Monday, February 25, 2013

Take a look around us.....

Peter did not get it at first.  Wanted to make some party tents for Jesus and his guests.  Was not wanting to see the bigger picture, the part about the journey to Jerusalem and that stuff....


However we are sometime even more than not getting it; we choose to see only what we want to see a refuse to look at the large picture. In particular how our sins affect the lives of others. Here in Montana we recently voted for a silly anti-immigration law, one that will cause great harm to our brothers and sisters, especially the children.  Just like the laws that allow abortion for whatever reason, we have been led to believe that our own narrow view of life, selfish at times, has no consequence on others.  Not so.  If we take the invitation of the Lord to climb the mountain we will then see how we are all connected and a part of God's divine plan; ALL OF US!  And in the process we will even travel to Jerusalem to perhaps sacrifice our egos, fears, and sinful pride.  If we recognize how our decisions truly affect the lives of others, we might take a step back and re-evaluate our decisions.  

Let's all commit to climbing God's mountain this Lent; it may even transfigure our hearts.  

Monday, February 18, 2013

Who to call?

Let's face it, we all face temptation in our lives.  Some of them become addictions that can be devastating to others as well as ourselves.  Saying no to them is ultimately the best defense.  In the Scriptures for this first Sunday of Holy Lent, we are reminded that when we call upon the name of the Lord, the Lord does not disappoint. And since we receive the incarnate word of God in the Eucharist,  God's word is always near.  Christ is also near in our own brothers and sisters who share the faith.  In our temptations and struggles against sin, we can find support in the community of believers.  Challenging each other when we notice sinful behavior may be one remedy.  In Bozeman there seems to be a great anti-immigrant sentiment.  Due to our misguided voting we have now caused many of our sisters and brothers to live in fear.  We have succumbed to the temptation of power, to misuse our power to add burdens to others.

Lent also calls us to repentance.  Calling on the name of the lord in the Act of Contrition in the Sacrament of Reconciliation also brings us the grace to say "no" to the temptations that we all face. If God's word is near to us, we have nothing to fear.

A Blessed Lent...


Sunday, February 10, 2013

Let's Go Fishing!

I believe most people will follow something that is good.  People followed Jesus because they liked what they experienced and the promise of what could still become.  Jesus was the first to teach them how to "fish", inviting others to follow him.  It is well known that what attracted others to follow the Christian "way" was love.  Our love is manifest in our many unique gifts and talents.  How do we use them to share Christ and attract others to him?  Each gift is God's hand working through us to show God in the world.... Let's go fishing!