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What Journey Are You Planning?

Today’s gospel was one I struggle with. In fact, I read ahead while I was sitting in the pew and am fairly certain I let out an audible and heavy sigh as I read these words (which I know so well):

As he was setting out on a journey, a man ran up, knelt down before him, and asked him, “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus answered him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone. You know the commandments: ‘You shall not kill; you shall not commit adultery; you shall not steal; you shall not bear false witness; you shall not defraud; honor your father and your mother.’” He replied and said to him, “Teacher, all of these I have observed from my youth.” Jesus, looking at him, loved him and said to him, “You are lacking in one thing. Go, sell what you have, and give to [the] poor and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.” At that statement his face fell, and he went away sad, for he had many possessions.

Mark 10:17-22

Every time I read this or hear it at mass, I feel like my face also falls. Does this mean I have to give up everything? EVERYTHING I have worked so hard for? EVERYTHING I enjoy on earth?

The priest at mass gave a beautiful homily, focusing on the journey rather than giving anything up. He asked if we were going on a journey, what three things would we bring and suggested that the three readings today suggest that we should bring wisdom, the word of God as our guidebook, and faith. At the end he asked, when we thought about going on a journey — where were we thinking of going? This struck me (because I really had not thought about it).

When we are planning a vacation, we plan for it, sometimes for months. We read guidebooks or google. We plan what to pack, where to stay, what to see. We put in the work, sacrifice and save (sometimes for months), to make sure the trip of a week or two weeks will be nice. We talk to our friends and family about it (sometimes ad nauseum). At the end of which, we have pictures, souvenirs and memories. Similarly, as we prepare for our retirement, we plan for it. We read books, google or even attend seminars on it. We plan what we will need for hopefully what will be years. We put in the work, sacrifice and save. We talk to our friends and family about it. We even have countdowns and parties to celebrate it. We spend months planning for vacation and years planning for retirement.

But where are we really going and what journey do we really want to be on? Are we as excited about eternal life in our Father’s house, as we are about our upcoming beach vacation or our retirement plan? Are we focused on it and planning for it? Are we putting in the work and willing to sacrifice some things now? Are we talking to our friends and family about it? Would we give up the vacation for it? Would we give up our possessions and the comforts in this world for it? Have we set our sights, our hopes and our focus on God and being with Him?

Personally, I know, it is easy for me to push it to the back of my mind, to put my focus on things on earth, rather than to focus on God, to focus on the week vacation now, rather than eternal life. It seems absolutely silly when I say it out loud. Is it just the distraction of the riches, the technologies, the everyday life, the social media around us? Is it the procrastinator in us, thinking we have time to plan for that later? Is it a lack of faith? Is it choosing this world over God? Or is it a lack of trust that the dream vacation (heaven) is real or really for me?

The Good News is even though we may ignore God, even though at times we may choose this world over Him, God is still waiting for us. He is still waiting to welcome us aboard. He still has a seat reserved for us and an itinerary planned. I know that the eternal life that Jesus has promised is there and I know that it is impossible for me to attain on my own, but that everything is possible for God. (And, yes, that requires me to give up the control I like to have — I cannot get in a car and drive there by whatever path I want on my time schedule). God is ready for me and ready to steer my ship. But … I don’t get to control the timing and God is not going to force us to plan a journey with Him. We have to choose that (and choose that before the ship departs the last time).

Lord,

I know I am still lacking. But I want to choose you over every possession on earth. I want to plan my eternal vacation and retirement with you! Help me to find the courage and faith to follow your plan and not my own. I want your trip tik, your itinerary, not my own. I don’t want to procrastinate any longer. I want to be loud and proud about the journey I am on. I want to put my focus and my efforts into your journey. Grant me the grace and patience that I need. My paradise, my treasure, is with you.

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The Faithful Cry

Have you ever cried out to God?  Have you ever cried out when the world is telling you not to?  When the world is telling you literally and figuratively to shut up?

Today in the gospel Bartimaeus cries out to Jesus.  The world and even the followers of Jesus rebuke him and tell him to shut up.  But he continues to cry out. 

And as he was leaving Jericho with his disciples and a sizable crowd, Bartimaeus, a blind man, the son of Timaeus, sat by the roadside begging. On hearing that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, “Jesus, son of David, have pity on me.” And many rebuked him, telling him to be silent. But he kept calling out all the more, “Son of David, have pity on me.” Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.” So they called the blind man, saying to him, “Take courage; get up, he is calling you.” He threw aside his cloak, sprang up, and came to Jesus. Jesus said to him in reply, “What do you want me to do for you?” The blind man replied to him, “Master, I want to see.” Jesus told him, “Go your way; your faith has saved you.” Immediately he received his sight and followed him on the way.

Mark: 10:46-52

The world continues to tell us to shut up.  Don’t talk about religion lest you offend someone else.  Don’t talk about God lest you be told to shut up, or receive looks or are rebuked.  As a society we have allowed the rebukes to silence us. Sometimes we keep religion separate, on the side, an after-thought, something we think about on Sundays. We hide our faith and our love of God, lest we be judged on earth.

Bartimaeus persisted.  Although he was blind he knew that Jesus was all that he needed.  Jesus was more important than what others in the world thought.  I have also been blind.  I go through life often blinded by the world around me. I go to church. I read the bible. I say some prayers, but do I see? I cry out in the quiet of my heart, when I have time, when I get around to it, when the world is not otherwise distracting me or silencing me. But, do I hear? Do I listen? My cry is so quiet, that even I don’t always hear it. (But God does.)

Jesus, son of David, have pity on me.

Jesus, son of David, have pity on me!

JESUS, SON OF DAVID, HAVE PITY ON ME!

Open my eyes so that I see you. Open my eyes so that I see you in others. Open my eyes so I can focus on what matters and what you call me to be, not what the world is shouting around me. Open my ears and my heart, so that I may hear you… and follow.

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A house divided: what side are you on?

A house divided cannot stand.  I have heard this saying many times.  But I am not sure I ever realized that it came from the Bible. Today as I read the Gospel reading, and then re-read it and re-read it again, I struggled to understand what Jesus was saying.

The scribes who had come from Jerusalem said, “He is possessed by Beelzebul,”* and “By the prince of demons he drives out demons.”

Summoning them, he began to speak to them in parables, “How can Satan drive out Satan? If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. And if a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand. And if Satan has risen up against himself and is divided, he cannot stand; that is the end of him. But no one can enter a strong man’s house to plunder his property unless he first ties up the strong man. Then he can plunder his house.

Mark 3:22-27

We are a nation divided. Deeply divided. How can we stand?

Currently we do not stand. We do not stand together. We do not stand at all.  We cower behind social media.  We attack children who wear red hats and call them racists; we attack infants in their mothers’  wombs and call those who oppose it sexist.  We build walls that only divide us.  We oppose the death penalty for even our most heinous criminals but celebrate murder of our most innocent victims.  A house divided will not stand…  but are we standing now?

My first thought when I heard this passage, was a call to unity.  We must come together as a country, or we will fall.

But as I read the full passage, Jesus compares the kingdom and house to Satan.  At the end of the day, I am not sure it is necessarily about coming together as a country, although that would be a nice by-product.  It is about coming together as God’s people.  Kingdoms fall.  Houses fall.  These are human creations.  And when Satan gets a hold of them, Satan causes division.  Satan does not fight himself.  Satan will not drive himself out.  He will not go against himself.  Only God can defeat Satan.  Only God can drive him out.

But God gave us free will.  We can choose Satan.  We can choose division.  We can stay quiet and not stand.  We can choose not to oppose what we know to be wrong.  We can choose to take our fight to social media, instead of taking our plight to God.  We can be weak and allow Satan to plunder our house, plunder our country, because we are not strong enough, on our own, to stop him.  Or we can choose God.  God has the power to bind Satan.  God has the power to unite.  God and only God has the power to save, to destroy Satan, to destroy the division that Satan creates.  To heal our country.  But we have to choose.  God will not stop us from choosing Satan.  We have to choose.

I choose you God!  I am not strong enough to defeat Satan.  I am not strong enough to fix the division that permeates our country.  I need your help.  I want your help.  We are weak.  As a country, we are lost.  Guide us.  Lead us.  Show us your way.  Help our leaders find your way.  Help each of us, leader or not, seek you.  Help us come together united as your children. You are the Way, the Truth and the Life.  You are my Way, my Truth and my Life.   I reject Satan.  I choose you!

 

 

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Let me cling no more!

Oh.  Today the Bible opened and hit me right where I feel most vulnerable.  Jesus’ words expose my weakness.

So the Pharisees and scribes questioned him, “Why do your disciples not follow the tradition of the elders but instead eat a meal with unclean hands?”  He responded, “Well did Isaiah prophesy about you hypocrites, as it is written: ‘This people honors me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me;  In vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines human precepts.’  You disregard God’s commandment but cling to human tradition.”

Mark 7: 5-8

“You disregard God’s commandment but cling to human tradition.”  It is amazing that 2000 years later Jesus’ words are still spot on.  Very few things survive the test of time or maintain their relevancy.  But God’s words do.  I should be in awe by this — but in my head my response is “Of course God’s words are still good.”  And my second thought is, why haven’t we learned this by now.

Jesus has hit right on the head where many of my failings start and where I sometimes get lost — following human tradition, following human ways.  It is easier to see and follow human rule.  God’s rules are not so easy and there isn’t always the immediate response to know when we are on the right path.  As humans though we receive money and praise and facebook likes when we have done “good” under human standards.

Wouldn’t it be great if God could send us a thumbs up picture when we do good.  And a quick thumbs down when we do wrong — or even better a big thumbs down right before we do wrong.

But as I think about it…  He kind of does.  It just may not be that blatant.  But I feel the guilt.  It is just easier to ignore.  Particularly when there is human reward.  Oh I am stupid.  I know that God’s reward is far greater.  But I do it time and again.

My hope in today’s verse, is that I am not alone.  For 2000 years this has been an issue.  I need God’s grace and forgiveness, just like everyone who has come before me.

Father,

I am a sinner.  I have disregarded you and your commandments more times than I can count.  Help me to fix my eyes on you.  Help me fix my eyes on the reward in heaven.  Help me to live as you want — not as the human world rewards.  Help me to cling no more to human traditions and human ways.  Help me put my heart into my prayers and into following you so they are not just words on my lips.  I need your grace.  I need your forgiveness.  Forgive me, Father.

 

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“It is I”

Wouldn’t it be great if we could actually see what is right in front of us?  Today, the Bible opened in Mark:

Then he made his disciples get into the boat and precede him to the other side toward Bethsaida,* while he dismissed the crowd.  And when he had taken leave of them, he went off to the mountain to pray.  When it was evening, the boat was far out on the sea and he was alone on shore.  Then he saw that they were tossed about while rowing, for the wind was against them. About the fourth watch of the night, he came toward them walking on the sea.  He meant to pass by them.  But when they saw him walking on the sea, they thought it was a ghost and cried out.  They had all seen him and were terrified. But at once he spoke with them, “Take courage, it is I, do not be afraid!”  He got into the boat with them and the wind died down. They were [completely] astounded.  They had not understood the incident of the loaves.  On the contrary, their hearts were hardened.

Mark 6:45-52

Jesus had just fed the 5,000 with 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish, but His disciples had not fully understood.  They still did not grasp who He was.  He walked on water and they were afraid, thought he was a ghost.  They did not understand.  Today it is easy to think how much more obvious could it be.  But He had to tell them “it is I”.

How many times in my life is it obvious.  How many times is God at work in our lives and we ignore it, look the other way or take credit for it ourselves.  God is calling out to us and telling us, It is I.  He is here.  Do not be afraid.

God,

Help me to see you!  Help me to know your presence. Thank you for taking care of me and those around me.