The Price of Love

August 1: Friday of Week 17 of Ordinary Time, Year A-II:

Jeremiah 26:1-9; Psalm 69:5, 8-10, 14; Matthew 13:54-58

Thoughts to help us surrender to Jesus expressing himself through us in ministry.

“And they took offense at him.” Matthew 3:57

Jesus came that we might “have life, and have it to the full” (John 10:10). He went about teaching truth, preaching goodness, and healing people with love. And so many hated him for it that they drove him out of his home town and eventually crucified him. Why?

Few people cling to being evil. But many settle down in mediocrity and resent it when their complacency is disturbed by a call to be better. They are more dangerous, because it is easier to rationalize inadequate goodness than inordinate malice. Pharisees are more self-righteous than prostitutes, and those who hide their heartlessness under laws are more hardened than open oppressors. Only the Jews in “good standing” rejected Jesus: the hierarchy (chief priests), approved religion teachers (scribes), and those obedient to them, the law-observing Pharisees. That gives us something to think about.

The greatest test of those who minister with love is to persevere in loving those who hate them for it. To minister as “priests in the Priest” we must be willing to suffer as “victims in the Victim”—to endure whatever is done and “love back.” Because this is what Jesus did. God arranged that the last expression of his body would be his heart opened to the world.

That is ministry: to open our hearts to the world.

PRAY: “Lord, give your love with me, in me, through me.”

PRACTICE: Express truth and show love without fear.

Seven Parables

July 31: Thursday of Week 17 of Ordinary Time, Year A-II:

Jeremiah 181-6; Psalm 146:1-2, 3-4, 5-6; Matthew 13:47-53)

Thoughts to help us surrender to Jesus expressing himself through us in ministry.

“Do you understand all these things?” Matthew 13:51

Five of Matthew’s seven parables (13:1-53) connect the failure or success of ministry to our five baptismal consecrations as Christians, Disciples, Prophets, Priests, and Stewards of Christ’s Kingship.

Sower: Ministry fails when recipients won’t break with the culture (“beaten path”) to accept a new identity as Christians; or won’t reflect deeply as Disciples (“shallow ground”) or change their lifestyle as Prophets, because “the cares of the world and the lure of wealth choke the word” in their hearts (thorny ground).

Mustard Seed, Leaven, Treasure, Pearl: The Church community ministers well when: 1. we are dedicated to mission as Prophets announcing the Good News, drawing “the birds of the air” into a growing Church; 2. are surrendered to interacting growthfully with others in ministry as Priests, like leaven active in dough; 3. have taken “ownership” of the “treasure in the field” as Stewards of Christ the King, abandoning ourselves and all we have to the work of establishing his lifegiving reign over all creation. This is wisdom in both its meanings: seeing everything in the light of our last end (treasure in heaven); and having a “taste” for spiritual things that makes us able to appreciate the “pearl of great price.”

The Weeds and Net parables say the Church is a “mixed bag” of saints and sinners, all-inclusive and non-judgmental. We don’t pronounce sentence before God does.

PRAY: “Open my heart, Lord.”

PRACTICE: Live out your Baptism.

On-the-job Training

July 30: Wednesday of Week 17 of Ordinary Time, Year A-II:

Jeremiah 15:10, 16-21; Psalm 59:2-3, 4, 10-11, 17, 18; Matthew 13:44-46

Thoughts to help us surrender to Jesus expressing himself through us in ministry.

“If you repent… If you utter what is precious, and not what is worthless, you shall be my mouthpiece.” Jeremiah 15:19

People are rejecting Jeremiah and his message. He doesn’t understand. He is not living a bad life. He complains to God—who tells him to “Repent!”

Ministry is purifying. Sometimes just to say or do what is good is “worthless.” It takes something “precious” for us to be heard. In our efforts to find it, we purify both our hearts and our ministry; our message and the way we deliver it

Jesus failed to convert people too. They didn’t listen to him until after he had spoken from the cross. Whatever drives us to closer union with him, especially in his suffering, is good for our ministry and good for us.

The great temptation is discouragement. That is why we need to keep reminding ourselves that the very things that discourage us most are probably strengthening our ministry: failure, opposition, criticism, indifference, lack of resources—all of these make us first examine ourselves, then look more deeply into the message and the Lord’s directions for delivering it.

Pope Francis attributed his failures as a young Jesuit superior to authoritarianism and a failure to consult. As pope he is outstanding for personal dialogue and unprecedented commitment to collegiality. He “learned obedience” to the Holy Spirit “through what he suffered” (Hebrews 5:8).

PRAY: “Lord, let me hear your voice.”

PRACTICE: Seek advice, change and grow.

Never Alone

July 29: Tuesday of Week 17 of Ordinary Time, Year A-II:

Jeremiah 14:17-22; Psalm 79:8, 9, 11, 13; Luke 10:38-42 (Matthew 13:36-43)

Thoughts to help us surrender to Jesus expressing himself through us in ministry.

“Do you not care that my sister has left me to do the serving by myself?” Luke 10:48

If it were up to us, would we leave Jesus alone to serve God’s people? (Or the clergy? Or “more involved” members of the church?) Jesus said at the Last Supper, “The hour is coming… when… you will leave me alone.”

But he added, “Yet I am not alone because the Father is with me.”

And those who minister as his body on earth are never alone either. Jesus ministers with them, in them and through them. Otherwise, they are not ministering; just going through the motions.

When Martha complained that Mary had left her alone to do the work, Jesus replied, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious about many things. There is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part...” The “better part” is being with Jesus, whether working, playing, or resting.

 “Praying,” wasn’t included above, because that is what “being with Jesus” is. To “pray always” (Luke18:1) is to consciously let Jesus act with us, in us and through us. When we don’t do that, we are “leaving Jesus alone” to keep saving the world without our conscious cooperation.

He still uses us, but he can do it better when we are aware of what we are doing. Cultivate awareness.

PRAY ALWAYS: “Lord, do this with me, do this in me, do this through me.”

PRACTICE: Keep a crucifix in sight. Be creative about it.

Bearing Fruit

July 28: Monday of Week 17 of Ordinary Time, Year A-II:

Jeremiah 13:1-11; Canticle: Deuteronomy 32:18-19, 20, 21; Matthew 13:31-35

Thoughts to help us surrender to Jesus expressing himself through us in ministry.

“Like a mustard seed… like yeast.” Matthew 13:31, 33

Jeremiah’s buried loincloth rotted. Jesus echoed this in his parable about the man who “received one talent” and “dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money.” He thought he was keeping it safe, but he really made it useless (Matthew 25:14-30).

All God’s gifts to us are investments intended to bring increasing benefits to us and other people. Jesus compares his grace in us to a seed that grows into a bush so big “the birds of the sky come and dwell in its branches.” And to yeast, an active ingredient that causes the dough it is mixed with to rise. When Christians are mixed into any group—any business, family, or circle of friends—that group should rise to a higher level of understanding and love. If not, we have to ask whether those Christians have a live faith, a living hope, an active love.

Any parish that is not growing and attracting more people to “dwell in its branches” is a dead parish. Pope Francis wrote in The Joy of the Gospel (28):

In all its activities the parish encourages and trains its members to be evangelizers. It is… a center of constant missionary outreach.

Is my parish that?

Jesus said, “I chose you to bear fruit.” But if we bury our faith in silence, the fruit may rot on the branch.

PRAY: “Lord, let me do more.”

PRACTICE: Discuss this with your pastor.

First Things First

July 27: Seventeenth Sunday of Ordinary Time:

1Kings 3:5,7-12; Psalm 119:57, 72, 76-77, 127-130; Romans 8:28-30; Matthew 13:44-52

Thoughts to help us surrender to Jesus expressing himself through us in ministry.

“Give your servant an understanding heart.” 1Kings 3:9

The readings are all about priorities. Solomon’s was “an understanding heart.”

Jesus says that if we have an “understanding heart” and find the “pearl of great price” he offers, we will give it priority by “selling all we have” to buy it.

Paul says God’s first priority was that we should “be conformed to the image of his Son,” meaning that his “predestination,” his original, “pre-creation” destiny for all humans, was that we should all “become Christ” as his body on earth.

And God follows through by “calling” us to faith, “justifying” us in Baptism, and “glorifying” us by letting Jesus and the Father be glorified in us when the gift of divine life becomes visible in our words and actions (John 15:8; 17:10).

The bottom line is, our first priority in life should be to let Jesus “glorify” himself—make visible his divine life in us—by giving visible, physical expression in our bodies to the divine gifts of faith, hope and love. Then, “on that day” when Jesus comes, he will be “glorified in his saints and marveled at among all who have believed, because our testimony was believed” (2Thessalonians 1:10).

We live “so that God may be glorified in all things through Jesus Christ. To him belong the glory and the power forever and ever” (1Peter 4:11).

This is our ministry.

PRAY: “Lord, speak in me and through me.”

PRACTICE: Surrender all day long.

See In, Speak Out

July 26: Saturday of Week 16 of Ordinary Time, Year A-II:

Jeremiah 7:1-11; Psalm 84:3, 4, 5-6, 8, 11; Matthew 13:24-30

Thoughts to help us surrender to Jesus expressing himself through us in ministry.

“Blessed they who dwell in your house! Continually they praise you.” Psalm 84:4

Two readings speak of the temple, one of God’s “field.” God’s presence makes both holy, but both can be corrupted. God says “I will remain with you only if you no longer oppress immigrants” or  “shed innocent blood”—for example, by executing criminals now innocent through repentance—or “follow strange gods” by focusing on making money (Mammon) instead of on giving mercy to the poor: specifically “widows and orphans,” e.g. single-parent families with no male provider. Those who distract us from this are the “enemy” who “sows weeds among the wheat.”

God’s field are those who “hear the word, accept it and bear fruit” (Mark 4:20). His temple now is us: “God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple” (1Corinthians 3:17). God dwells in our bodies as in his own house. “Blessed are they” who dwell there consciously with him; the Psalm says, “Continually they praise you.” If we look in to what we are, we will speak out in praise and thanksgiving.

How lovely is your dwelling place, Lord, mighty God!

If we don’t give expression to praise and thanksgiving, we won’t be aware of why we should. The fact is, what we don’t praise we won’t appreciate. To know either God or ourselves, we have to say what we see. If we don’t we go blind.

PRAY: “Lord, open my eyes and my mouth.”

PRACTICE: Look, speak, act.

Drinking His Cup

July 25: Feast of Saint James, Apostle:

2 Corinthians 4:7-15; Psalm 145:2-3, 4-5, 6-7, 8-9; Matthew 9:18-28

Thoughts to help us surrender to Jesus expressing himself through us in ministry.

“I believed, therefore I spoke.” 2 Corinthians 4:13

What if the Apostles had not spoken about Jesus?

Well, for one thing, they would not have all been put to death.

And we would not have been brought to life.

We have to make it clear the Good News is something to die for. We can begin by just showing it makes us happy; by expressing some enthusiasm. The Psalm says it was because “our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with rejoicing,” that “they said among the nations, ‘The Lord has done great things for them.’”

Is your mouth filled with laughter when you go to work? Is your tongue filled with rejoicing when you are at Mass? They go together: what we celebrate at Mass is what we experience at work. And at home. In everything we do. If we don’t have anything to celebrate at Mass, we don’t have anything to rejoice in the rest of the time. Without the meaning the death and resurrection of Jesus gives to our time on earth, life is ultimately as empty as the epitaph on an ancient Greek gravestone:

Naked at my birth;

Naked back to earth;

What’s it worth?

So why did I pretend?

Why did I buy and spend?

For a naked end.

Christians, however, always have a reason to be happy—even if we’re killed for it.

PRAY: “Lord, let me be good news where I am.”

PRACTICE: Show what you know.

Seeing Needs Saying

July 24: Thursday of Week 16 of Ordinary Time, Year A-II:

Jeremiah 2:1-3, 7-8, 12-13; Psalm 36:6-7, 8-9, 10-11; Matthew 13:10-17

Thoughts to help us surrender to Jesus expressing himself through us in ministry.

“The priests asked not, ‘Where is the Lord?’” Jeremiah 2:8

When God says the “priests and shepherds,” those who “deal with the law,” “know me not,” it means religion is withering. “They have forsaken me, the source of living waters.”

We don’t know God because we don’t talk about him. He becomes a non-thought. Then we don’t see him where he is: in the gifts he gives us, in the people we deal with. The proverb becomes: “Out of mind, out of sight.”

We don’t see what is never said. We don’t look for God in his words, because no one ever repeats them. We aren’t aware of him at Mass because no one seems to know he is there. If he is making an impression on the congregation, they are hiding it well.  “Enthus—as in theos—iastic” means “possessed by a god.” Unenthusiastic means closed to the divine.

Preachers can talk about the law without knowing God. We can keep God’s laws without talking to or about him him. Jesus said, “It is out of the abundance of the heart that the mouth speaks” (Luke 6:45). If our mouth is silent, our heart is probably empty. If we talk about everything but God, our religion shrinks to being about everything but God.

So say what you see. If you have nothing to say about God, start looking.

PRAY: “Lord, open my lips. Help me to praise you.”

PRACTICE: What God shows you, show others.

Ministry is Vulnerability

July 23: Wednesday of Week 16 of Ordinary Time, Year A-II:

Jeremiah 1:1, 4-10; Psalm 71:1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 15, 17; Matthew 13:1-9 (Cf. 15^th Su. July 13)

Thoughts to help us surrender to Jesus expressing himself through us in ministry.

“See, I place my words in your mouth!” Jeremiah 1:9

Isaiah (6:7) was afraid to speak because he had “unclean lips.” Now Jeremiah says, “I know not how to speak; I am too young.” We all give excuses. We are afraid to give expression—physically, and especially publicly—to the faith in our hearts. To our divine hope. To the love we feel for God. We aren’t even good at expressing love for others.

We are afraid to expose ourselves. It makes us vulnerable. We hide our emotions. Spontaneity is giving up control. Crying is weakness. Showing religious enthusiasm is inappropriate. Joining in celebration is losing ourselves. That is the real reason people won’t sing at Mass! Parents won’t even tell their children what they feel about God.

It began when Adam and Eve clothed themselves in Eden. Guilt = shame = vulnerability = fear. Jesus reversed it, naked on the cross, his heart laid open by a spear. Being Priest made him Victim. To be “priests in the Priest” we must be “victims in the Victim.”

Ministry is surrender to Jesus in us wanting to express himself through our bodies: his truth, his love, the hopes he has for others. Making our invisible faith, hope and love visible is sharing life. But we don’t give life without risk.

PRAY: Stand before a crucifix. Say, “Lord, give yourself with me, give yourself in me, give yourself through me.”

PRACTICE: Practice expressing love in every interaction with others.