Tuesday March 26, 2024
Isaiah 49:1-6
The prophet Isaiah asks us today to revisit a beautiful truth. No matter who you are and what is going on in your life, you really need to know this almost from a cellular level. YOU WERE WILLED INTO BEING. Yes the God of glory called you by name as you were being knit together in your mothers womb.
Sometimes we go through life and wonder what our purpose is, we want to do more but are not able to find what and how to do it. It is important in these moments to remember that God wants me here now. So we can say to that one person who thinks we do not belong “sorry and not so sorry to inconvenience you pal, someone much bigger has called me into your life.
Living with purpose or knowing that we were called into existence with a mission does give all of us a sense of confidence. Now, most of us blunder into our purposes but that is ok. I have a feeling that in the long run, it will all make sense.
Monday March 25, 2024
John 12:1-11
What a gift it is to have a friend, to have somewhere you can go and just rest, talk, visit. No expectations at all in this place. Good friends are such a blessing because with them we can simply be. I have often spoke of Mary Ann and her friend Cheryl. They have known each other since second grade. Whenever we go on vacation with her, those two can sit in silence or talk all day. I just don’t get how you have something to say to anyone after three hours. So to all those who have kept friendships, to all those who have taken the journey to go raise their friend who was dead (buried in grief or pain of divorce or whatever), to all those with a childhood friend, you guys are saints.
Jesus had a friend like that. Lazarus was his name. Six days before Passover Jesus goes to visit with his buddy. I wonder what they talked about. Did Jesus say to Lazarus “these jokers don’t get it man, you would not believe the things I have to explain!” Did Lazarus say “Really you had to ride the donkey?” All I know is if you are buddies, you can relax. I have met a family like that, a place I can go and just be. I pray for your connections to be real and deep.
Thursday March 21, 2024
John 8:51-59
They picked up stones to throw at him, they had enough. What did he say to provoke them? This beautiful truth that in death life does not end, in death life is changed. For our God is God of the living. The Israelites did not all believe in a life after death. We do not see this at all in the early scriptures. It is only after the book of Daniel that we begin to talk about those taken from us by death.
Jesus asks us to look at death differently. It need not paralyze us no matter how difficult it is to accept. Death is part of life not the end of life. But Jesus suggests even more if I may dare say. That life does not start at birth. This is a tough one right? Because we firmly believe that the spark of life happens at conception. What if that soul is older than the human/flesh experience. It simply is and never gets old. Well it’s getting deep here.
Back to Abraham and Jesus and the lesson for today. Your loved ones are alive, yes alive in a different realm. This I believe. If you have time watch the clip “to heaven and back” on YouTube. Let me know what you think.
Wednesday March 20, 2024
John 8:31-42
We all know some super religious person who we just wish they would take a chill pill. They are good people who mean well but man they are wound up tight as a golf ball. Heck I was that zealous once. I remember when I was heading to Hukuntsi in the desert land of the Kalahari to convert the bushmen and my lovely Irish novice master pulled me aside. He said “Brother Robert, please remember this, before you get there, God is already there.”
My word will make you free. Jesus says to us today that when the word of God finds a home in us it will make us free. Are you free? Free to be yourself, free to relax in his word, free to make mistakes and not learn from them. The free person is content. Lots of those Pharisees were trying to fill their lives with things including religion. We need one thing-His word to find a home in us
Tuesday March 19, 2024
John 8:21-30
Did I ever tell you that my weakest and strongest character trait is that I am a people pleaser? What a cross it is sometimes. I hate conflict and tension. These arguments that the Pharisees are picking with Jesus almost bring my blood pressure up. We know how the story ends but it pains me that our Lord has to keep explaining himself and they keep looking for a reason to trap him. They seriously wake up in the morning and plot against him. Can you believe that there are people to this day who are driven by such malice and jealousy?
Today our Lord says to put it in American terms “ you will not get it until it’s too late with an attitude like that.” In biblical terms “When you have lifted up the Son of Man,
then you will know that I am He..” Let us pray today that our eyes be open to truly see and hear those God has brought into our lives. Because life is too short to be spent arguing.
Monday, March 18, 2024
John 8:1-11
A very blessed Monday to you. I missed you this past weekend but thank goodness for Fr Will. Our community is blessed with wonderful priests indeed. Today’s first reading and gospel both present to us a woman condemned by all but saved by God. Please read both readings when you get a chance.
Have you ever felt the weight of people’s eyes on you? Their laughter of ridicule? It is absolutely crushing. I am a firm believer in the energy force that surrounds us. I strongly believe that the forces of energy around us affect our inner spirits. What Jesus does for me is ignite the energy of light and love. He asks you and I to key into his Spirit, his energy especially when negative energies are upon us. Once we key in, link into Gods Spirit the other negative energies will be at bay.
Yes Jesus does not condemn her. That is only the beginning. Now she must not condemn herself. Now she must find a way to live with a troubled past and a people who never forget the bad you do. On this Monday find people in your life who bring good energy and difficult as it maybe sometimes let go of the ones who are unforgiving. They want back so they can find another opportunity to hurt. You can live without those in your innner life. Yes yes be nice always and send out positive energy to all.
Thursday March 14, 2024
John 5:31-45
I can just feel how exhausting it must have been to Jesus trying over and over to explain himself to people who had already made up their minds about him. He says “As for human approval, this means nothing to me.
Besides, I know you too well: you have no love of God in you.” These to me are words of someone who is at his wits end with impossible people. But in this case it is even worse, they think they are doing God’s work by hating Christ. They particularly do not like how he claims to have a personal relationship with YAHWEH.
Jesus is so strong in his character and I pray for such strength. I am a people pleaser. Yes this was frowned upon when I was in seminary and I was accused of not having a back bone. But I like to be liked, It makes me feel good and accomplished when I get a thumbs up. A caution to anyone like me is you cannot please all the people all the time. The Americans capture it well in the expression “Do your best and let the chips fall where they may.”
Yes it is nice to be liked but sometimes folks who don’t like you have their own struggles and are projecting on you. The Pharisees did not have a personal relationship with God and boy did they project that! From one people pleaser to another, I say “you got this.”
Wednesday March 13, 2024
John 5:17-30
In this passage beautiful passage from the gospel of St John, the religious leaders are mad with Jesus and even more determined to do away with him. Why? This will shock you.
They are mad because of what Jesus does with the question of God. God was always THE-OTHER. God was always mysterious. The ’great sin’ of Jesus is that he made God relatable. In fact he made God understandable. Today they are losing their minds because he calls the Great God, my father. We cannot even begin to imagine that jump in relationship. “My Father goes on working….” Jesus says.
How is your relationship with God. Is God still mysterious and distant? God could be all that, but God could also understand you on a personal level. I have said this many times ”If God loves me more than mama loves me then God must love me a whole lot.”
Until we know God on a personal level, until he is My Father, we really have not understood Him at all. Love you
Tuesday March 12, 2024
John 5:1-3,5-16
In our first reading from today’s liturgy the Prophet Ezekiel is shown the river of life. Wherever the river flows, no matter how dead it seemed, the river brought new life. The word of God is the river of life. May his word spring forth new life in you.
Jesus in today’s gospel says to a man who had been sick and helpless for thirty eight years “Do you want to be well again?” He asks this man if he is ready for change. imagine yourself bound by some unbearable illness that long. It maybe all you know. And then you are given an opportunity to change the rest of your life. Yes Lord!!! This is all I want. Well that change requires that you have the courage to give up the mat you lay on. Whatever bothers you, whatever paralyzes you, has met it’s expiration date today. For today our Lord says pick up your mat and walk!!! Claim the healing my friend.
Monday March 11, 2024
Isaiah 65:17-21
This says the Lord: Low, I am about to create new heavens and new earth; The things of the past shall not be remembered or come to mind…For I create Jerusalem to be a joy and its people to be a delight; I will rejoice in Jerusalem and exult in my people.
Two things come to mind and frankly they may not be related. A couple of years ago I came across a clip of a UFC fighter. He had been beaten badly in a march and he said on his way out with “tail between his legs.” “Maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow, pero one day I will be champion.” Immediately he became my hero. He was gonna go home and do his homework. And over a period of time, with no quick fixes he would come back. You know friend, you may not see it pero, God is building joy in you. Think about that one. God is building joy in me.
I was gonna share my second thought but I think this is enough. God is creating a joyful you!!
Friday March 8, 2024
Mark 12:28-34
You are not far from the Kingdom of Heaven!!! These words are taken right from the lips of Jesus as he sees this one scribe say “To love him with all your heart, with all your understanding and strength, and to love your neighbour as yourself, this is far more important than any holocaust or sacrifice.”
We might wonder if there was any question at all about this. But religion around the time of Jesus had gotten so ridiculous, so corrupt that more emphasis was placed on things, than on the people. Indeed being religious was about checking boxes not living the faith. In the name of religion they despised the poor and weak. In the name of religion or in the name of being pure they completely forgot about God’s favorite people, those who struggle. And so it was with a sigh of relief that Jesus heard one of the scribes go back to the fundamentals. That is where we need to go friends. We need to focus on the God who comes to us through our weak and struggling neighbor.
Thursday, March 7 2024
Mt 14:14-23
Jesus was casting out a devil and it was dumb; but when the devil had gone out the dumb man spoke, and the people were amazed. But some of them said, ‘It is through Beelzebul, the prince of devils, that he casts out devils.’ Others asked him, as a test, for a sign from heaven; but, knowing what they were thinking, he said to them, ‘Every kingdom divided against itself is heading for ruin, and a household divided against itself collapses.
I love his strength and focus. He just kept going. How many times is our Lord criticized for doing great work. And yet he never stops.
Listen there are people out there who are miserable and they want you to be like them. It was said of a colleague that if you drove to his house with a jackpot ticket of $10M he would complain that you parked on the grass.
I think our Lord keeps going because he knows his mission. He has prayed about this and has discerned the will of God. When we are not sure of our mission, every opinion matters. Sometimes I say to you “pay them no mind at all and keep on loving.”
You are doing good my friend. They will see some day!!
Wednesday March 6, 2024
Deuteronomy 4:1,5-9
I absolutely love this beautiful line we find in today’s first reading: And indeed, what great nation is there that has its gods so near as the Lord our God is to us whenever we call to him?
The context of course is important here. Moses is giving the commandments to the Israelites and he says if they keep these commandments, God in turn will actually pitch his tent among them and what a beauty it will be to behold.
I was talking about another priest friend who is fighting some battle right now and my other friend said “well you know, like a cat he always lands on his feet.” But maybe there is more to the story. Maybe what we are seeing is how present God is even among those in the deepest of darkness.
But this reflection is not about others, it is about you. When I look into your life, when I journey with you through all the seasons of your life, I am left with this: Is there a person out there that has God so close to them as God has manifested in your life. Think about it, and pray about it.
Tuesday, March 5, 2024
Matthew 18:21-35
Peter approached Jesus and asked him, “Lord, if my brother sins against me, how often must I forgive him? As many as seven times?” Jesus answered, “I say to you, not seven times but seventy-seven times.”
I bet St Peter walked away mad and saying to himself “why the heck did I even ask?” Forgiveness and let me say ungratefulness are two of the most difficult things you may be called to deal with in this life. Someone will hurt you, someone will betray your trust and yes there is someone out there who you will do the most for but they will be so ungrateful that it hurts your soul. Today I want you to start practicing the art of walking away. Do not be attached even to your good works. Give, love and let go.
So much has been written about forgiveness because it is an everyday call and it is a process. You may forgive someone and they do the next crazy thing and you are where you started. Forgiveness for some of us may never be a done thing. It is constant. We learn to walk away everyday because the pain of betrayal is different everyday.
Monday, March 4, 2024
2 Kings 5:1-15
Naaman, army commander to the king of Aram, was a man who enjoyed his master’s respect and favour, since through him the Lord had granted victory to the Aramaeans. But the man was a leper.
This is a fascinating story about Naaman. He had many good things going for him but he was a leper. I wonder which aspect of him defined him! What did he miss about him and what was as huge as an elephant before his eyes. I bet the only thing he saw was that he had leprosy.
What spoils your day? It may not be as big as you make it out to be. I had a friend who was absolutely gorgeous but she kept talking about the pimple on her face. I cried out to her “can you see anything else?
Fr. chibundi
Friday March 1. 2024
Matthew 21:33-43,45-46
On this Friday and possibly the following Friday I would love for our reflection to be interactive. So let’s give it a try and come back this evening for a closing reflection. As we wake up I pose this reflection as we stand before the mirrors. Lord, help me accept the truth about myself no matter how good it is. Then in the comments below I invite you to write who and what you are without explanation. Just say what comes to mind and say it all day. I will start by giving us an example. I am LIGHT! Your turn. Remember no explanations.
Thursday February 29, 2024
Jeremiah 17:5-10
How did I miss this reading all these years. Jeremiah offers a curse and a blessing. He says “A curse on the man who places his trust in a man … And a blessing on a man who places his trust in God..” Well that is a little sexist there Mr Jeremiah. You can’t say that about all men!! I kid.
We actually see this call in the Hebrew Scriptures a lot. The invitation to put our trust in the Lord. Mama used to tell me to trust no one but we lived in a different place and different time. The prophet reminds us that there is one who is dedicated for our own good. God and God alone should have our full trust. You and I know this. We have good friends who are and will be there always but life happens, economies change and people change. The greater our relationship with God is the more he will show us who to trust. They might not even be churchy people. I am always amazed by Mary Ann. She has a friend we vacation with whom she has known since 2nd grade. Who keeps a friend that long? Special people, blessed people!!
Wednesday February 28, 2024
Matthew 20:17-28
Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, and on the way he took the Twelve to one side and said to them, ‘Now we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man is about to be handed over to the chief priests and scribes. They will condemn him to death and will hand him over to the pagans to be mocked and scourged and crucified; and on the third day he will rise again.’
For the second time Jesus unburdens himself to his disciples about what will happen in Jerusalem and for the second time the disciples either ignore him or misunderstand him. After talking about this painful journey that awaits him in the big city, the mother of James and John ask that her children should sit on Jesus Right and Left when he gets to the city,
Yes some news is difficult to accept but we need the courage to face it. Wishing it were not so or would not be so is childish. I am sure you have had to face some vey difficult reality yourself. Let us pray for all who cannot accept difficult news for the serenity to accept what we can’t change, the courage to do all we can and the wisdom to accept and see all through the eyes of Yahweh
Tuesday February 27, 2024
Matthew 23:1-12
Addressing the people and his disciples Jesus said, ‘The scribes and the Pharisees occupy the chair of Moses. You must therefore do what they tell you and listen to what they say; but do not be guided by what they do: since they do not practise what they preach.
Did you know what the gospel according to Lebanon Ky is? It is simple and goes right to what church should be. In Lebanon we believe that some people don’t come to church because of people who come to church. Now I don’t want us to indict the good people come to church but this is said in a spirit of love so we check ourselves at the door. So we stop ourselves from judging anyone. In fact so we become. Merciful like our Father is merciful.
Our Lord says to his disciples, do not become like the Pharisees and scribes who tie up heavy burdens for others but don’t lift a finger to help. When we go through seminary they teach us not to preach to people but preach with them. So the priest is not to stand and say “you people need to do this or that, you people need to turn from your sins…” No the language is “let us do this and that … may we turn from our sins…”
It changes things when you preach with people and not at them.
So in what ways could we be like those that Jesus cannot stand and how are we to fix it.
Monday March 25, 2024
John 12:1-11
What a gift it is to have a friend, to have somewhere you can go and just rest, talk, visit. No expectations at all in this place. Good friends are such a blessing because with them we can simply be. I have often spoke of Mary Ann and her friend Cheryl. They have known each other since second grade. Whenever we go on vacation with her, those two can sit in silence or talk all day. I just don’t get how you have something to say to anyone after three hours. So to all those who have kept friendships, to all those who have taken the journey to go raise their friend who was dead (buried in grief or pain of divorce or whatever), to all those with a childhood friend, you guys are saints.
Jesus had a friend like that. Lazarus was his name. Six days before Passover Jesus goes to visit with his buddy. I wonder what they talked about. Did Jesus say to Lazarus “these jokers don’t get it man, you would not believe the things I have to explain!” Did Lazarus say “Really you had to ride the donkey?” All I know is if you are buddies, you can relax. I have met a family like that, a place I can go and just be. I pray for your connections to be real and deep.