With All Our Heart: 28 December 2008

Greetings Friends,

A few weeks ago I had the occasion to observe my 16 month-old very energetic granddaughter as she scooted, crawled, and walked with great determination. At one point she came near me and she flung her arms high in the air, uninhibited and with complete trust, reaching for me to pick her up. Those of us who have young children in our immediate or extended families have most likely witnessed a similar scene. What stuck me about Amelia’s act of reaching that day was how natural and trusting it was. I’ve been pondering this in light of how we adults may have become tentative (reserved perhaps) in our lives and maybe even in our relationship with God. I have asked, where along the line might I have lost that total trust and inhibition in reaching out to the God who loves so deeply and unconditionally? Certainly as we grew we were warned to beware of strangers and learned, maybe the hard way, that there are those we may encounter along the way who will hurt us, both physically and in our hearts. We have learned in order to survive in our world we must become wary of and guard ourselves from all that would/could harm us. This does make sense – who doesn’t want to be safe? But this line of thinking and living should not and cannot extend to our relationship with God.

In the Gospels, Jesus gives us many invitations to consider: “Follow me”; “Learn from me”; love God with all our heart, strength, mind; become like little children; he bids us to come to him…with all your heart. Taking these invitations to heart and living them is an act of trust and faith. On this feast of the Holy Family, we can clearly see the example of both the righteous Simeon and the prophetess Anna (Luke 2:22-40) as living acts of total faith in God’s love and promises. They lived to see the new born Messiah, as was promised, and responded with words that reached out to God in thanksgiving – reaching up and out to God uninhibited and with total trust.

As we rapidly approach the New Year, may we find peace, joy, love, and a way to become that trusting little child who can reach high and stretch our arms and hearts out with complete confidence in the loving care of our God.

Peace on the Journey

21 December 2008

Greetings Friends,

Christmas is but a few days away as we celebrate this fourth and final Sunday of Advent. How are our preparations going? How many items are left on our “To Do” list? Is our shopping, gift-wrapping, baking and cleaning done? Is the tree up and trimmed? Have we mailed our Christmas greetings? Is our house ready?

Today’s first reading from 2 Samuel (7:1-16) speaks to us about houses, but from two different perspectives. David is convinced a temple is needed for the Ark of the Covenant – a building to house God. And wouldn’t you know it; God has something else all together in mind. It is God who will provide the house – not a building, but a people, a line of descendants until the Messiah comes. Wow! The concept of Church as people, not merely a building, has very ancient roots indeed! God cannot be confined within four walls of wood and stone, for God dwells in all of creation. God’s Love defies confinement and is freely and abundantly given to each of us. God lives amid and among, and around and within us. Every one of us is a house for God – living, breathing houses.

Christmas is coming…Is our house ready?

Peace on the Journey

14 December 2008

Greetings Friends,

A good many years ago, when I was 3 years old, I remember Christmas morning. The house was dark when I awoke. There was a sheet hung over the doorway leading into the living room. My parents were still asleep. Believe it or not, I sat on the floor at the door to their bedroom and waited patiently for them to awaken. And…I did not even dare to peek into the living room. I remember being excited with anticipation – what did the Christmas tree look like? It was not decorated when I went to bed the night before. What presents did Santa bring this year? When would we leave to go to grandma and grandpa’s house? There was so much for a three-year old to look forward to – so much anticipation – and it was so hard to wait! Strange, but I do not remember much else about that particular Christmas – just the waiting for what felt like hours with excited anticipation. As I ponder this memory, I begin to wonder where that kind of anticipation went – how did the excitement of waiting for Christmas wane over the years? And, how can I get that feeling back but…in a new way.

Daring toward repetition, Advent is this wonderful season of preparation and anticipation. Yes we have our outward preparations; our own pre-Christmas traditions. And yet perhaps a question to ask ourselves is not really for what are we preparing or waiting, but for whom. How do we recreate in us a slice of childlike anticipation excitement during Advent? Maybe we don’t, at least not in the same way. I wonder if our Advent preparation is to be not so much about recapturing what once was, but more about accepting an invitation to experience the Light anew and embracing with anticipation where God might be leading us.

May we ponder all the ways God is leading us, pointing us toward fully receiving the true gift of Christmas – God’s deep and abiding Love.

Peace on the Journey

7 December 2008

Greetings Friends,

Now that the second week of Advent is upon us, we’re most likely in full swing of our time of preparation – preparing outwardly still for Christmas. How far on our list of “to dos” are we? Are we “on schedule” or are we thinking we won’t get everything done? Have we allowed our lists and busyness to become such a priority that we find or allow ourselves little time to truly prepare our hearts? I have to admit that’s a very common thing I struggle with each Advent. It’s so easy to get caught up in the mindset of having to get everything done – on time and perfectly.

And yet, our readings this weekend (Isaiah 40:1-11 and Mark 1:1-8) again remind us to prepare and to wait . “Prepare the way of the Lord”, the time is coming; the time is near. During these weeks of Advent, we are invited to ponder just what it is we’re waiting for, and how we can prepare ourselves – our hearts and minds and spirits – for the coming of the Light that breaks through all darkness. What is it that truly matters? It is God’s deep and constant Love. Knowing that and believing that prompts us to ask ourselves, what does God’s love mean to me and what does God’s love ask of me in response? Only we can answer for ourselves.

These questions posed may feel uneasy to think about – sometimes we just don’t want to go there and discern those answers. Still, if we truly want to prepare the way of our hearts for the Lord, get ourselves ready to receive anew the greatest gift of Christmas, our Advent journey and preparation calls us toward inner reflection on these things.

May we know without a doubt that wherever our Advent preparations take us, God is there – in front, behind, and along side of us – every step of the way.

Peace on the Journey

30 November 2008

Greetings Friends!

Many, if not most of us are not comfortable with waiting. We live in a society that promotes instant gratification: “fast” food, drive-through banking and prescription service, even self-serve checkout kiosks at grocery stores, and more. Get it hot and get it now is a prevailing theme! Waiting in long lines has become not only irritating but unacceptable. Funny, but some of our potential “wait-eliminating” conveniences don’t always provide us with more time. And more time – time to prepare – is what many of us may desire amid this busy holiday season to come.

As we enter and celebrate this first Sunday of Advent, we are encouraged to focus our minds and hearts on preparation. Liturgically this IS a season of preparation, but in our daily lives we are well aware these four weeks are filled, perhaps to the brim, with a great dose of busyness. After all, there is shopping and gift wrapping, house cleaning and decorating, tree trimming, baking and cooking, parties and Christmas concerts. Our list of “to do’s” could potentially be nearly endless. So much to do; so little time. It’s no wonder we hear some say they can’t wait till Christmas is over. And yet amid our busyness, we are invited to pause and prepare ourselves for the Coming of the Light anew in more that outward ways.

In recent weeks some of our Scripture readings have spoken to us about darkness. The advantage of Advent is that it offers us a time of hope – reminds us there is light amid the darkness. Perhaps a key to beginning our preparation is to take some time – to “watch” and “wait” – in the check-out lines, as we have our morning coffee or tea, as we prepare our meals, as we ready ourselves for bed (to name a few). And in our watching and waiting we have the opportunity to ponder where inside are we experiencing darkness; what are the struggles in our lives; for what and for whom does my spirit long? By reflecting on these things we can discover our need for light and encounter with God. And when we are able to identify and discover our need for light in our lives – the light that our loving God provides – we can be able to echo the Advent refrain “Come Lord Jesus” with a renewed sense of hopeful longing, meaning, and anticipation.

As we watch and wait, may we always be sustained by the light of our knowing the deep and constant Love of God in our lives.

Peace on the Journey

23 November 2008

Greetings Friends,

These days, with our national economy in such a state of strain (to say the least), it can be difficult not to think about the countless people who are affected. There are those who are now and have been unemployed and those who are homeless, living in poverty and unable to secure or provide even the basic necessities for themselves and their families. All this and more. These are truly tough times for a great many people. Though none of us can single-handedly do much to eliminate or ease the desperation of so many, we can do something…

The gospel today (Matthew 25: 31-46) gives us guidance in this regard. Taking to heart and living the “positives” of this gospel we can make a difference – one person at a time. The key is how we tend to one another: “When I was hungry…when I was thirsty…when I was ill…” cries out for us to stop and think, and then to respond in generosity. As a faith community, we have done and continue to do much good in this regard!

As we approach our national holiday of Thanksgiving, we are reminded of all the ways we have been blessed and provided for. Our loving God has given each of us abundance – perhaps not in status, financial security, or world-defined success and material possessions – but in God’s constant and unconditional love. At baptism we receive the Light of Christ, a Light that is not meant for only ourselves, but to be shared. This is the great responsibility of our gift of Christian life. Individually we may not have the means to eliminate poverty or solve the current financial crisis. But, there is one very apparent and meaningful way we can be the Light of Christ to others: we can share with others the gift of ourselves – our time, our presence, our listening ear, our comfort and our support. And we can share with those around us, near and far, the Good News of God’s deep and abiding love.

May we ponder all the ways we have been so wonderfully blessed, no matter our circumstances, and give thanks to God!

Peace on the Journey

16 November 2008

Greetings Friends,

This time of the year it can be difficult not to think of darkness. The scenery is pretty barren by now – the bright colors of early autumn are all but gone, most of the crops have been harvested leaving us with brown as the most abundant landscape color, cloudy days seem to be more abundant, and my goodness nightfall comes so early in the evening! Some say the days are getting shorter. When I hear that phrase, I can’t help but think of a time many years ago when looking at the jam-packed work schedule for the day, I commented to a co-worker, “It’s going to be a long day”. This co-worker, without skipping a beat, replied, “Every day has 24 hours”. Well, yes, every day does have 24 hours. And yet, this time of the year most of those hours are in darkness – night time.

Sometimes the darkness we experience is simply that – the physical darkness of the night time. Sometimes the darkness may be the feelings of grief we are immersed in as the result of the death of a loved one or a loss of some other significant part of our lives – employment, a friendship gone sour, an illness, etc. Sometimes a feeling of being in darkness can be the result of a spiritual dryness we feel – a time when our usual way of praying or connecting with God just doesn’t feel the same and we may even wonder if God is really hearing our prayer. Times of darkness, no matter what has caused us to be in that “dark place”, can be a time of transition toward something new, an opportunity to rest and allow ourselves to simply be in the presence of God without words, a movement toward a new way of seeing and feeling and being light. One of the most profound realizations we can count on is that God is present with us in the darkness – God’s light is always there with us and for us. God’s deep and constant love is always available to us, is always with us and never leaves us. God’s love will draw us to the light.

In a couple of weeks we will embark on the Season of Advent – a time of preparation, a time of waiting, a time of anticipation of the coming of the Light anew. May we ponder all the ways God blesses us with love, care, comfort and strength empowering us to be light for others in all we say, do and are.

Peace on the Journey

8 November 2008

Greetings Friends,

The image of temple is abundant in all of today’s readings. We, our bodies, are the temple of the Lord – a holy creation of God. And yet, in the society in which we live with its emphasis on worldly success, consumerism, and getting ahead can lead to a disregard or diminishing of seeing ourselves as holy or a temple of the Lord. Sometimes this is a tough reality for me to really take in. We do have to survive in our world. And yet, we are also called to reverence our being and lives as God-given gifts of holiness. The struggle becomes finding a way to turn an “either/or” into a “both/and”. We do not either live completely in our world of human desires for success (how ever we define that for ourselves) or in a totally spiritual realm disregarding our duty as responsible citizens of our families, communities, or country. We are called to both “worlds” so to speak.

How we see and tend to our spiritual dimension does have direct bearing on how we relate to others and the world/society we live in. If we acknowledge our being – our life – as a loving creation of our generous God and treat ourselves and others as such, we in turn will become and be grateful, loving and caring toward ourselves and others. Our holiness as a temple of the Lord is embracing the fact that we are constantly being loved into the way God’s sees us and intends us to be.

May we allow Christ to drive into our hearts the goodness and grace to witness for others the deep and abiding love of God for all.

Peace on the Journey

2 November 2008

Greetings Friends,

This weekend with the celebration of All Saint’s Day on Saturday (not a Holy Day of obligation this year) and All Soul’s Day on Sunday, the Church and we remember family and friends who have entered into eternal life and the Church of Heaven. Some of us may be at a point in our grieving where our memories evoke in us great sadness – sadness because the death of our loved one is so recent, and our emotions so raw. Others of us may now be looking upon many memories with longing for days and times past. And for still others of us, our memories of departed loved ones perhaps brings a smile, a fondness, and gratefulness that this person or people were an important part of our life. No matter where we find ourselves in our remembering, we can take comfort in knowing our God is with us – as companion, as comforter – every step of the way; we are never alone.

On this weekend of remembering, and in all the days ahead, may we more than ever be sustained by our knowing that God is so very deeply in Love with us.

Peace on the Journey.

26 October 2008

Greetings Friends,

In years past, and perhaps even in our present time, recess at school was a time for play. And play, at least years ago, included activities such as baseball, kick ball, or dodge ball. Unsurprisingly, two of the most athletic or popular kids in the class would be designated as the captains of each team and would choose their team members from among their classmates who were all standing together. One by one the captains would call off names of the kids they wanted on their team. Inevitably there would be two or three or four left and these were deemed by the captains as perhaps the least athletic or popular kids in the class. It’s tough to be picked last; it’s tough to be considered by our classmates as unworthy. It hurts our feelings.

As we grow in faith though, we come to realize through Scripture and faith formation that God chooses each and every one of us at the very beginning of our lives. God shows no partiality, God values each life and God loves each person without measure – no matter who we are, no matter our “status” in life, no matter what! And God is with us every single moment of every day. In return, as we grow to come to know God in our lives, we understand that God asks something of us in return: to love. To love God with our whole being and to love others as ourselves. God blesses each and every one of us with talents and gifts that are not intended for only ourselves. We are meant to share ourselves and all the goodness and blessings God gives us with others in our own individual and unique ways. This is a tall order at times. And yet, we are invited to accept this task and to fulfill it as best we can.

May we ponder with awe what it means to be chosen by God, and know that God’s deep and abiding Love is with us always to strengthen, sustain, uplift, and console us.

Peace on the Journey

19 October 2008

Greetings Friends!

As I write this week, which is a week before this will be published, it’s a dreary, cloudy autumn day. Outside my window are the last few roses clinging to the bushes, some leafless shrubs, fields of corn that have already been harvested leaving cornstalk stubbles amid a mass of brown. These are sure signs of winters’ inevitable approach during which one often really has to search in a determined way to find signs of life and growth in nature. The older I get, the more I dislike winter – the snowy and icy roads, the cold, the cloudy days, the howling wind. And yet, I have to remind myself that winter is nature’s resting period where strength is gained for the new life that will emerge in spring.

From where I sit this afternoon, I can see one small tree which is barely noticeable. But when I do take the time to really notice, this tree is filled with many colored leaves. And on a dreary day such as today, this little tree shouts out with its vivid color that there is hope. It is a very tangible reminder that with the onset of autumn and the approach of winter, there remains the promise that spring will indeed follow with its own colors, freshness and brightness.

In our darkest times, whether illness, grief, financial difficulties, or spiritual dryness, God is always with us – even when we do not consciously sense God’s presence. God is with us in both the dark and light loving us with an abundant and relentless love, walking with us every moment of our lives.

May we walk through the seasons of our lives together comforted by God’s constant companionship.

Peace on the Journey.

12 October 2008

Greetings Friends,

Growing up with five brothers and sisters wasn't always easy. I often used to long for some alone time - time when I could just be by myself. Gosh, I still find myself searching for time alone to ponder, to rest, to just simply be. I'm guessing most of us do the same from time to time. And yet, there's something about being around people, being part of a community that cares about and for us and nourishes us. For me, St. Thomas the Apostle is that sort of community of people. We are here for one another and offer each other what we are able as best we can. This community is strong in faith - in the belief that God deeply loves us and God is the One who ultimately provides the strength we need to be who we are and to do what we do...together!

Let's take some time to ponder what it means to be community, and rest in the knowledge that through God's love we can accomplish great things.

Peace on the Journey

5 October 2008

Greetings Friends,

At some point within the next several weeks, we will notice something different in our worship space: a new platform for our Altar and Ambo. The current platforms have served us well for the past six years, but are now showing many signs of wear. The new raised ares, designed and to be build by Roger Mayer, will be large enough for both the Altar and Ambo and will extend back to the wall which will allow for more room for our priest presider and deacon. Roger will incorporate the two existing heating/AC vents into the platform. It will be 1-1/2 inch shorter and will be carpeted only on the top surface with a nice wood finish on the sides. This should make stepping on and off the platform easier for all who minister in any way during liturgy. In addition, at communion time all our Eucharistic ministers, along with our priest and deacon will be able to be on the same level, making ministering communion to each Eucharistic minister and our Servers easier. Through generous donations, the cost to construct this new platform has already been paid for!

As we continue to care for and nourish one another as community, may we always find peace in knowing the abundant and constant Love of God in our lives.

Peace on the Journey

28 September 2008

Greetings Friends,

In my younger years, as a child, I was raised in a rather strict household. Being the eldest of six, I learned some hard lessons early on. The more I tried to become independent, tried to establish my own way in life, the more my parents seemed to thwart those efforts. My inner and at times my outer voice declared, "It's not fair!" Over the years when I prayed for one thing or another, and those prayers were not answered (or so I thought), that same "It's not fair!" was directed toward God. And yet...when I really thought about it, I came to ponder these things in a different way.

Was the strictness of my parents really always an effort to stifle growth? Does God really not answer prayers? In all honesty, the answer to both questions, for me, became a resounding "No!"

Just as any caring adult tries to guide children toward growing to live life in a way that is good and right not only for the child but also for others, so too God always knows what we need - and that may be very different from what we think we need. Surely we need people around us to point the way. Surely we need God's loving care and wisdom to nudge us, and sometimes push us toward becoming and being who we are intended to be - God's own beloved.

We are persons who have been formed by our history - by our ancestors. We are where we are in life right now in part because of the way the events of our life have unfolded and because of the choices we have made. As I put it to myself: If my parents hadn't done this or that, I would certainly be in a very different place in my thinking and my life. As people of faith we are also where we are in life because we place our trust and belief in our God who deeply and constantly loves us and all of creation. God invites us to live in harmony, in communion, with ourselves, with others, and with God. Not always an easy task, and I think God understands this. And yet, this is the greatest work of our life: to love as best we can. And when we stumble, God picks us up and nudges us again and again with forgiveness, with mercy, with compassion, with grace, and above all with Love.

May we always know we are surrounded by the abundant and eternal love of God.

Peace on the Journey

21 September 2008

Greetings Friends!

I've been pondering community lately in light of some comments made at our last Town Hall meeting. More specifically, how we have grown to be community and how our sense of community manifests itself as we come together each weekend for Eucharist. At the meeting I heard comments about all the chatter and conversation before Mass being disruptive to those who desire a time of silence for private prayer and also comments that conversation before Mass is, well, community building. Both positions are valid everyone's opinion matters!

Let me pose some things to ponder: Before beginning constructing our current building, we were part of four separate faith communities worshiping at four different sites (five when we include the months we celebrated Mass first at Meeme School and then at Silver Lake College chapel). It became important to us to commence building the "house" we currently occupy in order to come together and to grow closer as community. This was believed to be the best way we could get to know each other and become the one faith community of St. Thomas the Apostle. An integral part of growing closer as community was and is communication - talking with one another. And talk we do! This indicates to me that we care about one another.

And yet, times of silence are desired by many for private prayer - and this is a very valid desire. So...I got to thinking. The design/rhythm/flow of our liturgy offers us some opportunities for silent prayer: The pauses between the readings are times for us to take into our hearts the Word of God which we have just heard and sung in the Scripture readings and Psalm. Some priest presiders offer us another opportunity for silence following the homily. The most extended period of silence within the liturgy can often times be found following Communion.

The physical space in which we currently worship lends itself to conversation (before Mass). It was never intended to be a permanent worship space - its design is that of a social hall. And we have to live with that fact for the time being. When we enter that space, we become part of the gathered community - a community that values and cares for each other and a community that realizes we are deeply loved by our God. I pray that this may always be so - that we gather to worship our awesome God with reverence while continuing to show our concern for those around us.

May we together continue to rejoice in the abundant Love and Life God has given is in all we do and are!

Peace on the Journey

14 September 2008

No article this week.

7 September 2008

Greetings Friends,

Listening is an art. In the course of every day we have the opportunity to speak with others and hear what they have to say about any number of things or events. But hearing and listening are two very different things. I can't help but think of past experiences, and I dare say perhaps all of us have had similar encounters. The scene is at the dinner table. Dan is talking about something. I hear his voice, and at one point he stops and says, "You're not listening; you haven't heard a word I said!" And in some cases he has been right - I may have been thinking so intently about what I was going to say in reply that I missed much of what he was saying or I may have been thinking of something else all together. The point is that listening, truly listening to another is our gift to them. It says, "You and what you have to say is important to me". Oh, we do not have to agree with what they say, and we are entitled to our opinion, but to really focus on attending to the person speaking to us, and having another really listen to us is so integral to relationship - it brings us a strong sense of togetherness.

The biblical prophets had the art of listening down to a tee. God spoke, and they listened and then they spoke God's message to the people. Oh, for sure most if not all of them questioned God in some way, shape, and form. But in the end, they not only heart but listened to the voice of the Divine. The message God spoke to Ezekiel in today's reading (Ezekiel 33:7-9) seems on the surface a harsh one. But within God's words, we can always find a message of love" "...you shall warn them for me". God was counting on Ezekiel to show the people that God wanted them to turn away from evil and return to God's love.

I believe God also speaks to us and continually offers us that message of God's love. Where? In the people around us, in the events of our lives, in all of creation that surrounds us, in the very core of our being, and more. We need only listen...

May we be in tune with the divine music of our loving God!

Peace on the Journey

31 August 2008

Greetings Friends,

During the late spring and early summer months I wrote several times about the Eastern bluebirds that took up residence in our little white birdhouse, telling of the building of the nest and my delight in watching the first three tiny birds as they grew and then took flight. And then came yet another two eggs from which two more little ones emerged and I very much looked forward to witnessing their growth and development and their first attempts at flight, only to find one day in July that these two did not survive. If there are any who have not guessed by now, watching the wonders of nature that surrounds our home during this time of year is one of my great delights – something I would like to hold on to for more than a mere few months.

I suspect in all our lives there are events that give us great joy - ones we wish could last forever. But alas, nature has its own rhythm and the change in seasons brings about a change in our surroundings. Soon summer will give way to fall and the beautiful, bright colors that are a hallmark of that season. I also suspect each of us have had someone, or many people, in our lives who have been a blessing and very special and significant to us: best friends, family, other loved ones. And we probably have wished they could be with us forever. The very thought of having to say good-bye is almost unthinkable. And yet, like the seasons of the year, we come to realize there are also seasons of life and good-byes are eventually part of the hard life rhythms we have to face and move through. As I write this, during the wee hours of this July 21st morning while pondering the two lives celebrated at funeral liturgies over the past two days at St. Thomas, I cannot help but see a connection with Peter in today’s gospel.

As Jesus was preparing to go to Jerusalem, to his death, Peter could not or would not accept that this would in fact be Jesus’ fate. Peter did not want to have to say good-bye to Jesus. Does his reaction not also speak of our own response to the death of a loved one? And yet as Peter would eventually come to know, God had a greater plan in mind (Matthew 16: 21-27). It is through our faith and our trust and belief in the promise of eternal life from our loving God, that we have hope and can come to find comfort in our time of sorrow. Indeed if not clearly evident at no other time, it is in our experiencing the death of a loved one, that life has changed, but life has also not ended. For just as Jesus spoke of his coming death, he also spoke of his resurrection – new life! I pray for comfort and peace to fill the hearts of all who grieve.

May we always know the abundant love of God is forever with us.

Peace on the Journey

24 August 2008

Greetings Friends!

It hasn't happened this year...yet, but every now and again I seem to lock myself out of our house. On several of these occasions in the past, to my dismay, the spare key was not in the usual hiding place. Add to that all the windows being locked. Most times this has happened I was on my way to an appointment or work and hastily rushed out of the house leaving my keys locked inside. These times have been most distressing but also so very inconvenient.

Keys hold a certain sense of control for us humans. They open, unlock, doors that only are meant for us (and a select few) to enter. And when keys are lost or left behind, that sense of control is suddenly gone and at times panic sets in. We do not like to be without a sense of control. But control in many respects equates with power. This is not necessarily a bad thing, but...a sense of power can feed the perceived need for more control which inflates the sense of importance and power, and on and on. Left unchecked, it can become a vicious circle, and one that is isolating at that. Power and control is not the food of relationship; it does not build community or trust nor does it foster any sense of service or collegiality. When power and control are the predominant dynamics of any relationship, whether with another or a group of people, an integral and very necessary piece is missing from the relationship: a sense of togetherness - that we are all in this together!

We see in our reading from the prophet Isaiah today that this important concept of togetherness is lacking in Shebna's relationship not only with the people Israel, but with God as well. Well, we would see it more clearly if we read the whole 22nd chapter of Isaiah! Shebna was very much into power and control - a person who had a mighty high opinion of himself and his status. He held the keys, so to speak, to God's people. But God had other plans and they had no room for arrogance, conceit, and power/control hungry masters of a palace. God's plan involved servant leadership. Hmm, I think God's plan still does!

Together may we dance to the divine music of God's constant Love!

Peace on the Journey

17 August 2008

Greetings Friends,

As we wind down into the final weeks of August, I can't help but think of the upcoming school year. What a busy time of preparation this is for many - accumulating school supplies and clothes, registering for classes, leaving home for college for some, teachers preparing and finalizing lesson plans, and on and on. We notice in some children great anticipation in returning to school with thoughts of meeting both old and new friends. And then there are probably some who are quite anxious about the whole thing - perhaps they will be attending a new school where they know no one and wondering, even fretting over how they will be accepted by the other students. It's tough to be the "new kid" in school; a stranger to literally everyone. Been there, done that.

Imagine being in a place where we do not feel comfortable, let alone welcome. Imagine mustering up the courage to speak what is on our mind and in our heart in the midst of strangers. And now imagine having our very presence seemingly dismissed as inappropriate or insignificant. Perhaps the feelings this scenario evokes in us are feelings akin to those of the Canaanite woman as she made the decision to approach Jesus and pleaded with him to heal her daughter (Matthew 15:22-28). After all, Jesus was a Jew and she a "dreaded and hated" Canaanite. And yet this woman of courage and strength believed in Jesus' power to hear, trusted that he would receive her request with compassion, and had faith that he would indeed heal her daughter. All this is evident in her persistence in refusing to be pushed aside and sent away.

Perhaps the story of the persistence of this woman can give us an inkling of the way God pursues us - unceasingly, relentlessly, every moment of every day. Perhaps the compassion of Jesus in healing the woman's daughter can touch our hearts in a way that encourages us to continue reaching out to others both near and far sharing God's love for us with generosity and compassion.

May we trust in the abundant Love of God to bring joy and peace to our hearts.

Peace on the Journey

10 August 2008

Greetings Friends,

It is almost amusing to hear weather forecasters use the term "weather event" when describing an approaching storm, significant snow, damaging winds. I have no personal experience of earthquakes, hurricanes, or devastating fire, but I do know something about storms and fear.

I didn't know it at the time, but it was the last time I went fishing on Lake Michigan with my dad before his death. It was a beautiful Saturday afternoon: not a cloud in the sky, calm waters, a comfortable 75 degrees. We headed out two miles east and set our lines for the "big catch". About a half hour later, my dad noticed a bank of clouds, which appeared out of nowhere, approaching from the west and said, "There's a front coming up fast. We had better pull the lines and head in". Almost immediately the wind kicked up and waves rocked the boat with increasing intensity. Dad told me to "take the wheel" while he finished pulling up the lines. Now, I had driven his boat several times without difficulty, and never got sea-sick but this was different. I had a lot of trouble handling the boat in such rough water - these waves were intense, rocking the boat with fierce abandon and crashing over the side. I pleaded with dad that I could not do this - I could not handle the boat. And he told me in no uncertain terms that I could and calmly told me what to do. His voice seemed a whispering to me for by this time the storm was in full force. And I was afraid - afraid we would not make it back to shore, afraid I would do something wrong and would capsize the boat, afraid for our very lives (and the life of my then unborn child). But I listened to dad's instructions, trusted in his confidence in me even though I would have preferred to cower in a corner somewhere, and eventually we made it back to the dock safe and sound.

The story of Elijah on the mountain is one of trust and fear and trust (1 Kings 19:11-13). He trusted he would encounter God on the mountain because God told him so. How could Elijah not be afraid given the "weather events" he endured: wind, earthquake, fire? And yet these are typical biblical symbols of God's presence! But it was in the tiny whispering sound where God was revealed to Elijah - a most unexpected place indeed and a place that called Elijah to trust God was present there.

Where do we hear the voice of God speaking in our lives? Is it always in the "big stuff"? Or might God speak to our hearts in quiet, subtle ways - a kind word received, a smile from a stranger, the beauty of a sunrise or sunset, the "new life" of spring, the colors of fall... The task for us becomes noticing - taking the time to notice all the ways, the tiny, subtle ways God blesses us and above all love us so unceasingly every moment of every day - even when we are afraid, even when we doubt, even when we find it difficult to trust.

May the diving and eternal dance of life and love God invites us to enter into always being joy and peace to our hearts.

Peace on the Journey

3 August 2008

Greetings Friends!

Indulge me, if you will, in another story. It is a fictional story but one that just may reflect some of the attitudes abundant, or at least obvious to some degree in our society and our world. It is the story of two sisters.

The elder sister lived a rather simple and content life while the other never seemed to be able to get enough. The first sister built a small home and lived well with little. Upon seeing this, her younger sister built a plush home - a grand structure with more rooms that she needed and filled with the finest of furnishings. The elder sister scrimped and saved for a yearly weekend vacation at a cabin. The younger sister responded by searching vacation real estate and purchasing an extravagant cottage on an exclusive lake. The elder sister was employed in work she loved though the pay was meager but adequate and the position held little prestige or room for advancement. Her younger sister jumped from job to job in search of employment that would cause her to "be somebody" of importance in the business world and provide her with wages that would help meet her need for attaining more and more and bigger and better possessions - ones of the latest style and technology. The elder sister was quite satisfied with her life and gave freely to those who asked and those in need while her sister hoarded what she had, was openly critical of those who did not have her drive for "success", and seemed to be miserable much of the time.

One line in particular in our first reading from Isaiah today caught my attention. God said: "Why spend your money for what is not bread; your wages for what fails to satisfy?" (55:2) This question prompts us to consider, once again, what it is that is truly important in life. I invite us to ponder these questions this week: Will having the latest and greatest of anything and everything be that which satisfies the deepest longings of our heart and soul? Will all the "prized" and sought after possessions the world has to offer truly bring us closer to the God to whom we belong and who so unceasingly pursues us and invites us into relationship? What attitudes and actions cause us, at times, to distance ourselves from the Love of God? Is it not the Word of God, the Bread we partake in, and our connection to each other as community that which will feed and satisfy our sometimes restless souls?

May we always know deep in our hearts the abundant Love of God and reflect the blessing of that love by gratefully and humbly reaching out to those who cross our path.

Peace on the Journey

27 July 2008

Greetings Friends!

On any given day we are faced with many choices, whether we are conscious of that fact or not. Even the smallest of things cause us to make a choice: whether or not to hit the snooze alarm for the second or third time, what to wear for the day, if we should have one or two cups of morning coffee or tea, what to eat for breakfast, what to make for dinner, if we should answer the phone when the caller ID says "blocked call". We make choices (and admittedly not always good ones) in the foods we pick off the grocery shelves. These are the "little" choices of any given day. And then there are the bigger choices in life: who to befriend, which charity to support, options for healthcare, how to save to offer ourselves a more secure future. There may be times when we wish we could be granted our deepest desires. And if we could have our wishes granted, what would those desires be? Answering that question could serve as a reality check - at least for me - for the answer lies at the heart of what we truly value.

Consider the invitation of God in saying, "Ask something of me and I will give it to you" - the invitation extended to Solomon (1 Kings 3: 5-12). I believe God does offer us this same opportunity on many occasions, even daily. Solomon, and we, could have asked for a great number of things - possessions, status, financial security, to name at few. But even in his youth, his then worldly/kingly inexperience, if you will,Solomon asked for something of great value - wisdom - the wisdom to know what is right and just and the wisdom to live life with an understanding heart. If we take the time of consider what is truly important in life, is not Solomon's request also the prudent request we also should make to God? Should we not also ask God to help us discern the right choices to make in matters both small and large? Should we not also ask for an understanding heart so that we can have the grace to serve those that cross our path in life with live and compassion?

Let us always strive to embrace that which truly matters: God's deep and abiding love for each of us and allow that love to shine brightly in all we are and do.

Peace on the Journey

20 July 2008

Greetings Friends!

My goodness, summer is half over! Already the store shelves are filled with school supplies - signaling that very soon school will begin and the busyness of our lives will once again pick up pace. Whether or not we have school-age children, it just seems fall becomes a busy season for many of us. Thus I find it even more pressing in my own life to take some of the time left of this summer season to pause and enjoy before the "work" of fall begins - the clearing of leaves from our yards, the cleaning out of the the garden, the readying of the house for the winter months to come. Just the mere thought of all those things causes me to long for the quietness and what I have come to consider a "lost art".

In our day and age of technology, many scheduled activities, and fast-paced living, I muse over what it must have been like in the days before television, radio, telephone, cars, etc. During my own childhood years, Sunday afternoons were spent visiting elder relatives. Conversation, playfulness, and, of course, Aunt Edna's famous chicken dinner and Aunt Agnes' melt-in-you-mouth molasses cookies to top off the day were the norm. Woven within those weekly excursions to the country farm, were stories - stories of what was going on in each person's life, stories of relatives who lived far away, stories of ancestors long gone from earthly life, stories of immigration from the "old country". This is the "lost art" of which I speak - that of story telling. How often these days do we take the time to engage in telling the stories or our life - past, present, and future; our memories and our dreams and visions? I could be wring, but I dare say not nearly enough.

As a young child sitting on grandma's lap I would often ask, "Grandma, what was it like when you were my age?" And grandma would tell me in ways she knew my young mind could understand. This is how Jesus taught in our gospel today (Matthew 13:24-43)- in parables, stories... "The kingdom of God is like...a man who sowed good seed...a mustard seed...yeast". He explained what God's kingdom was like, not in some high theological language, but in words and ways that everyone would be able to understand. And not only that, through his parables Jesus also taught that the kingdom was not some pie in the sky idea but was and is within the grasp of everyone and is indeed already here as well as "not yet".

Let us take time to listen to and ponder the stories, the parables, of Jesus and find within them the knowledge of who we are and we we are to be. These are the stories of the abundant love God has for each and every one of us!

Peace on the Journey

6 & 13 July 2008

Greetings Friends!

Several years ago, when I had the opportunity to take a course in homiletics (preaching), we were told, "Sometimes you just have to talk about the 'tough stuff'". This weekend's Gospel (July 13th; Matthew 13: 1-23) brings to mind some of that "tough stuff" through the familiar parable about the sower and begs us to ask ourselves, "What is my soil like? - What lies at the core of my heart?"

One day last week in the checkout line at the grocery store, the cashier announced my bill as "X" dollars and some odd cents. Well, I had no change with me that day and handed her all paper money. The woman behind me said, "Don't worry, I have the change covered" and proceeded to give the cashier the correct amount of change. I was totally shocked, and pleased, by this act of kindness and generosity from someone I did not know. After leaving the store, I stopped to put gas in the car. There was a long line of people waiting to pay the cashier. I decided to allow the person behind me to pay ahead of me but much to my dismay, this person just pushed ahead of me, thwarting my well-laid plan to share the kindness I had received at the grocery checkout. The lesson is simple: kindness received can lead to kindness given. The condition of our soil does indeed become evident in how we view and respond to others at a relational level, and often is an indicator of how we view and embrace our relationship with God.

It's all about seeing and hearing - noticing the attitudes and values we hold in our hearts and lives, listening for and to the voice of God within our hearts and our world, and discerning where we may need to tend to our inner soil so that we can respond in love to both our passionate God and to those we encounter.

May we walk with each other as a community of faith, allowing the Spirit's life-giving breath to touch our lives and hearts.

Peace on the Journey

29 June 2008

Greetings Friends!

The other evening I sat on our step and watched how alive and active nature is this time of year. The birds were soaring and dashing about, chirping a joyful noise. Those once tiny bluebirds are now nearly fully grown and gracefully dart about from tree to wire to grass to tree again each evening. Actually I'm surprised they have stuck around so long this year. They soar with a great freedom that reminds me of our upcoming holiday - Independence Day. It is my hope that we all have a safe and wonderful celebration, remembering all who serve to preserve and protect the freedom we enjoy, both now and in the past.

A few weeks ago, I wrote about some of our young feathered friends as they followed their parents and mentioned that they know - they know their nature; who they are. Sure, we realize animals have a certain innate or instinctive nature, but those young ones just looked as if they were learning and growing into their knowing. Most people, when asked the question "Who are you? tend to answer with words that are more of a description of what they do. Oh, I'm a wife, husband, mother, father, brother, sister, grandparent; I'm a factory worker, farmer, teacher, nurse; I'm single, married, widowed; etc. Perhaps it's safer to answer that way, or maybe we have just become accustomed to thinking of ourselves in terms of what we do. It kind of reminds me of how I lost my identity when my daughter entered school. Suddenly I became known as "Sara's mom" rather than Brenda/ But I truly believe we should spend some time pondering who we really are - including all those wonderful qualities God has blessed us with. We could begin by using adjectives rather than nouns - generous, compassionate, caring , loving, kind, playful, serious...

Jesus asked his disciples, "Who do you say that I am?" (Matthew 16:15) I believe Jesus asks us this same question as well. Is he, for us, just some holy person who happened to live some thirty-some years two thousand years ago, or is he the "Son of the living God" whose words and actions continue to make a difference in the world though our hands and words and actions? Is Jesus our brother, friend, mentor, and constant companion on our journey through life? Or is Jesus someone we think about only when the times get tough? Am I open to receive the gift of faith in and from Jesus or am I arrogant and closed, burdened by an inflated view of my own self-worth? These are the questions I wrestle with from time to time. And yet, Jesus' invitation stands firm today as it did all those years ago: "Take my yoke upon you and learn from me". Through a life lived in live, as Jesus teaches, we will find true rest and freedom. Now...that's something to celebrate!

May we continue to rejoice in the abundant Love and Life God has given us in all we do and are!

Peace on the Journey

22 June 2008

Greetings Friends!

The continuing saga of the Eastern bluebirds: My curiosity got the better of me on Sunday and I peered once again into the little white birdhouse handing in our tree. There they were, a mass of feathers, now showing some distinct markings. Three sets of eyes peered back at me and I couldn't help but tell the tiny but growing creatures they would soon be leaving the comfort of the nest and testing their wings. Lo and behold, as I passed by the window this morning just before heading to work, there they were - all five of them, Mother, Father, and the three younglings perched on the crossbar of our clothesline post. The had indeed left their nest! It was a rather amusing sight to behold. One by one, the parents would coax the little ones off the crossbar into flight. It seemed one of the young ones was very tentative about taking flight. Perhaps she (or he) was afraid. Finally, Father Bird seemed to be having quite a discussion with the little straggler. And after another few minutes this young one gathered the courage to make a glorious and successful flight from the crossbar to the garden's edge...and back again!

I can't help but reflect on today's gospel in light of this initially tentative little bluebird (Matthew 10:26-33). Jesus, three times, speaks to his disciples about fear. He tells them twice "do not be afraid" and once to "fear no one". As people of faith, baptized in the Name of our Triune God, we are to speak our faith with our very lives - in all that we say, do, and are. For when we know deep within our very soul and fully embrace that it is Christ who is our center, we have nothing to fear! Oh, God may prompt us, push us, urge us to stretch beyond where we often times would rather not go. But the good news is that God will never abandon us. We are called to be people who "speak in the light" proclaiming from the housetops the constant and abundant Love our gracious God has for each and every person, creature...all of creation! And by boldly witnessing to God's Love through who we are and what we do and say, we really need fear nothing and no one.

Peace on the Journey

15 June 2008

Greetings!

One day in April I was traveling the back roads to an appointment. It was a beautiful spring day: warm, the country side was green with new growth birds were chirping with glee, a male pheasant stood proudly on the roadside displaying his beautiful colors. I couldn't help taking in all the beauty and thinking about the wonder of this season of new life. As I neared my destination, I passed through a wooded patch. A Deer Crossing sign alerted drivers of the potential hazard of deer dashing out onto the road. Just a little way past the sign, I noticed a tiny fawn standing in the ditch all alone. This seemed so strange - I had never before seen such a young one alone. He (or she) seemed lost and just stood there looking up the roadside to the north. After driving a mere quarter mile farther, there she was, lying contorted and motionless on her side, belly bloated, lifeless - presumably the doe that bore the young, lost fawn. I often wonder what ever became of that little lost and abandoned fawn. Did it survive? Did some other doe take on the task of raising it?

I don't know if deer, or other animals for that matter, ever feel troubled. Bit it was apparent to me that this little spotted fawn felt abandoned, lost, because she (or he) now had no one as guide and teacher and nurturer. And my heart ached for this little one.

Jesus' heart was moved with pity at the sight of the troubled and abandoned crowd. And he sent out his disciples to tend to them. There are two lessons in today's gospel (Matthew 9:36 - 10:8) for us: we too are to go out and tend to those who are in need, to care for and about others around us - people we know and those we may not yet know, traveling along together on the journey bringing hope, life, and the love of Christ in all that we say and do according to our gifts and talents. The second lesson is that we too need not feel lost or abandoned or like sheep without a shepherd, but ever hopeful. For God is always with us, God grasps us by the hand and is woven deeply into our being, and God draws us near through God's deep and passionate love for each and everyone. Wow! God is awesome indeed!

May we celebrate with joy all that is good - in life, in faith, in each other.

Peace on the Journey

8 June 2008

Greetings!

Those tiny blue eggs in our little white birdhouse have hatched! One evening I peered inside to find three tiny, wide open beaks waiting for food. Not long after, first mother and then father bird returned with the first two courses of the evening meal for their younglings. It won't be long before those now tiny balls of fuzzy feathers are kicked out of the nest and soaring away behind their parents. One day I noticed the pair of geese that took up residence on our pond swimming near the water's edge. Four goslings followed playfully and faithfully. And just a couple of evenings ago on the back pond four or five little Wood ducklings swam peacefully behind their mother. Wow, nature is lo alive this time of year!

We can learn much from the example of these tiny feathered creatures. As young as they are, they know, they trust, they follow. They know their nature - what God intended them to be. They do not doubt - they will be provided for. They do not stray - they hold fast to imitating and learning in order that they may grow and have life. Jesus extended an invitation to Matthew - the same invitation he extends to everyone: "Follow me" (Matthew 9:9).

May we always remember it is Christ who is the center of our Church and our faith.

Peace on the Journey

1 June 2008

Greetings!

The other day while mowing the lawn, I took notice of the little white birdhouse that is hanging on a short, sawed off limb i none of our trees. For the third year in a row, a pair of Eastern bluebirds reside in it and faithfully tend to the tiny blue eggs in the carefully crafted nest. Surprisingly this tiny house still hung firmly in place after an extremely windy night - one so windy that it blew the swing set in our yard over on its side! Mother bird is very determined indeed. Even the roar of the lawnmower would not cause her to abandon her nest, even momentarily. Father bird keeps himself busy standing watch and "bringing home the bacon" so to speak, as he frequently brings his mate something to eat. Though this birdhouse does not appear to have a solid foundation, it is apparent these birds have chosen wisely, as the short, stubby branch on which this birdhouse is hung is sheltered by the solid foundation of the other branches on the large tree. It is also very apparent these small creatures are in tune with the concept of "we" - we're in this together.

Jesus reminds us that if we build our house on rock it will not collapse (Matthew 7:24-25). When we build our faith and nurture our hearts based on trust in God, keeping Christ as our center, we ill indeed have a solid foundation. When we truly accept and live the concept of "we" as branches together on the same vine that is Christ, it serves to strengthen not only our faith but our community as well. This is a community that has not been comfortable with the language of division - there has been no "us" and "them"; no "you' and "I". The community of St. Thomas the Apostle was formed as "we" - just like the bluebird pair - we've known from the start that our growth as community would be accomplished together and through the grace of God. Together we can continue to serve one another, care for one another, believe in one another, and love one another.

May we continue to notice the movements of God within and around us and always remember how deeply and passionately God loves every one of us.

Peace on the Journey

25 May 2008

Greetings!

In many ways our past lived experience and our heritage serves to define who we become; how we act (or react) as people. For example, if we grew up receiving affirmation, we will tend to affirm others; if we grew up with ridicule and shame/blame or violence, unless we strive to break that cycle, we too may carry that mindset into our relationships. Our lived experience also shapes how we respond to change. Again, our individuality, personal experience, and heritage play a huge rose in how we grieve changes - ALL changes, even the positive ones. Change = loss...even positive change! Let's consider the young adult graduating from high school. He or she soon leave for college and, while his or her parents are very proud of their child, they in some way grieve the loss of that child from physical presence in their daily lives (the empty nest syndrome). At the other extreme, the death of someone close - a spouse, a parent, a dear friend - propels us into heart-wrenching grief and change that we did not ask for, do not want, and it can literally turn our world upside down. All the experts on grieving agree on some key points: the path of grief does not run a straight course, how we have grieved past losses/deaths will become evident in how we perceive present and future losses, one should not expect to be "over it" in one year (there is no hard and fast timetable to the grieving process), and any given number pf people (even those within the same family) will be at different places in their grief at any given time.

Today, as we continue to move through our various and individually unique way of grieving more recent changes, it may just serve us well to ponder those last 2 key points in the context of our community of St. Thomas. We as a community, well, actually four communities at the start, have navigated great change over the course of your years together - beginning with merging into one faith community. For many of us, there were at least initially feelings of anger, denial, frustration, intense sadness, even devastation. And everyone did not have the same feelings at the same time. We didn't simply "get over it"; we moved through it...together, remembering it is not we but Christ who is our center; God who is our source of life; the Spirit who guides and moves and renews us!

As Moses reminded the people (Deuteronomy 2-3; 14-16), we too must remember our faith heritage and experience: It is God who sustains us, who feeds us, who guides us, and who deeply and relentlessly loves us.

Peace on the Journey

18 May 2008

Greetings!

As if life isn't busy enough for all of us in one way of another, this time of year begins yet again a time of added activities on top of our day-to-day busy lives. The months of May and June bring graduations (congratulations to all who are graduating this year) and many weddings and baptism celebrations. Even though we may not have any of our children or grandchildren, or other relatives graduating, getting married or celebrating baptism this summer, there is near certainty we will receive an invitation to two (or three or more) invitations to attend these wonderful celebrations of life. The very act of celebrating is faith-filled. When we celebrate with another the movement through through their significant "phases" of life, we celebrate life itself! We celebrate the Life that has been given to us by the grace of God though our very creation.

I just returned from a short (in my estimation) vacation to Florida during which I had the opportunity to celebrate my friend's birthday with her. We spent a few days at the beach soaking up the awesome vastness of the Atlantic Ocean, taking long walks along the shore, asking the Spirit to refresh and renew us, and listening for God to reveal a kernel of wisdom. True to all my past experiences at the wonder-filled place, that kernel of wisdom did eventually reach my heart: God did not create us to be unhappy. That simple yet profound piece of revelation rings true in our Scripture readings today.

The writer of John's gospel tell us "God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world" (John 3:17). God became flesh in the person of Jesus so that we may have life to live it abundantly with joy. Oh yes, there are circumstances, twists and turns, that cause us sorrow, pain, frustration,and a myriad of emotions, some of which are the result of our own choices and some that are beyond our ability to change. And yet through it all, we are called to celebrate life - our own and the life of those around us. God has received us as God's own and walks with us every moment of our life. We are always loved deeply and passionately by God and we are infused with the Holy Spirit - even when we are not conscious of that divine love or that movement of the Spirit in or life or our world. The promises of God remain constant. Wow! What an awesome thing to celebrate and to share with those we encounter.

May we celebrate with joy the abundant Love and Life God has given us in all we do and are!

Peace on the Journey

11 May 2008

Greetings!

In what feels like a very short time, the way we live has become, well, more cautious It wasn't all that many years ago when we did not have to lock our cars when running into the grocery store for a few things, we did not have to lock the doors to our homes even when going next door to talk with our neighbor, and many people did not lock their doors even at night. We password protect our computers and documents. Even our identities can be stolen. These days, it just isn't safe any more to leave things unlocked; unprotected. This is certainly a matter of safety and security, but I wonder if it also a matter of fear. Fear that we may lose something of value, fear that our privacy will be invaded, fear that a stranger will enter into our lives.

It is striking that the very first line of today's gospel is so up front in telling us the disciples were behind locked doors because they were afraid (John 20:19). Cannot we resonate with that in our own lives? And yet, Jesus breaks into their midst saying, not once, but twice: "Peace be with you". What a gift - to break the chains of fear with four simple, but profound, words!

God give us the grace to unlock our doors - the doors to our hearts - and be a people who recognizes that we are all part of the same body - the People of God - and that there really are no strangers among us in faith. Although we are each different/unique individuals, it is in our collective humanity and through our baptism that we are united - not as strangers, but as beloved children of God.

May we continue to welcome all who enter the doors of St. Thomas with the spirit of graciousness and warmth that is the hallmark of our community.

Peace on the Journey

4 May 2008

Greetings!

In Jesus’ prayer reflected in John’s gospel today, it is so very evident Jesus knew exactly who he was, who his disciples were, and to whom he and they belonged – to God! (John 17:1-11)Both he and they – and we – are God’s beloved. And while Jesus was soon to ascend to his Father, his disciples throughout the ages would remain in the world to continue Jesus’ work – serve, teach, pray, tend, and above all love. This is not always easy work. Sometimes we forget if but for a little while, who we are and what we are to be.

As a community of faith, we have navigated through many changes but we have also grown so very much during our short years together as St. Thomas the Apostle. The key is that we have done so together. We have grown because we have felt a deep connection with one another and with those in the wider community and the world. We have welcomed the stranger with open arms, offering those who are weary a safe place to rest and refresh. We have heard the voices of the vulnerable and have been their advocates. We have formed ourselves into a community of faith marked with wisdom and a spirit of humility and joy. And we have grown in the knowledge that we are all branches destined to bear much fruit on the vine that is Christ. This has become our identity; one might even say our uniqueness, as a faith community. Let us always remember who we have grown to be as a community and whose we are – God’s beloved.

Peace on the Journey

27 April 2008

Greetings!

Over the past several months, we as a community have seen more than a few changes. But isn’t that just like life – changing, never stagnant, moving and growing and stretching – sometimes in obvious ways but many times in quiet and hidden ways? So too, the Spirit, the Advocate, moves and breathes in ways that are many times unseen or even go unnoticed.

The other day I was listening to a presentation on spiritual guidance and was fascinated by one comment that was made. The woman remarked that at one point in her life she came head on to the realization that she was not the Holy Spirit. Now, that may seem a rather strange thing to say, but she was speaking in the context of control.

In this day and age of control – “I have to get control of my life”, “I need to control how this or that will turn out”, “I have no control!” – it seems almost odd to be asked to surrender our wills, not to mention our hearts and minds, to anything beyond our control. And yet in faith, that is precisely what we do in order to hear the voice of God deep within. We are moved, nudged, prodded by the Spirit to take time amid the busyness of daily life to enter into a holy and silent listening. May we always take time to notice, to listen for, the voice of the Spirit in our community and our lives!

Peace on the Journey

20 April 2008

Greetings!

Choices…there are so many these days! In our younger days, perhaps one of the BIG choices was what to wear to school (unless we attended a school that required we wear uniforms). Life seemed simpler when there weren’t so many choices to make. Way back when I was contemplating what to go to school for beyond high school, the solid choices for females (according to my dad) were either nursing or teaching, and he wisely counseled that it would be easier to get a job if I chose nursing because the teacher “market” was pretty flooded. These days our teens have many more educational choices. I’m not sure if more is better, at least for me. But it is what it is.

The readings today speak about choices; choosing to be more specific. The apostles were made aware of the need for help in tending to the needs of the people and chose seven from among the community to fill this need (Acts 6:1-7). Peter writes that Christ was chosen and precious in the sight of God and that we too are God’s chosen – God’s own people (1 Peter 2:4-9). The gospel asks us to make a choice – to choose to have faith in Jesus and to believe in him (John 14:1-12).

So…what does all this have to do with us and our community of St. Thomas? We are a community that firmly believes God is deeply in love with us. Each person is made in God’s own image and God dwells within everyone. This is not by our own design but is the choice and will of God. We are God’s chosen and respond by reflecting the light of Christ through our love and care for each other and all of creation. Among all the other choices we make, big and small, every day, we are also asked to choose to share life and love – God’s love – with those who cross our path. May we always make that choice!

Peace on the Journey

13 April 2008

Easter Greetings!

As we continue to celebrate this great season of Light – the Light that is Christ; the Light that cannot be dimmed, we have begun to see anew an increase in the length of the physical light of our days. Signs of new life are emerging all around: the red-winged blackbirds have returned as have the robins and various other species of birds absent during the long winter months. The deer are grazing in fields (probably to the dismay of our sisters and brothers who farm), the geese are already vying for their nesting spots, tulips and crocuses are pushing shoots out of the ground, those huge piles of snow are nearly gone, and there have been days when those infamous words of spring have been heard: “Cooler by the Lake”. After the long winter, spring holds a sense of wonder as once dormant life awakens, and yet, the changes of spring are familiar – we might even say constant. We know what to expect of spring even with the uncertainty of the weather, we know what spring is all about.

Looking back at our childhood days, there were also things that we expected and just “knew”. Most can admit at a very young age we recognized the voice of our parents – when we were called by name (especially when mom or dad used our FULL name!). Their voices were very familiar; we did not follow, if we listened to what we were told, strangers. And in following, we had a sense of belonging.

In today’s gospel, Jesus says he calls his own sheep by name, they recognize his voice and they will not follow a stranger (John 10:1-5). The sound of Jesus’ voice to those who follow him is familiar, recognizable. There is great comfort, and awe, in believing and knowing, Jesus too calls each of us by name – that Jesus knows us so intimately and loves us so deeply. He desires us to follow him with all our hearts and find abundant life in him. May we listen with all our hearts to the voice of God within and around us.

Peace on the Journey