Most of us are aware that God loves us. However, that does not adequately express the truth that God is Love. Because love is not something God does. It is who he is. His entire nature is love. He always views us and all people and all things through love. He cannot see us in any other way. God cannot get mad at us or disappointed in us and stop loving us. He is love and always relates to us as love.

 

St. Thomas Aquinas is considered by many to be the greatest scholastic of the Middle Ages. In 1273, on the feast of St. Nicholas he was celebrating Mass when he had a spiritual experience that so affected him that he ceased all writing, leaving his Summa Theologiae unfinished. Brother Reginald was his secretary to whom he had dictated much of his work. He was troubled over Thomas’ sudden decision to quit writing. Thomas told him, “I can write no more. I have seen things that make my writings like straw.”

 

Thomas never described what he saw or experienced during that mass. However, we do know that afterwards he took to reading and rereading The Song of Songs. As he lay on his deathbed, his last request was to have someone read to him the Song of Songs as he passed into eternity. It seems to me that St. Thomas received a revelation of the love of God, and in the light of that revelation, nothing else mattered.

God’s love for us is sometimes compared to a father’s love, other times to a mother’s love. Christ is sometimes referred to as our elder brother. But more often, Jesus is presented as our bridegroom. No wonder a love song often aptly expresses our relationship with him.

That relationship is described in the book, Song of Songs. It opens with the bride speaking.

Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth—
for your love is more delightful than wine.
Pleasing is the fragrance of your perfumes;
your name is like perfume poured out.

Then the groom speaks
“How beautiful you are, my darling!
Oh, how beautiful!”

The bride adores her bridegroom.
“Like an apple tree among the trees of the forest
is my beloved among the young men.
I delight to sit in his shade,
and his fruit is sweet to my taste.
Let him lead me to the banquet hall,
and let his banner over me be love.
Arise, come, my darling;
my beautiful one, come with me.”

The bridegroom adores his bride.
“My dove in the clefts of the rock,
in the hiding places on the mountainside,
show me your face,
let me hear your voice;
for your voice is sweet,
and your face is lovely.”

Together
“I am my Beloved’s, and You are mine.”

What a beautiful expression of our relationship with Christ. He loves us so much that the died for us. And we love him with all of the life he has given us.

We live in a society in which people are afraid to make a commitment. Especially a lifelong commitment. Who knows what the future holds? It is easier to play it safe and keep permanence at arm’s length.

We can be afraid of losing ourselves in the power of love, especially God’s love.  The truth is we find our true selves in the power of God’s love.

A common expression in the Latin Scriptures is the word, “Fiat.” It is usually translated, “Let it be,” or some variation. On the surface, it appears a form of acquiescence, a reluctant acceptance. However, in reality, it is a channel of great power.

 

The first instance in Scripture is in the first chapter of Genesis. God spoke space, time, and the universe into existence with the command, “Let there be light.” Fiat lux.

 

Another fiat we are all familiar with is the affirmation of the Blessed Virgin given to the angel Gabriel at the Annunciation. “Let it be done to me according to your word.” Fiat mihi secundum verbum tuum. And at that moment, God became Man.

 

A third fiat I offer for reflection is spoken by the priest during the Mass. “Let these gifts of bread and wine become for us the body and blood of you dearly beloved Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. The wording varies between Eucharistic prayers, but the understanding remains the same as the traditional Latin mass, Fiat ut nobis Corpus et Sanguis dilectíssimi Fílii tui Dómini nostri Jesu Christi. And common elements of bread and wine are transubstantiated into the body, blood, soul and divinity of our Lord.

 

Fiat, of course, is not a magic word. It will not reveal secrets or win a lottery for us. However, when spoken sincerely in accordance with the perfect will of God, it releases the power that created the universe and brings the natural world into submission to its Creator. That is the power of surrender.

 

How often in life do we find ourselves confounded and in need of a miracle? That miracle awaits us in the act of our will and the power of our speech. Fiat mihi secundum voluntatem tuam Domine. “Let it be done to me according to your will, O Lord.” We too often miss the miracle because we want it on our terms. We want God to submit to our will and purpose like a magician for hire. But when we, by act of will and word, offer ourselves in submission to God, we receive His miracle. Perhaps we desire deliverance but receive martyrdom instead. Perhaps we want physical healing but receive redemptive suffering instead.

 

We do not know the road God has for us, but submission means we trust him without reservation. We do know that the God who loves us so much that he suffered and died on a cross for us has chosen a road that leads us to salvation, fulfillment, and joy. Let us trust God enough to offer him our fiat, and watch the miracle happen.

Matthew 22:10-14

So the servants went out into the streets and gathered all the people they could find, the bad as well as the good, and the wedding hall was filled with guests.

“But when the king came in to see the guests, he noticed a man there who was not wearing wedding clothes. He asked, ‘How did you get in here without wedding clothes, friend?’ The man was speechless.

“Then the king told the attendants, ‘Tie him hand and foot, and throw him outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

“For many are invited, but few are chosen.”

 

It was the custom in Jesus’ time for the king to give wedding garments to the guests at his wedding. Similar customs continued to fairly recent times. Think of a nineteenth century royal dinner party where the host gives dinner jackets to his guests.

In this parable, the invited guests refuse to come, so guests are brought in from the “highways and byways.” According to custom, each would be given a wedding garment upon his arrival. However, one refused to wear his wedding garment. Why not? Was he too proud? Too ashamed? Did he feel unworthy of the honor? We are not told.

Throughout Scripture and the writings of the Church Fathers, the wedding garment is seen as the white purity of baptism in which our sins are forgiven, our guilt is purged, and our souls are made “white as snow.” (Isaiah 1:18) For an unstated reason, one guest refused to accept God’s forgiveness.

I have seen this often, where someone refuses God’s offer of mercy, either because of pride, shame, or feelings of unworthiness. Not that any of us are worthy in our own right, but we must allow Christ’s mercy to heal us of our unworthiness. “Lord, I am not worthy for you to come under my roof, but only say the word and my soul shall be healed.”

Both the bad and the good were invited, because we are all the same in God’s eyes. “All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags.” Isaiah 64:6 Those who consider themselves ‘good’ may be too proud to accept Christ’s mercy. Those who consider themselves ‘bad’ may be too ashamed to accept Christ’s mercy. But to enjoy the feast, we must all humbly accept God’s gift and let him heal our souls.

In my vision of the throne room of God, I saw the essence of God Enthroned flowing out from his presence to all who surrounded his throne, filling them with life then returning back to God in eternal praise. This essence of God is:

• The energy that manifests the universe.
• The Glory of God’s ever abiding presence.
• The Divine Will and Purpose for all things visible and invisible.

It is manifested in:

• The Word of God through whom all things are created and sustained.
• The consolation of the Holy Spirit that gives us awareness of God’s presence.
• The Love of God that is his Divine Will and Purpose for us all.

To experience this power in our lives, we must be in the flow of this Divine Energy.

This flow is most commonly referred to in Scripture as “the river of God.”

This river is alluded to as early as the Eden story as the origin of all rivers. The four rivers named in the Genesis epic tell the story of the flow of God.

• The first river is the Pishon which means “the overflowing of living water.” It relates to the Hebrew word pashur that means “prosperity everywhere.”
• The second river is the Gihon from the Hebrew word giyah that means “to break.” From Eden, man’s relationship with God as friend and companion was broken.
• The third river is often named the Tigris. However, in Hebrew the river is named the Hiddekel from the verb hadak, which means “to prick with thorns.” Our Savior was crowned with thorns as he purchased our redemption.
• The fourth river, often named the Euphrates is actually the Parat in Hebrew which means “the bitter water has been made sweet.” Our relationship with God as friend and companion has been restored in Christ.

The river of God is viewed by Ezekiel who saw in a vision a trickle of water flowing from the eastern side of the temple, where Christ was crucified. As the trickle flowed it grew bigger until it was a great and powerful river. Then, when the river reached the ocean, it transformed the ocean from salt water that no one can drink into fresh water that quenches the thirst of all in the earth. Ezekiel was viewing the ministry of Christ in the earth, what we now refer to as his Body, the Church. Through his Church, Christ quenches the thirst of all.

Finally, the river of God is viewed by St. John the Divine recorded in the book of Revelation.

And he showed me the river of water of life. It was clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb. It divided the central street of the city, and on both sides of the river, was the tree of life. The tree of life bears twelve fruits, continually bearing a crop every month. And the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. And there shall no longer be any curse whatsoever. Because the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in the city, and his servants shall serve him. They shall see his face, and his name shall be on their foreheads. Night shall be no more. They shall not need the light of the lamp, nor the light of the sun, because the Lord God shall be their light. And they shall reign with him forever and ever. Revelation 22:1-5

I remember when I was younger swimming in the San Marcus River in Texas. It is not a huge powerful river like the Mississippi, but you cannot swim against the current for long without becoming discouraged and exhausted. If you are going to enjoy being in the river, you need to go with the flow. When you go with the flow you are strengthened and carried along by its awesome power.

Everything that is, exists in the flow of God.

Pursue God with joy and find him in peace. He is not far from any of us, for in him we live, and move, and exist. Acts 17:27-28

The flow of God entered our universe the moment he separated light from darkness in that beginning spark of creation we commonly refer to as the big bang. The flow of God continues unabated till this day and will continue into eternity. Even though this universe may one day grind to a halt in icy stillness, the flow of God will continue in that realm of pure light we commonly refer to as heaven.

To experience the love, peace, and joy of God’s presence, we must live in the flow of God.

The immature believer wants to bend the flow of God to his own perceived needs and desires. He prays, “God, do this for me. God, perform a miracle for me. God, make everyone I like happy and healthy. God, change the people who frustrate me. God, make my life easy.” The mature believer only desires to be in the flow of God and so surrenders to God’s perfect authority and will. He prays as Jesus taught him, “Your kingdom come. Your will be done.” The mature believer surrenders everything he has or desires to the flow of God. The Blessed Mother gives us an example to follow when she prayed, “Let it be done to me according to thy word.”

It is a great blessing to shift our prayer life from constantly seeking something from God, and simply to seek God himself for his own sake. When we do that, we find ourselves in his magnificent flow. He carries us and fulfills in us his purpose for us. And, as Jesus promised, we find rest for our souls.

We also find the miraculous power of God in our lives. There is a story of a young boy who was troubled by an evil spirit that the disciples were unable to drive out. Jesus comes and comes and commands the evil spirit to leave. The disciples asked Jesus, “Why couldn’t we drive it out?” Jesus replies, “This kind only comes out by prayer.” (Mark 9:13-29) I’m sure the disciples thought to themselves, “What do you think we were doing?” It seems that Jesus was using the term “prayer” in a different context than we generally consider. I’m sure the disciples were asking God to cure the boy, but something must have been amiss in their motive. St. James teaches us:

Where do the wars and arguments among you come from? Are they not from your selfish desires, which wage war inside yourselves?  You covet and you do not possess. You kill and envy but cannot obtain. You argue and fight but come up empty. You don’t have because you do not ask God.  You ask but don’t receive because you ask with wrong motives, seeking only personal gain or pleasure. James 4:1-3

Could the disciples have been motivated by a desire for personal recognition rather than glorifying God? We see their desire for recognition elsewhere in the gospels. Perhaps here as well. Perhaps they were competing to be the one who drove out the evil spirit. But regardless of the underlying issue, it is clear that the disciples were not ministering in the flow of God. So, their prayer was ineffective.

True prayer is not asking or demanding that God does what we want him to do but submitting to the flow of God. Even Jesus said that he could do nothing by himself, but only what he “sees his Father doing.” (John 5:19) We should follow Christ’s example and not demand from God but, with spiritual sight, see what the Father is doing. Then, in that knowledge, step into the flow of the Father’s work. Allow God to be God through our prayer. And all thanks and glory go to God, none to us his humble servants. For all we do is submit to the mighty flow of God.

 

 

First, let us define what love is. What does it mean to love? St. Thomas Aquinas defines love as “willing the other’s good.” When we think of God’s love, we see it as God intending all the energy and presence of the universe for our benefit. God wills all things for our good. And all things include suffering, even death.

A personal trainer pushes his or her trainee to the point of struggle, and perhaps even pain to prepare muscles to strengthen and grow.

Boot camp is an experience of many in which a weak and selfish individual can be broken down by his drill instructor and rebuilt into a strong, well-trained soldier who will sacrifice himself for the good of his country.

When accepted with thanksgiving, suffering in this life can be redemptive.

Therefore, since we have been brought into a good and positive relationship with God by faith, let us enjoy peace with God, through our Lord Jesus Christ. By whom also we have access through faith into this grace, in which we stand, and rejoice in the hope of the glory of the children of God. And not only that; but we glory also in our troubles, knowing that suffering builds patience; And patience builds endurance. And endurance builds hope. And our hope, our conviction that God is working for our good, never puts us to shame. Because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to us. Romans 5:1-5

Even death when seen from God’s perspective is not a sad or bad experience. Jesus said, ““I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me shall live, even if he should die. And everyone who lives and believes in me, will not die forever.” John 11:25-26 Death is merely a doorway from life to the fulness of life. The sadness we experience when losing a loved one comes from our perspective of loss and loneliness.

Of course, not all suffering is redemptive. Parents sometimes have the experience of watching a rebellious child take everything that was intended for their good and employing it for the purpose of self-destruction. It is called free will. A child may squander their education, money, and life itself on drugs, alcohol, relationships that lack commitment or true intimacy, and screen distractions that numb their ability to reason. Self-destruction is not in the flow of God’s loving presence but exists in the devil’s playground. Still, God’s love is so powerful that one only needs to turn to God, repent, and submit to the flow of God’s love to be plucked from the path of destruction and placed on the path of life. And God is able to take even the worst experiences of our lives and miraculously use them for our ultimate good.

And we know that all things work together for the good of those who love God. All things work together for good, for those who, living according to his will and purpose, are called to be saints. For those whom he foreknew, he also determined to be conformed to the image of his Son; so that Christ might be the firstborn among many siblings. And those whom he determined, he also called. And those whom he called, he also justified into a good and positive relationship with God. And those whom he justified, he also glorified. Romans 8:28-30

Sometimes the Holy Spirit needs to perform holy surgery in our souls to cut away self-destructive desires and replace them with pure desires that bring us hope and joy. That can be painful for a moment but ultimately result in our healing.

So, God is not ashamed to be called our loving Father. For he has purposed everything in this universe for our good. And even when through our own rebellion and violence we introduce destruction into our lives, God is always present to transform our lives into joy, when we submit ourselves into the flow of his love.

The joy of the Lord will be your strength. Nehemiah 8:10

Cheryl and I were praying together this morning, and one of the Scriptures we read reminded me of a song sung by the Medical Mission Sisters. It was in the 1960’s and their music was always filled with such joy. In fact, simple, childlike joy was a hallmark of the renewal movement in the 1960’s. I actually began to weep as I wondered why we see so little joy these days.

Amid this pandemic, joy seems scarce. We might even feel insensitive or crass if we openly expressed joy. There is so much trouble, so much sadness. But life was not all peaches and cream when Nehemiah made the promise given above. “The joy of the Lord will be your strength.”

Israel had been exiled from their homeland for 70 years. A few were allowed to return under Nehemiah’s leadership to rebuild Jerusalem from the rubble. He was maligned by those who did not want Jerusalem rebuilt and so he was arrested and tried for treason. When he began rebuilding the walls, he was daily attacked by those opposed, so the builders had to keep swords with them as they worked, always ready to defend the project. But he encouraged the people, “The joy of the Lord will be your strength.”

Could simple, childlike joy be the key to strength in our time as well?

Here are a few suggestions about how to get back to joy.

1. Watch less news. In the 1960’s the news was only on for 30 minutes a day. Somehow we didn’t seem to miss it.
2. Listen to uplifting music that praises God. Yes, the Medical Mission Sister still publish CD’s.
3. Get together with others to pray, praise, and support each other.
4. Attend the daily live stream Mass or at least read the daily readings as part of your prayer time.
5. Sing. It is good for your body and your soul. Just keep a safe social distance when singing.

Remember, it is God who is in control of this universe. Not Covid. Not government health agencies. In this Easter season we celebrate Christ who conquered death. So, let’s celebrate with joy.

The joy of the Lord will be your strength. Nehemiah 8:10

Cheryl and I were praying together this morning, and one of the Scriptures we read reminded me of a song sung by the Medical Mission Sisters. It was in the 1960’s and their music was always filled with such joy. In fact, simple, childlike joy was a hallmark of the renewal movement in the 1960’s. I actually began to weep as I wondered why we see so little joy these days.

Amid this pandemic, joy seems scarce. We might even feel insensitive or crass if we openly expressed joy. There is so much trouble, so much sadness. But life was not all peaches and cream when Nehemiah made the promise given above. “The joy of the Lord will be your strength.”

Israel had been exiled from their homeland for 70 years. A few were allowed to return under Nehemiah’s leadership to rebuild Jerusalem from the rubble. He was maligned by those who did not want Jerusalem rebuilt and so he was arrested and tried for treason. When he began rebuilding the walls, he was daily attacked by those opposed, so the builders had to keep swords with them as they worked, always ready to defend the project. But he encouraged the people, “The joy of the Lord will be your strength.”

Could simple, childlike joy be the key to strength in our time as well?

Here are a few suggestions about how to get back to joy.

• Watch less news. In the 1960’s the news was only on for 30 minutes a day. Somehow we didn’t seem to miss it.
• Listen to uplifting music that praises God. Yes, the Medical Mission Sister still publish CD’s.
• Get together with others to pray, praise, and support each other.
• Attend the daily live stream Mass or at least read the daily readings as part of your prayer time.
• Sing. It is good for your body and your soul. Just keep a safe social distance when singing.

Remember, it is God who is in control of this universe. Not Covid. Not government health agencies. Every Sunday we celebrate Christ who conquered death. So, let’s celebrate with joy.

A large crowd followed Jesus and pressed upon him.  There was a woman afflicted with hemorrhages for twelve years. She had suffered greatly at the hands of many doctors and had spent all that she had. Yet she was not helped but only grew worse. She had heard about Jesus and came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak. She said, “If I but touch his clothes, I shall be cured.” Immediately her flow of blood dried up. She felt in her body that she was healed of her affliction. Jesus, aware at once that power had gone out from him, turned around in the crowd and asked, “Who has touched my clothes?” But his disciples said to Jesus, “You see how the crowd is pressing upon you, and yet you ask, ‘Who touched me?'” And he looked around to see who had done it. The woman, realizing what had happened to her, approached in fear and trembling. She fell down before Jesus and told him the whole truth. He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has saved you. Go in peace and be cured of your affliction.” (Mark 5:25-35)

Imagine yourself as this woman in the gospel this morning. For the last 12 years you have a bleeding hemorrhage. It is literally draining the life out of you. You are tired and week all the time and are not sure how much longer you can go on. You are not sure how you have come this far. You have been to several doctors who have attempted painful and intrusive procedures that have done more harm than good. You are unclean. You are not allowed to touch anyone or be touched by anyone, not even your husband, if indeed he is still even in the picture. Whenever someone comes within arm’s reach of you, you must shout “Unclean” as if you were a leper. You can’t remember the last time you had so much as a conversation with another human being. You are an outcast. You are lonely. You are in pain. You are exhausted. You are dying.

Has anyone here ever felt that way before? Is there an area of your life in which you feel that way now?

You hear Jesus is in town. Somehow that name brings hope to the hopeless. You think, “If only I can touch the tassel of his prayer shawl. I believe I can be healed.” You sneak up behind him. People are pressing against him. They are pressing against you. You are breaking the law. You could be stoned. You don’t care. If this doesn’t work, you might as well be dead. You see a break in the crowd and slip forward. You bend down and touch a tassel of his prayer shawl. Suddenly, Jesus stops and stands erect. Immediately, you slip back in the crowd.

“Who touched me?” Jesus asks. The disciples think he’s joking. They laugh. “Everyone.” They answer. “The whole crowd is pressing against you.” “No.” Jesus smiles. “Someone touched me. I felt the power of God flow through me.” He is looking straight at you. There is no hiding now. You come forward and tell Jesus everything. He looks at you with loving eyes and calls you daughter. “Your faith has healed you. Go in peace. You are well.”

The point of this story is that there is a difference between pressing against Jesus and touching Jesus. The whole crowd was pressing against Jesus. One touched him. The difference was faith, but faith is not what you might think it is.

Faith is not believing that, it is believing in.

The whole crowd believed that Jesus was special. They believed that he was a prophet. They believed that was the messiah. They believed that he could heal. They believed that he could deliver from evil. But they only pressed against Jesus. Only one touched him.

Faith is not doing the right thing. The crowd was doing the right thing. They were following Jesus along. I’m sure some were reaching out and touching him so they could go home and say, “I touched Jesus.” But they hadn’t really touched Jesus. They just pressed their hand against him. Only one touched Jesus, and she was doing all the wrong things. Breaking the law. Pushing through the crowd even though she was unclean. But she knew in the depth of her spirit where God speaks to us, that if she touched the fringe of his garment, she would be healed. She followed that still small voice in simple trust and obedience at the risk of her life and she touched Jesus.

That is what faith is. Simple trust and obedience to the still, small voice of God deep in your spirit.

Mary Healy, professor of Sacred Scripture at Sacred Heart Major Seminar in reflecting on this passage tells the story of a Sikh woman from Punjab who had an abusive husband. As he was beating her she leapt from their balcony to escape him, and broke her back. She had been paralyzed for 12 years. She heard from friend that someone had been healed at a Catholic Retreat Center in Malabar. She traveled there and met with a Catholic priest. She told him her story, and the priest encouraged her to forgive her husband. That was not what she came for. But she asked him, “If I forgive my husband, will your Jesus heal me?” The priest answered honestly, “I don’t know, but if you want any peace in this life at all, you must forgive your husband.” The next day, a retreat speaker invited everyone to stand up and thank God for his goodness. The woman later told the priest what happened: “I thought to myself, I have so much to thank God for. I am alive, I have two sons who take care of me. I must praise God!” She stood, raised her hands to God, and was instantly and completely healed of her paralysis. The woman stayed at the retreat center for several months to go through RCIA. She and her sons were baptized. Healy, Mary. Gospel of Mark, The (Catholic Commentary on Sacred Scripture) (p. 108). Baker Book Group

This morning I will place the body, blood, soul and divinity of Jesus in your hands. Will you press against Jesus, or will you touch Jesus? Will you take it because it is the right thing to do and move on? Or will you pause to listen to Christ’s voice of love and grace and be healed and transformed? Gaze in adoration upon the body, blood, soul and divinity of Jesus in your hand. Listen to his still, small voice. Know deep in your spirit what he is calling you to do. Meekly follow his voice. Touch Jesus this morning.

Homily given at  Our Lady of Hope 7/1/18

In today’s readings, God says to Moses, “Be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy.” And Jesus reprises, “Be perfect, just as your Heavenly Father is perfect.” So what does it mean to be holy?

Growing up in East Texas, I was exposed to the “holiness” tradition. These were mostly Pentecostals who sought to achieve holiness by what they didn’t do. They didn’t drink, smoke, cuss or speak to anyone who did, except to tell them they were going to hell. Women never wore pants or makeup and seldom cut their hair. While avoiding such extremes, most of us perceive holiness in various externals of speech, dress, or political correctness. There are Anglicans who devoutly believe Elizabethan English is more holy than modern English and Catholics who see holiness in women wearing chapel veils and men kneeling erectly, rather than resting on the pew. During the Jesus Movement in the sixties we perceived holiness in how worn and faded the jeans were we wore to church, differentiating ourselves from the hypocrites in the suits.

At its core, holiness has nothing to do with external acts or appearance, but the inner presence of the Spirit of God. God said to Moses at the burning bush, “Take off your shoes, for the ground you are standing on is holy ground.” Was the dirt Moses standing on externally different from any other dirt? No, it’s all the same dirt. God’s presence made it holy. The bread and wine we receive at Eucharist is externally still bread and wine, but God’s presence makes it the true body, blood, soul, and divinity of Christ.

Our external body was formed from the earth. No matter how we clean and polish it, we are still just walking, talking mud people. But the spark of God’s Spirit lies within each of us. St. Paul refers to us as clay pots, but pots that contain heavenly treasure. If we just relax and let it out, God’ s light will shine. To embrace holiness we must walk in the words of John the Baptist, “Christ must increase; we must decrease.”