Invitation

“Go therefore into the main streets, 

and invite everyone you find to the wedding banquet.” 

– Matthew 22

Matthew 22:1-14 is an interesting parable and one that has several strong images and one that has theological insights and statements about what was going on around Jesus and around the time the gospel was written. In reading and reflecting on the gospel and in trying to seek clarity on those images, insights and statements I was struck by the line above and have spent some time pondering it for living today and in my call to be a Friar and our call to be disciples of Christ.

Go!
We are sent
not to hoard
to be witness
to live the gospel.

Into the main streets
beyond our comfort zones
among all peoples
to be in solidarity
in our everyday living.

Invite everyone
by our actions
to the gift of life
embraced and welcomed
to prepare the way.

To the wedding banquet
relief from our burdens
for every man, woman and child
in freedom, honesty and truth
fullness of the kingdom.

Am I ready? Sure am!
Am I ALWAYS ready? Not so much!!

That is the challenge of being invited to the banquet; the invitation comes in so many ways. So many of these ways and times I feel are inopportune yet turn out to be the true invites, the true encounters with Christ, the gospel lived with and for others celebrating life and the fullness of the kingdom. God knows no inopportune time for invitation for God is always at banquet.

At times it can be easy to go, but what do we do when we go is maybe the tough part or where we seek clarity. Maybe it’s not doing anything rather being, maybe it is being nourished for the next part of the invite, maybe it is reviewing the path so far or maybe it newness that is being unfolded. We have to ask ourselves how are we continually open to the invite, to prepare and embrace this gift.

I believe each day an invitation comes and how we respond is the challenge. Do we prepare and enter in or do we “sneak” in and then get left in the darkness? Do we let the gospel penetrate our lives or do we simply just hear words? The invitation is always given, what we do with it challenges us to be ready, to be honesty, to seek fullness of life.

Thank goodness our God is merciful, full of second chances and desires for us to be at the wedding banquet. Our God continually shows us ways to be ready... to go... to invite (and hear the invite)... to the daily gift of the banquet which ultimately leads to the heavenly banquet. Thank goodness!

image from: The Newport Bride

Heirs to the Kingdom

“Listen to another parable. There was a landowner who planted a vineyard, put a fence around it, dug a wine press in it, and built a watchtower. Then he leased it to tenants and went to another country. When the harvest time had come, he sent his slaves to the tenants to collect his produce. But the tenants seized his slaves and beat one, killed another, and stoned another. Again he sent other slaves, more than the first; and they treated them in the same way. Finally he sent his son to them, saying, ‘They will respect my son.’ But when the tenants saw the son, they said to themselves, ‘This is the heir; come, let us kill him and get his inheritance.” So they seized him, threw him out of the vineyard, and killed him. Now when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants?” They said to him, “He will put those wretches to a miserable death, and lease the vineyard to other tenants who will give him the produce at the harvest time.” Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the scriptures: ‘The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; this was the Lord’s doing, and it is amazing in our eyes’? Therefore I tell you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people that produces the fruits of the kingdom.  - Matthew 21.33-43

“This is the heir” from the parable in Matthew 21.33-43 is obviously an image of Christ. It is also an image of each of us as we are all heirs to the kingdom. I wonder if this thought of being an heir ever crosses our minds as we forget the poor, cast aside those different from us, not welcome the stranger, as we hoard our goods, as we declare enemy lines or as we build our own vineyards for our own harvests. We build these kingdoms that will crumble and fall when really we need to look to the real kingdom that truly is ours.

The prophets and sages told us to prepare for the way, Jesus came and showed us the way and yet we still think we know the way. How blind we are.

I consider my own life. When I fail to live the gospel I profess to live by I don’t claim my role as heir. It is easy at times to be part of the mob thinking that says, “I have a better way.” At times I can hear the gospel challenge and close my ears, other times I know what is mine to do and fail to do so, and still at other times I meet other kingdom seekers – other heirs – and become jealous and guarded. The human weakness that is ours prevents us from keeping focused on the kingdom. I fail to see it the kingdom in front of me, in the poor, in the suffering, in the simple joys, in the everyday and in my own goodness.
Thankfully the King of my heart and yours; the king of my life and yours does not forget that we are heirs. God continually pours forth his mercy and love and says “you are mine, regardless of your weaknesses you are still and always an heir, let’s try again today, let us build the kingdom together, let me show you the Way – his name is Jesus and you can do all things through him.”

We each must claim being heir and be an heir that truly reflects our King. We must pray for strength and courage to do so each day.

Lord God, you claim us as heirs; help us to be kingdom builders today as we strive to live the gospel. As we move into this season of thanksgiving may our hearts be truly grateful that we are yours, that you live in us and for all that you bless us with each day.

May the harvest remind us that we are to go and bear fruit that will last.  Amen.

Brother Francis

October 3, 2017 - Transitus of St. Francis

My Dear Brother Francis,

You gave praise to God for you know he is the center of your life and draws you deeply into the love of his son Jesus, our Savior.

You prayed before the crucifix:
Most High, glorious God
enlighten the darkness of my heart.

I too echo this prayer, that our glorious and loving God may continue to shed light on my path so that with you I may walk in the love of Christ and share it with others. So many in our world seek light, I pray for the strength to be this vessel, inspired by you my brother and your living of the gospel.

You continued in prayer:
Give me true faith,
certain hope
and perfect charity (love).

My dear brother, you know the human heart and journey well. For you know that in each of us is this deep desire - who is God. It is only through faith, hope and love that we can discover God's riches as we face the challenges to live out our faith in what can seem like a faithless world, as we hold on to to hope that allows us to strive for the greater good of all and as we let love break down barriers and conquer fear. Yes my brother I hold on to faith, hope and love just as you did.

You my dear brother know the challenges of the world and call me and all people to root ourselves in Christ who is true faith, certain hope and indeed perfect love. For you have shown me that in rooting myself in Christ I am truly free to be the child of God that I was created to be.

You concluded your prayer:
(give me) sense and knowledge Lord,
that I may carry out your holy and true command.

I simply say yes, for I along with you pray (maybe even beg) each day for the sense and knowledge to know how God is calling me to serve and to gospel live. To be aware and attentive to God's will at work in my life and to live out the the true command of loving God and neighbour first. For this declares the holiness in which everyone was created and doesn't allow my selfishness or sinful self to take the lead. 

My dear Brother Francis, as we celebrate your life today and your passing to the great heavenly kingdom, we celebrate the impact you have made on Christendom and the world. I pray your prayer. In doing so I seek what I believe you sought - to let Christ radiate out from each of us. As we give thanks for your witness to love, of your servant-heart, of your pointing to Christ, of your gospel-lived life,of your embracing the small, the great and all of creation I am reminded that you said to your brothers:
I have done what is mine to do. May Christ teach you what is yours.

So as we gather to celebrate your Feast Day, this wisdom of yours reminds me that my Franciscan journey is continually about conversion and openness. I am called to carry my cross with peace and joy, as I walk in your footsteps with Christ. I am empowered to say yes in doing what is mine to do (that my Savior teaches me). In doing so I can only hope that I give praise and thanks to our Most High and glorious God.

With gratitude for the path you have shown me, I humbly ask for your prayers.

Your Brother,

Michael

St. Francis of Assisi - pray for us!

Blinded

How often am I am blinded by my own will, my own desires and my own wants?

How often do I stay trapped in this blindness making false promises and not seeing a new way?

How often do I make promises and leave them unfilled or condemn others because they have made a change and are no longer trapped by blindness?

These are the questions that I ask myself after reflecting on the following verses in Matthew's gospel.

“What do you think? A man had two sons; he went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work in the vineyard today.’ ²⁹He answered, ‘I will not’; but later he changed his mind and went. ³⁰The father went to the second and said the same; and he answered, ‘I go, sir’; but he did not go. ³¹Which of the two did the will of his father?” They said, “The first.” Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are going into the kingdom of God ahead of you. ³²For John came to you in the way of righteousness and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes believed him; and even after you saw it, you did not change your minds and believe him. - Matthew 21: 28-31

The chief priests and elders of the gospel are blinded to the change of heart that the tax collectors and prostitutes had over come with their encounter with Christ. 

Do I stay trapped in my ways because I feel secure?

Do I fear a change of heart because of the freedom it will bring?

Do I continually seek Christ in my daily living and interactions with others?

The scripture verse includes a parable of the two sons. The first son had a change of heart. He moved from the trappings of his ways, embraced freedom, became an agent of change and service and became a labourer in the field of life. His repentance, if you will, allowed for him to be moved beyond himself and embrace the work, the struggles, the joys, the community of the kingdom. The other son started with the freedom and then choose not to continue to embrace it. He instead allowed his own wants to take over and deny him true freedom and the beauty of a servant heart.

When have I had a change of heart?

When have I embraced the kingdom of God more fully? How?

When have I encouraged and supported others in their yeas/in their change of heart?

Each day we are given signs that show how deeply and madly in love God is with us. Maybe not grandiose things, but still signs. The righteous acts of a neighbour, the witness of a friend, the positive transformation of a classmate/child/relative, the kingdom being displayed in the generosity of a community, the abundance of creation, the truth spoken by the prophets of our day, the communion of saints gathering to be nourished, supported and transformed are all signs of God's deep love. These signs point or lead to a change of heart and mind, openness to the truth, freedom from blindness and hopefully an awareness of being a valued part of the kingdom and a deepening of my belief in the Truth, the Way and the Life. 

Where is my heart? Is it open? Is it blinded by the false trappings of this world? Can I set it free?

Where can I work on transformation and a change of heart?

Where do I see the signs from God that the kingdom is at hand and I have a part to play in it?

We are called to "let the same mind be in us that was in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 2.1-11). We must be open to this, so blindness does not leave us trapped, that our hearts are continually open to change and that we may embrace our part in the kingdom of God. When asked to go into the field (which is daily)... may our yes be a true yes.

Amen.

God's Generosity

Matthew 20.1-16 is the parable of the landowner and the labourers. It is an interesting parable often used for various statements on serving, for vocations, on justice. The final line often catches everyone's attention: "The last will be first, and the first will be last." It is no doubt a challenge for us as followers of Christ. However the line just before it, the last words of the landowner caught my attention. He says, "Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or are you envious because I am generous?" I hear our Generous God ask these two questions with a smile on his face, a twinkle in his eye and a joy yet challenge in his voice. It had me thinking about how generous our God really is even when we don't acknowledge, see or remember this gift of generosity.

God's Abundant Generosity

In every breath we breathe,
in every move we make,
in every sight we see,
God's generosity abounds.

When trials come and we persevere,
when demands come and we are patient,
when curve balls come and we stay the course,
God's generosity abounds.

In the moments we don't count the cost,
in the moments we learn to surrender,
in the moments we embody humility,
God's generosity abounds.

When we help the neighbour and the foe,
when we rise above the noise with peace,
when we share respect with and for all,
God's generosity abounds.

In serving with a joyful heart,
in being present in the here and now,
in giving of ourselves freely,
God's generosity abounds.

When we are eager and give our all,
when we are stuck and give what we can,
when we are drained and give the little we have,
God's generosity abounds.

In building a kingdom of love - not our own,
in building communities that bring life,
in building up those around us,
God's generosity abounds. 

When we acknowledge our wrongs,
when we seek forgiveness,
when we discover all we are given,
God's generosity abounds.

In realizing our life is not a possession,
in realizing our daily blessings,
in realizing we always belong to God,
God's generosity abounds.

When being first slips away,
when being last becomes fruitful,
when being generous in who we are and with what we have,
God's generosity abounds.

Daily... no matter what... recognized or not....
God's generosity abounds!
Amen.

Cross = Love

This week I read a quote from David Haas - the composer of many church hymns, which read:

"Our vocation is always to be a witness of God's love."

Amen I say to that, Amen indeed! It is a reminder that we are loved and our living calls us to authentic living, honest living and it calls us to love in our every day in little ways not just in the grand moments. It calls us to know that we are God's and because of this love is always ours. Always.

This past week we celebrated the Exultation of the Cross. This is a beautiful reminder that love is our way and is indeed how we are called to live and witness.

"We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you, 

because by your cross you have redeemed the world."

The cross and resurrection of Jesus is the the truth that love is rooted in and the way in which we are to love is made obvious and evident in our Savior Jesus Christ. His love took him to the cross - abandoned, rejected, emptied and yet it was so full of love. We look to the Him, the One who gave his all and who loved to the end. We look to the One who chose love over revenge and who made love the authentic way of living. We look to the One who laid every piece of love down on that cross as he had done his whole life, so that in turn we would know that we are loved and he shows us how we are to love.

Yes in our world love is battered, broken, abused, beaten, profaned and even destroyed. We do it to ourselves and we allow others to do it to themselves and to us. Our world is so desperately seeking love and filling it with false loves. At times we fail to grasp the power of love. We fail to see that love is patient, kind, courageous, and calls us to be a witness. May the reminder that we were first loved by God and that the cross is a sign of this love encourage us to claim love and let it be the way we witness to the world. Let it be the way we enter into our vocation each day.

The love of Christ compels us,
it pushes us forward,
it says we have life,
it claims our holiness,
it is our hope,
it is always ours,
it can never be taken away,
so let us love, for God is love
and we are held always in this love.
Amen. 

Christ is Among Us

"For where two or three are gathered in my name, 

I am there among them." - Matthew 18.20

I have been sitting with this line from the Gospel of Matthew this week. It is good to be reminded that Jesus is with us always (Emmanuel) in the journey, especially as fall routines take shape and we are bombarded with demands and roles to fulfill and challenges of being community.

This reflection is broken into two parts (where two or three reflections are in his name - Jesus is there :) - I hope so!) both are prayers that this piece of scripture called out of me. It comes from my desire to see and be aware of Christ more and more in my every day - in relationships, interactions, simple meetings, intense moments, creation, busyness and quiet.

Strength for the journey Lord Jesus,
there is so much going on
and so much goodness in my life,
and so many demands,
and just little things that make a difference...
I trust in you.

I trust that you are my strength, 
my courage, my drive to do all in your name, 
to seek your will and radiate you.

When days seem long
and the load is heavy
I trust you walk with me.

When tasks become too many
and the need to be present is draining
I trust you are strength to do and be.

When the rushing around is endless
and more gets added each day
I trust you are my guide.

When the tiredness takes hold
and emotions run high
I trust you are peace.

When the seeking and searching are continual
and I fail to see you here
I trust you are with me
and will remind me of that always.

You Lord are strength for the journey.

Be present Lord
in our daily gatherings
in our comings and goings
in our work and play.

Be present Lord
when we gather as family
when we welcome friend and stanger
when we help a neighbour.

Be present Lord
in our time of prayer
in our time of leisure
in our time of rest.

Be present Lord
when stresses weigh us down
when burdens seem too heavy
when fears trap us in.

Be present Lord
in the breaking of our bread
in the scripture we share
in the peace we offer each other.

Lord, remember your promise to be present where 

two or three are gathered in your name!