Is our Life - well - a Reality Show?

The most popular show on television today? "Duck Dynasty." After that there are the programs about "The Kardashians," "Housewives," of various postal and zip codes, and "Hoarders." Reality Television programs have taught us that we like to watch the inner-workings of the lives of others. The interesting - and yet tragic thing - about it is that while we follow and know the happenings in the homes of characters on these shows - well - we don’t know our own neighbor.

The Rich Man and Lazarus in today’s Gospel (Luke 16.19-31)were neighbors, you know. They saw each other every day. Oh, not socially you understand, but there was contact. Every day the Rich Man saw this beggar at his front gate - yet they did not know each other. Who were these men?

To put it into the context of our present time. The Rich Man was a progressive kind of a guy. He was self-indulgent. He was a connoisseur, a lover of the arts, one who knows and appreciates fine living, four star restaurants.

The other man in the story is Lazarus. How can we describe Lazarus? Lazarus is homeless. We are told in vs. 20 that he was a cripple. Lazarus barely made it from day to day, living off the leftovers thrown to him by the Rich Man as he daily passed him. He is just a survivor, that's all you can say of him.

It is easy to read about a rich, self-absorbed, politically important man who is so involved in his own life, so busy orchestrating his own pleasures and perks, that he completely ignores the plight of Lazarus, a man who falls inside his gate, but far outside his pay-grade.

It is easy to turn it into a reality show and speak of it as something that occurs elsewhere. But that is not the shock-treatment that Jesus' parable is administering. Instead - Jesus is asking - do you know your who your neighbour is?

Now an easy way to answer that and then move on is simply to look at it as the physical neighbour who lives in the home or apartment unit next to us. But that approach would not be a Christian one.

•    Are you aware - instead - of the people you interact with each day ?
•    Are you aware of what they endure?
•    Are you sensitive to what they are going thru?
•    Are you seeing them not as someone on the side of the road of your life or someone who sits at the gate of your conversation - but are you seeing them as your neighbor ?

It is very easy to just become so absorbed in our issues and our world - our reality program!

•    the economic news which has put us in a tail spin
•    the medical diagnosis which has made us re evaluate things
•    the family issue which is causing us to loose sleep
•    the school related problem which is making us question life

These our realities - realities which we in faith turn over to the Lord each day - but there is still the danger that they become our show! These concerns, as serious as they are, must not take possession of our life in such a way that they make us less aware of our neighbor

The Rich Man allowed his reality to take possession of his life so much so that it became his show, his focus, his total reality. He lost sight of Lazarus who needed the reality of being recognized, of being shown dignity, of being understood.

There is no doubt that all of us - no matter, race, status, position, occupation, vocation, inheritance or poverty carry realities in our lives - some amazing,  others challenging - but they can’t become our show. We can not loose sight of our neighbour and their reality. For if we do; then they become nothing more to us than beggars that we pass by each day and offer them what falls from our table

What happens in Church - stays in Church ???

A good friend of mine a few months back went on a short vacation to Las Vegas. And he kept repeating the mantra as he prepared to go - and you know how this saying goes - “ What happens in Vegas Stays in Vegas”! Now of course for those who stated this it usually means they are planning on doing something in Vegas that they don’t want the rest of the world to know - especially people back home.

Now I’d like to turn that saying on its head and say this - doesn’t it seem at times that when it comes to the Church - we sometimes say “ what happens in Church stays in Church”.

We are a little hesitant - especially as Catholics to share the good news of all that is happening.

We have no problem sharing our complaints at times - but when it comes to sharing the good news - well - “what happens in Church stays in Church”. We do our “church things” and then we go back to our work or our homes and the stuff that awaits us in life and what ever took place in Church stays in Church and has nothing to do with or any application to our week. But we know that is not God’s intention.  - His word, His will, His way for our life is not that at all. Our participation in Church is a not a time card we insert, get checked off, then run along in life.

In the Gospel (Luke 16:1-13) we are introduced to a Manager who was living "the Las Vegas life!" All of a sudden his master wanted an accounting- and what does he do - well he gets his time card in check - he lines up everything so that if he gets caught in the lifestyle that his Master does not wanted of him - well he can at least prove his attendance.

But the Master says - that is not the way  - why is it not the way? - well St Paul - as he writes to his young friend Timothy (2:1-7) tells us why - “because I have appointed you a herald, an apostle, a teacher {model} in faith and in truth.”

You see because of our Baptism, due to our First Communion, as a result of our Confirmation - each of us is a herald, a model in faith and in truth. Its not about the time clock - but the life clock - and ensuring that what happens in Church actually leaves Church and goes into out world!

Pope Francis this week made a number of comments in an interview - and well depending on the media source you listen to you received mixed messages about what he said - but in fact it was nothing new in doctrine  - but he did invite the Church to make sure we are out in the world - sharing the good news and in the darkness of tonight - sharing our light!

This week - as part of our Generations projects - which by the way are coming along very well; I  found myself very excited. We had.....
✣     energizing meeting with our Children’s Ministry Team.
✣     wonderful response to our Kids Klub program - over 50 kids registered and active already!
✣    great progress on our new Children and Youth Wing 
✣    we received word from the City that they will install a “Pedestrian Crossing Sign” on Cooper St to help those who will cross the street from the new parking areas across on to the Church

But what got me so excited was on Thursday evening was the installation of the new “Red Glow” that you can now see from our Bell Tower from different points of Hespeler in the evening. The tower not has inside of it a red light which glows from every corner - this red light of course represents the Tabernacle Light ........that says - Christ is Here!”

But here is what it also says .....The Church is Here...St Mary of the Visitation is Here

So here is what our Catholic tradition tells us
1.    That when we see that red glow - we know Christ is present in the Tabernacle and so we give thanks and we proclaim with our life, we teach by our example, we model by our way of living

2.    That when we drive by that red glow - we know that Christ is present - and so we make the sign of the cross upon ourselves - it is the Lord after all - really and truly present in the tabernacle (its also why we genuflect or bow before we come into and sit in our pew.)

3.    That when we see that red glow - we know Christ is present - and we ask ourselves - how I am telling others about what is happening in Church or am I here for my time card?

Its Why - As a Family of Faith our Core Values are:
✣ Eucharistic Spirituality
✣ Hospitality and Welcome
✣ Evangelization
✣ Faithfulness to Who God Made Us to Be

Its why as a parish our mission statement is that  “We are connected to our past, committed to our future and compassionately focused on being a Family of Faith with something for everyone.”

Because our lives are to show that glow, to share that glow, to shine because of that glow! Since that glow says to the world, it says to our city, it says to all who drive by here in Hespeler - Christ is present and we don’t want what happens in the Church to just stay in the church - we want it to shine from our Church for all Generations!
                   
A few days ago I was getting into line for a movie and I realized I forgot my phone and so I was running back to my car and I turned to my friend and said “save me a spot”. Did you catch that - “save me a spot” with my group of friends I have a spot - well right here in our Family of Faith - that is what we are about “saving for each other a spot” in the plan and the glow of Christ for our world.  Let’s allow Him to glow not only in but from us as a parish that is a herald, a model in faith and in truth!

In the Pit - You Don't Quit!

You know the feeling.     It is between 2 and 3 in the afternoon — the "pit in the pm". Energy ebbs. Eyelids sag. Your attention span becomes goldfish-short (3 seconds). In fact there are workplace statistics that show that if you telephone a work environment to speak with someone the time most likely to get voice mail is between 2 and 3 in the afternoon - people walk away from their desk. You are wiped out, woozy and snoozy. The urge to grab a cat-nap becomes overwhelming. God invented coffee for this time of day. Fighting fatigue we all look for ways to revive, refresh ourselves for the second half of our day.

St. Paul (2nd Reading) wrote to his co worker Philemon (9-10,12-17) in order to refresh him. Philemon was fatigue - he was in the “pit of the pm of his life.” From the initial greeting Paul asserts that Philemon is a "dear friend and co-worker." He gives thanks for him, assures him of faith, invokes the saints toward him and asks that he continue to effective and active.

Now here is something you need to know - Paul has been imprisoned at this point.   
    - he was sent to a solitary island with some of the worst criminals of the Roman Empire.
    - abandoned on that island permitted only occasionally to meet with someone
    - he had to fend off others for food and his very survival each night was not guaranteed
He was not the poster child for the most glorious time of the year!

Yet - Paul encourages another - why? Paul had a deep relationship with Christ that reminded Him in the pit you don’t quit. You see - Faith alive is not static. Faith alive is an active, growing, dynamic thing... Now Paul wasn’t unique in this....let’s look at the life of the early Church - apostles....

Andrew died on a cross, Simon was crucified, Bartholomew was flayed alive, James (son of Zebedee) was beheaded, the other James (son of Alphaeus) was beaten to death, Thomas was run through with a lance,    Matthias was beheaded, Matthew was slain by the sword, Peter was crucified upside down, Thaddeus was shot to death with arrows,Philip was hanged.This record was not great for recruitment. Yet the Church flourished during this time..its grew in leaps & bounds - in the pit you don’t quit

In July when I was leading some talks at a young adults conference in New York state I was enjoying my mid afternoon cup of coffee (probably between 2-3pm) when an older gentleman sat at my table and drank his coffee with  his newspaper in hand. After a few moments he said to me - “well isn’t that interesting ?” I honestly thought he might be speaking on his blue tooth phone or something so I didn’t reply until he said it again and this time looking right at me said - “Have you ever thought how amazing an oyster is?”

Feeling somewhat awkward I just stared for a minute and he kept talking - now I am going to tell what I remember from what he was reading to me but I will admit to you I might have missed a line or two because honestly when he was speaking I was at the same time looking for the emergency exits because I thought he might be a bit wacky!

The oyster one day finds a tiny grain of sand has slipped into its shell. The sharp edges of the sand create a wound in the oyster’s muscle, and it is painful. It hurts. The oyster feels helpless. He has no hands or tweezers to remove the grain of sand. What was the oyster to do? He wants to know how he can stop the pain and heal the wound. He has choices.

He could do what humans do. He could rebel against God. He could get angry with God. He could ask, “Why did this happen to me? I have been a good oyster; I don’t deserve this.” He could choose to be bitter and miserable. He could have a pity party, a bad case of the “woe is me.” But none of that would help his pain. He could be a martyr. He could say that it was his cross to bear, and he could enlist a lot of sympathy by telling everyone his pain and gossiping and telling stories about how it the stand got into this shell. But that still would not help the pain.

What was he to do? He does what God equipped him to do. He begins to secrete a white milky substance that over time builds layers over the grain of sand. Over time the sharp edges dull and the painful point was rounded, and from the pain of that grain of sand, a pearl was made. It is a thing of beauty wrapped around nothing but trouble. Trouble can turn into a pearl.

God is in the pearl making business. He has a yes for us in every mess.

When the pains and sufferings of life come your way, when life breaks your heart, you have a decision to make. In the pit you don’t quit. The choice is yours.

•    You can break down into self-pity;
•    You can break out with resentment and bitterness;
•    You can break up in misery,
•    or You can break through with faith in Jesus, trusting God to bring a pearl from the pain.

Some people call September the “pit of the year” - so much happen/so much has happened. Is it between 2-3pm in the afternoon for you? God is in the pearl making business. He has a yes for us in every mess - so don’t quit

Are you Mold - able?

Last week while taking a little personal time I was waiting in a line when I decided I would check my emails a bit as I waited and so I pulled out my Blackberry. There were two young adults behind me who instantly began whispering and pointing. I thought it was odd and so I turned and asked if everything was ok?

One said, "Oh yes, we were just noticing your phone." I thought to myself - thats odd - "what about my phone" I asked them. "Well its old school." I thought to myself - old school - I bought it two years ago; so I asked for a little clarification and was told that if its more than a year old - well you are the proud owner of a dinosaur.

I resisted my cave man instincts and left these learned “smart phone “ gurus where they were at with a little chuckle and thought to myself “ the newest thing!”   It’s the mantra, and a great temptation of our society today.

We are not satisfied
    - our job is not what we thought it should be - so we quiet and look for a new one
    - our clothes don’t look like we want them to - so we toss them and buy so more
    - our phone is not the newest or our car the shiniest - time to start shopping

I even saw in a store recently the sign “ O you were here last week - well you didn’t buy this - but others have it already!”     As if to say - well you are loosing out! You’re a dinosaur!

We live at a pace that wants new, fresh, shiny and relevant - all the time - its hard to keep up - not the neighbors - but with ourselves - because we want so much. In fact recently it was noted that the average duration of a person under 35 holding a job today is less than a year - not because they get fired - but because they get bored!

The Gospel (Luke 14:1,7-14) of today presents something different - an interesting story - a wedding banquet at which a person wanted the best seat - the shiniest seat - and what happens - well they got humbled - move to the back - they were not satisfied, they wanted too much

Often so do we. - so how do we live in what the Prophet Sirach (3.17-20,28-29) of the first reading speaks to us as - the humility of living.

As we get ready for the Fall, I would like to share four very quick things which I think will help us live our lives, serve the Lord and enjoy each step along the way!

1.    Know Who You Are
One my favorite passage - St John - “ you are a child of God; live as you are”. (Galatians 3:26)

In the words you use    (that means don’t gossip)     choices you make    possessions you keep
the stories you tell        the life you lead        the hope you possess  - “ you are a child of God; live as you are”. God has imbued in our very soul the desire to know what life is all about and who we are - why because the answers are a key to knowing Him!

The major question of so many - who am I? Why am I here? and What is my purpose in life? - are important because if you can’t get an answer; it minimizes your ability to enjoy the journey

Social Scientists at John Hopkins University in Washington DC did a survey of recent graduates and asked what is the most pressing issue of life for you right now . You would think - career, marriage, health issues - nope- 75%- said we want to know what life is all about!

In our culture today the blank is filled with destructive things, teens and young adults fill it with experimenting, middle agers fill it with impulsive things,  older adults fill it at times with gossip and malicious things - but the answer is knowing actually that  “ you are a child of God; live as you are”.

2.    Know that You are Mold-able - Live as a seeker - have an urgent desire to understand God

Last week I got up early each day and went for a walk before enjoy a coffee. Lots of time to think when you walk. I spend some of that time talking to God, sometimes even out load - people walk by and stare and me and probably think “God bless His little heart he forgot to take his medication today”

But one thing I really want in my life is to be His child - that means not only that I be dutiful but docile - that means mold-able - shaped by Him -so I gotta listen to Him, talk to Him or how will know Him - if you are not talking to God and asking Him the questions and listening for the answers - start - do it !

3.    Know that you have a Divine Appointment - You are Where You Are for a Reason

There was a very rich man always had the custom of giving his relatives a very generous financial gift on special occasions. Well his niece was getting married and sent an invite to the wedding to her rich uncle. He was unable to go to the wedding but he sent a gift and inside the box was a bible. It was a very nice one; had their new married name engraved; but this couple who had heard the stories of the thousands of dollars he had spent on others in the family were - well - a bit disappointed.

Six weeks later, the uncle comes by and asks "so how did you like the gift?" "Oh, it was so nice of you." He could see there disappointment and asked them to get the bible which they did, still in the box, put away in a corner. He opened the bible at to 2nd Book of Peter and read the words which were covered “ if you read this word happiness follows rooted in His word” and there was an envelope for $25,000. Disappointed that they did not open the Bible he ripped the cheque disappointed they did not understand a principle of happiness - the gift you have, the place you are in is all for a reason and richest are found if you are faithful.

As we begin the Fall - let’s know who we are, let’s be mold-able to His will, let’s understand we have a divine appointment and are where we are for a reason, because if we do it will help us live our lives, serve the Lord and enjoy each step along the way!