2012/08/12 - Worshipping the wrong God

Anybody else here wonder Why we have a drought?  Does God make it happen?  Does he just allow it to happen?  This summer, I’ve thought that question a lot – as I’ve watched my garden struggle, my grass wither, and my trees die.  I watch the radar and watch the sky as time after time after time it seems like the rain is just so close you could almost reach out and touch it – then suddenly it turns or just fizzles and dries up.  This week we finally got 'some' rain at our house, but it was so frustrating to watch all the real soaking rain pass south of us ....again.  It would be easy to lose faith – to give up…. Why do I even PRAY to God if he can’t even deliver us some rain!?  “You know, God, you wouldn’t have to work a MAJOR miracle to make it rain today….it’s just right there!”.

At one point, I was kinda ticked off at God.  In some ways, I felt like Elijah in the desert.  OK God – I’m done – I’m just gonna lay down here under this broom tree and die!  I’ve had it!

Now – for this reading to really make sense, you gotta understand what happened right BEFORE it.  In many ways, this story is a mirror image of today… and This may be one of the most interesting stories in the Old Testament.  So – let me give you the reader’s digest version.  (if you want to check it out, read 1 Kings chapters 17-19)

First, Elijah predicts a drought.  Think that has any resemblance to today?  It was even worse, though, because they didn’t get ANY rain – and not even DEW…. For THREE YEARS!  Can you imagine Here after 3 years of drought?  Why would God cause something so devastating?  Because He was trying to fix Israel.  You see - They were worshipping the wrong God.  When queen Jezebel came into power, somehow it became politically correct to worship Baal instead of the Lord.  Ball was supposed to be the God of fertility, but Also he was the god of rain.  So the Lord God decided to SHOW Israel who really has the power – by taking away the one thing that could prove that Baal was not God. 

This is where it gets really interesting – Elijah challenged the prophets of Baal to a duel of sorts.  They built this altar and cut up a bull – stacked a bunch of wood around it – then the challenge was to call down fire from heaven to consume that sacrifice.  It was almost comical – 450 priests of Baal standing around chanting, praying, and such, trying to get Baal to send fire from heaven.  Elijah even taunted them – nothing is happening!  Your god must be on the can!  Maybe he’s sleeping!  Try praying LOUDER!   So, these guys shout even louder and slash themselves with knives…it was a crazy scene.  After several hours, Elijah stepped in and told them to step aside.  Then he had his servants pour WATER on the wood under the sacrifice… three times he had them dump water all over it until there was no way a match could light that it.  Then he prayed and fire came from heaven and consumed not only the burnt offering, but the entire altar of stone!

Would that get YOUR attention?  It got Baal’s prophets’ attention.  It was OBVIOUS that THEY had been worshipping the WRONG GOD.  Elijah had his servants hunt them all down and kill them…. Their just reward for having led the people away from the Lord, God.

To drive home the lesson, Elijah then predicted that rain was coming – and sure enough – the three year drought ended.  Only the Lord, God controls the winds and the rain!  The people were in awe and realized that they had been worshipping the wrong God!

Next queen Jezebel heard that Elijah had killed all of her prophets, so she put out the death warrant for Elijah… so Elijah did what any other self-respecting prophet would do… he ran away… fast….and that’s where today’s reading comes in – Elijah runs into the desert and is fed up!  God – I’ve been serving you – taking all the abuse of people who don’t want to hear what you told me to tell them – and now I’m chased into the desert without food or water  - AND – I’ve got a death threat?!  I’M DONE! 

Great story...but, How does this relate to you and me? 

I’m not one to go around saying that God is using a natural phenomenon like a hurricane or tsunami or tornado to “teach somebody a lesson” – but in this case, it’s pretty clear that he did use a drought to teach a lesson...they were worshipping the wrong God.  So – is He trying to teach us something today?  You know – if the rain missed us only a few times, you might write it off as just the randomness of nature – but after 20-30 times of the rain stopping just short of our house – it seems obvious to me that SOMEBODY  is trying to tell us something.  So what is it?  Could it be that WE are worshipping the wrong God?

Maybe we’re like the people in the Gospel – they’re chasing after Jesus – not because they were wanting to hear his wisdom – but because he fed them free food once (when he fed the 5000) – and there’s every reason to believe that he might just do it again!  They were worshipping their stomachs.

Maybe we’re worshipping our own self-reliance – we don’t always recognize our need for God.  We are always in control.  Heck – even in a drought, we can still water our gardens from our garden hoses…. But this dry,… for this long – we have to realize that the only thing that’s going to keep us from drying to a crisp and burning like Colorado is for rain to come…. And only ONE controls the rain….and it ain’t us.  Perhaps that’s why farmers often have a better faith life.  Maybe it’s easier for them to recognize their total dependence on God.

Let me go back to my thought earlier - “God you wouldn’t have to work a MAJOR miracle to make the rain today….it’s just right there!”.  I think the Holy Spirit spoke to me – because I suddenly realized that EVERY DROP of rain is a miracle.  I think it’s easier for us to recognize that right now as we’re going through the drought… EVERY drop FEELS precious right now.  But whether it falls on a parched field in July or on a rainy day in January – it is GOD who provides the rain – he's the one who makes the molecules and the wind and humidity all come together to form each raindrop.  EVERY rain drop is a miracle… to think otherwise would be to deny that God is LORD of the rain.  Would you agree?  Is every raindrop a miracle?...  A blessing from God?  You don’t have to raise your hands – just answer that to yourself – yes or no.

OK God – so I believe you are Lord of the Rain… so what?  But I felt the Spirit pulling me to think a little deeper.  I couldn’t help but notice that many of us are often tempted to think the same way about human life.  Life is only a blessing when we want it or need it… but now that we understand that every raindrop is a blessing from God – then shouldn’t it be even easier to recognize that every Life is a blessing from God?  Whether we intended or wanted it to happen or not, God must have willed it, or the molecules and chemistry wouldn’t have lined up to allow that little miracle to happen.  God is pro-Choice!!  Don’t walk out on me just yet – let me explain… God has the choice whether or not to send us rain.  God has the choice whether or not to allow conception to occur.  God has the choice when to end my life.  It’s easy for us to be pulled in to the politically correct, so-called wisdom of world which says that WE should have the right to choose whether that life should be allowed to continue.  Our culture today worships individual rights and individual beliefs.  We have been worshipping the wrong God….  

But the good news is that God loves us so much that He will stop at nothing to pull us back!  He would die on the cross… He would feed us with his body and blood…. So I don’t think He would hesitate to make the drought continue for 3 or 4 more years if that’s what it takes to make us realize ... we’ve been worshipping the wrong God.

2012/07/29 ...and there will be Left-Overs.

#Starting today, the last Sunday of the month will be ‘Haiti Sunday’ at both parishes. Part of the reason for this is to keep us all aware that we are all part of a universal church –like Paul talked about in the second reading. You may know that several people from our parish have visited Haiti...in fact, Gary Boice in in Jeremie as we speak. We have camaraderie with our brothers and sisters at the Catholic Church in Dupity, Haiti – the parish is Notre Dame de Pepetyal Sekur – or in English: Our Lady of Perpetual Help. We will remember them with a special petition this Sunday, and hopefully with our prayers the rest of the month. I will try to put an update from Dupity in the bulletin...although I didn’t think of that in time this month. Also – we will have a box for anybody wishing to donate to Haiti - it looks like this. It will be at the main entrance of church. Just one box – and only on the last Sunday of the month. We are NOT going to have a second collection – I don’t want this to be a high-pressure appeal. You all already give so much every time there is an appeal, but this is just an opportunity for those who feel called to help the folks in Haiti.

You may ask, "what will we do with that money?" Glad you asked! We have these brochures at the doors, which explain the many of the ways we are helping and would like to help the people of Dupity. Some of my favorites are: sponsoring students so they can afford to go to school – sponsoring a teacher so and entire CLASS can go to school – and maybe my favorite: the Micro-Lending project where we give capital dollars to women to start and run a small business. This is an awesome project because we’re not GIVING them anything – they have to pay it back with interest. So – we are not only helping them to feed their family, but it builds their own self-esteem by earning their own money for themselves – AND it builds commerce, which is so necessary to start pulling their economy out of the ruin it is in. Enough said – please check out the brochures – and prayerfully consider including Haiti in your monthly giving in the box at the door.

Turning to the Gospel - notice what Jesus told the boy with the loaves and fishes – “bring them to me”. I wonder - what would have happened if he had refused to put his dinner into the hands of Jesus? Obviously - No miracle. Jesus COULD work miracles out of thin air, but he chooses to work through His people. He looks at you and me – at the talents and gifts that HE gave us and he says – “bring them to me.”

Now, many of us would answer like the Apostles did… “What? This little bit? I can’t put THIS in front of so many people! I don’t have enough! I’m not good enough!” And Jesus would say – “it will be more than enough – and there will be left-overs…. Bring it to me.” Only by giving it to Jesus can we experience the miracle. More than that though – only by giving it to Jesus can the people AROUND us experience the miracle.

Let’s put this into more concrete terms. Exactly what ARE we supposed to put into the hands of Jesus?

Most obviously: Our food – just like the boy in the Gospel. Now, many of us would have been tempted to say – I worked for this food, go get your own! If I share mine, there won’t be enough for me! What does Jesus say? “Iit will be more than enough and there will be left-overs– bring it to me.” So we share our food – with the food pantry, with the community meals, with families who are grieving, and with our sick and elderly, and visitors at our door.

We also put our money into the hands of Jesus. Many people still follow the wisdom of the Bible by tithing, where they give 10% of their earnings to God. God and his Church can work miracles with that money, but only if we put it into the hands of Jesus. You might think about that as you put your money in the collection or in the Haiti box at the door...you're putting it into Jesus' hands…. And there will be left-overs.

What about our talents? God has given every one of us a talent that was meant to build up the church. Do we give our talent to Jesus? One example...We’re always in great need of musicians and other ministers for our Liturgy… but where are all the musicians? Many of us sitting here today HAVE THAT KIND OF TALENT – maybe you can sing – maybe you can play an instrument… but most of us would say– I’m not good enough. I can’t put THAT little bit in front of so many people. Jesus says – “it will be more than enough and there will be left-overs… bring it to me.”

What else can we put into Jesus’ hands? This gets tougher: Do we really believe that Jesus can make our families the perfect size? We’ll never know unless we give him our family planning. Jesus say, “bring it to me”.

What about our country? Do we trust God enough to vote for candidates who will uphold HIS principles? Jesus says, “bring it to me”.

What about our most precious commodity: TIME… The most common mantra of today is ‘I’m just too busy’. God gave every one of us 24 hours in a day and 7 days in a week. Do we give him more than 40 minutes on Sunday? Can we spare an hour for Eucharistic adoration? 15 minutes for reading the bible every day? An hour visiting the sick or elderly? We shake our heads and say… ‘I just don’t have time.’ Jesus says, “it will be more than enough and there will be left-overs – bring it to me.”

Now you’re probably thinking, Mike - Do you really believe that? Do you really believe that Jesus can multiply our time? Yes! I know from experience and am usually amazed at how much we can get done if we set our mind to it. Here's a quote to remember: (if you have your little notebook, this might be the one thing to write!)

If we try to do something, we just might fail...but if we never try, we will SURELY fail. Can Jesus multiply our time?...We’ll never know unless we put it into his hands. Every minute we give to him will come back to us 10-fold…. Every talent we put at the service of the Church will bless the people around us.
“And there will be left-overs.”

My Mom this was talking this week about some memories from her childhood, and I came to the conclusion that Grandma, was Jesus. Ok – not exactly Jesus – but close.

Every Sunday they had a huge Sunday lunch as a family – and for supper they’d usually just have left-overs. But with 12 kids in the family, Sunday afternoons were the perfect time for boy friends and girl friends to come over – and as any good German-blooded person would do – she invited them to eat… or more likely she INSISTED that they eat supper with them. Even though Grandma had no idea how many people would be there for supper, there always was enough. She worked her own miracle of the loaves and fishes every Sunday evening.

…and there were always left-overs.

2012/06/24 - Feast of John the Baptist - "The making of a prophet"

Can God speak for himself?  I suppose so...but throughout the bible, he chose to deliver his message to the world through the Prophets.  He formed them himself to be his mouthpiece.

Read that first reading again – “The Lord called me from birth – from my mother’s womb .. he made me a sharpened sword…"  God said, "Through you I will show my glory.”

That reading was actually written by Isaiah, but it fits with many of the prophets – and certainly it fits John the Baptist to a T.  He was conceived in a specific place and time to fulfill a specific purpose: like the reading says – “that God's salvation may reach to the ends of the earth”.

Now – you may not have thought of yourself when you read this reading… most of us don’t see ourselves as prophets.  But we are.  Every one of us from the time we were conceived were given a mission.  God doesn’t create humans for no purpose at all – we ALL have a job to do:  to give glory to God.  We are all called to be prophets:  to stand up for the truth, but more than that, we are called to spread the Love of God.  Do we recognize when we’re supposed to be prophets?  Well.. all the time, I’m sure… but especially when we see injustice.  We have to stand up for the truth and for the rights of those who cannot defend themselves.  We hear that time and time again throughout the scriptures – and that’s what the prophets did.  Unfortunately  people usually didn’t want to hear what they had to say.  There was a lot of opposition to God's word in the world back then, ….but it might be even worse today….

…Especially this year, with the election coming up.  Unfortunately there’s going to be a whole lot of conversation that mixes politics and religion.  Nothing is more certain to get people fired up than that.  Have you ever been on-line and read an article or editorial – or went to a chat room?  For those of you who don’t know what I’m talking about, there are places on-line where stories and opinions are posted, and anybody can reply with their opinions.  It’s amazing some of the things that are said on-line. You know, if you and I are having a face to face conversation, we're more likely to stay somewhat civil – to weigh our words before we speak.. but not on the computer... it's so easy to let my feelings just fly.  It’s kinda scary how quickly most of those conversations get nasty – especially the ones that touch on religion and politics….  I’m serious – it seems anytime someone tries to stand up for the Truth, all the people with a bone to pick show up and start airing their grievances against the church.  It’s to the point that it’s almost predictable that somebody will bring up the Priest scandals, somebody will rant about how we “worship Mary” (which we don’t), somebody will bring up their disagreements on the Church’s teachings about Confession and Divorce and Abortion and it seems everybody knows a priest or a deacon who gave an awful piece of advice once – and they use that as their excuse to leave the church.  And now they feel like they have to justify their decision by bashing the Church….well, the replies keep flying on and on until EVERYbody is ticked off or hurt. 

I rarely read those kind of posts, because I always come away sad…  sad for the people who got slammed by somebody else’s opinion and sad for the people who are obviously hurting from some past experience, because they lash out just trying to hurt and tear down.  They obviously care or at least feel guilty or they wouldn’t even bother opening their mouths.  I think in some ways it’s really a cry for help… but Unfortunately, because THEY have such a nasty reply – people reading it get all worked up and they come back with an even nastier reply. 

When you or I get pulled into a conversation like that, what should we do?  Honestly, I don’t know – but I’ve been praying about that and I have a few guidelines to suggest we follow.  First – we cannot compromise the Truth.  As prophets, No matter how much we want to be somebody’s friend, we cannot condone a false statement.  However – Second – we should try to see it their way before we respond.    Maybe we misunderstood their point?  Ask them questions about why they think that way. We cannot condemn them… we must have empathy for the person, helping to guide them to think of it another way – and then let God reach them through that seed you planted.  We don’t have to have the last word....let God have the last word.  The third thing to remember is that as prophets, our job is not to win arguments – but it is to win the hearts of people for God.  If I let my humanness and pride get in the way and start arguing and judging, people will lose respect for me and won’t hear another word I say.  I would effectively lose my voice like Zechariah…. Nobody will listen to me anymore.  All of us can be more effective in standing up for  the truth if we taste our own words before we spit them out... In other words, think about what response we WANT from the person and consider whether our answer will achieve that – or just make them more angry.  Sometimes silence is the best answer.

Finally, don’t push their buttons... in other words, if you KNOW something will make them angry, don’t go there.  Once they’re angry, they’ve lost the will and patience to hear the rest of what you have to say.  For example, if you know somebody is a vegetarian, don’t start making fun of or condemning vegetarians.  If someone is an athiest, don’t say something like "how can you be such an ignoramous?  If someone leans toward the right or toward the left politically, don’t be making comments about their favorite politicians... stick with the issue at hand...

Yes, there may be times we need to get angry and risk making people angry -- and you could argue that Jesus did that when he cleared the temple.... but... he only cleared the temple once. Most of the time, he was non-condemning and compassionate... and because of the Love that poured from every fiber of his being, people listened, learned, and changed their lives.

You and I are prophets... we are the voice of God in the world and the world NEEDS to hear the Truth from us.  God formed every one of us from the time we were conceived to be his prophets.  Remember what our purpose is?  From the first reading:  “that God's salvation may reach to the ends of the earth”.  Yes, we need to speak out against the injustices... but we need to do it in a way that brings back the lost sheep... not chase them away.  We are not out to win arguments, but to win hearts.