Tag Archives: relationship

Stealing some moments for God

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Pentecost 18 (Luke 16:1-13) 9/22/2013

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I am very happy to report that the Boston Red Sox have clinched the American League East and are heading to the playoffs! I like to say that football season does not officially begin until the Red Sox have finished playing for the year…so the NFL will have to wait a little longer. College football is a different story; college football seems to be an integral part of the beginning of fall. College sports retain various elements of the rich history and traditions of the school and watching the game allows us an opportunity to be connected with those who have gone before us. Just last weekend I was watching a Navy football game on TV, the first home game of the season: the bright blue and gold uniforms, the old cannon firing with every score, and the Navy goat dutifully standing on the sideline. The entire picture could be repeated at many colleges throughout the country, except perhaps for the goat…why a goat, you might wonder. We just heard last Sunday about the shepherd and the sheep, the lesson of how the shepherd know their sheep; but we have a goat on the sideline of the big game! As with many traditions, especially funny college traditions, there are many stories to tell. One story of the goat involves the very first Army-Navy football game, played at West Point in 1890. As the Navy football players approached West Point, they realized they were heading to a very important game and they didn’t have a mascot…every team needs a mascot! There on the side of the road, tied up next to someone’s house, was a goat…so they simply untied the goat and headed off to the big game with their new mascot. A bit dishonest perhaps, but the act of borrowing the goat showed some interesting insights, an understanding that the odd act of taking the goat might just rally the team. Certainly, the theft of a goat would not seem to be Navy Football’s finest moment, but the lesson is not too far from the odd story we find in the Gospel lesson this morning. Continue reading →

Trinity Sunday: The presence of God

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Trinity Sunday (Romans 5:1-5)  5/26/2013

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Not long after moving to the Chicago area, I was driving home from work and noticed the sky had become an angry looking color of green and purple. Growing up in Connecticut, this was a sky I was not familiar with at all. The dark clouds twisted and tumbled and there were a few rolling sections that seemed to be just waiting to reach toward the earth. As I neared my house the sirens began to wail, warning everyone to get inside and take cover. I found my family in the basement, which is where we all spent the next several minutes until the next series of sirens gave the signal that the danger had passed. As a native New Englander, the memories of that day remain with me; and those memories were in mind this past week as I watched the devastating impact of the powerful tornado that made its way through Oklahoma. Filled with Western spirit and resolve, the people of Oklahoma have already begun the hard work of putting their communities back together, but the frightening moments of that day and the challenges that lay ahead cannot be minimized; and we might wonder, where was God in all of this? Continue reading →

The transforming grace of Easter

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Easter Sunday (John 20:1-18) 03/31/2013

When I first arrived at St. John’s a few years ago, one of the first groups I had an opportunity to closely work with was the Outreach Committee. At that time, the Outreach Committee was in the midst of re-imagining their mission to the community, re-imaging how to best serve others during challenging economic times, challenging times for everyone. The faithful and insightful people of that group developed some truly creative ideas that combined financial contributions and hands-on opportunities for St. John’s parishioners, allowing the people of our community to reach out and help others in many and varied ways. The foundational idea for this new approach was to become more involved with the people of our community in very personal ways, hoping to develop relationships rather than simply providing financial assistance. This idea is rooted in the belief that interactions between people in the service of others create relationships that are mutually transformational in nature; transformational for the giver and transformational for the receiver. The Outreach Committee, committed to service in the community, changed their name to Community Service in an effort to emphasize this new approach, and the next evolution of their mission was realized this past fall as we committed to some very specific relationships, including our participation in building housing through Habitat for Humanity and tutoring young students at Covenant Prep School in Hartford. These organizations change lives and our participation places us in the midst of ministry that is focused on the redemption and restoration of God’s children and the faithful care of the Body of Christ. This is the Easter story; the story of Christ, through whose death and resurrection, we all find redemption and restoration to the fullness of God’s intentions for us, through God’s grace and love. Continue reading →

Discovering ourselves as we discover Christ

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O'CollinsExperiencing Jesus by Gerald O’Collins, SJ; Chapter 4 – “You leave Jesus out of this!”

The holy season of Lent is a time of prayer and reflection; a time of thoughtful preparation for the events of Holy Week, the events of the Passion of Jesus Christ. If we are to enter in to the mystery and grace of Easter morning, the time of preparation during Lent is a time for us to meet Jesus in an intimate and deeply personal way. However, in the rush of daily life, we can be tempted to simply move through the busyness and leave the prayerful reflections of Jesus behind…this is what Gerald O’Collins is pointing toward in his chapter titled, “You leave Jesus out of this!” Leaving Jesus out of our lives, in some ways, simplifies things…we don’t need to hear the challenging lessons of the Gospel and we don’t need to face the brokenness of our lives, but in this “simplified” approach we are impoverished from the grace and love of Christ, a healing balm much needed in this world of ours. Welcoming Jesus in to our lives is something that may feel overwhelming and complicated at times; admittedly, the images, descriptions, and teachings of Jesus cannot be represented in some simple linear fashion. But we should not expect one image, one lesson, or one thought from the self-revelation of God through his Incarnate Word – there is much to say, much to learn, much to discover as we welcome God in to our lives.

O’Collins includes a wonderful story that highlights his thought that our discovery of God leads to some insightful discoveries of self:

“Some years ago a deacon, who belongs to an Eastern rather than to the Western, Latin rite, was taking a course with me on Christ’s being and doing. Instead of writing a paper, he chose to paint an icon and present it to the class. When he unveiled the icon, stood alongside it and began to speak, my eyes flicked from him to the face of Christ he had depicted. ‘That’s also Joe’s face shining forth from the icon,’ I thought. The face of the artist blended intricately with that of Christ. Far from being surprised at this story, we should expect our efforts to parallel what deacon Joseph did. Searching for Jesus means searching for ourselves. Truly finding him, or rather being found by him, means finding our true selves. Strangers to him, we remain strangers to ourselves.” (p.47)

“Spending some personal time with Christ”

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O'CollinsExperiencing Jesus by Gerald O’Collins, SJ; Chapter 2 – “Jesus the Meaning”

As we continue our journey through Lent, the second chapter of O’Collins’ book challenges us to consider our personal relationship with Jesus. O’Collins begins the chapter with a brief story of Augustine, a fourth century Christian of great renown, and his ill-conceived plan to wait for his teacher, Faustus, in order to learn all the secrets of life. Augustine was convinced that Faustus’ arrival would make all things known and his life’s plan would unfold clearly from the knowledge obtained from his insightful teacher. Faustus did arrive and impart his knowledge to Augustine, but everything in Augustine’s life was not neatly explained as he had thought. Life is a journey of unfolding truths, gained through experiences revealed to those with open minds and open hearts. The people of Nazareth struggled with this truth, as they rejected Jesus’ ministry among them as simply the works of the familiar carpenter. Although their actions may surprise us, we too can be guilty of trying to domesticate Jesus or suffer from over-familiarity with the powerful news of the Gospel…happily nodding to ourselves, “yes, I know that story and its lesson quite well.”

Lent is a season that particularly calls us to prayer and action in specific and personal ways. The lenten road is a journey that must be made with great intimacy and with personal intentions toward Jesus and all that Jesus invites us to be. O’Collins captures the intimacy and intentionality of Lent with the following words: “What ultimately matters is the ‘felt’ knowledge of our own experience…It is the same with our experience of Jesus. We experience him for ourselves or not at all. We pray to him ourselves or not at all. No one else, not even the dearest or closest person in our life, can take our place here. We do our praying to and our experiencing of Jesus personally…When Jesus knocks on our door, it is we who must open it to him. Here we cannot say to another person: ‘Please get up and see who is at the door of my heart.'” (p. 26) O’Collins’ insight is true for Lent and it is true for the days beyond Lent, when we continue to experience our ongoing and unfolding relationship with Jesus and with others. Throughout this holy season of Lent, let us renew and refresh our desire to seek Jesus in the grace given to us each day. The personal experiences that shape our lives and draw us into deeper relationships are forged through our desire and our commitment to our common life together.

“Why the Boy Scouts are wrong…again”

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As a young boy I looked forward to Wednesday afternoons because after school my friends and I would gather as a pack, a pack of Cub Scouts engaged in crafts, games and many other activities. My involvement with Scouting continued and my personal growth and appreciation for everything that Scouting taught me continued until a myriad of other activities in high school pulled me away. Although I never achieved the highest levels of Scouting as a young man, my memories are as distinct as the lessons I learned: respect others, appreciate your community and try to give back, give thanks to God for all that has been given you, and of course many lessons of outdoor life and skills. I can also list many things that Scouting never taught me, because these things just never seemed to matter to those involved with learning and having fun together: the color of one’s skin determines who you are, you are limited by who you keep company with, and your personal sexuality is a cause of judgment against you. These last things were not only never addressed, but if one were truly attentive to the Scouting Oath and the Law of Scouting they were proved to be completely false…or so I thought until fairly recently. Continue reading →

“Sacred Traditions”

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Pentecost 14 (Mark 7: 1-23)  09/02/2012

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The author of the Gospel according to Mark tells us this morning, “the Pharisees, and all the Jews…observed the traditions of the elders;…and there were many traditions that they observed.” (Mark 7:3-4) As we gather on this traditional Labor Day weekend, we must admit that there are a fair number of traditions that we observe. Perhaps as we sit in the church this morning with visions of the summer BBQ or the beach or some other holiday tradition on our minds, we might look quite fondly on our traditions. Traditions ground us in many ways: they connect us to our past and they provide us with a framework of how to proceed into our future. Some traditions are rather obvious and widely practiced, while other traditions are quite obscure and practiced by a select group of people. Turkey on Thanksgiving, freshly cut trees at Christmas and cakes with festive candles on birthdays include some of the most popular traditions in the United States. Lesser known traditions, so I’ve heard, include pulling off the legs of the turkey before cooking it in the oven, serving minced pie at Christmas, or taking long family hikes every New Year’s Day, regardless of the weather. Some traditions are fun and festive while others are quite sacred. Sacred traditions are often passed along to successive generations and eventually become accepted as strict rituals of the religious community. Continue reading →

“Walking with God”

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Pentecost 13 (1 Kings 8:1-30)  08/26/2012

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A few weeks ago while on vacation with my family I had the wonderful opportunity to go on a cruise to Alaska! The cruise was a trip to one of the last frontiers in the United States. Although tourists descend upon Alaska every year, much of the landscape has retained its rugged natural beauty: glaciers stretching toward the ocean; mountain peaks reaching toward the heavens; and clouds, fog and rain seemingly ever-present, covering the entire region in a soft white blanket. Once I had finally accepted the idea that “water” (in its various forms) was simply part of the trip, the clouds and fog seemed to enhance the beauty of the landscape rather than detract from it. Throughout the week, the fog never fully obstructed our view; but instead seemed to rest like a delicate white stole, draped over the majestic mountains, shrouding the sacred beauty of the area. As we stood on the deck of the ship and looked out and up, the landscape appeared mysteriously beautiful and incredibly large, so large, in fact, that keeping objects in perspective was often difficult. The 250 foot wall of the glacier face appeared to be half that high and mountains that appeared close enough to touch were in fact miles away (which meant a lot more rowing during the river boat excursion than first expected!). The might and majesty of nature seemed beyond containment and the vast beauty of the region had no end. Continue reading →

“In the midst of change You are there with me”

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Seventh Sunday of Easter (John 17:6-19)  5/20/2012

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As the days get longer and the sun shines a bit warmer, I become more aware that the time is nearly here for school to take its summer recess. The thoughts of lazy summer days and relaxing trips to the beach instill great joy in the hearts of many students; while for those students who will be graduating, the coming end of the school year begins a time of great transition. The transition of those leaving school marks the end of one chapter and the beginning of a new chapter in one’s life; a transition to a world only previously imagined but never fully experienced. In fact, on this very day 25 years ago, I tossed my hat high into the air with my classmates as we marked the end of our college days and nervously imagined what was to follow. Transitions are life events that are often full of personal emotions and excitement, but transitions are also events that remind us that we are not alone, we rely on those we love for guidance and support. J. Philip Newell, author and spiritual director, quotes a wonderful story by George MacLeod in his book, Listening for the heartbeat of God. George MacLeod was a Scottish clergyman and founder of the modern day Christian community of Iona. MacLeod tells a story of a great day of transition for his young daughter, her first day of school. He writes, “I was busy. I was writing letters. I was self-important. My little daughter was going to school that morning for the first time. She came into my room, in her first school uniform. I said, ‘Your tie is not quite straight.’ Then I looked at her eyes. She wasn’t crying. She was unutterably disappointed. She hadn’t come for tie inspection. She had come to show she was going to school for the first time. A terrific day, and I had let her down. What is that bit in the Gospel? Whosoever shall offend against one of these little ones…better for a millstone to be tied around his neck and that he be cast into the sea. I ran downstairs. I said all the right things. I crossed the road with her. I went to school with her. I had missed the moment, missed the point. I will always see these eyes. Sometimes when I am very busy. Sometimes when I am writing letters. I am forgiven, but I won’t forget.”[i] MacLeod’s reflection on his daughter’s great day of transition insightfully paints a vivid picture of both the emotional excitement and the fragile nature of transitions, and the human need for the love and support of others as we navigate through these unfamiliar times. Continue reading →

“The Incarnate God among us”

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The Third Sunday of Easter (Luke 24:36-48)  4/22/2012

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Several months ago the Global Missions Committee began planning a trip to visit our companion church in Cuba. As the planning continued over the course of several weeks we learned more about the travel arrangements, the needs of the church in Santa Cruz del Norte, and we learned more about the Cuban people of our companion parish. Two weeks ago today, on Easter Sunday, we packed our cars full of eight bags of needed supplies and readied ourselves for an early Monday morning, arriving at the airport before sunrise. Our journey continued and with each moment we moved closer and closer to the community of Santa Cruz: we navigated through security lines, encountered long bag check lines, we lost our luggage, we found our luggage, and we finally arrived in Havana. We soon met Father Frank, members of the Cathedral staff, and when we arrived in Santa Cruz del Norte on Wednesday we met the eagerly waiting members of our companion church – all in the flesh. We can learn many important pieces of information via email and over the phone, but experiencing people up close and in the flesh is an experience that cannot be matched by any form of long distance communication. Throughout our week long visit to Cuba, our personal interactions with our Cuban friends profoundly shaped our experience and were the source of our lasting impression of their hospitality and grace. Continue reading →