Team Jesus

Father, yours is the harvest and yours is the vineyard: you assign the task

and pay a wage that is just. Help us to meet this day’s responsibilities, and let nothing separate us from your love. Grant this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Today I'm not feeling so well.  I blame my headache and tummy upset on the heat and the terrible ozone pollution.  It's been over 100 degrees for the past thirteen days. August is always the hottest and consequently longest month of the year. It's hard to concentrate on daily tasks when the mouth is dry and the body sweaty and uncomfortable.  I don't know how our Lord did it walking through the desert heat without complaining!  He journeyed on converting and healing despite discomfort at times.

I've been watching the Rio 2016 Olympics. The US Team is incredible this year.  Best talent I've seen in years!  All of the hours of practice and completion, along with natural talent, makes these young men and women all winners!  It's incredible exciting to see such athleticism as well as team building.  Members cheer other members on.  Pats on the back, hugs, and good lucks keep the spirit alive.  It also helps that millions of Americans cheer th US Olympic Team fromthe comfort of their homes.

It's easy and exciting to cheer on Team USA.  However, do we ever think of promoting and cheering on Team Jesus?  Do we place athletic ability above our religious faith?  Do we idolize the teenage gymnasti, the X times Olympic swimming medalist, or the favorite track athlete?  Would we rather be a famous Olympian on earth or an Olympian for the Holy Spirit?

Sadly, I think most people rather become a member of Team USA than Team Jesus.  I mean, just think of the advertisement endorsements and financial incentives behind every won.  Unfortunately,  no material rewards promised upon admission into Team Jesus.  However, something much better and long lasting is handed out:  spiritual rewards.

As Olympians age, their bodies lose strength and speed. A younger, more talented athlete comes around to take over the number one spot.  Team USA  is always changing with new raw talent.  Team Jesus changes too as more people, regardless of age or athletic prowess, decide that closeness to God is all that really matters.  Yes, members of Team Jesus may not be the most charismatic, the best looking, the most athletic or the wealthiest.  They may not even possess "talents" that our secular society believes are useful.  Team Jesus doesn't follow the status quo.  They shake things up.  They rather reach for gold in heaven than any Bronze, Silver, or a Gold medal on earth.

I will keep cheering on Team USA and hope they earn as many medals as possible.  It's awesome of witness such athletic talent.  But, I feel even more joy knowing although I will never make ithe Olympic Team, I will always be a part of Team Jesus.  Practice humility on earth with the goal reaching heaven someday.  Now that is medal worth achieving!

-J.

Fallen Scraps from Christ's Table

Bella looks like the "Flying Nun" as she
 begs for table scraps.

Wednesday of the Eighteenth Week in Ordinary Time

Gospel of Matthew 15: 21-28

But the woman came and did him homage, saying, “Lord, help me.” He said in reply,
“It is not right to take the food of the children
and throw it to the dogs.”
She said, “Please, Lord, for even the dogs eat the scraps
that fall from the table of their masters.”
Then Jesus said to her in reply,
“O woman, great is your faith!
Let it be done for you as you wish.”
And her daughter was healed from that hour.

Whenever I read this passage from scripture, I am amazed that Jesus can refer to a fellow human being, particularly a woman, as a "dog."  Not very loving, is it?  Maybe Our Lord was experiencing a bad day, tired of the people begging.  Perhaps he just wanted some time alone in peace and quiet.  I guess we will never understand his uncharacteristic reaction.

What I love about the Cannanite woman is her persistence.  Despite being pushed away and ignored, she kept asking our Lord for her daughter's healing. Fallen scraps from Christ's table is all she needed for satisfaction and proof even an outsider can be a believer in Jesus!

Back in February, I adopted a 3 year old piebald miniature dachshund named Bella. Her previous home life was horrible.  Dumped off at an area kill shelter - infested with fleas, tapeworms, and heartworms- it was amazing she survived!  After several months of medical treatment, She is now heartworm free and loves her new home!  Her appetite is huge, so she is always on the lookout for table scraps. ( Mommy wasn't too pleased to discover her Dairy Queen blizzard stolen and licked to the last dregs! Bad poochie!). Her "begging" includes the display of her Flying Nun "airplane" ears!  I think Our Lord brought Bella into my life in order to not only provide me with a furry snuggle buddy but to remind me just how spiritually "filling" life can be.  Bella loves me unconditionally just as much as the Lord does.

The one thing I am most thankful for in life is my faith in Jesus Christ.  If it wasn't for the Church and the "Real presence" in the Holy Eucharist, I'd be lost. Like a wild dog roaming the streets begging for food and eating "scraps", I'd be perpetually hungry without His Presence. Hungry for comfort, hope, love, friendship and unity.  Hungry for spiritual food only available from God!

-J.

A Nation at Half Mast

Naked I came forth from my mother’s womb,
and naked I shall go back again.
The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away;
blessed be the name of the Lord!
We accept good things from God;
and should we not accept evil?

-Job 1:21; 2:10b

On Friday, July 8th ,I woke up to the sound of the 5 am news.  Words struck my attention:  Protest....police officer shootings....5 dead, 6 wounded....suspect killed by a drone....Downtown Dallas shutdown after an ambush.  I heard these words but could not comprehend in the midst of morning grogginess.  It was not until after I drank a piping hot cup of coffee that the situation sunk in.  Wow, not since September 11th, 2001 had so many police officers been killed at once.  Of course. It had to happen in my home city of Dallas.  I always cringe when the City of Dallas makes the national news.  Usually it is not in the best limelight.

Everywhere in Dallas, the US and Texas flags fly at half mast in solemn memory of police officers killed. What tragic and senseless violence.  One delusional man with a hate for white people.   Black Live Matters protest against racial brutality.  Police officers peacefully protecting these black protestors from harm.  

Life in itself is a precious gift from God.  Our Lord made us unique races, cultures, and ethnicity with love in mind.  Our own prejudices, bias, and sinful nature cause us to do things that harm one another.  No one color of skin is better than another!  No one race should rule over another.  We all fall into a huge melting pot of differences that bring diversity to this earth.  We can learn from each other if we can let go of the stereotypes and truly listen to each other's point of view.

Time and time again I feel MEDIA play the number one role of fueling societal woes.  They bombard our minds with sensationalized reporting of hot topic issues.  

As Job asks, "We accept good things from God and should we not accept evil?" Sadly, evil is everywhere, often lying dormant behind the scenes until it makes its appearance.  Destroying lives and fueling fear; fear that is so debilitating that most of us wonders if good will ever win over evil.  Of course it will! 

God does not leave us alone to suffer. Accepting evil as a part of our human existence  challenges us to pray, minister to others in need, and do whatever it takes for the goodness of the human spirit to radiate.  

A nation at half mast. As we mourn and pray for the souls of those who have been tragically killed, we will triumph over evil because we have the power of the Holy Spirit at our sides.  

-J.