DISCOVERY: KNOWING YOUR UNIQUE GIFTS ENHANCES KNOWING YOU ARE LOVED

11th Sunday in Ordinary Time -  June 2013

CATHOLIC

R. Lord, forgive the wrong I have done.

Do you know your unique gifts? Do you count your blessings? Do you review your day each evening to see how Godde has blessed you? David failed to, It bred Envy and ended in murder and adultery. The Galatians failed to and they ended up following strange 'men of god' turning their head back to a  different gospel: one of Law rather than one of LOVE. Simon failed to count his blessings and could not recognize his gift of Christ's presence but was rather envious of the closeness the sinful woman experienced with Jesus and sought to take it away from her.

Beloved ignorance of your divine gifts leads to ENVY, envy breeds restless covetousness that goes a long way to unhappiness. Not just for you but for those around you. The sin of omission to discover our beautiful selves leads to the capital sin of envy. It eats you away and keeps you sad at what others have; makes you a slave to thoughts and actions of evil. We all know someone who is always sad because 'others have this' and 'I wish I had that like those' and 'i wish I was gifted like him/her'; they are so miserable. Beloved Jesus wants us to be free and Happy and has given us an excellent way.

The converted Galatians thought that by adopting religious over zealousness they would be righteousness. They forgot that the pharisees had already tried it and failed. Can you just picture those men/women at church behaving like their rules are Godde's rules? What are your own rules that you have decided if someone doesn't keep they should be kept away from the church communion? Rules that decide who is worthy of your smile or greeting or kindness? What is it you hoard out of lack of knowledge of your immense riches in Christ?

The psalmist instructs us that the perfect way to happiness and righteousness is to acknowledge and confess our sins just like King David. Let us start with the sin of ignoring our gifts and talents, not taking the time to discover them, not investing the money to groom them for the greater glory of Godde and our neighbour's good. Paul assures us that if truly we were junk and needed to covet what others have to feel alive, Jesus would never have died on the cross. That He died on the cross for you and me is proof that we each are valuable, gifted beyond measure, waiting to bloom. Paul says 'Beloved have faith in Jesus'.

You see the parable Jesus told Simon was not to elicit his knowledge that he had sinned just like the woman, but his knowledge that Jesus loved him so much to be in his house dining with him. For only love makes us SEE Jesus and SEE our sin that keeps us from Him. That is why Godde told David of all the things Godde had done for him. Love begets Love and Forgiveness, Mercy, is love that stoops down to lift up. Beloved Jesus loves you and if you will acknowledge your sin and confess it, He will stoop down to you and lift you up in the midst of your foes. You will be required some satisfaction to soothe your shame and guilt but you will experience being healed in your memory, being set free to love again and see others as Godde sees them, lovable. Jesus asks you to delay your happiness no longer. It bleeds his heart to see you miserable and wasted. He wants to see you strong, active and giving testimony that Jesus loves you and me and all of us.

Beloved waste no time today to come to Jesus and weep for your sins in whatever manner your faith tradition provides. Count your many blessings and see how much you are loved. Let the love of Godde seduce you and make you righteous and happy and charged to go and love all others especially those who are different. Now pray with me this short line and may Jesus grant you freedom and peace: Lord Forgive the wrong I have done. Amen

TexT	2 Sam 12:7-10, 13	Ps 32:1-2, 5, 7, 11	Gal 2:16, 19-21	Lk 7:36—8:3
Whole Thrust	· The divine work in human hearts and cooperation with Divine rule.	·  Thanksgiving (thank-offering) by person on day of Expiation in recall of Divine rescue	· To Jewish converts (2:15) Tensions from a return to living by Jewish practices/law over a Spirit-led faith	· To Greeks: Reconciling humanity with the Divine and with one another
Setting	·  Prophet Nathan with an Oracle to David concerning Bathsheba at palace using a lamb story	· Cultic, in temple  (testimony, ritual act & meal) after release from sin	· A letter to redress converts’ turning to another gospel (1:6-7) that distorts Christ’s own.	· Town of Naim; Jesus at a meal in Simon the Pharisee’s house.  Other towns
WORD STUDY	· Maschil. Says psalm is instructive or didactic · To forgive, signifies ‘to carry out of sight’ ·  4 evils mentioned-1. Transgression (pesha) 2. Sin, (chataah) 3. Iniquity, (avon) 4. Guile, (remiyah).  The 1st signifies ‘the passing over a boundary, doing the prohibited’. The 2nd signifies ‘to miss a mark, not doing the commanded; it expresses sin in one’s nature. The 3rd signifies what is ‘turned out of its proper course’; any morally distorted or perverted, contrary to equity or justice. The 4th signifies fraud, deceit, guile.		· Justified (dikaioutai).Present passive of dikaioô, an old causative verb from dikaios, righteous (from dike, right), to make/declare righteous. · Judaizers—they kept the law in most minute fashion like Pharisees and didn’t see themselves as sinners	· Pharisee means ‘Separated’ , ‘apart’ · ‘Are forgiven’ apheôntai to be pardoned. · ‘For she loved much  (hoti êgapêsen polu). Illustration or proof, not reason for the forgiveness.
Themes	· Ignored divine favour · Envy, Murder, Adultery · Condition of women · Self-judgement · Injustice to powerless · Secret sin revealed · Divine Correction	· Confession of sin · Acknowledgement of Yahweh’s deliverance · Sin versus Freedom · Gladness in being just and upright · Teaching others	· The Divine Gift · How to be righteous · How we are just & holy · Observance of the Law · Faith in Christ · The merits of Christ’s sacrifice	· Relationship between Þ Good people & sinners Þ God & sinners Þ Forgiveness & love Þ Condemnation · Religious rules & Bias

THE SOUND OF MUSIC : 4th Sunday of Easter

By my brother’s kind heart, I listened to a music track “I Believe in You” by Il Divo & Celine Dion that cut through to my heart. It brought to my mind the tribulations in trying to be faithful to my vocation, that have kept me in the dark; the words of the song rung “Lonely, the path you have chosen, a restless road, no turning back, one day you, will find your light again, don’t you know, don’t let go, be strong!” To me, it was the voice of my Lord saying ‘Onward Christian soldier!’ I felt the conviction of success - it restored my enthusiasm! Does some song popup in your mind that speaks to you as such?

Today, Jesus tells you and I that secured in Him by the Holy Spirit at our Confirmation, no one can snatch us from His hand. Defeat is not an option! Isn’t it comforting? See your tribulations so far, no one nor what ever you live through, nor what is building up for the future, not even sin, can snatch you away from Jesus, the Good Shepherd, with whom is eternal life. Hurray!

There is a task though: we were appointed as light for the world, instruments of salvation for the ends of the earth and the surest way that our ministry can cross tribal, national, denominational, gender, age group, race, status lines is when we activate our gifts received at confirmation, our unique ministerial talents 1, 3, 5 or 10. This is what Jesus means by being sheep that follow!

What is it that you do well? Preach, sing, encourage, hear confessions, write, blog, do phone calls, organize, create visions, innovate, revive, offer sacrifice, what is it you uniquely do well? Sharpen that skill, build it up, search out avenues to use it, animated by the Holy Spirit, to create the encounter with the Divine grace wherever there is human need. What would you spend your time doing if you knew you would never fail, that you would succeed beyond measure? Your answer will be a pointer to where your gifts lie. Do not delay, start today!

Thus serving the Most Holy Trinity we will count amongst those who have washed their robes clean in the blood of the lamb. Listen again to that music track to sets you ready like an army for war & let us join to sing ALLELUIA!

TEARS MAY COME IN THE NIGHT BUT JOY COMES IN THE MORNING - 3rd Sunday of Easter 2013

It is the 3^rd Sunday of Easter and I just feel down. The school that employed me collapsed at the beginning of the year and I lost my job, they still owe me my pay. Since then every effort I have made to be productive has produced nothing but simply used up all my reserve of resources and even the resources of others. I am on the brink of quitting! For me it is a dark night! And you, where are you at? For Peter and the apostles too it is a dark night! So Peter returns to what he knows he is good at – catching fish. The others follow Peter, for at least they can get some food for themselves and their families and trade some. Yet their every effort is unsuccessful!

Have you had the experience of employing all your education, money, knowledge and skill on a project or task just to arrive at nothing? The endeavour shows you off as a complete idiot and self-doubt starts to settle in – Did I make the right choice in life? Of a career? Of a spouse? Of study? Of location? Myriads of hasty solutions pop up here and there; comparison sets in - My mates and siblings progress and are doing well in material wealth and societal life, while it seems I totally missed the point!

But times of darkness and night must come, while they are painful, they teach us to value what we have lost, what we can’t get to work; beloved, it is in the darkness of the womb that the baby grows waiting for its time to propel out. We have to be patient! Night, unknown to us grows a lot; the desire for the good things of life and eternity; it fashions a readiness to act when opportunity arises and we recognise it; It kills inertia and people-pleasing, it thrashes out fake friends and shows up real ones; tears are abundant in the night, but this too shall pass when the dawn comes.

Beloved, Jesus is the dawn! Jesus is the morning star that dispels every darkness; Jesus is the push that brings the baby out; Jesus is the epitome of being tended and cared for. It takes the experience of night to value the presence of Jesus, to cherish the memories of times of light and fruitfulness.

You see when Jesus stood on the beach they didn’t recognise Him, until he showed a sign that they had seen before. Let down your net on the other side and there was an abundant catch! Beloved this time Peter is not saying: go away from me Lord I am a sinful man; Peter is not saying, if you call me to come to you on the water, I will; Peter is not saying, I do not know what you are talking about, I am not his disciple; Beloved, Peter has stopped talking and starting acting – He jumps into the sea and wades across to meet Jesus, Jesus the light, Jesus who has prepared a morning breakfast banquet for them.

Yet the Trinity will have all of us or none of us, if we must be ardent soldiers of the Good! We must participate with our weakness that Jesus can turn into strengths: ‘Bring some of the fish you have caught’; we must use all we’ve got: speak again Peter speak, ‘Do you love me more than these?’ and again Peter will begin to speak, and speak and speak in the public and with the Spirit of the Trinity will speak before authoritative obstacles and speak them dumb and declare: We must obey Godde and not humans!

Can you feel the tempo? Feel the upsurge, from the tears of the night…to the forces of joy in the morning? It gives you and I something to look forward to, doesn’t it? It keeps our toes up, on our 50 day journey to Pentecost doesn’t it? Beloved, Winners don’t quit and quitters don’t win, so hang in there, I am hanging in there too! Dare to believe that Jesus will show up on the beaches of our lives and this dark night would have taught us to go for the light. Better still, we would have testimony of an abundant result to share, we would have so much gratitude and see every need to render thanksgiving, power, glory, honour, might and blessings onto the risen lamb forever;  Yes, We would sing with the psalmist, I praise you Lord for you have rescued me! Pray for me as I pray for you. SHALOM

DISCOVERY: EVIL CANNOT HOLD US DOWN, JESUS IS RISEN! – EASTER SUNDAY

For the first time in my decades of celebrating Easter, I woke up this Easter morning without Easter joy, I had Easter gloom. I was already feeling sorry for myself thinking I probably hadn’t fasted enough, walked the stations enough; I faced trials during the Easter Triduum and I failed them all. Perhaps I would have to do another 40 days of sorrow when everyone else is happy. But wait a minute! Neither Mary Magdalene, the other women, the apostles nor the Emmaus disciples had a happy Easter morning, they were struck with gloom. Did you wake up still sad this morning? Good news hit me, and I have to share it with you. While I was pleading to the Trinity in tears for Easter joy it hit me – Evil cannot hold us down, Jesus is risen!

This may sound obvious and simple but look at it again; to make sense of this one act of Resurrection Peter had to narrate the liberating works of Jesus done under the Holy Spirit and the power of the Father. Resurrection is the utmost power of liberation before which all evil bends its knee and our scripture texts today says to all who believe this power is made manifest, not available  but manifest for their Easter joy.

Beloved, ‘believe’ is a verb, it is an action word, it is not a noun. That means you have got to do something, like put in some new yeast that will lift you into the experience of the risen Lord. The disciples ran and thus got to see/hear and rejoice. Beloved I got down on my knees and prayed my rosary-glorious mysteries. Lord, I could never be clean enough to merit Easter joy but to whom shall I go? I will come and weep at your tomb and beloved, behold by the time I finished the first decade gloom banished from my being, by the time I reached the Descent of the Holy Spirit, I was singing ‘Young men and maids rejoice and sing” and by the time I sang the Salve I was shouting ‘Regina Caeli Laetare Alleluia’ and could stop singing all morning in the joy of Mary Magdalene and co.

Beloved where are you with Easter joy? This is not some plastic smile day and I don’t care if the choir sang a boring Gloria or the faces at church showed everything but joy. Search your heart and do something unto the Lord and let that gloom that hangs over you dissipate. For Jesus is Risen, Jesus is truly Risen, Jesus is risen from the dead and since we the church are His body we have risen with Him, evil cannot hold us down. This is our day that the Lord has made.  Do yourself a favour beloved, Rejoice and be Glad! Blessings on your way! Amen