Archive for July, 2017

Reflection: 17th Sunday in Ordinary Time

In the words of the Our Father we pray “thy kingdom come, thy will be done.”

As Christians we are called, or as Paul speaks in Romans “predestined,” to work for good.

We are called to try to walk in the light which Jesus showed by his life.

We are called to be “conformed” to the image of God’s son.

To do so, one tries to seek divine wisdom. As God’s children, it is our heart’s natural desire. Solomon, in realizing that wisdom is something not easily grasped, asks God for the wisdom to “distinguish right from wrong” and “an understanding heart to judge [God’s people whom he has been called as King to server over].” This pleases God greatly for it is what God wishes all of us to ask for in our lives. Not for our own health and goodwill or that of our friends. Not for riches. Not for God to smite those whom we feel are against us. But for understanding – to ask for HIS kingdom to come – as HE wills.

God calls us to ask him for the wisdom to know that our way as humans is not God’s way. For God, though he walked among humans in the form of Christ, is not human. Though he speaks to the hearts of men through the Holy Spirit – man can only grasp at a microscopic speck of God’s infinite being, knowledge and love. We can only imagine his kingdom. In Matthew, Christ himself attempts to explain the worth of God’s kingdom to our simple human minds. He speaks to the human vanity of treasure and says that the Kingdom of Heaven is something beyond worth to which we should give all that we are.

God sent his son to teach us. To provide us with an example of the path he wishes us to follow – an impossible ideal to which we are called to conform. Each in our own way called to work for good. Called to ask for God’s wisdom which is sent through the Holy Spirit. Called to allow God’s glory to shine through us. Called to sincerely pray – “Thy kingdom come, thy will be done.”

17th Sunday of Ordinary Time
29/30 June 2017
1 Kgs 3:5, 7-12
Rom 8:28-30
Mt 13:44-52

Communal Harmony

Shortly after I posted the message below I read this wonderful article on the Dalai Lama’s site:

Seminar on ‘Communal Harmony – Foundation of World Peace’

“We all want to live a happy life, so we have to learn to live together in trust and mutual respect. We do have differences of race, nationality, religious faith and so on, but these differences are secondary in comparison to our equality in being human. When I heard scientists say they had evidence that basic human nature is compassionate, I thought, ‘There’s real hope.’

“Helping others brings deep satisfaction. No matter how powerful we may seem to be, our survival depends on the community. Clearly the community is crucial to individual happiness, so if we make others happy, we too derive benefit. We need to take action. However, if we act out of self-centredness, it will be difficult to be transparent, to earn others’ trust and friendship. By learning to be more warm-hearted we can create a more compassionate world.

– His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama of Tibet

Bookend

It’s been a year since I have posted… I’ve managed to stay out of the hospital… have overcome pain and numbness from a herniated C5/C6 disc via physical therapy and acupuncture… have expanded my knitting… have been taking photos, alias have not posted them…

In the meantime, I am finding myself more and more disappointed with major parts of the world… both globally and locally… the light I do see comes from the likes of Pope Francis and the Dalai Lama…

In college, at the UofA, I spent a lot of time hanging out at the St Thomas More Newman Center. Sitting, thinking, drawing, praying… While I’d have long discussions with a few of the Dominicans, my faith has always been something primarily private. I choose to keep it private as I find many have a tendency to use their religion against others, to judge them while exhaulting themselves… just as the Pharisee of Luke 18:9-14… that is something I don’t agree with… that said, my faith is a strong part of my life and perhaps it is time to start sharing it…

“Stop judging and you will not be judged. Stop condemning and you will not be condemned. Forgive and you will be forgiven. Give and gifts will be given to you; a good measure, packed together, shaken down, and overflowing, will be poured into your lap. For the measure with which you measure will in return be measured out to you.” – Luke 7:37-38