How Are Your Relationships?

For any human being relationships are a significant part of who we are and how we come to discover a bit more of how we want to be.  

Relationships are fundamental to our development.

How often do we reflection on our relationships?

How often do we look at the relationships we have beyond our comfort zone? How often do we consider the dignity of our relationships?

“To recognize the Other is to recognize a hunger. To recognize the Other is to give. ...I can recognize the gaze of the stranger, the widow, and the orphan only in giving or in refusing.” 

– Emmanuel Levinas

Where in our lives do we allow this hunger to feed our heart and soul?

Where are the strangers, widows, and orphans in our lives?

How are we giving of ourselves? Where are we refusing?

Where are you with these thoughts? Need a tune up for Advent?

I recommend seeing the film Green Book in theatres now.

It offers much for reflection on relationship, human dignity, family dynamics and friendship as we head into the Advent Season.

Can we see Jesus our Emmanuel – God with us - in our every day? In our relationships?

“Every person, from the first moment of life in the womb, has an inviolable dignity, because from all eternity God willed, loved, created, and redeemed that person and destined that person for eternal happiness. “ 

- CCC 1699-1715

Craving Christ the King

Christ the King! Have you ever tried searching for an image of Christ the King? It is interesting what comes up when you do. Often the first images are of a somber white man with a distant look in his eyes, an awkward crown on his head and who is not approachable. The other option is the super hero version; the tough looking dude with no ordinary crown but a crown of thorns who swoops in to save the day or make you pay but still not approachable. Neither really speaks to me as both seem to miss the point of who Christ the King is truly. Maybe it is because as a child (and maybe even still a bit now) I was fascinated with kingdoms and kings and queens and princes and princesses. And although the kings and queens in my fantasies did where crowns they were not awkward and it did not stop them from being present with the people and knowing their people and creating a kingdom where all were indeed welcome. This seems more like the image of Christ the King we are called to celebrate and one I crave to know more and more.

The whole mission of Christ is to usher in, establish and build God’s kingdom. The kingdom of God which Christ is king of is built upon justice, mercy and a love greater than our understanding. It is built upon relationship, dignity and beauty. It is built upon hope, truth and life, so one can see why an awkward crown or a super hero doesn’t seem to fit this mission.

When I picture Christ the King, I see a man with passion and love in his eyes, with a depth about him that is warm and inviting. I see a man who desires to know you and is willing to walk with you through the struggles and in the joy. I see a man who is willing to wash feet, carry the burden and not count the cost.

When I picture Christ the King I see the man who called forth ordinary people to roles of service.  I see the man who was not afraid to draw near to a leper or respect those who were different.  I see a man who loved dearly and gathered those he loved and really anyone to share with them a story so they could come to understand God’s kingdom. I see the man who loved the widow, the child, the poor. I see the man who was heartbroken at his friend’s death, who listened to the pleas of a heartbroken mother and hurting father. I see the man who saw the bigger picture and expressed it in beatitudes and a golden rule. I see the man who taught about and lived prayer. I see the man who washed his disciple’s feet, forgave his betrayer and opened up the kingdom doors of freedom for all people. I see the man who knows the great gift of faith, hope and love. I see the man who is Christ the King and how he makes me part of God’s kingdom. I see Christ the King and crave nothing more than to walk with him.

I crave you

when in times of need,

when in times of joy,

when in times of trial,

when in times of reflection.

You are all I crave:

You are fulfillment,

You are peace,

You are strength,

You are in my deepest self.

I crave you. I crave you. I crave you.

I crave you

when there are distractions all-around,

when  illusions are taunting,

when seeking truth,

when in the present moment.

You are all I crave:

You are steady,

You are vision,

You are the Truth,

You are authentically love.

I crave you. I crave you. I crave you.

I crave you

when I create chaos,

when the false ways call,

when cover ups are offered,

when the lies entice.

You are all I crave:

You are present,

You are the Way,

You are goodness,

You are honesty.

I crave you. I crave you. I crave you.

I crave you

in Your Word,

In Your Sacrament,

In Your Presence among us,

In Your Promise of life.

You are all I crave:

Light of the World

Bread of Life

Emmanuel

The Resurrection and the Life.

I crave you. I crave you. I crave you.

I crave you Christ my King. 

Peace

Peace

cries out the blood stained rocks.

Peace

cries out the blood drenched earth.

Peace

cries out the blood soaked fields.

Peace

whispers the veteran of old.

Peace

whispers the veteran of today.

Peace

whispers the veteran of war.

Peace

the goal of peacekeepers.

Peace

the goal of aide workers.

Peace

the goal of each of us.

Peace

in the tears of a fleeing mother.

Peace

in the tears of a refuge child.

Peace

in the tears of a border crossing father.

Peace

a needed desire for nations.

Peace

a needed desire for tribes.

Peace

a needed desire for peoples.

Peace

utters the heartbroken parent.

Peace

utters the heartbroken spouse.

Peace

utters the heartbroken child.

Peace

the hope for broken homes.

Peace

the hope for hurting families.

Peace

the hope for shattered relationships.

Peace

in the heart seeking justice.

Peace

in the heart seeking forgiveness.

Peace

in the heart seeking good for all.

Peace

lingering in the future for our children.

Peace

lingering in the future for our communities.

Peace

lingering in the future for our planet.

Peace

guide for our daily living.

Peace

guide for our healing.

Peace

guide for our hearts.

Peace

the gift of love for neighbour.

Peace

the gift of each of our hearts.

Peace

the gift of the resurrection.

"Peace leave you: my peace I give you.

I do not give to you as the world gives.

Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid." - John 14:27

Peace...

Let there be peace.

Peace.

Here and Now

“Don’t wish it away; don’t wish it ahead,” my friend said to me in our conversation over a year ago. That statement has been running in my life narrative ever since. At times it is very evident at other times it hits me like a lightning bolt which strikes the earth. In other words be present, be here - be now. How often I forget this as I look ahead; plan ahead or dream ahead. How often I forget this when I look back with regret; look back with longing for those moments or look back wondering why. 

Over the course of the last few days I have been reminded of the gift of the now; the present and how this moment builds towards an unknown future (which is okay) and my willingness to trust in God’s will.

I was reminded of the gift of now in a photo captured of two of my nephews together – caught up in a silly moment their faces lit up with great joy, very present to each other. They were not wishing it away; they were together as brothers – a gift in a moment that no one could take away from them.

I was reminded of this gift as I held a cup of tea and sipped it and that was simply all I was doing. Present in a moment - simply there - not planning, worrying or multi-tasking.

I was reminded of the gift of now in a walk and conversation with a Franciscan Brother of mine. A walk always makes us present to the moment, doesn’t it? No place to go in particular – simply walking in tune with where we are. The conversation involved us looking back on the journey and also discussing the future which cemented for me the need to present here and now in my current place and time. To give of myself for my current situation is being open to God’s will and creating steps for what is to come and not simply wishing it ahead.

I was reminded of the gift of now by being in a different location from regular day to day life. This caused me to heighten my senses of what is around me, who is around me and how I can be in this moment. In helping someone, in listening to someone, in sitting in quiet, in reading, in being nourished by song, sacrament and scripture I was caught up in a moment to simply be.

Life is continually throwing curve balls. We are constantly pulled out of the here and now to deal with past events or plan for something coming up. I don’t believe these curve balls are there to knock us off our grounding. I now can see them as ways to draw me into the present moment. What do I/we need in this moment to be able to walk well into the next moment? What do I/we need to being doing and to be aware of not to wish it away or ahead? What do I/we need to be caught up in God’s love and be aware of God’s will in this moment?

It is here that I am drawn to the gospel of Mark (12.28-34) and maybe for the first time I see the wisdom of the true commandments to “love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind and with all your strength” and to “love your neighbour as yourself” as the gift of being present. To love God ad love my neighbour means I am present. To love God and love my neighbour awakens me to the moment not what is to come or what was. To realize that God is here and now in this moment as I type of this, or the moment of the walk or in the moment my two nephews shared is the awareness of the gift and commandment to love. Loving God and loving neighbour demands me to be present not wishing it away or wishing it ahead. It is God here and now – God with us – God our Emmanuel. Loving God with all my heart is a beautiful gift which opens me up to deeper trust and openness to live God’s will. Loving my neighbour is a beautiful gift which empowers me to be a vessel for God; which I pray to be each day. The greatest gift of this love (and commandment to love) is that they are here and now, as they were in the paths already trod and in the journey to come. There is no hesitation in this love there is only presence and being present. How will I choose to be present today? How will I choose to fill the commandment to love?

For the gift of the now,

O Lord, I am every grateful.

Grateful that you are present

with me and calling me to love

and that you show me your love.

Grateful for the gift of life

and to see you here and now.

God – me – love – present – now.  

God – us – love – present – now.  

Amen.