Seventh Sunday of Ordinary Time

title: Reflection of Home.
date:circa spring 2005
location: New York, New York

From Today's Gospel:
"Why are you thinking such things in your hearts?
Which is easier, to say to the paralytic,
'Your sins are forgiven,'
or to say, 'Rise, pick up your mat and walk?'
But that you may know
that the Son of Man has authority to forgive sins on earth"
—he said to the paralytic,
"I say to you, rise, pick up your mat, and go home."
He rose, picked up his mat at once,
and went away in the sight of everyone.

commentary:
How many of us have been "healed" by God in our lives? Or how many of us have had a miraculous experience of God in our lives? Or even simpler, how many of us remember the time, the day, the retreat, the event when God became real to us?

Now, think of how we responded. Or better yet, what did God ask us to do in response. Today's gospel is a reminder of what God truly wants of us. Nothing special. All he wants us to do is "go home."

I took this picture during the Spring of 2005, when I was dealing with the end of a long-term relationship. I remember looking up at the clouds that day, amidst the busy urban streets of New York City - looking at all the buildings, all the shops, all the business, all the worldliness and asking God "is there not more to life than this?" His response in my heart: "There is. Go home. Long for home. Long for heaven."

So sisters and brothers, rise, pick up your mats, and go home.

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6th Sunday of Ordinary Time

title: balance.
date: circa summer 2007.
location: some restaurant in santa cruz.

From today's Readings:
Brothers and sisters,Whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do,do everything for the glory of God. Avoid giving offense, whether to the Jews or Greeks or the church of God,just as I try to please everyone in every way,not seeking my own benefit but that of the many,that they may be saved.Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.

Commentary:

“Happiness is not a matter of intensity but of balance, order, rhythm and harmony.” - Thomas Merton

bah. balance is tough... but even when you think you are gonna become unbalanced or lose control. He makes it work... even what might seem impossible, becomes possible through Him. What is the best way to achieve balance. Have a center. A focus. An apex, source, summit. We are reminded of this call to balance by today's second reading, when St. Paul says, "whatever you do,do everything for the glory of God." Focus on this and the rest will follow. AMDG brothers and sisters.

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Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time

title: freedom
date: 02.17.2008
location: st. catherine of siena parish hall [lenten recollection]

From Today's Second Reading:
Although I am free in regard to all,
I have made myself a slave to all
so as to win over as many as possible.
To the weak I became weak, to win over the weak.
I have become all things to all, to save at least some.
All this I do for the sake of the gospel,
so that I too may have a share in it.

commentary: [I apologize for the momentary hiatus last week, I was in the Philippines on account of my grandmother receiving her eternal reward]

I am humbled always by the honesty of people when they come to retreats or recollections. This photo was taken last year during the lenten recollection we had. It was a small/short day for the youth and young adults to take a "break" from the world, and reflect more on their lives during the season of Lent. This picture was from an activity where every person wrote down something that they wanted from God on one side of a card and something that was keeping them from accomplishing that, or something they wanted to get away from on the other side. The author of this card is a mystery to me, but to this day I still have it in my possession - I actually have all the cards from that day still, and often find myself flipping through them and praying for the people who wrote them. They are reminders of the struggles and joys, and truly the hope that the people of God have, and they allow me to meditate on themes such as love, loneliness, and in this case freedom.

The notion of freedom is something that we all seem to want, but often times we don't know what that means, what it is that we really want. St. Paul gives us a different perspective of that in today's reading. He reminds us of the great responsibility and power in our freedom. "Although I am free in regard to all, I have made myself a slave to all so as to win over as many as possible." It echoes the great paradox of God who is all free and all-powerful, yet still, he slaved himself to us. What a beautiful a thing. What a challenge. What will you do with your freedom?

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