Today, our Gospel comes to us from Luke, chapter 12, verses 13 to 21, a passage we commonly known as the Parable of the Rich Fool.

The scene opens with a man in the crowd, interrupting Jesus’ teaching. What’s on his mind? Not a profound spiritual question, but a family dispute over money. “Teacher,” he says, almost demanding, “tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.” Think about that for a moment. How often do we, too, approach God with our earthly concerns, our material desires, before we ever truly consider what He might genuinely desire for us?

Jesus, in His infinite wisdom, sees past the immediate request to the deeper spiritual complaint. He wisely refuses to be drawn into a worldly squabble, reminding the man, and us, “Man, who appointed me a judge or an arbiter between you?” Then, pivoting from that specific incident to a universal truth, He delivers a profound warning: “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.”

This isn’t merely a warning against outright materialism, against being a collector. It’s caution against a far more subtle and pervasive mindset. It’s a call to vigilance, to be on our guard against the sinister creep of materialism that can subtly, almost invisibly, reorder our priorities. Here in 2025, we are immersed in a culture that incessantly whispers, and often shouts, the exact opposite message: “Life does consist in an abundance of possessions. Happiness is found in more, in newer, in shinier things.”

To truly drive this point home, Jesus tells the parable of the rich man. His land yields an abundant harvest—a clear blessing from God, let’s be clear. But how does this rich man respond to such a gift? His first thought, and indeed his only thought in the parable, is entirely self-centered: “What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.” His solution is simple, logical, and entirely focused on one thing: accumulation. Tear down the old barns, build bigger ones, store all his surplus grain. And then comes the chilling self-congratulation, spoken to himself: “You have plenty of grain laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.”

Think about this man for a moment. He’s not depicted as overtly evil. He hasn’t stolen or defrauded anyone. He’s just a man who worked his land, and it prospered. Yet, Jesus calls him a “fool.” Why? Because in all his meticulous planning, in all his foresight regarding his earthly goods, he has completely forgotten the ultimate reality: the brevity and fragility of life, and the ultimate accountability to God. (I have never seen a U-Haul behind a hearse) He makes no mention of sharing his abundance, of using his blessing for the good of others, or even of acknowledging the divine source of his prosperity. His entire universe revolves around “I” and “my.”

In our own time, we see this played out in countless ways. The relentless pursuit of career advancement at all costs, the accumulation of designer goods, the pressure to always have the latest technology, the constant striving for a larger house or a more impressive car. We meticulously plan our retirements, our investments, our vacations – and to a degree, this is prudent. But like the rich fool, do we sometimes plan as if life on this earth is an end in itself? Do we accumulate, genuinely believing that our security and happiness can be found solely in what we possess?

Then comes the stark revelation, the punch that cuts through all his grand plans: “But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’” All his careful planning, all his grand intentions for a life of ease, are instantly, utterly, rendered meaningless. His wealth, so painstakingly gathered, is now utterly useless to him.

This, my friends, is the timeless truth that cuts through the noise of 2025. We live in an age of unprecedented material comfort for many, yet puzzlingly, also an age of profound anxiety. We are constantly bombarded with messages that equate our worth with our net worth, our happiness with our possessions. But Jesus reminds us, with uncompromising clarity, that this is a dangerous illusion. Our lives are not our own; our time on this earth is a gift, and it is finite.

The parable concludes with the Lord’s powerful summary: “This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich toward God.”

So, what does it mean, then, to be “rich toward God”? It means understanding that true wealth isn’t measured in earthly currency, but in spiritual currency. It means recognizing that everything we have—our talents, our resources, our time—is a gift to be stewarded, not hoarded. It means using our blessings to serve God and neighbor, to truly build up His kingdom here on earth. It means prioritizing compassion over consumption, generosity over greed, and eternal values over ephemeral trends.

As Dominicans, we are called to contemplate the truth and to preach it. The truth revealed in this parable is challenging, yes, but profoundly liberating. It frees us from the tyranny of endless acquisition and the gnawing fear of not having enough. It calls us, each one of us, to examine our hearts: What are we truly building our lives upon? Is it the shifting sands of material possessions, or the firm foundation of faith and good works?

Let us pray, then, for the grace to be truly rich toward God. To use the gifts, He has so abundantly given us, not for our own selfish indulgence, but for His glory and for the good of our brothers and sisters. For in so doing, we lay up treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in and steal. And that, my friends, is the only true and lasting security.

Amen.

Today my brothers and sisters in Christ, we come together as the church to commemorate the memorials of three siblings, these being Sts Martha, Mary and Lazarus.

Mary, Martha, and Lazarus were very close friends with our Lord Jesus and were also his followers. Together they hosted Jesus in their home on more than one occasion. Yet, on one such visit from Jesus, they Martha and Mary chose two very different actions, and the way that Jesus reacted to their choices is a very valuable lesson for us today. Let’s review the story (Luke 10:38-42):

Martha is worried

Martha was rushing around here and there, serving and doing her best to make everything good enough for their beloved friend and guest. And where was Mary when Martha needed a hand? She chose to sit at Jesus’ feet, listening to his words as He spoke.

It’s pretty easy to imagine how that made Martha feel. I can imagine she felt very Irritated,  and  deeply frustrated, perhaps even resentful. Why should she be doing all the work? Wasn’t it only right for Mary to be helping out also? In fact, Martha felt so justified in her indignation that she went and talked to Jesus about it. “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore tell her to help me,” she said to Him.

But, instead of backing her up in her demand, Jesus rebuked her! “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.”

This must have felt like a slap in the face for Martha from her dearest friend and Lord. Here she was, doing everything in her power to be hospitable and make it good for him whilst Mary just sits there, and what she was doing was the right thing?

Does this situation Sound familiar at all?

Getting our priorities right

It can become all too easy for us to get totally wrapped up in all the things we need to do and the things that need to be accomplished that we lose sight of what the most important thing actually is. Isn’t it possible that we can get too wrapped up in the cares of life? Jesus makes this even more clear in the parable He told about the sower. “He who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the word, and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful.” Matthew 13:22.

The highest priority in our lives needs to be choosing the good part, as Mary did: to learn of Jesus so that we can become like Him. It’s a love and devotion to Him that makes everything else of secondary importance. It is to seek the riches of wisdom and understanding that are in Him. If we don’t do this, how can we follow Him, how can we be His disciples? A disciple learns of the Master.

This is not an excuse to be lazy, and not take responsibility for anything. That is another trap entirely. We are to be doers of the Word, and not hearers only! (James 1:22) But what we do has to be led by the Spirit, whose voice we learn to hear by choosing the good part. There is no blessing in running our own lives based on our human understanding of what is important. Mary understood that she needed to learn more of her Master and to seek the things that have eternal value. It’s when we do that that we can be a blessing, because then all of our works are Spirit-driven. Love causes us to listen, to learn, and to keep His commandments. (1 John 5:3)

We need to take heed to yourself.

We can be in  severe danger of falling into the same trap that Martha fell into. We can be so troubled by what we perceive as negative behaviour in other people, and become so self-righteous in our own good works that we start to judge others for not doing the same as what we are doing. Satan is the one who is behind these kinds of thoughts. He whispers to us lies and accusations, and deceitfulness,  trying to create as much conflict and strife for us as he  possibly can muster up. His only aim is to lead people as far in the opposite direction of doing good works, as he possibly can – his mission is to lead us away from our Lord Jesus. To listen to him and agree with satan leads to all kinds of unrest and trouble and worry. We need to slam the door on his deceitfulness!

“Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you,” it’s written in 1 Timothy 4:16. Only that will do us any good in life. The wrong choice that Martha made wasn’t that she was serving and doing good. It was that in her work she had demands and criticism on Mary, rather than doing what Jesus taught herself! If we are living before the face of God, we have no cause to look around at what others are doing and feel that we have a right to pass judgement on them. We live in obedience to the Spirit’s promptings in our own lives, and what others do is none of our business. We don’t know how He is leading others.

Let’s rise above all the noise and all the unholy pursuits of this world and seek those things which have true eternal value. Like Mary, let’s find that fellowship with our Lord and Master and with those who follow Him so that we can learn of Him and become like Him. Through the Word of God, fellowship, and prayer we become rich in our spirit, and God will give us everything we need in abundance.

 “Finally, dearest brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.” Philippians 4:8.

Let us pray:

Saints Martha, Mary, and Lazarus, you were close friends of Jesus and welcomed him into your home. Please pray for us, that we may grow in faith, hope, and love, and that we may be open to Jesus’ presence in our lives. May we be inspired by your example to serve others, to listen to God’s ord, and to experience the joy of spiritual renewal.

 Amen.”

Grace, mercy, and peace be with you all, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Today, as we gather for this 17th Sunday in Ordinary Time, our readings invite us into a profound reflection on prayer, persistence, and the boundless generosity of our God. We hear the familiar story of Abraham bargaining with God in Genesis, the spiritual liberation recounted in Colossians, and most powerfully, Jesus teaching his disciples how to pray in Luke’s Gospel. As your Dominican priest, a son of St. Dominic, who himself was steeped in prayer and preaching, these readings strike deeply at the heart of our spiritual lives.

But let’s be honest. For many of us, hearing these ancient texts might lead to a natural question: “What does this mean for us, some 2,000 years after it was written? How does this apply to my life, right here, right now, in San Antonio, Texas, in 2025?”

Let’s begin with Luke’s Gospel. The disciples ask Jesus, “Lord, teach us to pray.” And Jesus gives them what we now call the Our Father. This isn’t just a formula; it’s a blueprint for relationship. He then tells them parables – the persistent friend knocking at midnight, and the father who gives good gifts to his children. “Ask and you will receive; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.”

This teaching on prayer isn’t about manipulating God, or about God being reluctant. Rather, it reveals the nature of a loving Father who wants to give us good things. The persistence isn’t for God’s benefit, but for ours. It trains us in humility, in dependence, in faith. It teaches us to discern what is truly good, and to trust that God’s answer is always for our ultimate well-being, even if it’s not exactly what we initially asked for.

Consider Abraham, boldly negotiating with God for the righteous in Sodom. This is not irreverence; it is profound intimacy. Abraham knows God’s justice, but he also trusts in God’s mercy and willingness to listen to the cries of His servant. This same God, the God of Abraham, is the God who listens to us, His children. This ancient story teaches us that our prayers, even when they seem audacious, are welcomed by a God who desires conversation and relationship.

And then, Colossians reminds us that we have been “buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead.” It declares, “and even when you were dead in transgressions… he brought you to life with him, having forgiven us all our transgressions.” This is the ultimate answer to our prayers, the ultimate good gift: redemption, forgiveness, and new life in Christ. This radical act of God’s love underpins all our petitions; it reminds us that we approach a God who has already given us everything.

So, what does this mean for us, here in 2025?

First, in a society inundated with instant gratification, these readings call us to cultivate the virtue of patience and persistence in our spiritual lives. We live in a world of quick fixes, where we expect immediate responses to our texts, emails, and online orders. Prayer is not a vending machine. It’s a relationship that deepens over time, through consistent effort, through showing up even when we don’t feel like it, and through trusting in God’s timing, not our own. Are we as persistent in our prayer life as we are in pursuing our earthly desires? Do we give God the same time and attention we give our social media feeds?

Second, these readings challenge us to re-examine the content of our prayers. Jesus teaches us to pray for daily bread, for forgiveness, for deliverance from evil, and for the coming of God’s Kingdom. This is not just about personal needs, but about alignment with God’s will, about seeking justice, mercy, and the spread of His reign on earth. In a world often marked by self-interest and division, our prayers should be expansive, embracing our families, our community, our nation, and indeed, the entire world. Do we pray for the conversion of hearts, for an end to violence, for peace in our city and across the globe, for those struggling with mental health, for the marginalized and the forgotten?

Third, these passages remind us of God’s unfathomable generosity in an often-cynical world. We are living in times of economic uncertainty, social unrest, and rapid change. It’s easy to become disheartened, to feel that resources are scarce, or that goodwill is in short supply. Yet, our God is the God of superabundance. He gives us the Holy Spirit, the ultimate good gift. He has already given us His Son. If God has given us these immeasurable gifts, how much more will He listen to our earnest petitions for what is good and necessary? This truth should infuse our lives with hope and inspire us to be generous ourselves, reflecting God’s giving nature to those around us.

As a community, St. Michael’s, let us take these lessons to heart. Let us pray with persistence, not as if we are twisting God’s arm, but as a demonstration of our faith and trust. Let us broaden the scope of our prayers beyond ourselves, interceding for a world desperately in need of God’s light and love. And let us always remember the boundless generosity of our Father, who delights in giving good gifts to His children.

For when we ask, seek, and knock with a sincere heart, God always answers, always opens, always gives. And the greatest gift He gives us is more of Himself.

May God bless you all.

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Y’all………..Here lately there has been a lot of folks saying things like, “Play stupid games, win stupid prizes,” and “Hang with the dogs, yer gonna get fleas.”  And ya know, that sentiment has been around since time began.  Long about 406 BC, Euripides said, “Every man is like the company he is wont to keep.”  Aesop, that teller of fantastic fables said, “A man is known by the company he keeps.”  And from the Book of Proverbs we have, “He that walketh with wise [men] shall be wise. (Prov 13:20).  And then, from good ol’ Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians, “Do not be deceived: ‘Bad company corrupts good morals.” (1 Cor. 15:33)

So who ya hangin’ with?   I know in my heart of hearts that all of us want to be accepted by those around us.  It’s just who we are, and we are a social bunch.  I figure that’s why the Social Media industry is a multi-billion dollar thing.  But how far are we willing to go to be a part of this or that group?  Whatcha gotta do to be accepted into the “it” group, the most popular clique?

And maybe the group said to you, “Well, this is what you gotta do to be accepted,” and gave you a list of things you needed to work on. And, surprising as it may be, even God is like that.  It’s a pretty rare thing for me to skip the Gospel reading appointed for the day and jump into the Psalm, but today we are experiencing that rare thing and so here we are.  Today we get to get up close and personal with Psalm 15, written by everyone’s favorite shepherd turned king, David. 

A psalm of David

LORD, who may abide in your tent?^*

Who may dwell on your holy mountain?^*

Whoever walks without blame,

doing what is right, speaking truth from the heart;
Who does not slander with his tongue, does no harm to a friend, never defames a neighbor;
Who disdains the wicked, but honors those who fear the LORD;
Who keeps an oath despite the cost,
Who lends no money at interest, accepts no bribe against the innocent. Whoever acts like this shall never be shaken.

It takes no brilliant mind (which is a good thing, coz we know I ain’t that smart) to figure out what good ol’ Dave is sayin’ to us here.  If you wanna hang out in God’s tent/house/mansion/before the throne, then you gotta “straighten up and fly right,” as my momma used to say.  David explores the qualities of someone worthy to dwell in God’s presence. He outlines a path of integrity, truthfulness, and righteous conduct, emphasizing actions like speaking truthfully, treating neighbors well, and upholding commitments. Ultimately, he suggests that those who live by these principles will be steadfast and secure in their relationship with God, not easily moved by life’s challenges.

From the Hebrew scriptures to the Epistles we are told, over and over again, just how we should conduct ourselves.  We are taught in Paul’s letter to the Galatians that  things like love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control are the fruits of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23). 

And from his letter to the Ephesians: Brothers and sisters:  Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with which you were sealed for the day of redemption.  All bitterness, fury, anger, shouting, and reviling must be removed from you, along with all malice.
And be kind to one another, compassionate, forgiving one another as God has forgiven you in Christ.  So be imitators of God, as beloved children, and live in love, as Christ loved us and handed himself over for us as a sacrificial offering to God for a fragrant aroma.  (Eph 4:30—5:2)

I know, believe me do I know, in this age and period in our lives, how very difficult this is.  But we must persevere.  In the past few weeks, how many of us have said/posted/read/agreed with things that would most definitely not be considered Christ-like?   How many of us have let ourselves believe political statements that get in the way of acting like the “little Christ” we are called to be?  How many of us support, often  vehemently, opinions  and people are the antithesis of everything a Christian is called to be?  How many of us hang out with those kinda people?

It is up to us to see the Jesus in everyone, regardless of political belief, race, creed, color, sexual orientation, nationality, legal status, or anything thing else that can be used to divide us.  It is our job/duty/responsibility to remember that we are all of us HIS people, the sheep of HIS pasture, and we have far more in common than we do the things that divide us, if we truly identify as HIS.  We are to remain focused on the one thing that really matters in this world and the next:  Spreading and sharing the love of and for our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.   We are called to love and to serve the Lord with gladness and singleness of heart.  We are called to care of each other, regardless of our politics.  We are commanded to ‘bless those who persecute us’ and we are called to ‘pray for our enemies.’  We are called to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, house the homeless. (Matthew 25:31-46). 

It’s been said, “When people show you who they are, believe them,”  and “What you see is what you get.”

What do folks see when they look at you?  Who are you showing folks that you are?  And so, I gotta ask, who ya hangin’ with?

Amen

Today’s Gospel reading, Luke 10:25-37, presents us with one of the most powerful and
enduring parables Jesus ever told: the story of the Good Samaritan. As we reflect on
this passage here at St. Michael’s Catholic Parish, a part of the Unified Old Catholic
Church, let us consider how this ancient narrative speaks profoundly to our lives in
today’s complex world.
The passage begins with a seemingly innocent question from a lawyer: “Teacher, what
shall I do to inherit eternal life?” It’s a question many of us might ask, seeking the surest
path to salvation. Jesus, ever the master teacher, turns the question back to the lawyer,
“What is written in the law? How do you read?” The lawyer correctly answers, quoting
Deuteronomy and Leviticus: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and
with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor
as yourself.”
“You have answered correctly,” Jesus affirms. “Do this, and you will live.” But the lawyer,
perhaps wanting to justify himself, or to find a loophole, presses further: “And who is my
neighbor?”
This is the pivotal question, and it’s as relevant today as it was two thousand years ago.
In a world increasingly defined by divisions – political, social, economic, racial, and
religious – the question of “who is my neighbor?” is at the forefront of many hearts. Do
we limit our definition of “neighbor” to those who look like us, think like us, or worship
like us?
To answer this, Jesus tells the parable. A man is going down from Jerusalem to Jericho,
a dangerous road prone to robbers. He is attacked, stripped, beaten, and left half-dead.
Along comes a priest, a man of God, whose duty it would seem, is to show compassion.
But he passes by on the other side. Then a Levite, another religious official, also passes
by on the other side. Perhaps they feared ritual impurity, or perhaps they simply didn’t
want to get involved. Their priorities, whatever they were, overshadowed the immediate
human need before them.
But then, a Samaritan appears. Now, it’s crucial to remember the context: Samaritans
and Jews were bitter enemies. They despised each other. Yet, it is this Samaritan, this
outsider, this “other,” who sees the wounded man and is “moved with compassion.” He
doesn’t ask about man’s religion, his ethnicity, or his social status. He doesn’t debate
whether the man is truly his “neighbor.” He simply acts.
He bandages the man’s wounds, pouring oil and wine on them – acts of healing and
comfort. He puts the man on his own animal, takes him to an inn, and cares for him.
The next day, he gives the innkeeper two denarii, a significant sum, and tells him, “Take
care of him; and whatever more you spend, I will repay you when I come back.”

After telling this story, Jesus asks the lawyer, “Which of these three, do you think,
proved neighbor to the man who fell among robbers?” The lawyer, unable to even utter
the word “Samaritan,” admits, “The one who showed mercy to him.” And Jesus’ final
instruction echoes through the ages: “Go and do likewise.”
What does this profound story tell us about today’s world?
First, it redefines “neighbor.” Our neighbor is not just the person next door, or in our
pew, or in our social circle. Our neighbor is anyone, anywhere, who is in need. It
challenges us to look beyond the labels, the prejudices, and the divisions that humanity
constantly creates. In a world of increasing global connectivity, our “neighborhood” has
expanded dramatically. News of suffering, injustice, and poverty reaches us from every
corner of the globe. The parable compels us to consider how we respond to these
distant cries, as well as to the needs right in front of us.
Second, it calls us to radical compassion. The Samaritan didn’t just feel bad for the
man; he acted. Compassion moved him to inconvenience himself, to spend his
resources, and to risk his own safety. In a society that can often encourage
individualism and self-preservation, Jesus calls us to a selfless love that prioritizes the
well-being of others, even strangers, even enemies. This is particularly poignant today,
when many are quick to judge or dismiss those in need, rather than extending a helping
hand.
Third, it challenges our own prejudices. The priest and the Levite, figures of religious
authority, failed. The despised Samaritan excelled. This reminds us that true
righteousness is not found in religious titles, or in strict adherence to ritual, but in the
practical outworking of love and mercy. It pushes us to confront our own biases and ask
ourselves if we, like the priest and Levite, are sometimes passing by those in need
because of ingrained prejudices or a fear of stepping out of our comfort zones.
Finally, “Go and do likewise” is a direct and unambiguous command. It is not an
invitation for theological debate, but a call to action. It means getting involved, reaching
out, and actively participating in alleviating suffering and bringing healing to a broken
world. As followers of Christ, this parable
is our marching orders. It means volunteering, donating, advocating for justice, and
simply being present for those who are hurting.
My brothers and sisters, in a world often marked by indifference, division, and
selfishness, the parable of the Good Samaritan is a beacon of hope and a powerful
challenge. May we always remember that our “neighbor” is anyone in need, and may
we have the courage, the compassion, and the unwavering commitment to “go and do
likewise.”

Amen.

Y’all………..

It would seem that we are living in dark and discouraging times.  It would seem that it’s always a fight and back and forth between conservative and liberal, Democrat and Republican, right vs. left, this religious denomination vs. that religious denomination back and forth, my way or the highway.  It would seem that this fight has become a “good vs. bad” type thing.   It would seem that there are folks whom some of us respected, admired, and dare I say loved, who have shown themselves to be far different from what our perceptions of them have been.

Sometimes I just wanna scream STOP It!  Other times it’s a quiet “Why can’t we all just get along?”  More recently, my thoughts have been more like, “What the hell is wrong with you?”  I find it exhausting, this push and pull and continuous descension, and I find myself wondering, “What if?  Why?   How can we stop this madness?”

Well, Imma tell ya.  We can’t.  We simply can’t stop folks from doing what they’re gonna do and being who they’ve shown to us they actually are.  But, as he so often did, Jesus gives us a bit of direction that we can apply here.  In the Gospel reading appointed for today,   (Luke 10:1-12, 17-20, often called “The Great Commission,”)  Jesus is telling the twelve disciples what’s up, just how they’re supposed to proceed with the actually being disciples thing, and what they can expect.  And in the middle of this oral handbook he’s delivering, he includes this little zinger:  “Whoever will not receive you or listen to your words—go outside that house or town and shake the dust from your feet.”  To put a more modern spin on it, in the film “Frozen,” Elsa sings, “Let It Go.”

And that’s a hard thing to do and it goes against everything that those of us who are/were educators believe.  We try desperately to never, ever, give up on our students.  We find new and different ways to try to reach them.  And sometimes, we find new and different people (specialists) who have a better chance at getting whatever point across to some of these kids.  But sometimes, sometimes there are students/kids/folks who are just never gonna get it.  Never.  And that hurts.  But we persevere and keep working with the next batch of folks who are given to us to try to reach.  It’s what we do.

And going right along with that, it’s the same with those of us who preach and teach love continually.  Some folks are never gonna get it.  Some folks just refuse to be reached.  And that’s heartbreaking.  Even Jesus had to learn this lesson the hard way.  In Luke 19:41-44, Jesus wept over Jerusalem as He approached the city, knowing that its inhabitants would soon reject Him and face destruction.   His weeping highlights Jesus’s sorrow for the spiritual blindness and hardness of heart that would lead to their downfall. It also reveals His deep love and concern for the people of Jerusalem, despite their rejection of Him.

Ugh.  But Jesus kept right on doing what he was doing, and so do we.  But I’m gonna let ya in on a little secret.  Sometimes, no, actually ALL the time whilst I’m talking about this love stuff that Jesus was so adamant about, I’m also, in many ways, preaching to myself.  I have to continually police myself to not fall to the temptation to be a wee bit nasty, mean, hateful, or rude.  I love the story Anne Lamott relates “Plan B: Further Thoughts on Faith.”

She writes about A.J. Muste, a life-long pacifist who, during the Vietnam War, stood in front of the White House night after night, for years, holding a lighted candle.  A one person protest, conducted near the end of his life.  One very rainy night, a reporter asked him, “Mr. Muste, do you really think you are going to change the policies of this country by standing out here alone at night with a candle?”

“Oh,” Muste replied, “I don’t do it to change the country, I do it so the country won’t change me.”

So we “shake the dust from our sandals” when we have to, and keep going, trying remind ourselves along with everyone else, to spread Jesus’s  message of love, of inclusiveness, of joy, of trying to be the (say it with me) the only Jesus some folks will ever see; the only Bible some folks will ever read.  And maybe, just maybe, to be that candle in the darkness for someone.

Today, we come together as the Church to commemorate the Feast of St Thomas the Apostle, who is often referred to by the nickname of ‘Doubting Thomas’. This is because on Easter Sunday after Mary had seen Jesus, he went to the room where the disciples were gathered and suddenly he appears to them despite the doors being locked. Also, they could clearly see the wounds to His hands and side. Jesus tells them, “Peace be with you”. All of The disciples believed.

Thomas however, wasn’t with the other Apostles when Jesus had appeared to them, and when Thomas arrived after Jesus had left them, the other disciples informed Thomas about Jesus visiting them, but Thomas didn’t believe what he had been told, he told them, “Unless I see Jesus for myself, and that I can touch His wounds, I won’t believe.” I can easily imagine that Thomas may have thought the other apostles were teasing him; or why wouldn’t Jesus have stayed long enough until he had managed to arrive to be able to see him?

The next week however, the disciples are gathered together again, this time Thomas was with them. Jesus suddenly appeared and said to Thomas to put his hands on Him and to feel his wounds. Thomas does so, and Jesus asked Thomas, “Do you believe because you have seen me?” and he tells him, “Blessed are those who do not see yet believe.”

Can you imagine what it would be like to be mainly remembered by many because of our greatest moment of doubt? Haven’t we all doubted something at one time or another? I can tell you that I have once or twice. Thomas therefore, is the disciple to whom all of us can relate. Most of us have experienced what it is to live between faith and doubt at some point.

Most people tend to think that Faith and doubt are opposites, but in true fact, it is often a part of our faith journey. It is a stop, or a bump in the road of faith that most of us would’ve made more than once on our journey. This doesn’t make us bad Christians or bad believers. Indeed, rather, it can be seen as a sign that we take our relationship with God seriously that we allow ourselves to walk the journey of faith without knowing for certain through what situations we shall be travelling upon our journey.

Christian tradition tells us that Thomas set sail for India and indeed was the first to spread Christianity there. He is the Patron Saint of India.

The doubt that Thomas previously had, was what brought him faith and that faith was such that he brought the message of Christ to many.

We all have times of doubt, at least all of us that see faith as a true journey, not merely as a one=time stop gap. Doubt can actually propel us towards faith, and can be what gives us the shake up we may at times need. It can be what sends us out of our comfort zones and into a new and better world. Doubt can act like a ticket that starts us truly on our journey to a whole new life of faith. It can be a sign of not the absence of God as many may think, but rather one of God working within us to do something new.

Let us pray:

O Glorious St Thomas, your grief for Jesus was such that it wouldn’t allow you to to believe that he had risen until you saw him and touched his wounds. But your love for Jesus was equally great and it led you to give up your life for Him.

Pray for us, that we may grieve for our sins which were the cause of Christ’s sufferings. Help us to spend our lives in His service and so to be Blessed, which Our Lord Jesus applied to those who would believe in Him without seeing Him. Amen.

Y’all…..Those of you who know me well, or have just hung around with me for more than a hot minute, know that I’m easily confused and not always the sharpest knife in the drawer….  And here lately, I’ve become more befuddled, baffled, and bewildered than I think I ever have.

Ya see, June is the month the catholic (yes, little “c” coz there are more catholic churches than the Roman one)  churches of the world dedicate to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.  In fact, 27 June is the Feast Day thereof.  (That’s today, y’all.)  The feast of the Sacred Heart is a day of devotion that especially emphasizes the unmitigated love, compassion, and long-suffering of the heart of Christ towards humanity.  In other words, it’s a day when we recognize, be thankful for, emulate, and show the world what Jesus and His love is all about.  And y’all know how often I preach and teach and rant about those of us who proport to be Christians who are supposed to be showing love….and this confuses me.

Now, I know y’all have seen those pictures of Jesus with his heart hanging out of his chest, complete with arteries and blood and stuff.  Or the ones where his heart is kinda glowing like some super religious valentine.  The bloody yucky ones always creeped me out as a kid, but anyway…………

Fun fact:  Did you know the phrase “bleeding heart” stems directly from this feast?  Atlas Obscura teaches us that before the 20th century, the phrase “bleeding heart” was popular in the religious-tinged oratory of 19th century America. Throughout the 1860s, it comes up often in poetry, essays, and political speeches, as an expression of empathy and emotion. “I come to you with a bleeding heart, honest and sincere motives, desiring to give you some plain thoughts,” said one politician in an 1862 speech. The phrase comes from the religious image of Christ’s wounded heart, which symbolizes his compassion and love.

Today, according to the dictionary, a person who is a “bleeding heart” is a person considered to be dangerously softhearted, typically someone considered too liberal in political beliefs. (Woke, anyone?)  In the 1930s a dude named Westbrook Pegler (Google him) was the first to use the term “bleeding heart” in reference to folks who were protesting lynching…coz he felt there was certainly nothing wrong with hanging random black folks.  Then in the 50s, Joe McCarthy hopped on the “bleeding heart liberal” name calling bandwagon and that’s kinda when the phrase came into common use as a way to crack on, denigrate, and make fun of folks WHO ACTUALLY TRY TO FOLLOW JESUS’S COMMANDMENTS TO LOVE.

And that’s the whole entire reason for my befuddlement.  We hear and read all these “good Christian folks” talking about the evils of immigrants, not helping the homeless, demanding the rights to discriminate against anyone they don’t particularly agree with, outlawing medical care for women and trans folk.  These “good Christian folk” think breaking the law is a good thing as long as it gets them what they want, and they whoop and holler, and celebrate when one of their good Christian politicians say something diametrically opposed to what Jesus stands for.  And then, they use the Bible as a basis for whatever-it-is that they believe, using any scripture they can find EXCEPT the words of Jesus to prove their point.  This makes them even more “Christian.” 

Now, I, personally, don’t believe any of that.  I believe that the words of Jesus (y’all remember those “red letter bibles?) supersedes any other words in da Bible.  I believe that anyone who wrote anything before or after Jesus, no matter what the circumstance, has to be read through the lens of what Jesus taught and did and if it doesn’t follow what Christ taught and did, then it doesn’t count.  And according to those good Christians, things like the Beatitudes no longer apply in the world today coz only “bleeding heart liberals” believe what Jesus said.  I believe that if we are truly followers of Jesus, then we must, most certainly, believe and live and breathe his commandments to love, love, and when yer finished loving, love some more, even if it’s hard, even if we don’t want to, even if it’s not popular, even if it’s dangerous (I mean, Jesus was crucified by the religious people of the day coz they didn’t agree with what he taught.  So there’s that.)

SO…..does this mean that I, and others who believe like me, aren’t Christian?  In its most basic definition, a Christian is someone who is a follower of Jesus Christ.  Now, I know better than most that words and phrases and language itself changes and evolves.  (It was drummed into my head in elementary school that the word “too” is ALWAYS offset with a comma before it.  Today not so much, but that’s a whole ‘nother rant…sorry.)  So, if “Christian” no longer means what it meant when it meant that a Christian follows what Jesus taught, then what the heck am I posta be called regarding my faith?  Is there some new label ain’t nobody told me about? 

Today, I believe more than any other time in recent history, we all of us need to focus on what it means to be truly Christian, to follow that Sacred, Bleeding Heart of Jesus.  Amen.