Epiphany

          The magi are seeking Truth.  Am I seeking the Truth and finding it in Jesus Christ?  Does this Truth lead me to a greater humility?  What road am I on?  How deep have my travels been?  Read on as M. Rebecca opens up these questions further for us to ponder.  

                                                                                                                                                                                                

          At Christmas we had the image of four wise women.  One of them was St Catherine with her hands open and empty - ready to receive the Baby Jesus when he came into the world.  His joy and excitement was uncontainable as he was determined to be held and carried by Catherine.  Today we have the image of 3 wise men coming to the Baby Jesus with their hands full - carrying gifts for their newborn King.  We can continue the image of Jesus trying to wiggle out of Mary’s lap to receive, not just the gifts but more importantly, the magi themselves.  Their joy and excitement must have been uncontainable as they hoped to be received by the Jesus Christ.

            Tradition has it that the names of these 3 magi were Balthasar, Casper, and Melchior, but C K Chesterton said they could have just as easily been Plato, Pythagoras, and Confucius!  The 3 magi represent all those who seek Truth and desire wisdom.  The question is, can we be included as one of these magi?  What do we search for with energy, focus, and zeal?  It is a trickier question than first appears.  Do I really seek the naked Truth and all its challenges and paradoxes?  Or do I seek ‘my truth’ which can be “a cut and paste” version, conveniently tailored to my way of living.  If looking at Truth in the face, if seeing our God as a helpless infant, does not challenge me to better living…I may need to ponder again what it is I truly seek.

The Nagging Widow: A Model for Prayer

M. Rebecca creatively interprets the first reading and the Gospel for the 29th Sunday in Ordinary time.  It boils down to this: what we pray for we must desire passionately and that we must pray.  The nagging woman in the Gospel was passionately seeking justice and truth and she persisted in her prayer.      

                                                                                                                                                                                   M. Rebecca    
                                                                                                                                                                                  October 20, 2013

 Ex 17:8-13; Lk 18:1-8

            Today’s first reading gives a wonderful image of intercessory prayer.  At first glance we can rejoice with how we can support each other in and through our prayers.  But as we look closer we realize that (Hey!) Moses’ prayer is that his enemies be slaughtered and “mowed down”!   We need to be cautious in how we interpret this model that Exodus presents, especially in today’s world with so much violence and terrorism associated with religious beliefs…or more accurately ‘misbeliefs”.  (Unfortunately, even our own Christian heritage has had its periods of violence.)   If taken literally, Moses’ model of prayer is dangerous.  So let us take a further look. 

Setting Fire to the Human Heart

The reading for the 27th Sunday in Ordinary time speak of Faith.  Our faith in Jesus will set our hearts on fire if we allow it.

 Habakkuk 1: 2-3; 2:24                                                                                               Sr. Carol Dvorak

2 Timothy 1: 6-8; 13-14

Luke 17: 5-10

Looking at all three readings for today’s Eucharist, it’s pretty evident that the theme is faith!  As I read and pondered these readings, two things jumped out at me.  One was the Gospel’s mustard seed parable.  Did you ever think of Jesus as represented by a mustard seed?  St. Ambrose wrote a beautiful passage asking if “we would know Christ the seed and Christ the sown? 

The Rich Man and Lazurus

Being rich isn't what got the rich man in trouble after all Abraham was fabulously rich.  Abraham was known for his care of others and his rich hospitality.  The rich man didn't share, didn't even notice a man in real need.




Amos 6:1a, 4-7; Ps 146:7, 8-9.9-10; Timothy 6:11-16, Luke 16:19-31                         Sr. Christine Reinhart

            In the gospel of the parable of the rich man and Lazarus, Luke describes the extremes of the two men. The rich man is very richly dressed in purple, fine linen and feasting every day magnificently, while the poor man is covered with sores, desperately hungry and lying at the rich man’s door. Only the dogs which were considered unclean gave him relief.

Shocking Parables

M. Rebecca uses this challenging parable to highlight where real treasure in our lives are found.  We are not compelled to live in the ways of the world but called to be ambitious about heavenly things.
                                                                                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                                                                              M. Rebecca
Lk 16:1-13

            I remember as a child hearing the story of Robin Hood and even at that age I wondered why he would be considered a hero for anyone.  He stole from the rich to give to the poor.   Without the vocabulary in those early years, what I was feeling and questioning was “Does the end justify the means?”   Is doing something wrong for a good purpose make it right?  It seems Jesus is saying yes – it is okay to use dishonest wealthy to your advantage…and even commends the steward for his prudence.

            Parables are meant to shock or puzzle us in order to make us think differently and deeply.