20th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Early in his career the lyricist, Sheldon Harnick, wrote a song called “The Merry Minuet” which was made popular by the Kingston Trio back in 1959 and again in 2000. Four lines from that song have stuck with me. They are: “The whole world is festering with unhappy souls, The French hate the Germans, the Germans hate the Poles. Italians hate Yugoslavs, South Africans hate the Dutch. And I don't like anybody very much!!” By the end of the song all of us have been destroyed by natural disasters or each other. This is a sad song with a very catchy tune. And it is as relevant now as it was when Sheldon Harnick wrote it.

There seems to be something in human nature that causes us to distrust, dislike and disdain people who aren’t like us. However, in today’s readings from Isaiah, St Paul’s Letter to the Romans and St Matthew’s Gospel, we hear that the Kingdom of Heaven is big enough to accommodate all of us. God does not care about our ethnicity, race, age, religious affiliation, physical or mental ability, social status, wealth, gender or profession. God’s house is “a house of prayer for all peoples” (IS 56:7). This was a challenging message for the people who heard Isaiah’s words, Jesus’ words and St Paul’s words. It is a challenging message for us too.

Even Jesus initially rejected the Canaanite woman in our Gospel today saying, "I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel"(MT 15:24). She was a Gentile and as a Canaanite, she was an ancestral enemy of the Jews. Observant Jews regarded Canaanites as idolaters and ritually unclean. Of course, being a woman didn't help matters. She had no business approaching Jesus about anything. But she did because she recognized that there was something extraordinary about him. Her great love for her sick daughter gave her courage and compelled her to approach Jesus even when she knew he might reject her. Not only did Jesus reject her, he insulted her, calling her a dog. However, the power of her love, her quick wit, humility, persistence and great faith carried the day. Jesus responded to her plea and healed her daughter, “O woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish” (MT 15:28).

By healing the Canaanite woman’s daughter Jesus demonstrated that God’s mercy and love extend far beyond our human limitations. It is not just for us Christians. God’s love is there for anyone who believes. As St Paul tells us “The gifts and the call of God are irrevocable” so that He “might have mercy upon all” (ROM 11:29,32).

Almighty God, ever-loving Father,

Your care extends beyond the boundaries of race and nation

to the hearts of all who live.

May the walls, which prejudice raises between us,

crumble beneath the shadow of your outstretched arm.

We ask this through Christ our Lord.

Amen

19th Sunday in Ordinary Time

In today’s first reading (1 Kings 19:9a,11-13a) and the gospel (Matthew 14:22-33) we hear about two very different encounters with God. Elijah, cowering in fear in a cave on Mt Horeb, encounters God in “a tiny whispering sound.” While Peter encounters Jesus in the middle of a storm on the Sea of Galilee. Although the circumstances are different, Elijah and Peter are in crisis.

I think it is safe to say that many of us encounter God in times of crisis. It is when we are in crisis that we can put aside our pride and sincerely call out to God for assistance. One of my favorite stories about an encounter with God in a time of crisis is the story of John Newton (1725–1807). John Newton was a wild and reckless English sailor. He was, in his own words “an infidel and libertine.” On May 10, 1748 Newton was caught in a violent storm at sea and he experienced what he called his “great deliverance.” In the midst of that storm, convinced that all was lost, Newton cried out to God over and over again, “Lord have mercy on us.” The ship was saved and Newton became a changed man. After years of struggle, Newton was ordained a minister and served the Church of England for 44 years.

St Francis de Sales wrote, “We shall steer safely through every storm, so long as our heart is right, our intention fervent, our courage steadfast, and our trust fixed on God. If at times we are somewhat stunned by the tempest, never fear. Let us take breath, and go on afresh.” In their time of need Elijah, Peter and John Newton called out to God and they were saved. The love and compassion of God did not fail them and it will not fail us. None of us is perfect yet in spite of all our failings we can go forward knowing that God is with us always.

Although they were not perfect people, Elijah, Peter and John Newton, all left us faith legacies. Elijah is considered the greatest prophet; St Peter is considered the father of our church and John Newton wrote one of the greatest hymns of all time, Amazing Grace.

God our Father,

we believe in you,

in your love and in your care.

But you know our faith is often tried

by doubt, uncertainty and fear.

Make our faith strong enough to believe

that your Son Jesus is with us always.

Give us the courage to come across the water with him

to commit ourselves to you and to others.

Even though we do not see his hand

reaching out to us and holding us,

give us enough trusting faith to be certain

that with him we shall overcome.

Build up your kingdom among us,

until Jesus leads us across to you,

our God for ever and ever.

Amen

August 6 - Feast of the Transfiguration

The Transfiguration is a pivotal biblical event where Jesus revealed his divine glory to three disciples—Peter, James, and John—on a mountain. His face and clothes became dazzlingly bright, and he spoke with Moses and Elijah. A voice from heaven declared Jesus as God's Son.

The detailed, historical accounts of this event are recorded across three of the Gospels: Matthew 17:1-8, Mark 9:2-8, and Luke 9:28-36.

Allow the Holy Spirit

Of course, the greatest victory that the Spirit can give us is victory over ourselves. If we could be changed within, if all those destructive thoughts and habits within could somehow be dispelled, then we could handle our circumstances. Then we would be powerful indeed.

Dwight L. Moody once demonstrated the principle like this: "Tell me," he said to his audience, "how can I get the air out of the tumbler I have in my hand?" One man said, "Suck it out with a pump." The evangelist replied, "That would create a vacuum and shatter it. Finally, after many futile suggestions, Moody picked up a pitcher and filled the glass with water. "There," he said, "all the air is now removed." He then explained that victory for the child of God does not come by working hard to eliminate destructive thoughts and habits, but rather by allowing the Holy Spirit to take full possession.

So what are you troubled about? The future? God has it under His control. The past? Our sins have been thrown into the deepest regions of the sea by the death of Christ on the cross never to be retrieved. The present? There is a power that is available to all who would call on His name.

Don't be a Victim

Some people refer to us as victims of our problems, but we should not accept such labeling. A better term for us is survivors.

Working in step with our Higher Power, we should view ourselves as capable of rising above all the challenges and conditions that confront us. If we call ourselves victims, we'll soon be inviting more people and situations to victimize us. As survivors, however, we will always learn to sail through the roughest storms.

Looking at the general world situation, it does seem realistic to say that lots of people are victims. But we must always take into account the vast power that resides in every human soul. People have tremendous power to change their conditions, and when word of this finally gets around; we'll see a worldwide spiritual awakening that will change everything for the better.

Whatever I'm facing today, I'll know that the spirit within me also gives me the qualities I need to survive.

~ From “Walk in Dry Places” by Mel B.

Let Go to Move Forward

“Getting over a painful experience is much like crossing monkey bars. You have to let go at some point in order to move forward.”

~ C. S. Lewis

The Early Bird

The saying goes,

“The early bird catches the worm.”

To which one replied,

“That may be true, but the second mouse gets the cheese.”