Don't Kill the Messenger

Friends of Faith:

Have you ever worn a new outfit with a tag still attached? Who laughed behind your back, who told you it was there, and who helped you take it off?

Have you ever been “uncomfortable” speaking the truth because you were afraid of what the other person might think about your honesty?

What about the tougher issues we face—are we willing to be a “best friend” who reminds our friends of God’s moral truths (in kindness and compassion—when our friends ask) or do we ignore what we know is wrong (sin) because we don’t want to be the “messenger who is killed,” the faithful Christian friend who is “rejected?”

Would you be willing to tell a friend that it is not right to use a company car on personal time; to take “fringe benefits” home from the office without permission; or spend the night with someone of the opposite sex before they are married? How often do you speak against revenge, contraception, premarital sex, cohabitation, homosexuality and abortion?

And how do I react when someone tells me the truth? Do I become resentful, rebellious and revengeful towards the messenger—thinking to myself—“oh, now they are judging me?” Or do I accept the truth, take off the tag (change my way), and become grateful that someone had the courage to tell me of my blunder (sin). Do I say “thank you” for the honesty of a best friend? Or do I “kill the messenger?”

"Get behind me, Satan. You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do." He summoned the crowd with his disciples and said to them, "Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and that of the gospel will save it." Mk 8: 27-35

And what about those who don’t “feel comfortable” enough to tell us the truth, who gossip behind our backs about the errors they know we are making? Are they only willing to do or say the truth if it gives them a reward? Are they like the person who says “they have been saved” but who does nothing with the faith they profess?

What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister has nothing to wear and has no food for the day, and one of you says to them, "Go in peace, keep warm, and eat well," but you do not give them the necessities of the body, what good is it? So also faith of itself, if it does not have works, is dead. Indeed someone might say, "You have faith and I have works." Demonstrate your faith to me without works, and I will demonstrate my faith to you from my works. James 2:14-18

Are we only willing to be the messenger, the bearer and doer of difficult truths, God’s truths, when we see something in it for us? 

Ten of the apostles were killed for following Christ. Many prophets and saints became martyrs, including some at Columbine High School. And we were saved because Christ was crucified. They all said YES to being God’s messengers.

So be imitators of God, as beloved children, and live in love, as Christ loved us and handed himself over for us as a sacrificial offering to God for a fragrant aroma. Immorality or any impurity or greed must not even be mentioned among you, as is fitting among holy ones, no obscenity or silly or suggestive talk, which is out of place, but instead, thanksgiving. Eph 5:1-4

Heavenly Father, you gave us your Son so that we might be saved. Help me to express my gratitude for his suffering by being truthful and honoring your commandments even when it is difficult and I am persecuted for my Christian convictions. Thank you for the spiritual gifts of wisdom and fear of the Lord which allow me to not fear being Your messenger. Amen.

Demonstrate your faith, but don’t kill the messenger—we are both the friend who needs to say the truth and the friend who needs to hear the truth.

Blessings,

Charlotte

 

I Saw a Sermon

Women of Faith:

It is always difficult to go back to work after a few days off, but for me I hope today will be different because I “Saw a Sermon:” A sermon which showed me a new vision of peace and tranquility –trust and calm.

Sermons We See, by Edgar Guest

"I'd rather see a sermon
than hear one any day;
I'd rather one should walk with me
than merely tell the way.
The eye's a better pupil
and more willing than the ear,
Fine counsel is confusing,
but example's always clear;
And the best of all preachers
are the men who live their creeds,
For to see good put in action
is what everybody needs.

I soon can learn to do it
if you'll let me see it done;
I can watch your hands in action,
but your tongue too fast may run.
And the lecture you deliver
may be very wise and true,
But I'd rather get my lessons
by observing what you do;
For I might misunderstand you
and the high advice you give,
But there's no misunderstanding
how you act and how you live."

And I would like to thank some of our “tour guides” of the past three weeks for this “Sermon I See:” Fr. Chris Ditomo, Fr. Patrick, Fr. Stephen and Brother Michael.

Their collective “sermon I saw” was perfect for our time spent away from the craziness of life. And what I saw was “calm” and “trust” led by “joy in each moment” and “peace in their place.”

While we didn’t really sit still while we were together – time seemed almost as if it had stopped. There was no sense of urgency, only a sense of calm waiting and an anticipation and trust of where God would next lead us on our journey.

These young, energetic, faith filled men have learned to follow this weekend’s parable of TRUST that God will work if we let Him.

‘Jesus said to the crowds: "This is how it is with the kingdom of God; it is as if a man were to scatter seed on the land and would sleep and rise night and day and through it all the seed would sprout and grow, he knows not how. Of its own accord the land yields fruit, first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear. And when the grain is ripe, he wields the sickle at once, for the harvest has come."’ Mk 4:26-34

Collectively they were a “Sermon I could see” – the trust they have given to God in both their opportunities and their challenges: to grow them, mold them, and to let them bear the fruit and spread truth on their journey thru life: to truly be servants of God.

Heavenly Father: You are Here, You are Present, You are blessing me with everything I need. Help me to Trust that you will take care of my needs. Help me to give you Control of my life. Guide my actions, which speak louder than words, to always be honorable to Your call. Let me always be a willing servant. Thank you for keeping us safe on our travels and for opening doors to “new vision.” Bless all of those you call to the vocation of religious service. Amen.

Will you allow God to live through you?

Will your actions this week be a “sermon someone will see?”

Blessings,

Charlotte

Least Ones

Women of Faith:

We often hear from the pulpit at Lent, that it is more important to do something for someone than it is to give up something we do.

Yet, not only do we have a difficult time giving up our time and belongings, but we have a difficult time recognizing who truly needs us. Who is the “least” amongst us?

And to remember that when we “do” even the smallest act of kindness or charity for someone who is truly in need that we may be looking at Jesus, because He is everywhere, in each person we meet, in each person we know, but especially in the “least” among us.

“…And he will separate them one from another, ….
“Then the king will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father.
Inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, …. thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me, naked and you clothed me, ill and you cared for me, in prison and you visited me.’
“Then the righteous will answer him and say, ‘Lord, when did we see you …
“‘Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me.’
“Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you accursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the Devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, ….
“Then they will answer and say ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or ill or in prison, and not minister to your needs?’ He will answer them, ‘Amen, I say to you, what you did not do for one of these least ones, you did not do for me.’
And these will go off to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.” Mt 25:31-46

I think of this reading each time I see the beggar on the street corner. I think of this reading when I drive by someone who appears homeless and fail to extend a helping hand, or to even say “Hi!” I think of this reading each time I pass by the Salvation Army bucket at Christmas and each time I pass up one of those jars in the grocery store.

And I know I have crossed the street and walked on the other sidewalk just so I didn’t have to walk past the beggar, yet alone offer my “pocket” change: change which I will spend for something frivolous, or stick in a piggy bank forever. Change which had I given it, I would never even miss it, change which would not have even been a sacrifice.

And yes, sometimes the cash will be squandered, and yes, sometimes I may be “taken” but the chances are that the beggar is just “out of luck” or maybe even put in my path just so Jesus can see how I will do with this message. How am I to know, and why should I be the judge of this person? Who is the Least of my brothers?

Dear God: Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life. They are my guide book. Forgive me for the times when I ignore your words, when I ignore You on the street corner. Help me to always see you in the least of my brothers. Help me to sacrifice my time to those who “bother” me when I am “too” busy. Help me to pay attention to those who are “least;” those suffering from homelessness, from depression, who seem a little strange to me. Protect me from anyone who might have wrong motives and allow me to give up some small part of myself to see YOU in the least. Amen.

So, if you are looking for a Lenten sacrifice: volunteer in a soup kitchen; go visit someone you know in the nursing home, send a card to a friend who you have been ignoring; clean out a closet and give away something nice—not the leftovers; or maybe even hand the beggar on the street corner your “pocket” change.

Lent is a time to go into the desert with Christ. We give our materialistic culture 325 days a year. Let’s give Jesus these forty days to walk with Him and to change ourselves to be more like Him. It only takes 21 days to create a habit so it is a great time to let God create “new” habits in us, to do something outside our “comfort zone.” It doesn’t have to take a lot of time, or a lot of money. We might even be doing that something for someone we know because at times we are all one of “the least.”

And remember: Jesus walked with the “least” of our brothers. Jesus was treated as the “least of our brothers.”

Blessings on each of the least,
Charlotte

Who is My King?

Women of Faith:

I am sure everyone of us has, or is, or will, at some point in our lives, get up five days a week and either put the kids on the bus, or go to a job.

Why? Because it is our responsibility. To “learn,” because the government tells us we should, and to provide for our basic needs.

I am sure, that because we are all Christians we are just as diligent every Sunday, in spending the Sabbath with God as our primary boss, and as our focus. First, we set an example and take our children to church and then, we spend time refreshing our Christian souls, spending time with our family or by using Christ’s day to serve others. We set aside school (the government) and jobs (money) and let Sunday be “God’s day.”

Or are we? What are we letting intrude into “God’s day?” Are we standing up as Christians and telling our other “kings” that Sunday is sacred? Are we showing our children and our neighbors who the real King in our lives is? Is Christ our King?

Ps 121: 7-8 “Our help is from the Lord, who made heaven and earth. The LORD will guard you from all evil; he will guard your life. The LORD will guard your coming and your going,both now and forever.

How can we be helped if we don’t make God our King? How can God guard us if we allow 5 days of the week to overshadow God’s day or if we “skip” God’s day this week? Why is it so important to remind ourselves and others that Christ is our King.

Matthew Kelley, in “The Rhythm of Life” talks about God’s day, with an emphasis on it as a day of rest: “The philosophical foundation of the lifestyles celebrated by the media screams, “Life is about what you have and what you do.” Pleasure, possession, and power are the three pillars… The emphasis is on having and doing, rather than on BECOMING. The truth is that what you BECOME is infinitely more important than what you do, or what you have.”

So , can I become “Christ” if I don’t spend a day with Christ? How can I become an imitator of Christ, my King, if I let the world become my King?

Dear God: Praise be Your Holy Day! I am sorry for the times when I let someone or something other than you be my King. Thank you for giving me a day to “rest” with you. Thank you for giving me time to spend with you and with my Christian family. Refresh my soul. Refresh the souls of my friends. Guard and protect me this week. And help me always to “become” more like you. Amen.

Blessings on your Week—
Charlotte