23RD Sunday in Ordinary Time – A

It seems ancient Israel had lifeguards, only they called them “watchman”.

In today’s first reading God appoints Ezekiel watchman  --Life guard—for the house of Israel—urging Israel to be faithful to the Covenant, to avoid danger.   Watchman (or Life guard)… another aspect of ‘prophet’.

In the Gospel, it seems Jesus asks His followers to be Life guards for one another—a community of people helping each other travel faithfully and hopefully, avoiding danger.

Rahner: Perrenial Actuality of the Papacy

Rahner: Perrenial Actuality of the Papacy      Karl Rahner's Imaginary letter of some future Pope to an old friend, discussing what his papacy will be like.  An amazing, prophetic paper.  (and fun, too!)  10 pages long.

St Augustine - August 28

St Augustine - August 28
The other day I was looking for a wedding card when I came across one that had the verse: "I wish I had met you sooner so that I could love you longer."

St. Augusttine, whose feast day we celebrate today, could have said the same thing to God. In fact, he did. "Late have I loved Thee, O Beauty ever ancient and ever new, late have I loved Thee" he wrote in his "Confessions".

Before his conversion, Augustine led quite a wild life. Totally nonreligious, his "trinity" was wine, women and song not Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Never married, Augustine had a girl in every port and hardly left any unsatisfied. He had at least one child, a son. Life was fun, fun, fun. But he was never satisfied, never fulfilled.

Somehow,he allowed Grace to touch him. (Thanks in part to the many years of prayers by his mother, St Monica.) He was baptized, later ordained a priest and eventually ordained a bishop. He became one the the church's greatest theolgians/philosophers. He writes powerfully yet tenderly about how God deals lovingly with even the most wretched sinner.

Below is a popular passage from his "Confessions". He says God "shouted, called and broke through my deafness".

We need to be grateful not only to God but also to those people --our friends-- who have shouted, called and broke through own own deafness, helping us finally accept we are, indeed, loved.
-------------------------Late have I loved you, O Beauty ever ancient, ever new, late have I loved you! You were with me, but I was not with You, and I searched for you. In my unloveliness I plunged into the lovely things which you created. You were with me, but I was not with you. Created things kept me from you; yet if they had not been in you they would not have been at all. You called, you shouted, and you broke through my deafness. You flashed, you shone, and you dispelled my blindness. You breathed your fragrance on me; I drew in breath and now I pant for you. I have tasted you, now I hunger and thirst for more. You touched me, and I burned for your peace.--------

22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time - A

A friend likes to say that every contract/job description has an additional clause under “Duties” in print so fine it cannot be read easily by the naked eye.  That clause reads: “And other duties as needed.”  You could be asked to do anything.

Sometimes it seems our baptismal covenant has that same fine print.  “Take up your cross.” “Love your enemies.” “Pray for those who persecute you.”

Poor Jeremiah isn’t the only one who felt duped.  So can every follower of Christ.  The things He can ask you to do.  The things you get yourself into because you said “Yes” to Jesus. 

Duped royal.  Fulfilled beyond all imagining.