"Jesus said to the Pharisees, 'There was a rich man who dressed in purple garments and fine linen and dined sumptuously each day. And lying at his door was a poor man named Lazarus...'"
Luke 16:19-20
And so begins the cringe-worthy Gospel of the rich man and Lazarus. Both men die and Lazarus can be seen resting at the bosom of Abraham by the rich man, suffering in torment. And what does this teach us today? Obviously, it teaches that we, the rich, are to do what we can to help Lazarus at our door. Oh, we may not be dressed in fine purple linen and we may not exactly be dining sumptuously, but we are certainly the rich in this story. And why are we to help Lazarus? Because he deserves it? He was a hard-working guy who fell on hard times? Not necessarily. Maybe Lazarus was a recalcitrant son who squandered his father's money, living it up! And we are still called upon to care about him and help him...why? Because he is there. He is there and he is beloved of God, just as all humans are beloved of God. We are not called to judge the Lazarus-folks at our doors, we are called to love and help them. All humans share the dignity of being God's beloved, regardless of what we may see in them. We are not capable of judging them justly, that is solely up to God. But we are called to love and serve. So, as we embark on an autumn Monday, let's keep our eyes open for the Lazarus(es) among us this day and let us love and serve. Love, heidi
Monday, September 26, 2016
Thursday, September 22, 2016
Far from just vanity...
"Vanity of vanities, says Qoheleth..all things are vanity! ...There is no remembrance of the men of old; nor of those to come will there be any remembrance among those who come after them."
Ecclesiastes 1:2, 11
I will admit it. I have a tote in the crawl space filled with photo albums of people I don't know. They are ancient relatives of my mother's and the tote has followed me house to house to townhouse for most of my adult life. And I still don't know who the people are behind the grainy, serious stares. My mom probably told me who they were at one point, but I can't keep them straight now. So what's the deal with Qoheleth, in today's reading? Why so grumpy? So hopeless? It's easy to see that we can get caught up in the hamster wheel of everyday life and yes, it can see like rather useless toil. I feel a bit sad that one day I will be a nameless face in a photo in a future generation's crawl space. I get that, but I also get something bigger. Each one of us and each person in photographs is the beloved of God. I may not know who they are, but God certainly knows them, inside and out. And God purposefully and carefully chose them to be my ancestors and their DNA flows through me today and my children, too. And, far from being useless vanity, that seems quite stunning to me. Today, let's thank God for all who have gone before us and realize that their lives led to our lives. They are the beloved of God and so are we! Sounds like a party to me...love, heidi
Ecclesiastes 1:2, 11
I will admit it. I have a tote in the crawl space filled with photo albums of people I don't know. They are ancient relatives of my mother's and the tote has followed me house to house to townhouse for most of my adult life. And I still don't know who the people are behind the grainy, serious stares. My mom probably told me who they were at one point, but I can't keep them straight now. So what's the deal with Qoheleth, in today's reading? Why so grumpy? So hopeless? It's easy to see that we can get caught up in the hamster wheel of everyday life and yes, it can see like rather useless toil. I feel a bit sad that one day I will be a nameless face in a photo in a future generation's crawl space. I get that, but I also get something bigger. Each one of us and each person in photographs is the beloved of God. I may not know who they are, but God certainly knows them, inside and out. And God purposefully and carefully chose them to be my ancestors and their DNA flows through me today and my children, too. And, far from being useless vanity, that seems quite stunning to me. Today, let's thank God for all who have gone before us and realize that their lives led to our lives. They are the beloved of God and so are we! Sounds like a party to me...love, heidi
Wednesday, September 21, 2016
Jump up and follow!
"I have come to call, not the righteous, but the sinners."
Matthew 9:13
When Jesus walked by Matthew's tax collecting booth and said, "Follow me," we are told that Matthew just got up and went. Jesus called a sinner and Matthew got up and followed. Just like that. We don't even get a hint of hesitation on Matthew's part. He changes his life for Jesus immediately and completely. Amazing, that. What about us? We are fortunate in that we are the sinners Jesus came to call in our time. How do we respond? Do we just get up and follow? What does that look like? It could look like this: changing our thinking into a more loving approach. Thinking of our possessions as not ours but belonging to all who are in need. Loving the people who drive us nuts and scooping up those who are lonely and alone on the fringe. How quickly do we get up and follow Jesus, if we really know what that entails? Jesus, I know you call me every single day! You call me out of my comfortable, cozy little life into doing harder stuff. I may want to follow, just as easily and willingly as Matthew, but I may get stuck along the way. Change my heart, please, into a more loving heart for others! Then I can jump up and follow you! Love, heidi
Matthew 9:13
When Jesus walked by Matthew's tax collecting booth and said, "Follow me," we are told that Matthew just got up and went. Jesus called a sinner and Matthew got up and followed. Just like that. We don't even get a hint of hesitation on Matthew's part. He changes his life for Jesus immediately and completely. Amazing, that. What about us? We are fortunate in that we are the sinners Jesus came to call in our time. How do we respond? Do we just get up and follow? What does that look like? It could look like this: changing our thinking into a more loving approach. Thinking of our possessions as not ours but belonging to all who are in need. Loving the people who drive us nuts and scooping up those who are lonely and alone on the fringe. How quickly do we get up and follow Jesus, if we really know what that entails? Jesus, I know you call me every single day! You call me out of my comfortable, cozy little life into doing harder stuff. I may want to follow, just as easily and willingly as Matthew, but I may get stuck along the way. Change my heart, please, into a more loving heart for others! Then I can jump up and follow you! Love, heidi
Tuesday, September 20, 2016
You are enough!
"All I can give back to God is who I really and fully am."
Fr. Richard Rohr, Daily Reflection, 9/20/16
I could sit and ponder this forever, and just may when I go on retreat next month! But the first thing that pops into my mind, unfortunately, is that who I really and fully am couldn't be enough for God. And that isn't humility, either, which would be OK. That is me doubting and questioning the goodness of what God has created. And who am I to do that? I think we really need to move past the picture of ourselves as falling so short of God's desire, when all God really desires of us is surrender. Let's go there again...all God really desires of us is surrender. Not perfection. Not hours and hours of rote prayers. Not beating our breast to be seen beating our breast. Another quote from this same Reflection today is, "All God wants from you is you." Our unique selves, our unique gifts and abilities are treasured by God. Our "you-ness" was created by God. And all God wants is that back in surrender. And what would that look like? Our surrender means we choose our actions to be what Jesus would do in any given situation. And that's easy to figure out if we read the Gospels. It isn't a mystery what Jesus would ask of us...kindness toward others, compassion and love for the poor, welcoming strangers, sharing what we have, living simply and generously. It may be easy to figure out, but it's sure harder to do! Love, heidi
Fr. Richard Rohr, Daily Reflection, 9/20/16
I could sit and ponder this forever, and just may when I go on retreat next month! But the first thing that pops into my mind, unfortunately, is that who I really and fully am couldn't be enough for God. And that isn't humility, either, which would be OK. That is me doubting and questioning the goodness of what God has created. And who am I to do that? I think we really need to move past the picture of ourselves as falling so short of God's desire, when all God really desires of us is surrender. Let's go there again...all God really desires of us is surrender. Not perfection. Not hours and hours of rote prayers. Not beating our breast to be seen beating our breast. Another quote from this same Reflection today is, "All God wants from you is you." Our unique selves, our unique gifts and abilities are treasured by God. Our "you-ness" was created by God. And all God wants is that back in surrender. And what would that look like? Our surrender means we choose our actions to be what Jesus would do in any given situation. And that's easy to figure out if we read the Gospels. It isn't a mystery what Jesus would ask of us...kindness toward others, compassion and love for the poor, welcoming strangers, sharing what we have, living simply and generously. It may be easy to figure out, but it's sure harder to do! Love, heidi
Monday, September 19, 2016
Action-contemplation...it's all prayer
"'And' demands that our contemplation become action
'And' insists that our action is also contemplative..."
Fr. Richard Rohr, A Spring Within Us, "The Shining Word 'And'"
I had a chance to ponder this yesterday on a Somewhat Silent Sunday. I recognized that it is exactly what happens when I volunteer at the Hospice Home. I still have so much to learn about it all--action and contemplation and also the Hospice Home. I'm not totally comfortable with any of them, but that's OK...I'm learning. Mostly at the Hospice Home I am doing household chores while trying, diligently, to stay out of the way. The work of dying is very difficult and is a struggle, sometimes, for the person dying as well as for their family. How can action and contemplation work together to keep the flow of God's love, well...flowing? After a few weeks, I am finally getting the picture (I'm a bit of a slow study!) As I went about my chores last week, I could sense a real need for prayer among the patients and families. I could feel a palatable need for peace and letting go. I felt so helpless and yet, I was able to connect with the need by sitting down and praying for a while in between dusting and laundry. Then, after a time, the prayer actually became the dusting and the laundry. What I learned from all this is that any action I do there (and anywhere, really) needs to come from a prayerful place within me. And the prayer that I am saying needs to manifest in the work of comfort, be it sweeping the floor or offering beverages. It is all prayer. Love, heidi
'And' insists that our action is also contemplative..."
Fr. Richard Rohr, A Spring Within Us, "The Shining Word 'And'"
I had a chance to ponder this yesterday on a Somewhat Silent Sunday. I recognized that it is exactly what happens when I volunteer at the Hospice Home. I still have so much to learn about it all--action and contemplation and also the Hospice Home. I'm not totally comfortable with any of them, but that's OK...I'm learning. Mostly at the Hospice Home I am doing household chores while trying, diligently, to stay out of the way. The work of dying is very difficult and is a struggle, sometimes, for the person dying as well as for their family. How can action and contemplation work together to keep the flow of God's love, well...flowing? After a few weeks, I am finally getting the picture (I'm a bit of a slow study!) As I went about my chores last week, I could sense a real need for prayer among the patients and families. I could feel a palatable need for peace and letting go. I felt so helpless and yet, I was able to connect with the need by sitting down and praying for a while in between dusting and laundry. Then, after a time, the prayer actually became the dusting and the laundry. What I learned from all this is that any action I do there (and anywhere, really) needs to come from a prayerful place within me. And the prayer that I am saying needs to manifest in the work of comfort, be it sweeping the floor or offering beverages. It is all prayer. Love, heidi
Thursday, September 15, 2016
Free to live and love...
"...and you, yourself, shall be pierced with a sword--so that the thoughts of many hearts may be laid bare."
Luke 2:35
Not exactly what a new mother wants to hear, but I believe that if the small sword-piercings of motherhood were clearly explained in advance, no one would ever sign up to be a mother! Of course, Simeon the prophet is speaking to Mary here, at the time of Jesus' Presentation in the temple. Couldn't Simeon think of something more encouraging to say? Really! Anyway, yes, we mothers know the small little swords that pierce our hearts through the lives of our children and you know what? We wouldn't have it any other way. Because of our deep and loving investment in our kids, we are "laid bare" and ripe for the joys as well as the pain of launching a new life into the world. We give our kids roots and wings. The roots in the day after day of it all; school year after school year, science project after science project. The wings are a bit harder; watching them back out of the driveway for the first time, or waiting for them to call the first week of college. Or what about when they bring a fellow home for the first time and you just know he's "the One," when she turns to do the Sign of Peace with him first at mass? But, with that little piercing, you know she is free--free to love and live in this world, even without you, when the time comes. And that is why God gives us kids in the first place...for us to let them go. Love, heidi
Luke 2:35
Not exactly what a new mother wants to hear, but I believe that if the small sword-piercings of motherhood were clearly explained in advance, no one would ever sign up to be a mother! Of course, Simeon the prophet is speaking to Mary here, at the time of Jesus' Presentation in the temple. Couldn't Simeon think of something more encouraging to say? Really! Anyway, yes, we mothers know the small little swords that pierce our hearts through the lives of our children and you know what? We wouldn't have it any other way. Because of our deep and loving investment in our kids, we are "laid bare" and ripe for the joys as well as the pain of launching a new life into the world. We give our kids roots and wings. The roots in the day after day of it all; school year after school year, science project after science project. The wings are a bit harder; watching them back out of the driveway for the first time, or waiting for them to call the first week of college. Or what about when they bring a fellow home for the first time and you just know he's "the One," when she turns to do the Sign of Peace with him first at mass? But, with that little piercing, you know she is free--free to love and live in this world, even without you, when the time comes. And that is why God gives us kids in the first place...for us to let them go. Love, heidi
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