Will you be exalted to heaven?

Gospel MT 11:20-24

Jesus began to reproach the towns
where most of his mighty deeds had been done,
since they had not repented.
“Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida!
For if the mighty deeds done in your midst
had been done in Tyre and Sidon,
they would long ago have repented in sackcloth and ashes.
But I tell you, it will be more tolerable
for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment than for you.
And as for you, Capernaum:

Will you be exalted to heaven?
You will go down to the nether world.

For if the mighty deeds done in your midst had been done in Sodom,
it would have remained until this day.
But I tell you, it will be more tolerable
for the land of Sodom on the day of judgment than for you.”

Will you be exalted to heaven?  That's the compelling question in today's gospel and puts everything else into perspective.  Last night our bikes were stolen from our garage - an old mountain bike, a tandem bike and a newer mountain bike that belonged to my sister-in-law.  Perhaps our older son left the garage door open when he took out the garbage/recycling cans for pickup.  But I can't blame him - how many times have I left the garage door open?  Too many to count.  I was sad and still am - not because the bikes that were stolen were terribly precious, they were just bikes and bikes can be replaced.  I'm sad because the theft reflects a part of the human condition (the ugly part) that I don't want to have to come to grips with.  I feel better when I can trust others, when I can expect the best from them.  This whole bike thing now has me being defensive, protective - what do I have to do now to protect everything else in my house, my wife and children?  Is that an over-reaction or just a stark reality?  At the same time, maybe in light of spending time reading God's word, I am also compassionate toward the people that took our bikes.  Were they desperate?  Addicted?  Jobless and just trying to put food on their table by selling some stolen bikes?  Only God knows.  They live in a world where stealing from others that have more is OK.  I feel sorry for them - I can forgive them.  I need to forgive them.  Will I be exalted to heaven?  Forgiving them is the choice that brings me one step closer to heaven.

Miracles happen

Gospel MT 9:18-26

While Jesus was speaking, an official came forward,
knelt down before him, and said,
“My daughter has just died.
But come, lay your hand on her, and she will live.”
Jesus rose and followed him, and so did his disciples.
A woman suffering hemorrhages for twelve years came up behind him
and touched the tassel on his cloak.
She said to herself, “If only I can touch his cloak, I shall be cured.”
Jesus turned around and saw her, and said,
“Courage, daughter! Your faith has saved you.”
And from that hour the woman was cured.

When Jesus arrived at the official’s house
and saw the flute players and the crowd who were making a commotion,
he said, “Go away! The girl is not dead but sleeping.”
And they ridiculed him.
When the crowd was put out, he came and took her by the hand,
and the little girl arose.
And news of this spread throughout all that land.

Some of my chronic pain patients have suffered for many years from compounding, complicated problems.  Sometimes I feel like I have little to offer them.  But that's not entirely true.  I can pray for them.  I can pray for healing.  Just as God has worked miracles in my life, I can ask God to work a miracle in theirs.  And I often do.  Quietly.  They may not even know that I am prayer for them.  Dear Lord, sometimes I feel so overwhelmed and inadequate when a patient comes to me.  Help me to help them.  Use me as an instrument of your power and love.

Our Father

Gospel MT 6:7-15

Jesus said to his disciples:
“In praying, do not babble like the pagans,
who think that they will be heard because of their many words.
Do not be like them.
Your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

“This is how you are to pray:

‘Our Father who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name,
thy Kingdom come,
thy will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread;
and forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us;
and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.’

“If you forgive others their transgressions,
your heavenly Father will forgive you.
But if you do not forgive others,
neither will your Father forgive your transgressions.”

Father.  Your will - not mine.  Feed me daily.  Forgive me.  Help me to forgive.  Lead me.  Such a simple prayer that I've prayed thousands of times - it just rolls off my tongue.  It's all there.  All of the necessary ingredients for a relationship with Jesus.  In what situations can I better seek Your will instead of mine?  Who do I need to forgive today?  Am I open to being lead by You?

Pray to your Father in secret

Gospel MT 6:1-6, 16-18

Jesus said to his disciples:
“Take care not to perform righteous deeds
in order that people may see them;
otherwise, you will have no recompense from your heavenly Father.
When you give alms, do not blow a trumpet before you,
as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets
to win the praise of others.
Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward.
But when you give alms,
do not let your left hand know what your right is doing,
so that your almsgiving may be secret.
And your Father who sees in secret will repay you.

“When you pray, do not be like the hypocrites,
who love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on street corners
so that others may see them.
Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward.
But when you pray, go to your inner room, close the door,
and pray to your Father in secret.
And your Father who sees in secret will repay you.

“When you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites.
They neglect their appearance,
so that they may appear to others to be fasting.
Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward.
But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face,
so that you may not appear to others to be fasting,
except to your Father who is hidden.
And your Father who sees what is hidden will repay you.”

Jesus never mentions the word in this reading, but the spirit of humility is woven all the way through it.  Jesus is calling me to be humble.  I think of Abel who has been helping out during our Tuesday retreats - he could very well be the pastor of his own church!  But on Tuesday nights, he's a servant - he makes fresh coffee for everyone to enjoy.  And he does this joyfully with the great humility.  In what ways can I be a humble servant?

pray for your enemies

Gospel MT 5:43-48

Jesus said to his disciples:
“You have heard that it was said,
You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.
But I say to you, love your enemies
and pray for those who persecute you,
that you may be children of your heavenly Father,
for he makes his sun rise on the bad and the good,
and causes rain to fall on the just and the unjust.
For if you love those who love you, what recompense will you have?
Do not the tax collectors do the same?
And if you greet your brothers only,
what is unusual about that?
Do not the pagans do the same?
So be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect.”

More from Jesus on how to love others - in fact he calls us to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us.  I think this extends to those that frustrate, annoy, or just bug me!  Dear Jesus, help me to have more love, and compassion for those that I lose patience with.  I want to love them perfectly just as you love me perfectly.

Turn the other cheek

Gospel MT 5:38-42

Jesus said to his disciples:
“You have heard that it was said,
An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.
But I say to you, offer no resistance to one who is evil.
When someone strikes you on your right cheek,
turn the other one to him as well.
If anyone wants to go to law with you over your tunic,
hand him your cloak as well.
Should anyone press you into service for one mile,
go with him for two miles.
Give to the one who asks of you,
and do not turn your back on one who wants to borrow.”

Jesus commands us to love our neighbor.  And what does that mean?  He answers that in today's reading.  I cringe at the high standards that Jesus has for me.  "Offer no resistance to one who is evil."  Turn the other cheek.  Give above and beyond.  Walk the extra mile.  Dear Jesus, help me to love others as you want me to, especially when I feel like I can't give any more.

God so loved the world

Gospel JN 3:16-18

God so loved the world that he gave his only Son,
so that everyone who believes in him might not perish
but might have eternal life.
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world,
but that the world might be saved through him.
Whoever believes in him will not be condemned,
but whoever does not believe has already been condemned,
because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.

How often have I seen this verse?  So often that it's easy for me to lose sight of what it really means.  If I put the verse in the first person, it would read:  God so loved me that he gave his only Son, so that I (who believes in him) might not perish but might have eternal life.  How can I live my life differently knowing how much God loves me?  Knowing that I'm promised eternal life? I can live without fear.  I can live boldly, courageously, passionately.  I can risk loving others as I have been loved.