MInd your own beeswax

Matthew 20:1-16

           The Judgements that we are make are quite enormous. The judgements we make are quite arrogant, simple minded, biased, sweeping, unloving, unwarranted, petty and certainly not of God.

 - even if we proclaim that they are. I can look at today or look back in history for any array of proclamations, wars and social constrictions that proclaim ( in the name of God ) that we are saved and you are not.

           Today there is a a battle between good and evil as we see it. The rabid and judgemental ( in their own right ) who are fundamentalist, hateful Muslims. Their goal is to cleanse the earth of infidels and proclaim and install an ancient, slanted and myopic view of their religion. Their judgement is that they are God's chosen ones and their view is supreme.

           In the United States there are similar religious fundamentalists ( Christian ) who judge and proclaim that theirs is a Christian country and that everyone else is not saved, going to hell in  a hand basket and risking the fires of hell.

          The Roman church quite ironically viewed indigenous Americans and Africans as less than human and lacking souls. That was the judgement and view.  In fairness, not all Christians or Catholics believed that but it was the hierarchical view and judgement, the view that dictates policy and official beliefs. The saved were those in the Church that were of a white, European and of a male persuasion. What is terribly ironic in that alone is that Jesus himself would more resemble a Arab that anyone else. Jesus would be short, olive skinned and dark not the blue eye blond hunk Jesus become in Hollywood.  

           Back in the good old US of A, the current struggle is for marriage equality. The judgement of some is that the Bible tells them so, marriage equality just ain't so.  Not unlike the Muslim fanatic using the Koran, the Bible is used out of context, misread, misinterpreted, selectively read and used to support a narrow minded vision of marriage. In fact, it would be revisionist history, perhaps not at it's worst but revisionist none the less.  The judgements are legion and certainly has little to to do with Godliness and the love we are called to witness to.

        This seems like a tirade I suppose. What kind of reaction did some of the workers in today's passage have when the landowner ( How appropriate, God is the landowner ) gave equal wages to everyone?  

        It seems like an incredibly perfect metaphor for life. We are all made in God's image and asked to be the best we can be. We are called to do the most with what we have been given. We are to use our opportunities to love the best we can. Then and only then, GOD will make the judgements about who is worthy and who is not. Perhaps some of those vineyard workers worked lazily even for the few hours they were asked to work. That would be reason for the workers to rant, wouldn't it?  Except that even in that scenario the workers are deciding who put out the 'right' amount of effort.  GOD is the only one to judge. When we judge, we look at life with a jaundiced eye and can never rise on our best loving day to the love, compassion and healing of God our father. Nope, we simply cannot judge.

         So are we to be mindless zombies, working and not judging?  No, certainly not. The work we 'toil' at is not a job. The work we toil at is love. If we love as best we can, I am confident that we we be paid in full. Never mind about anyone else, you will be paid in full.

‘For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire labourers for his vineyard. After agreeing with the labourers for the usual daily wage, he sent them into his vineyard. When he went out about nine o’clock, he saw others standing idle in the market-place; and he said to them, “You also go into the vineyard, and I will pay you whatever is right.” So they went. When he went out again about noon and about three o’clock, he did the same.And about five o’clock he went out and found others standing around; and he said to them, “Why are you standing here idle all day?” They said to him, “Because no one has hired us.” He said to them, “You also go into the vineyard.” When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his manager, “Call the labourers and give them their pay, beginning with the last and then going to the first.” When those hired about five o’clock came, each of them received the usual daily wage. Now when the first came, they thought they would receive more; but each of them also received the usual daily wage. And when they received it, they grumbled against the landowner, saying, “These last worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat.” But he replied to one of them, “Friend, I am doing you no wrong; did you not agree with me for the usual daily wage? Take what belongs to you and go; I choose to give to this last the same as I give to you. Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or are you envious because I am generous?” So the last will be first, and the first will be last.’ 

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Labyrinthine living

       

           Yesterday I walked the last formal labyrinth walk at one of my favorite places. The Friary I had fallen in love with is being closed and sold. Older demographics and fewer new monks.  I cannot help but think of  some of the memorable labyrinth walks I have made from my very first to the present.

          I was on a retreat with my fellow seminarians when I was introduced to the labyrinth at the retreat house. It was a concrete walkway with millions of loose pebbles in between that circuitous concrete path. I began to walk without instruction and almost immediately went back inside to find a broom. The Felix Unger in me wanted to clean the pebbles from the path. As I walked slowly sweeping pebbles along the way I had a revelation. Part of my journey in life as well as the labyrinth walk itself was to shed myself of unwanted and undesirable traits. If I could make the walk a self assessment I could move forward in my life. Sweeping the pebbles off the path became a metaphor for my life. It was so great to get to the center with a clean path behind me. The return walk though, revealed some pebbles that had escaped my attention. I either missed them with the broom or I did not see them. How true it is that no matter how you improve and challenge yourself, there is more to do. There are always pebbles to be addressed. That was my first walk. I was in love with the labyrinth.

         On another retreat at the same venue I was challenged to view the labyrinth walk in a different way. I would enter the labyrinth at "today". At each corner or turn I would pause for a previous event in time, at a previous event in my life that stood out or might warrant some reflection. I would continue to walk 'back in time' reflecting on events even as I was a child until I reached the center of the labyrinth. The center would be my presence with God as He conceived me. The point in time before my human conception, the point when God said to himself that it was I that world needed. When I reached the center of the labyrinth on that walk I was physically shaking and emotionally raw, in tears and overcome by the presence of God.

           Last night I walked with the ever present knowledge that my ripening aneurysm could burst at any time. As I walked this labyrinth I paused at corners and faced the center (my representation of the presence of God), viewing perhaps when I might now or soon meet my maker. What I realized as I walked is how close I would come to the presence of God in my walk (my life journey) and then moments later be farther away. It was a beautiful walk.  Some of the time was spend reminiscing about previous walks on this same path when I was trying to deal with some major issues in my life. The take away thought then  (as now) was "be not afraid". Indeed, I was humming Be Not Afraid by the monks of the Weston Priory during much of the walk.

             When I think about some of the other labyrinths I have walked in recent years, Chartre and and at little country churches here on this little island, I know that these simple paths where I meander bring me closer to to an understanding of myself and closer to God.

             Of the many forms of prayer we know, I find that the Labyrinth is one of the most enlightening, transportive and productive.  There are lap labyrinths and pocket labyrinths and all help us to dealve deeper into our own soul and into the mind and all embracing nature of our creator. That is, peace and love.

words with meaning

Luke 14:25-33

         'Oh, we must do lunch, I'll have my people call your people'.  Or, 'we simply must get together, I'll call you'. It's almost an acceptable social lie isn't it? You don't expect to get a call. You never get together and really, you never intended to. It's lip service.

          When I taught religion classes many years ago, I noted that a majority of the parents whose children I taught never went to church at all. That didn't make them bad people necessarily. It was as if they really didn't want to be bothered with religion but also didn't want to make a formal disconnect or an outward sign of disbelief, so they sent their kids to class. Sort of like hedging your bets.  I'm not quite sure if it rises to the level of being passive aggressive.

            When you make a decision to do something or if you believe in something strongly enough, you move forward with it. You don't for example say you are concerned about the homeless and then sit back and down a beer and forget the whole matter. Homeless who?

In marriage you don't say I love you to someone and then totally disrespect them, beat them or cheat on them. If you love someone, you act in a manner that backs up your words.

            In today's passage we have some of their contemporary examples using building a house and waging war. You don't say I'm going to do 'X' and not plan, and not do. Actions follow words and beliefs.

            If you say you are a follower of Christ or simply a holy person of any kind, your belief has to be followed out in your actions. Hence, carrying your own cross. Our crosses are as unique as we are. If we are faithful Christians we have to pick up our crosses and we have to live, actively live, our love.  You can see the Dalai lama is a holy person. The same can be said for mother Theresa. Can you imagine them spewing a tirade of obscenities? No, never. It is totally inconsistent with who they are and what their beliefs are.  What do you think when you hear of a televangelist that is surrounded by great material goods and has affairs?  I would be questioning their sincerity and their beliefs. While we all make mistakes for sure, revelling in the worldly is not what I would consider a mistake as much a way of life, a way of life that contradicts one's beliefs.

            I'll let you pick out the contradictions in life for yourself. The married man that has gay sex on the down low. The environmentalist that drives a Hummer.  The Attorney general of Florida that expounds on the sanctity of marriage, fights against marriage equality but is thrice divorced herself. 

             Use your imagination on your own examples but don't let yourself escape the scrutiny. If you believe then you must act accordingly. That goes for whatever your beliefs are or whatever your religion is. 

           

Now large crowds were travelling with him; and he turned and said to them, ‘Whoever comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and even life itself, cannot be my disciple. Whoever does not carry the cross and follow me cannot be my disciple. For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not first sit down and estimate the cost, to see whether he has enough to complete it? Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it will begin to ridicule him, saying, “This fellow began to build and was not able to finish.” Or what king, going out to wage war against another king, will not sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to oppose the one who comes against him with twenty thousand? If he cannot, then, while the other is still far away, he sends a delegation and asks for the terms of peace.So therefore, none of you can become my disciple if you do not give up all your possessions.

failure to engage

Luke 14:15-24

            I love many lines from the movie Moonstruck but one in particular is when an old Sicilian women miraculously comes back from near death bed.  Johnny Cammareri (Danny Aiello) reports "it's a miracle". Rose Castorini (Olympia Dukakis) says "That's news!" 

           I once a had a brother in law who said he didn't really believe in God because there were no more miracles. I said to him, "open your eyes!"

            Somewhere in between seeing no miracles and seeing miracles in every single thing you see and do is a point to be made.  We are so often so busy and life seems blurred we fail to see what is actually going on around us. Self absorbed, absorbed with our i-phones, cars and clothes and having excuses for everything, we not only don't see the miracles around us we fail to engage in the true business of life. That would be listening, loving and aiming our sights a bit higher than on worldly things.

           Whether it is focusing only on me and self gratification of sex and toys, we just miss the whoe point of living.  I suppose self gratification is ok to some point, I mean we are worth it aren't we? But what about putting others first? Self gratification shared and experienced with a loving heart and hand can elevate the worldly to other worldly, to heavenly heights. Perhaps you think I am speaking of sex. I'm not really because it applies to everything in life. We are just occupied and have so many excuses that we really fail to engage in the business which life is all about.  Whether that is human intimacy or simply listening  to someone or helping someone as corny as crossing the street like the proverbial boy scout. It's corny yes, but it is all those little things and all the interpersonal things of life that help us to engage in the true business of life.

   

               

One of the dinner guests, on hearing this, said to him, ‘Blessed is anyone who will eat bread in the kingdom of God!’ Then Jesus said to him, ‘Someone gave a great dinner and invited many. At the time for the dinner he sent his slave to say to those who had been invited, “Come; for everything is ready now.” But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said to him, “I have bought a piece of land, and I must go out and see it; please accept my apologies.” Another said, “I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I am going to try them out; please accept my apologies.” Another said, “I have just been married, and therefore I cannot come.” So the slave returned and reported this to his master. Then the owner of the house became angry and said to his slave, “Go out at once into the streets and lanes of the town and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind, and the lame.” And the slave said, “Sir, what you ordered has been done, and there is still room.” Then the master said to the slave, “Go out into the roads and lanes, and compel people to come in, so that my house may be filled. For I tell you, none of those who were invited will taste my dinner.” ’

The art of giving

Luke 14:12-14

           When the current Bishop of the Roman Diocese I live in was installed, he caused quite a stir over some of his choices. One of the most notable was his eviction of a group of nuns from a church building. The intent was to use the space for his own living quarters. Right off the bat you easily could ask why one Bishop requires all the space that an entire group of nuns occupied, but I digress. The real wind started to blow when the nature of his renovations came to light. A notable example was the two wine refrigerators, one for whites and one for reds. I am sure this is no different than what is found in some of the more opulent homes in the diocese. However, this is the Shepherd, the Bishop. One needed to ask several questions. One was the expenditure. Was this money wisely spent and was there a better use for the money? Second, what was the need? Was this to enrich his own lavish lifestyle or was this merely to live a life that required entertaining people that expected such lavishness. None of the questions ever got answered to any satisfaction.

             So I wonder what the good Bishop says about todays' passage. In honesty though, what do we each think of this passage?  In this, one of the richest areas of the country, have most of us not bought into the concept of bigger is better, fine dining for those who can afford it and if we get a gift we simply must reply in kind.

           Heaven forbid we we take this passage in any way in a literal way. What would the world come to? It would be social upheaval of the worst kind now wouldn't it?

           But let's look it at a bit figuratively. Is this not a metaphor for how God treats us? Who is invited to God's table? Simply everyone is invited and not a single one of us are capable of repaying God in kind. We cannot repay God for the graces he has bestowed upon us. And so if we are to live by example and even remotely emulate the love and generosity of God, it behooves us to be as generous as we can and with no expectation of repayment. In fact we should give to those who have no possibility of repayment in kind. 

            This is a concept lost in a world gone mad with materialism. This seems especially rampant in the area in which I live.  We are called though to act differently. We are called to give more than generously to those who are in need and do so quietly and joyfully. It is the art of givng.

He said also to the one who had invited him, ‘When you give a luncheon or a dinner, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or rich neighbours, in case they may invite you in return, and you would be repaid. But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind. And you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you, for you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.’

Forgve and forget

Matthew 18:21-35

           When I was  young man I had a pendant that had inscribed on it, "70 x 7".  That is referenced in today's passage. With even little knowledge about numerology or Biblical numerology , we can see that we are called to forgive more than just once or twice. For some people once might be a challenge and twice would be cause to drag out the expression "fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice shame on me".  In contrast to God, we don't seem too enamored with the ideal of forgiving over and over. It's rather ironic don't you think, when we consider how many times we ourselves make mistakes, errors in judgement or almost outright turn away from God? But God forgives us over and over and over. Jesus died that miserable, horrible death for that very reason. We are forgiven. You'd think we might 'get it'.

          Just yesterday my husband and I were discussing somone that I feel wronged me. I never said I 'hate' that person as if the degree of things really matters. I think 'hate' should be banned but I have no problem simply disliking someone, hypocrite that I am. Anyway, my incredibly wise husband asked me if I thought I could find it in my heart to forgive whatever alleged transgression I may feel was perpetuated on me by this person and move on.  It has me at quite a vulnerable time right now as you might guess but I knew that the forgiving had to be real and complete. That is, not the kind that says "I forgive, but I never forget". That's really not forgiveness.

          The last line of today's passage really drives this point home. Not only are we called to forgive 70 times 7 times ( that is basically, infinitely ), we are called to forgive "from your heart". Forgive completely and without reservation. Forgive completely and letting yourself be set up to be hurt again. Jesus put it another way as well. 'If a man slaps you on one cheek, offer him the other cheek as well'. This is an immensely difficult concept or mandate.

         In a time when we seem to be able to justify every reason to dislike, hate or demand (human) justice, how do we justify our own behavior?  Why do we have the arrogant expectation of total forgiveness from God and are stingy as hell with others?

Then Peter came and said to him, ‘Lord, if another member of the church^* sins against me, how often should I forgive? As many as seven times?’ Jesus said to him, ‘Not seven times, but, I tell you, seventy-seven times.

‘For this reason the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his slaves. When he began the reckoning, one who owed him ten thousand talents was brought to him;and, as he could not pay, his lord ordered him to be sold, together with his wife and children and all his possessions, and payment to be made.So the slave fell on his knees before him, saying, “Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.” And out of pity for him, the lord of that slave released him and forgave him the debt. But that same slave, as he went out, came upon one of his fellow-slaves who owed him a hundred denarii; and seizing him by the throat, he said, “Pay what you owe.” Then his fellow-slave fell down and pleaded with him, “Have patience with me, and I will pay you.” But he refused; then he went and threw him into prison until he should pay the debt. When his fellow-slaves saw what had happened, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their lord all that had taken place. Then his lord summoned him and said to him, “You wicked slave! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. Should you not have had mercy on your fellow-slave, as I had mercy on you?” And in anger his lord handed him over to be tortured until he should pay his entire debt.So my heavenly Father will also do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother or sister from your heart.’

The Master's knock

Luke 12:32-48

          There's just so much talking about death that you can bear. Just one more reason to be fearless. It's a cosmic way of your Psyche saying, 'here's your hat, what's your hurry?' You really want an answer either way. Am I going to go? or am I going to stay?  That's not for us to say so prepare as best you can. Live as best you can. Know that the 'master' may come at any time, be prepared to greet him. What a great reading for today.

           As I noted yesterday, we get accustomed to the daily routine that makes us think we are immortal. And yet our life as a faithful person is supposed to be geared toward eternal life.

          There is a school of thought that attaining 'perfection' or at least preparing for our next life is how we embrace and live this life right now.  In exploring what it is to be fully human is to embrace what God created us to be. This is true to the most intimate of levels so that you must discern everything about yourself to attain true holiness.  Denials of who you are or not living up to your God given potential is probably one of the biggest sins against God and yourself.

            On a broad scale, this is why we nurture prodigies. This is also why you have a whole movement afoot to say I'm out and proud.  While being prideful can be an insidious thing, it also is what God wants us to be as his unique and loved creations. If you have been put down, marginalized or mistreated simply for being who you are, there is a special need to acknowledge and feel pride in who you are. From being black to being gay you finally stand up and scream, HEH! I'm here and proud. Why even the lowly geeks of yore have found a pride among themselves. It seems now that the geeks rule the world. 

            How wonderful it is to embrace who you are, be all that you can be and be ready for the "Master" when he comes not at your door. You will be able to say this is what our Father created and this is what I have done with it.  I would hate to be called and for God to say, 'you had such potential' or 'in denying who you are you denied me as your creator'.

          

            

‘Do not be afraid, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions, and give alms. Make purses for yourselves that do not wear out, an unfailing treasure in heaven, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

‘Be dressed for action and have your lamps lit; be like those who are waiting for their master to return from the wedding banquet, so that they may open the door for him as soon as he comes and knocks. Blessed are those slaves whom the master finds alert when he comes; truly I tell you, he will fasten his belt and have them sit down to eat, and he will come and serve them. If he comes during the middle of the night, or near dawn, and finds them so, blessed are those slaves.

‘But know this: if the owner of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an unexpected hour.’

Peter said, ‘Lord, are you telling this parable for us or for everyone?’ And the Lord said, ‘Who then is the faithful and prudent manager whom his master will put in charge of his slaves, to give them their allowance of food at the proper time? Blessed is that slave whom his master will find at work when he arrives. Truly I tell you, he will put that one in charge of all his possessions. But if that slave says to himself, “My master is delayed in coming”, and if he begins to beat the other slaves, men and women, and to eat and drink and get drunk, the master of that slave will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour that he does not know, and will cut him in pieces, and put him with the unfaithful. That slave who knew what his master wanted, but did not prepare himself or do what was wanted, will receive a severe beating.But one who did not know and did what deserved a beating will receive a light beating. From everyone to whom much has been given, much will be required; and from one to whom much has been entrusted, even more will be demanded.