what the act of daily bible reading and quiet examinations of our conscience are designed to do, to flesh out our own impostors.  Repent and redeem these false selves. 

Morsel for meditation:  In every monster we hold within there is a savior crying to get out.  In this Christmas season, with all its Potters, Scrooges, and Grinches...every villain can be transformed into virtue.

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Aiming at the Bullseye of Faith

Christmas:  Third Day of Octave

Aiming for the Bullseye of Faith

The first day I recall as Indian Guide, with the YMCA, I was a Kindergartener taking a camping trip with my dad.  In the wilderness of a campsite, we busied ourselves tidying up the camp, getting the tents set up, and then finally it was time for some leisure activity.  

Six aluminum, empty, soda cans sat about a palm size apart from each other in a straight-line glistening in the sun waiting for the sport to begin.  “Aim higher”, “cock the trigger”, “slow and steady”.   One of the Indian guide fathers advised us, as he loaded the pellet gun in front of us for a proper demonstration.  He wanted to ensure we had all the information we needed to pierce the metal cans right off the tree branch.  

Squinting his eye and producing a penetrating stare between the cross hairs of the end of the rifle, the man gently pulled the trigger forward.

Pttot! The metal ball sank into its aluminum victim.  

“There.”

“You try.”

The man handed the rifle to our first participant.   I watched him closely.  Studied each move.

Dring!  The metal pellet rang off the end of the tree branch and ping-ponged into the forest behind it.

“No, no”

“You are thinking too hard.”

“You have to feel it.”

“Try again.”

He was right, the less we thought about hitting the target the more fruitful our shot.  I think John in his letter today is in a similar situation. He has seen the Messiah.  He knows what eternal life is.  He has lived with Jesus.  How does he direct believers to it or Him?

What does he say to give us enough information so we can aim for the target of living forever with God?

“We are writing this so that our joy may be complete.”  This is another way of saying “We want you to want it as much as we do.”

We have only to look at St. John’s sprint with St. Peter to the tomb to get a glimpse of what he is conveying to his readers.  Its okay to get excited in your faith life, but you also ‘have to know your place’. Begin with the end of heaven in mind, but don’t run over anyone in the process of getting there.  If you provide the information of making intentional room in your life for Christ, encourage others to do the same, and respect their freedom of choice, then you are aiming for the bullseye of salvation in the footsteps of St. John’s.  

Morsel for Meditation:  How do I balance my excitement for God and my respect for others and their freedom of choice to believe or not believe in Jesus?  How am I at aiming at my bullseye of an intimate life with Christ? How am I at getting others to want to hit that bullseye too?