Gospel, Homily and Coffee

A great philosopher once said, “Reality, what a concept!” A true experience of Christ and Christ’s salvation will change our reality. To experience Jesus’ Salvation and to be free, it is necessary to have our reality changed. The human person, in attempt to make sense of his or her’s world, to feel a degree of safety, creates their own reality.  This is normal. What can happen though, is we forget this or we do not know that this reality is subjective; it is in a sense made up, and it can keep us limited as persons. We think that that because “I believe this”  It must be true for all. And it isn’t.  Which then sets up all kinds of conflicts. The event of the Son of God becoming human;  the event of his life, teachings, healings; the event especially of his arrest, crucifixion, death and resurrection, I hope, shakes us up. God’s gift of salvation to us is meant to to wake us up from our slumber, shocks us to think differently, to change our reality. Then we ca

If asked “What is essential to our humanity, to my sense of self?” Our answer would be? If asked “What is essential to our joy, to our salvation from Jesus Christ?” Is the answer the same? To be human, truly alive as human, to be “ME” there is need to be in relationships. Joy filled people are in healthy relationships, within community. Salvation is realized in our interactions with others. This makes sense right, since God is relationship:  Father, Son and Holy Spirit; and we are created in God’s own image. Jesus’ Good News is about that.   He came so that we may be free; free to do what is good, what is right; free to love.   We need others to do what is good and right, we need others to love, and to love us back. This is the foundation of community. All that Jesus did reinforces the need of community. Even Jesus’ healings have the subtext of restoring people back to the community, since the sick and possessed were excluded from others. To

Como vemos  el mundo, nosotros mismos? Hubo una mujer entrampado en su casa por las aguas de un diluvio. Ella subió al techo para estar más seguro, y comenzó a orar a Dios para rescatar a ella. Un hombre llegó en una barca, y pidió a ella a juntarle.   Ella dijo "No.  Dios va a rescatarme."  "¿Estás cierto? èl preguntó.  "Si!" Ella declaró.  Entonces, el hombre se flotó adelante. Las aguas se subieron, y ella escaló más alto en el techo.  Otra vez, ella oró a Dios para rescatar a ella. Un otro hombre llegó en una barca, y pidió a ella a entrar la barca. "No," dijo el mujere, "Dios va a rescatarme".  El hombre con la barca flotó lejos. Todavía las aguas subieron, y la mujer no pudo escalar más alto. Otra vez ella pidió a Dios para salvar a ella. Un tercer hombre llegó en una barca, gritando a ella para venir a el en la barca. “NO!  DIOS VA A RESCATARME!” “VEN!”  Él exclamó! “NO!!” y las aguas cubrieron a ell

How do we see the world around us, and ourselves? There is a story of a woman caught in a flood.  She goes to the roof of her house, and watches as the flood waters rise.  She begins to pray to God for her rescue. A man comes up to her in a boat, and tells her to get into the boat. “No, thank you.  God will rescue me.” You sure?”, asks the man.  “Yes” she replies.  So he floats away. She watches the waters rise and she climbs higher on the roof.  “Dear Lord, please come and rescue me from these waters.” She prays. A man comes up in a boat and pleads for her to get in.   “No, I am waiting for God to come and save me.” He goes away. The waters rise even more, she can go no higher.  “Dear God, please come, take me to safety!” A man comes in another boat and pleads for her to get into the boat.   “No,” she exclaims,  “I am faithful.  I believe God will save me.” “Please get into the boat!”  “No,” she says.  He goes away. The waters rise, sweeps the woman aw