GOD, MAY I ALWAYS CHOOSE LIFE

 

There is always something so beautiful when the new-born is brought into the room. Grandmothers oue and awe over the new baby. Everyone wants to see the new baby and everyone comments on who she/he looks  like.

 

New life! It is such a moment of hope and joy. Remember that the same warmth and joy surrounded you when your mother brought you (the new-born) into the family and friends.

Your arrival was a tremendous moment of hope and joy!

 

From this moment we need to be lead to pray and seek to foster life and all its varied forms.

 

Pray that we always choose life and the thriving of human life – here at home and throughout the entire world. We want life not just for ourselves but for everyone in the deepest jungles of the Amazon to the high office towers in Toronto.

 

Pray that we treasure the life of every child in our school; no matter what their identity or their limitations. May each child be a joy in our heart for the life they will lead and the contribution they will make  to our human history.

 

Help us to value and rejoice in the life of every member of our family and to treat all the things we own as just “stuff.” Every computer and vehicle is just so much a tool to serve our daily functioning  but it is in the living of each family member that we rejoice. Pay that we keep our priorities straight: our possessions are just stuff, tools to serve us. 

 

May we keep our shopping sprees  a time to serve life and not get frantic when our shopping gets complicated.  Everything we buy is meant to serve life. May we seek to enjoy and contribute to the well-being of our family and community.

 

May you, divine maker of peace, move all humans to move away from all forms of violence and move to building community. May our striving for life all be a working towards the common good of all people in our country.

 

May our seeking of life move us to pay attention to the elderly, the people without jobs and the forgotten of our own province. May our concern for life broaden our vision and concern for others. May they always be sisters and brothers to us.

 

My only request today: May I always work to nourish, support and love all human life.

May the time I walk on this earth be care and  support for all life.

YOU MUST REDISCOVER GOD

 

As we journey through life and our spiritual life we discover that we are in the process of discovering God. 

 

Many people ( who got done as babies and made all their sacraments as children) are surprised when they discover that their understanding of God is inadequate. It is not uncommon for such persons to ask “was I taught falsely?”

 

If we want to follow the process of the Bible faithfully we see that God has no name. In the Bible if you have the power to name something or someone, you have some power over them. This is why it was the father of the family who “ named” the child. The authority structed was spoken clearly.

 

If humans could “name” God they would have power over God. No one has power over God!

 

When Moses asked God “who should I say sent me?” The answer came back, “I am” “I am with you.”  What was being spoken by the divine was that God’s name is a verb. Bod is an action, a living reality within the people. God lives and breathes in this world.

 

Our task is to discover God as he/she comes to us today. God is always a journey of disvoery.

 

This is why our Old Testament reading (Is. 55, 6-9)  is so helpful. Chew over the words “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my ways says the Lord.”

 

Think of the times that you have written someone off. You dropped that person to the bottom of the human pile. And then they surprised you with an incredible act of generousity. Was that God at  work moving that person to make such a substantial gift toward their fellow human beings? 

 

You prayed for your thrity-two you nephew who is heavy into the drugs. He has got fired from his last two jobs. You expected the worst in this man’s history. But today you got news that he has gone to treatment and wants to become healthy and sober.  You know that this is the prodding of God in this man’s life. God never abandoned him in all is drunken episodes.

 

This Sunday’s reading from Isaiah (chpter 55) is a wonderful gift.

 

Be calm. Be able to be surprised by God and God’s ways.

 

Now, spend some time reflecting  how God has surprised you?  

 

 

 

 

 

 

UNDERSTANDING PROTESTS

As I write this reflection there is a civic memorial in Gander, NFLD, for the victims of  9’11 bombing of the Trade Center in New York. 3000 people lost their lives in tis attack.

The command was issued from the government in Washington that all American airports were to be closed.

 

This is wartime emergency commands. What do you do with all the planes that are actually flying at the very moment the command was given? 

 

This is where the small airport of Gander, NFLD, (small by the standards of other very large airports) took in 38 planes. And he people of NFLD rose to the emergency and took all these people  (7000) into their homes, halls and shelters. We still are amazed how quickly the people of Gander got organized, opened their homes and took in all these ‘airplane’ orphans.

 

Now, twenty -ive years later there is a civic memorial to remember and to share pride in the generousity of the people of Gander and district.

 

But, there is serious protests that the American ambassador to Canada  (Pete Hoekstra)  will be present and speak at the event. Many people do not want the American presence. This is a protest.

 

This is democracy on its feet – carrying signs and making the dissatisfaction very public – and very loud!

 

Now, apply the dynamic of protest to the religion that Jesus called us to live. And what we protesting against?

 

Jesus worked deliberately to get rid of a religion that did all the right moves but did not have gthe correct heart. He criticized all the people who said all these long prayers but hceated the poor and the widows out their money/property.

 

He deliberately went against the grain and ate with the poor and excluded (who you ate with in that culture was always a statement of status and wealth. And Jesus associated with the unwanted ones!

 

Jesus included women in his disciples and coworkers. It is also very significant that the first witness to the resurrection of Jesus was a woman!

 

Jesus was always very critical of the wealthy who did not care about and share their good fortune with the poor and the lower working class of people.

 

Now, use the lens of protest and study the life and gospel of Jesus Christ.

What will you discover?