Gospel, Homily and Coffee

What does it mean to be human?   Whether we are conscious of it or not, we all have an idea of what it means to be human. Technically, the concept or the philosophy of what it means to be human is called “anthropology”. Humans are simply complex chemical reactions contained in matter, nothing more. This would be the anthropology of materialism, or those who think we are nothing more than machines.  This also believes we can be predicted and therefore manipulated. It also believes when “Faulty” or undesired, it is okay to shut them down. Another anthropology: Humans are animals, complex animals, but animals nonetheless. Our actions are all about preserving ourselves, getting more and more to survive. We consume and consume and we are driven by basal drives.  Yet another one: Humans inherently seek their own well being; are self-serving. Humans are isolated from others. Therefore all will disappoint us, including politicians. We don’t need anyone else, only “I...

When we speak of Jesus and his revelation of God; there may be a temptation to think that what Jesus had to reveal of the Father was truly innovative, new, progressive. He proclaimed God that has never been hear before.  In part yes, but... Jesus was also firmly rooted in the history of his people and rooted in their Scripture. What Jesus revealed of the Father was the fullness of that Revelation that the Father had begun with the people of Israel.   To paraphrase: to be ignorant of Scripture is to be ignorant of God. God revealed God’s self to humanity; Israel in Scripture understands God as one who loves the people and wants the people to know this and to respond to this love through their love of others. These are in the foundational stories of Genesis: Adam and Eve, Cain and Abel.  It was inscribed in the law given to the people as we heard in Exodus.  Through word and deed, Israel was to show to the rest of the Nations God! The Pharisees, and the Sadducees, ...

Imagination is one of those distinctly human qualities. Children develop their imaginations when they play. We adults too need to be child-like and engage our imaginations.  The lack of imagination is what can hinder us in life and in our relationships and how we live life well. Some of the religious leaders could not imagine God as Jesus revealed. This led them to react with hostility against Jesus. The gospel for today makes it very clear.   Jesus came and He revealed all who God is. We know that this revelation angered some; it threatened them and their ideas or their so-called power. So in their hostility some religious leaders, with their lack of imagination, try to trap Jesus. A lack of imagination that divides. A lack of imagination that sees only divisions. That only sees themselves.  Jesus with his imagination overcomes that trap and reveals their lack of imagination. Jesus's imagination sees Unity Harmony between all Israel had to learn in their exi...

They say, forgive the gender specific term, “The clothes make the man.” Remember the TLC show, “What Not to Wear?” The idea was that the clothes people wear don’t always express the real person underneath. There was one episode in which this man with a small business and the skills could not get very far professionally. He dressed like a beach bum despite being a 40 something man. So the hosts came in, cleaned him up, dressed him to reflect his personality but also to show to others that he had professionalism. It was quite the transformation. We have a group of women who come together to talk, to form community and they also knit. When we baptize infants there is a beautiful part of the ritual in which a white garment is presented to the newly baptized. We use white blankets knitted by those women.  A few weeks ago I noticed something. Previously during the ritual I would give the blanket to the godmother to hold during the ceremony. However, at this one baptism the godm...

What are we about as Christians, as Catholics? What do we have, as the Body of Christ to offer to the world, to Nevada, to Reno, to our children and families?  Or maybe another way to think about it...what does Jesus reveal the Father wants for all? or better yet...Why? Jesus clearly states in Jn 10:10, “I came so that they may have life in the full”. Elsewhere he will reveal that He came that “we may be one, just as the Father and Son are one.” Think back to the second story of creation in Genesis, which is actually the older story. God creates a Garden and within it God places the Man and Woman to work in the Garden, to produce the harvest. Humanity worked for God for a common purpose; paradise existed.  Trouble arose when the man and woman forgot God and made it about themselves. We as Catholics have been gifted. There is a beauty, an elegance to our faith. Our faith in the goodness of all of creation. Our faith in the goodness of all human persons.  Our Faith th...