Monday, February 29, 2016

Jesus Was Brutally Murdered

Guest blogger today . . . my amazing hubby Jay!

Jesus was brutally murdered by those who knew DOCTRINE better than . . . GOD!

Recently, I was in a group of people discussing how Pope Francis is spontaneous, humble, kind, and solid. The discussion was how his leadership style mimics that of our Lord’s. As the positive discussion continued, one person was quick to interject that they were hopeful . . . but believed his efforts would be thwarted by his own cardinals and Church doctrine.

Sell Vatican assets to aid the poor? Nice idea in theory. Focus on the commonalities of people of different faiths? Try to actually mend bridges versus pointing out our differences and the isolation of those who have not met some of the people in the Church’s expectations? Christ welcomed all . . . forgave all . . . and encouraged all! He instructed sinners to repent and sin no more. His words were "welcome back." But more importantly, His actions demonstrated His unconditional love and the genuineness of His love.

If you are one of the fallen away Catholics or know of Catholics not practicing their faith, encourage them to come back. If they resist because of their local church, encourage them to change parishes.  If they are hearing, “welcome back, Catholics” but experiencing “come on back and we’ll be the ones to judge your worthiness,” then it's time to make the change.   There are so many Catholic Churches following the Pope’s lead. Those returning don’t need to tolerate the intolerant. What they are experiencing is not what Christ intended and not what our Catholic faith is all about. They are experiencing humans using their judgments to achieve their will, not Our Lord’s.

Your invitation back to the Catholic Church and back to an intimate relationship with Jesus is one of the greatest gifts we will ever share. There are thousands of people waiting for the invitation back. Do what you can to help their return be successful . . . pray . . . and then let Him do the rest.

In today’s Gospel (Luke 15:1-3, 11-32), Jesus was being criticized for welcoming and eating with sinners:

Tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to listen to Jesus, but the Pharisees and scribes began to complain, saying, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.” So to them Jesus addressed this parable. “A man had two sons, and the younger son said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of your estate that should come to me.’ So the father divided the property between them. After a few days, the younger son collected all his belongings and set off to a distant country where he squandered his inheritance on a life of dissipation. When he had freely spent everything, a severe famine struck that country, and he found himself in dire need. So he hired himself out to one of the local citizens who sent him to his farm to tend the swine. And he longed to eat his fill of the pods on which the swine fed, but nobody gave him any. Coming to his senses he thought, ‘How many of my father’s hired workers have more than enough food to eat, but here am I, dying from hunger. I shall get up and go to my father and I shall say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I no longer deserve to be called your son; treat me as you would treat one of your hired workers.”’ So he got up and went back to his father.

While he was still a long way off, his father caught sight of him, and was filled with compassion. He ran to his son, embraced him and kissed him. His son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you; I no longer deserve to be called your son.’ But his father ordered his servants, ‘Quickly, bring the finest robe and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Take the fattened calf and slaughter it. Then let us celebrate with a feast, because this son of mine was dead, and has come to life again; he was lost, and has been found.’ Then the celebration began. Now the older son had been out in the field and, on his way back, as he neared the house, he heard the sound of music and dancing. He called one of the servants and asked what this might mean. The servant said to him, ‘Your brother has returned and your father has slaughtered the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’ He became angry, and when he refused to enter the house, his father came out and pleaded with him. He said to his father in reply, Look, all these years I served you and not once did I disobey your orders; yet you never gave me even a young goat to feast on with my friends. But when your son returns who swallowed up your property with prostitutes, for him you slaughter the fattened calf.’ He said to him, ‘My son, you are here with me always; everything I have is yours. But now we must celebrate and rejoice, because your brother was dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found.’”

In Anne a lay apostle's book Whispers From the Cross, she reinforces we are ALL one body:

"It is not a divine mandate that we agree in all things. There is a tendency to ‘hang around’ with only those who are on our exact page. This is counterproductive to unity and will, believe me, please, result in ugly teaming and superiority. Better we reach out in love and establish relationships where we should. “But they do not like me,” the apostle protests. We are not saying to establish best-friend relationships, but periodic interactions where the apostle loves unconditionally will move us all toward unity. Yes, we will put up with something to make this happen. We will accept jibes, perhaps, maybe teasing, ridiculing and we will answer with love. Dear apostles, I knew an apostle who once decided to love unconditionally to such a degree that he was certain the recipient thought him an imbecile. There was no let up in his love, however, and eventually this resulted in capitulation and a mutually loving relationship with a person who formerly had nothing but antipathy toward him. God’s kingdom came in this situation and it came through love!"

Lay apostles, continue to be the light we want to see in the world. We are called to be the invitation and the time has never been more ripe. People are ready. Support your local Catholic Church and the leadership. Do your part to bring others back. Our Lord has shared that it gives Him great pleasure when one of His that is lost finds his/her way back home. We all have the privilege of doing something easy and giving Our Lord great joy!

Lord, thank you for Your great love! It reminds me of the Mercy Me song ”I Can Only Imagine” because the more I learn of Your love for me, the more it is both awe inspiring and overwhelming. Thank you, Jesus!

In gratitude and humility,

Jay

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