Once again we hear a story of siblings and a father’s love.
The elder “righteous” brother is unforgiving of the younger “penitent” brother.
The young men’s parent loves both of them.
(from Luke 15:11-32)
How does a parent feel when one child is unwelcoming, unforgiving, jealous,
and maybe hateful, of the other child?
How does God feel when we treat one of God’s People with rejection or hatred?
Let us love one another as God loves each one of us.
In today’s first reading from The Lectionary,
we are reminded of the story of Israel’s youngest son, Joseph.
Joseph is the dreamer to whom his father gave a long coat with sleeves.
Jealous of Joseph, his brothers conspired to kill him–except for his brother, Reuben.
But when Reuben heard it, he delivered him out of their hands, saying,
“Let us not take his life.” Reuben said to them,
“Shed no blood; throw him into this pit here in the wilderness,
but lay no hand on him”–that he might rescue him out of their hand
and restore him to his father. (Genesis 37)
Reuben did not succumb to “group think” as he spoke out against
what the others were planning. It is not easy going against the group.
Do you step out of the crowd and call for that which is right?
Are you the one to protect the person who is vulnerable?
Do you speak out against discrimination, violence, bullying, sexual abuse?
Pray for the courage to do what is right as Reuben did.
Blessed are those who trust in the Lord,
whose trust is the Lord.
They shall be like a tree planted by the water,
sending out its roots by the stream.
It shall not fear when heat comes,
and its leaves shall stay green;
in the year of drought it is not anxious,
and it does not cease to bear fruit.
(from Jeremiah 17)
We are like this tree described in Jeremiah.
Our roots reach deep into the waters of baptism,
and during the dry season we are sustained by the Holy Spirit.
There is no need to fear
for we trust in the LORD, the Tree of Life.
Jesus asked the sons of Zebedee,
“Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink?”
They said to him, “We are able.”
(Matthew 20)
Henri Nouwen wrote,
Drinking the cup of life makes our own
everything we are living.
It is saying, “This is my life,”
but also “I want this to be my life.”
Drinking the cup of life is fully appropriating and
internalizing our own unique existence,
with all its sorrows and joys.
(from Can You Drink the Cup? by Henri J. M. Nouwen,
Ave Maria Press, Notre Dame, IN, 1996)
The greatest among you will be your servant.
All who exalt themselves will be humbled,
and all who humble themselves will be exalted.
(from Matthew 23)
Be merciful, just as our loving God is merciful.
Forgive, and you will be forgiven.
(from Luke 6)
Kind and faithful is the Lord,
gentle is our God.
The Lord shelters the poor,
raises me from the dust.
Rest once more, my heart,
for you know the Lord’s love.
God rescues me from death,
wiping my tears,
steadying my feet.
I walk with the Lord
in this land of the living.
(Psalm 116:5-9 from The Psalter, ICEL, 1994)
Graduation, The University of Notre Dame, May 1984
Parents seated high in the stands
peering down at their sons and daughters
as they receive their treasured certificates
signed by Fr. Theodore Hesburgh, University President
Fr. Ted looks up and says to me
and all of the parents
that we are the ones who gave birth to these young men and women,
who raised them,
and entrusted them to the care of the Notre Dame faculty.
Therefore, it is only right that we parents
bless our sons and daughters on this day.
“Please extend your hands over…”
For the first time I truly understood
that a lay person could indeed extend a blessing
in the same way as a priest at Mass.
Mass — Vatican II called it Liturgy.
Liturgy, “the work of the people.”
A lesson on liturgy and ritual from a great teacher,
taught without a book,
taught from the heart
to my heart where the lesson lives on.
Today I extend a blessing to Fr. Ted:
May God bless and keep you.
May God’s face shine upon you and be gracious to you.
May God look upon you with kindness, Fr. Ted, and grant you peace.
What is on the calendar today?
A trip to the post office and grocery store.
Who will I meet who needs
a warm “Hello”
or a friendly smile
on this day?
Queen Esther prayed to God for the gifts of
eloquent speech and courage
that she may save her Jewish people from destruction.
God answered her prayer.
(from the Book of Esther in the Hebrew Scriptures)
I call upon you, O God,
and you answer me.
