Reflection: Hanging on his words

Today's Gospel's final words

"hanging on his words" are what most of us hope to do when we get into our personal "prayer mode." We hope our attention is not distracted the many kinds of "thieves" who could steal our attention away from our prayer.

Perhaps we should begin each time of prayer trying to understand the word or words we use to begin our prayer: "Lord" or "God" or "Father." We usually use one of these titles and then immediately proceed into laying out our needs. "Lord, help me get something (like a deeper awareness or more specific need) from the words you speak to me now." Then we proceed to tell God precisely why it is that we are "praying."

The final sentence in today's selected gospel moment describe the people as "hanging on his words." That seems to be far from telling, far from an explicit expression of our needs. When we begin with "Lord" or "God," what are we saying? Perhaps we use these terms so often that they are little more than the "yes ... yes ... yes" we use in our conversations with others without really thinking about what we are saying. "Lord" and "God" usually means someone who is a ruler, someone with power over others, a creator. If my personal prayer begins with this awareness of his power, his care for me, then it is so much easier to "hang on his words." It is much more satisfying to allow him speak to me, to tell me what is best for me.

We have to make the house of prayer we enter each time we pray, regardless of the place of our prayer, to be free of the "thieves" who try to take away the quiet whispers the "Lord" or "God" is trying to speak in our hearts.

"it is yours to give grandeur and strength to all."

(from Responsorial Psalm)

Thanksgiving Day --- 2007

Today's Gospel

Perhaps a peculiar gospel is offered for this day of thanksgiving. Yet just a few moments with this story and you may come to realize the remarkable spirit of this story from the lips of Jesus. Like the lepers, we have been guaranteed a future by the God who made regardless of whatever sin we may have encountered in our lives. On this day, when you look back upon all that you have been offered by God, you can realize that there always is a future for you with God. With every gift given by the all-loving God, a new tomorrow has dawned in your life. With each gift given to you, like the lepers, you have been made whole.

We also reflect upon the lyrics of beloved songs such as America the Beautiful and the values of liberty and freedom that is ours today. Nonetheless, we cannot overlook the newest freedom struggle challenging our nation: the undocumented immigrants. This is the challenge to each of us to share the gift of freedom won by our ancestors. To us who proclaim freedom's beat across the land and the gospel Jesus preached that strangers and sojourners, along with widows and orphans, are vulnerable persons who must be treated with justice and compassion. In 1996, the beloved Pope John Paul II presented these words to the world on World Migration Day: "In the Church no one is a stranger, and the Church is not foreign to anyone, anywhere ... the Church is the place where illegal immigrants are also recognized as sisters and brothers."

America! America! God shed his grace on thee 'till selfish gain no longer stain the banner of the free.

Reflection: Wednesday, Thanksgiving Eve

You need to have read the daily readings to understand some of these thoughts.

The unusual example Jesus used in the selection fa nobleman who was going off to be formally installed as a king warrants some reflection. Especially his severe treatment of those who did not make profit on his funds while he was away. Even beyond that this same "nobleman," one returned as king, ordered the execution of those who had objected to his becoming a king.

We know the story of the talents (a specific coin). Upon return, being the business man that he was, the new king demanded an accounting. All of the servants did well ... except one, the one who had been given the smallest amount, one talent. For his failure to make even the interest in a banking investment and his fear of the new king (probably one of those who disliked the man becoming king) he lost everything.

Jesus uses this example to teach something about the Kingdom of God. He uses the story to show that the king is not for those who are enemies of God. There will be a time of accounting. (As one commentator I read said, "So much for the good and gentle Jesus.")

So what does this story mean for us? It is simple: the kingdom of God has its price! God asks us to be all that we are, all that he created when he made us. The Christian vocation is not easy. Yet, as we have read many times in Scripture, in the lives and words of saints and our Church's teachings, it is worth everything --- even our lives! The imagery of the "talents" easily translates into our regular use of the word "talent." Again, simply stated, "Use it or lose it!" Be like the Maccabee boys: they accepted the gift of their faith and never buried it even though it meant martyrdom.

November 20, 2007 Reflection

The stories of Eleazar and Zaccheus in today's readings offer considerations for contemporary Christians, addressing head on, in a way, challenges of modern society. Today, who would think of OT Eleazar as a model of staunch loyalty and fidelity to his Jewish faith? Refusing to eat meat (pork) at the command of authority, he knew he faced a tortuous death. Even the encouragement of close friends to "fudge ... just this one time" to save his life was rejected. In the winter of his life, he believed his actions should not scandalize the younger men in the Jewish community. He would not sell his soul!

Just stop for a moment now. Consider all the time these words have been spoken in your presence: "oh, just this one time won't make a difference" when your faith is challenged by immoral or unethical actions.

Like Zaccheus, there are times when we find ourselves up a tree because of our own thinking or wanting. Zaccheus wanted to hear what it was that Jesus was preaching. Up in the tree, he was rubber-necking. If he did not like what he heard, he could easily climb down and hit the road. Were he really willing to open his heart ... before Jesus called him down and invited himself to Zaccheus' home for dinner ... he could most likely have made his was to be in the front line. Shorter folks always seem to have a great skill at getting up close ... perhaps one advantage of being on the shorter side.

Do I truly want to follow Jesus and the teachings of our Church? Am I afraid of being up close?

Reflection: Thursday, November 15, 2007

Breviary (Office of the Hours) readers are currently reading a 2nd century homily as part of the Office of Readings. The writer is calling the hearers to reflect upon non-believers the life of the believer has. His homily called attention to what we might say as "saying one thing and doing another." Apparently those outside the Church marveled at the beauty of the words and hymns that would come from the lips of those who were seeking to follow Jesus.
But there were those whose lives were seemingly different. Their lives were a "scandal" to those who wanted to know more about Jesus.

Some 19 centuries later we can ask is it any different? Do we proclaim our faith when it is convenient? Do we try parsing the Word of God and the teachings of our Church so that we can finesse what seems to be something that interferes with the faith values we publicly proclaim?

We might say that our advances in knowledge since the 2nd century may well have brought us to a more regular and frequent awareness that we must chose the will of God without parsing it if we want to be a part of his Church.

We can make choices each day --- choices for good rather than evil. When the sailing gets rough, the 44th Psalm, used in the Office of Readings as well today, reminds us the alone we may fail but that God is always present to strengthen us in our choosing.

Thursday Progress Report: November 15, 2007

Steady progress. Meeting with surgeon who guarantees me that there was a heart working inside my chest when he opened it (!!!) has evaluated my current status. Making progress! No concerns at this moment. See me in one month!

Today a first post-operative visit with the cardiologist. Hoping for the same kind of report.

Accomplishments yesterday: climbed a flight of stairs four times during the course of the day, one steady ten-minutes walk.

Had a wonderful dinner with Msgr. Duffy last evening. He came to visit, to make sure I was progressing and that he would not be interrupting his retirement for too long a time!!!

Reflection: Tuesday, November 13, 2007

"Since the Second Vatican Council, the obligations are fewer and there is an expectation that we each will make our own personal choices for sacrifices and service that express our love for God. Superficially it seems that things have become more lax, but in reality it has become more challenging because we have to take more personal responsibility. We each have to discern what it is that God is calling us to do to serve him and those around us. It is not an easy task sometimes because he does not lay it out in black and white, and sometimes it is frightening that he may call us to do something beyond our comfort zone." From Daily Reflection, Creighton University, November 13, 2007, Susan Ternus Tinley.
Take more personal responsibility.
1. Living the spiritual life of priesthood (or any vocation)
a. what does this mean for a priest, for me, today?
-fidelity to prayer, recitation of the Office, rosary
-working more closely with Spiritual Director
-fidelity to priestly lifestyle
-frequent use of the Sacrament of Reconciliation
-spiritual reading
-associations
-using the Daily Examen regularly to keep myself on the pathway God is pointing out to me
-taking time to discern, to see or hear what God is calling me to do, to say, to believe.
Where is God calling me at this time of my life?
Does the passage of time create a a comfort zone that gradually erodes my attention to the spiritual life? It can happen. It does happen ... to almost everyone regardless of vocation. Creating our own comfort zone and living in it too long easily opens the doorway for weakness, letting concerns or obligations slide, to enter my life. And, as any adult would tell a child: once any weakness gets into your life, life a weed, it grows quite rapidly and spreads wildly. In no time weakness leads to omissions. Omissions lead to waving off obligations. And all of this offers a resounding welcome to sin in our lives.
God, my Father, grant me the freedom of spirit and health of mind and body to do your work and your will each day. Amen

Thanks for Concerns

Some wondered if all was well because I had not blogged for a day or two. I am recouping well but find the blogging really tiring and not helpful. When I really feel the surge of energy, I will reappear to blog.

Fr. Jordan

Engine Repairs

The results of the investigation led to the need for a heart catheretization ... that was done last Monday. During the process the cardiologists ... note its up to two now ... determined an angioplasti could not be done.

There was a solution: triple bypass surgery ... the next morning. So that is what happen. Monday I remained in the cardiac area of the hospital with a little "joy juice." Early Tuesday morning, exactly one ago today. After 5 1/2 hours of surgery I was returned to my room.

Surgery was successful. Heart in good shape: just the fuel lines to the engine.

I have returned to St. Jane de Chantel parish to a guest room without a phone, which restrictions on visitors for another ten days. Following this period I will continue to convalesce before returning to Our Lady of Victory. My cardiologist was firm about my returning to parish work in the month of December. I wonder why???????

I will not be checking emails and the like very often. Please contact Ms. Wanda Gomez at the parish (202-337-4835) if you have a problem. Msgr. Duffy is Acting Pastor during the time of my absence. You see it's hard to keep the likes of himself down regardless of age and retirement.

Please continue to remember me in your prayers. Know that I have a great team of medics taking care of my health. The cardiac surgeon made a "rectory" call this morning to check on me. When is the last time you heard that kind of news. Likewise, the staff, especially the good Monsignor Essex, go out of their way to ensure that I get the rest I need.

The one prayer of thanks I offer throughout the day is to God because as my cardiac surgeon said to me, my siblings and Msgr. Essex, has deeply impacted my thinking: With situation around my heart was such, that I was very lucky to be alive and that I was susceptible to a massive heart attack. More on the whys after getting some strength back.

If any of this is disjointed, let me assure you that it is so difficult trying to concentrate these days. My mind runs in different directions, my thoughts get taggled with other things have happened.

Thanks to all of you who have been helping me: especially my sister and brothers, my secretary, our school principal, Msgr. Essex's staff at St. Janes and the priests who live here.

Gas Line Troubles

My last blog, October 28, indicated that the blog would be down for time to do so engine repair. Well, as some of you know, the engine itself is a good shape. It seemed to be the gas and oil lines leading to the engine that were in need of immediate repair.

Two Sundays back, I embarked on what I though would be another long walk. I had just returned from a birthday dinner celebration of "Doc" John Warman's birthday. Without having gone even a full block, I found myself encountering some frightening shortness of breath. I suspected the culprit was indigestion. So, I turned back to the residence and sat back for a while. In no time, I felt fine but very tired by the experience. A couple of Rolaids and I was feeling fine.

On Monday morning I drove to the barbershop. I had to park about three blocks from the shop. While walking there, I had a similar incident with my breathing although it was not as intense. After the haircut I walked to the car, and pointed it to New Mexico Avenue where my doctor has an office. I could not afford to play with these two signs of some trouble. As soon as the doctor returned to the offices, I was his first customer. Dr. Umhau checked me out and decided it would be best for me to have an immediate consult with a cardiologist. Dr. Nancy Davenport, noted cardiologist in DC, is also a tenant in the same building. Within ten minutes of arrival, I was looking at pictures of my heart (eckocardiagram) and then in another ten minutes looking at the ekg report sheets that were being pumped from the printer. Five minutes later: "There is something there that is not right. We need stress test. I will set that up for Thursday.

Thursday, and the mystery begins to unfold. Nearing mid-day, I appear in "light clothing" at Dr Davenport's office. Within three minutes I was submitting to another ekg. That completed, Dr. Davenport tell me that another aid will be arriving to hook me up to the eckocardiagram machinery. Once hooked and looking at the heart, I was directed to get on board the treadmill.

In just about a minute's time, Dr D. moved me back to the eckocardiagram table. As she and he aid looked at the pictures of my pumping heart, she said, to her assistant "Do you see what I see?"

Well, she directed my to what was the beginning of something I would never have suspected.

You will have to wait for the next installment. perhaps later this afternoon.

Fr Milt