An Unholy Influence--Sunday, August 31, 2008 Year A

August 31, 2008, Year A

Twenty-Second Sunday In Ordinary Time

Reflections on the Readings

By Dennis Hankins

dennishankins@gmail.com

www.dennishankins.com

Theme:  An Unholy Influence

The thoughts and imaginations of our heart can be an obstacle to the plan of God.

Peter takes Jesus aside to discuss Jesus' intention to go to Jerusalem to suffer, die and rise again on the third day.  Since this was a private conversation we can assume Peter spoke about it years later.  From the realms of revelation, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God," to "God forbid, Lord!  No such thing shall ever happen to you," Peter imagines there is another way for salvation's story to unfold.  Peter's concerns and Peter's confession are in a tug-of-war.  Jesus address Peter's concerns as under the influence of an unholy spirit.  "Get behind me, Satan!" Jesus says, "Your are an obstacle to me."

Afterwards, Jesus speaks to all of his disciples about the fullness of sacrificial life and living.  All of us, under the mercies of God, are called to live detached from the spirit of this age.  Many unholy influences abound to weaken our resolve to 'offer our bodies as a living sacrifice.'  The Fathers and the Mystics of the Church wrote much about the satanic spirits that seek the ruin of our soul.  They and the readings today speak of the emptiness of gaining the whole world and losing ones' soul.  Forfeiting the transformation of a renewed mind, is to exchange the high way for the low and mundane way of existence.  The wrenching question Jesus leaves with his disciples is, "What profit would there be for one to gain the whole world and forfeit his life?  Or what can one give in exchange for his life?" (emphasis added)

Unless we have a thirst for the Lord, we will remain spiritually parched, dry and barren.  As a lad in the Pentecostal church of my youth, I remember praying earnestly that the Lord would use me, that he would not have a reason or cause to refuse me, and that somehow he would have in me full and unhindered authority in my life.  I believed then and still believe based on the readings of the day, there is still a need to place ourselves under the most holy influences and practices of the Christian life.  

Jesus showed his disciples the path of life.  The way the world thinks is a hindrance to the life that calls us to be one in prayer with the Holy Spirit.  Even the world in its resistance to the truth may bring us to less resistance of the world, the flesh and the devil.  Unholy thoughts and imaginations may grip our heart.  

The Joker in the movie The Dark Knight, implies that evil can do no wrong.  He views all things, all events in Gotham City and even BatMan himself as under the irresistible reign of evil that can do no wrong. Ultimately BatMan, the Joker thinks, must come to the conclusion that he and BatMan can be one because there is nothing different about what each one wants and needs.  Because the Joker is adept in convincing others of his cause, he manages to make BatMan a villain to be caught in Gotham City.   While Joker can do no evil in a wrong way, BatMan cannot convince the city he is only doing what is right for the city the right way.

Not to put too fine of a point on it, and not to suggest Peter has anything in common with the Joker, except in this, Peter believes there is a no wrong way to understand Jesus' mission.  This is the hub of the spiritual life.  Here is where the battle rages and the thirst of the soul and the soul's quest for the living God ensues.  In our spiritual development we can meet Satan disguised as an angel of light.  

The spirit of the day hopes to silence the voice of Christ in us and through us.  But the fire that burns in our hearts and bones cannot be silent long lest it goes out.  "Quench not the Spirit," says St. Paul.  "Deny yourself, take up your cross and follow me," says Jesus.  There is a life of oneness with God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit.  If we will but lose our life for Jesus' life, detach ourselves from the cares of this life, be consumed in the love of his heart, only then can we healed of the blindness caused by the god of this world.  Then will the thoughts and imaginations of our heart be pleasing to the Lord.

Let us pray:  Dear Jesus, search me, try me, test me, and see if there be any wicked way or imagination in me.  My heart yearns for the love that thinks no evil; for the love that bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.  I open my heart to the sacred heart of Jesus. Amen 

To Protect and Defend

August 24, 2008, Year A

Twenty-First Sunday In Ordinary Time

Reflections on the Readings

dennishankins@gmail.com

www.dennishankins.com

Theme:  To Protect and Defend

The unity of the faith is much more than consensus.

I am reminded of my quest through out the years to understand and attain the unity of the faith.  That what we have in common is more than what divides us had become my deep conviction. It still is. This conviction brought me to deeper prayer and study.  Questions of why there was not communion between all believers left me unsettled.  Even now, this concern remains with me.  As a Catholic Christian, I am grateful that this is a priority of our Holy Father, who invites all of us to pray with him that 'we may all be one.'

Jesus' question to his disciples is, "Who do men say I am?"  This opens the door to the other question, "Who do you say I am?"  While the first question is useful, the second question is necessary, if we are to understand the deposit of faith and the unity it brings.  On Peter's response turns our whole understanding of the mystical body of Christ. 

In Going My Way, Father O'Malley, the character played by Bing Crosby, unites a group of neighborhood law breaking boys into a small boys choir.  He achieved this by determining who was in charge of the rag tag group.  The scene unfolds with one young man coming forward as the spokesman and leader of the group of trouble makers.  This young man, Tony Scaponi, remains pivotal for the groups cohesiveness.  When it comes time for Father O'Malley to move on, he leaves Tony in charge to carry on the good work that has begun.  

Now we have Jesus with 12 men seated before him, quizzing them about His identity.  It is critical for the unity and mission of these men to know for sure who it is they're following.  Peter, speaking up, answers Jesus' query, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."  For this Simon was blessed, because the source of this understanding is revelation, not speculation.  In turn, Simon, like Abram of old has a name change.  Until now, he is known as Simon, son of John.  He will now be called Peter, a name derived from the term for rock, a sizeable rock at that, large enough for a foundation stone.  It is Simon's confession, revealed to him by the Father, that brings about this dramatic and remarkable statement of Jesus, to make Simon Peter the keeper of the keys.  He and his successors would remain among the Apostles the spokesman and leader, in guarding the faith and guiding the faithful.   

I write for a wide and varied audience.  There are rich and diverse treasures across the wounded body of Christ.  However, what I believed was something to be achieved, I discovered had always been and would always be.  In other words, unity was more than consensus, unity and continuity of revelation and worship and leadership is the 2000 year history of the Church.  It is something to be embraced and confessed.  

I remember preaching a series of sermons about what we (Protestants) and they (Catholics) have in common, what we did and did not share in belief and whether it mattered if we disagreed on this or that.  As I began, of course I started down the path of Church history and arrived at the Reformation and found out I had about another 1500 years of Church history to grapple with.  It was at this point I realized there had been about 1500 years of continuity of belief, worship, prayer and evangelization before the great Schism of East and West and the Reformation.  So historically I had to believe that there had been only one Church.

The Scripture, rocking and rolling under the interpretations of a divided Church, is itself, an unbroken revelation of God, of his unity in himself, and of the restoration of all things in the Son of His love.  It remains to us, in each generation, to be faithful to all of the Scriptures, for they are the words which testify of Christ, the Son of the living God.  This is not to speak down to or be disrepectful of the various ecclesial communities who baptize in the Name of the Holy Trinity, love God with all of their hearts, pray diligently and look expectantly for the return of our Lord.  Let us remember that every Catholic and Protestant Bible speaks of there being, one Lord, one faith, and one baptism.  When Jesus returns in glory, he will receive unto himself one spotless and glorious church, as a bride adorned for her husband.  If I may be bold to say, it is not a harem He is looking for, but the Church which he purchased with His own blood.  We are the blood bought, the sanctified, the redeemed of the Lord.  All of us, whether Protestant or Catholic, East or West, denominational or undenominational, high church or low church, lovers of Latin or not, are obligated by the sign of our baptism to receive and obey and contend for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints. (Jude 3)

Let us pray:  Dear Jesus, unite within me all that I let separate me from you. Unite me to all who love and cherish your friendship.  Let me be a joint or ligament that helps the Church to be whole and complete and entire, lacking nothing.  Amen.  

To Protect and Defend--21st Sunday In Ordinary Time, August 24, 2008

August 24, 2008, Year A

Twenty-First Sunday In Ordinary Time

Reflections on the Readings

dennishankins@gmail.com

www.dennishankins.com

Theme:  To Protect and Defend

The unity of the faith is much more than consensus.

I am reminded of my quest through out the years to understand and attain the unity of the faith.  That what we have in common is more than what divides us had become my deep conviction. It still is. This conviction brought me to deeper prayer and study.  Questions of why there was not communion between all believers left me unsettled.  Even now, this concern remains with me.  As a Catholic Christian, I am grateful that this is a priority of our Holy Father, who invites all of us to pray with him that 'we may all be one.'

Jesus' question to his disciples is, "Who do men say I am?"  This opens the door to the other question, "Who do you say I am?"  While the first question is useful, the second question is necessary, if we are to understand the deposit of faith and the unity it brings.  On Peter's response turns our whole understanding of the mystical body of Christ. 

In Going My Way, Father O'Malley, the character played by Bing Crosby, unites a group of neighborhood law breaking boys into a small boys choir.  He achieved this by determining who was in charge of the rag tag group.  The scene unfolds with one young man coming forward as the spokesman and leader of the group of trouble makers.  This young man, Tony Scaponi, remains pivotal for the groups cohesiveness.  When it comes time for Father O'Malley to move on, he leaves Tony in charge to carry on the good work that has begun.  

Now we have Jesus with 12 men seated before him, quizzing them about His identity.  It is critical for the unity and mission of these men to know for sure who it is they're following.  Peter, speaking up, answers Jesus' query, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."  For this Simon was blessed, because the source of this understanding is revelation, not speculation.  In turn, Simon, like Abram of old has a name change.  Until now, he is known as Simon, son of John.  He will now be called Peter, a name derived from the term for rock, a sizeable rock at that, large enough for a foundation stone.  It is Simon's confession, revealed to him by the Father, that brings about this dramatic and remarkable statement of Jesus, to make Simon Peter the keeper of the keys.  He and his successors would remain among the Apostles the spokesman and leader, in guarding the faith and guiding the faithful.   

I write for a wide and varied audience.  There are rich and diverse treasures across the wounded body of Christ.  However, what I believed was something to be achieved, I discovered had always been and would always be.  In other words, unity was more than consensus; unity and continuity of revelation and worship and leadership is the 2000 year history of the Church.  It is something to be embraced and confessed.  

I remember preaching a series of sermons about what we (Protestants) and they (Catholics) have in common, what we did and did not share in belief and whether it mattered if we disagreed on this or that.  As I began, of course I started down the path of Church history and arrived at the Reformation and found out I had about another 1500 years of Church history to grapple with.  It was at this point I realized there had been about 1500 years of continuity of belief, worship, prayer and evangelization before the great Schism of East and West and the Reformation.  So historically I had to believe that there had been only one Church.

The Scripture, rocking and rolling under the interpretations of a divided Church, is itself, an unbroken revelation of God, of his unity in himself, and of the restoration of all things in the Son of His love.  It remains to us, in each generation, to be faithful to all of the Scriptures, for they are the words which testify of Christ, the Son of the living God.  This is not to speak down to or to be disrepectful of the various ecclesial communities who baptize in the Name of the Holy Trinity, love God with all of their hearts, pray diligently and look expectantly for the return of our Lord.  Let us remember that every Catholic and Protestant Bible speaks of there being, one Lord, one faith, and one baptism.  When Jesus returns in glory, he will receive unto himself one spotless and glorious church, as a bride adorned for her husband.  If I may be bold to say, it is not a harem He is looking for, but the Church which he purchased with His own blood.  We are the blood bought, the sanctified, the redeemed of the Lord.  All of us, whether Protestant or Catholic, East or West, denominational or undenominational, high church or low church, lovers of Latin or not, are obligated by the sign of our baptism to receive and obey and contend for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints. (Jude 3)

Let us pray:  Dear Jesus, unite within me all that I let separate me from you. Unite me to all who love and cherish your friendship.  Let me be a joint or ligament that helps the Church to be whole and complete and entire, lacking nothing.  Amen.  

Sunday, August 17, 2008

August 17, 2008 Year A

Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Reflections on the Readings

dennishankins@gmail.com

www.dennishankins.com

Theme:  Faith in a Foreign Land

The faith of the Canaanite woman demonstrates for us that humility is the way to God.

Upon hearing this Gospel, you may have walked away scratching your head.  Salvation history requires us to remember this from St. Paul concerning the Jews:  

They are Israelites, and to them belong the sonship, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the worship, and the promises; to them belong the patriarchs, and of their race, according to the flesh, is the Christ.  God who is over all be blessed for evermore.  Amen.  Romans 9:5

The mission of Jesus and the Church was first 'to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.'  Those outside of the covenants and the law were viewed as idolatrous.  Because of this widespread idolatrous worship, gentiles were described with contemptible words such as 'dogs and swine.'  In truth, most of us are the children of the gentiles.  We were born 'outside' of the promises and glory of Israel; that is the sonship and the glory.  St. Paul illuminates our understanding when he says:

Welcome one another, therefore, as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.  For I tell you that Christ became a servant to the circumscribed to show God's truthfulness, in order to confirm the promises to the patriarchs, and in order that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy.  (Romans 15:7-9)

Jesus was a stone of stumbling to Israel.  Israel stumbled because they did not pursue the righteousness of the law through faith.  It was faith Jesus looked for.  Jesus had said to Israel, 'You believe in God, believe also in me.'  God incarnate, who feeds the multitudes and eats with publicans and sinners, was not how Israel had come to understand the purpose of the law, the covenants, the promises and their worship.  

Some outside like this Canaanite woman were stirred deeply and demonstrated great faith and humility.  The Centurion for example explained, "I am not worthy that you should come under my roof, but say the word only and my son shall be healed."  The unnamed woman cries out for mercy for her daughter tormented by a demon.  Jesus says it is not right to give the children's bread to the dogs, because it is not right to treat unbelievers as believers.  Not all have faith.  Many who claim to have faith in Jesus are not faithful.  Again, not all have faith.  

The gifts and promises of God are not ours because of who we are.  The sacraments of the Church are the gifts of God for the people of God.  We were once a people who were not a people who are now the people of God.  This inspires us to follow the path of the Canaanite woman to say with all humility, "It is true, I am not worthy, but feed me dear Lord, even if I must eat from under the table the crumbs that fall to me." 

If Jesus is special and as precious as we have been taught, then it is not the boldness of a haughty spirit that is appropriate.  What is acceptable and precious in the eyes of the Lord, is that boldness of humility that seeks not only for ourselves but for all, especially our families, the great Grace of God that drives away the demons and bestows the freedom that befits those who are called the children of God. 

As we worship in spirit and in truth, we come to the Table of the Lord in the way a bride seeks to present herself to her groom.  The Canaanite woman recognized that Jesus coming to her Gentile countryside was a special moment.  The Lord's disciples begged him, saying, "Send her away, for she is crying after us."  But Jesus answered, "I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel."  But she came and knelt before him, saying, "Lord, help me."    She presented herself in the way that not only spoke of her humility, but of our Lord's holiness.  When we open our hearts and our mouths to receive Jesus, it is a special moment as we 'partake of the divine nature' receiving into ourselves the living Lord.  This requires a measure of faith.  If this has become rote and routine, receive the host on your tongue like a child being fed by its mother.  This a demonstration of humility, surrender and trust.  

Each of us are in the end 'beggars who have found the bread, sent to tell the other beggars where we found the bread.'  It is not the Church that is fortunate to have us.  Rather we are the blessed ones who should not boast against the Olive tree.  The Israel of God is the Church, who by faith have been grafted into the stump of Jesse.  In the final analysis, we did not choose him, but he chose us that we might be gathered out of every kindred and tribe and nation under heaven.  This is the missionary mandate of the Church.  That all may be gathered into one family, and the great Kingdom of God be the desire of all nations.  Amen.

Let us pray:  Dear Jesus, You are the bread come down from heaven.  May I always lift up my heart to you.  It is a surrendered heart I want to give.  In whatever way or thought or attitude I show reluctance, draw me even closer, that I may know you as the one who gives himself for the life of the world.  Evermore be unto me the 'bread of life.'  Amen.

Faith In A Foreign Land--Sunday, August 17, 2008

August 17, 2008 Year A

Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Reflections on the Readings

dennishankins@gmail.com

www.dennishankins.com

Theme:  Faith in a Foreign Land

The faith of the Canaanite woman demonstrates for us that humility is the way to God.

Upon hearing this Gospel, you may have walked away scratching your head.  Salvation history requires us to remember this from St. Paul concerning the Jews:  

They are Israelites, and to them belong the sonship, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the worship, and the promises; to them belong the patriarchs, and of their race, according to the flesh, is the Christ.  God who is over all be blessed for evermore.  Amen.  Romans 9:5

The mission of Jesus and the Church was first 'to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.'  Those outside of the covenants and the law were viewed as idolatrous.  Because of this widespread idolatrous worship, gentiles were described with contemptible words such as 'dogs and swine.'  In truth, most of us are the children of the gentiles.  We were born 'outside' of the promises and glory of Israel; that is the sonship and the glory.  St. Paul illuminates our understanding when he says:

Welcome one another, therefore, as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.  For I tell you that Christ became a servant to the circumscribed to show God's truthfulness, in order to confirm the promises to the patriarchs, and in order that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy.  (Romans 15:7-9)

Jesus was a stone of stumbling to Israel.  Israel stumbled because they did not pursue the righteousness of the law through faith.  It was faith Jesus looked for.  Jesus had said to Israel, 'You believe in God, believe also in me.'  God incarnate, who feeds the multitudes and eats with publicans and sinners, was not how Israel had come to understand the purpose of the law, the covenants, the promises and their worship.  

Some outside like this Canaanite woman were stirred deeply and demonstrated great faith and humility.  The Centurion for example explained, "I am not worthy that you should come under my roof, but say the word only and my son shall be healed."  The unnamed woman cries out for mercy for her daughter tormented by a demon.  Jesus says it is not right to give the children's bread to the dogs, because it is not right to treat unbelievers as believers.  Not all have faith.  Many who claim to have faith in Jesus are not faithful.  Again, not all have faith.  

The gifts and promises of God are not ours because of who we are.  The sacraments of the Church are the gifts of God for the people of God.  We were once a people who were not a people who are now the people of God.  This inspires us to follow the path of the Canaanite woman to say with all humility, "It is true, I am not worthy, but feed me dear Lord, even if I must eat from under the table the crumbs that fall to me." 

If Jesus is special and as precious as we have been taught, then it is not the boldness of a haughty spirit that is appropriate.  What is acceptable and precious in the eyes of the Lord, is that boldness of humility that seeks not only for ourselves but for all, especially our families, the great Grace of God that drives away the demons and bestows the freedom that befits those who are called the children of God. 

As we worship in spirit and in truth, we come to the Table of the Lord in the way a bride seeks to present herself to her groom.  The Canaanite woman recognized that Jesus coming to her Gentile countryside was a special moment.  The Lord's disciples begged him, saying, "Send her away, for she is crying after us."  But Jesus answered, "I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel."  But she came and knelt before him, saying, "Lord, help me."    She presented herself in the way that not only spoke of her humility, but of our Lord's holiness.  When we open our hearts and our mouths to receive Jesus, it is a special moment as we 'partake of the divine nature' receiving into ourselves the living Lord.  This requires a measure of faith.  If this has become rote and routine, receive the host on your tongue like a child being fed by its mother.  This a demonstration of humility, surrender and trust.  

Each of us are in the end 'beggars who have found the bread, sent to tell the other beggars where we found the bread.'  It is not the Church that is fortunate to have us.  Rather we are the blessed ones who should not boast against the Olive tree.  The Israel of God is the Church, who by faith have been grafted into the stump of Jesse.  In the final analysis, we did not choose him, but he chose us that we might be gathered out of every kindred and tribe and nation under heaven.  This is the missionary mandate of the Church.  That all may be gathered into one family, and the great Kingdom of God be the desire of all nations.  Amen.

Let us pray:  Dear Jesus, You are the bread come down from heaven.  May I always lift up my heart to you.  It is a surrendered heart I want to give.  In whatever way or thought or attitude I show reluctance, draw me even closer, that I may know you as the one who gives himself for the life of the world.  Evermore be unto me the 'bread of life.'  Amen.

Beginning To Sink--Sunday, August 10, 2008 Year A

August 10, 2008, Year A

Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Reflections on the Readings

By Dennis Hankins

dennishankins@gmail.com

www.dennishankins.com

Theme:  Beginning to Sink

And the men marveled, saying, "What sort of man is this, that even winds and sea obey him." (Matthew 8:27)

This event in today's Gospel ends with the confession of the storm tossed disciples saying, "Truly you are the Son of God."  So the disciples amazement in Matthew 8:27 becomes worship and adoration in Matthew 14:33.  

Jesus not only calms the storms, but he walks in the midst of the storms.  It is more difficult to see Jesus in the middle of the storm tossed sea.  The disciples were horrified.  They cried out, "It's a ghost!"  Then from the midst of the storm that familiar voice says, "Be not afraid, I AM."  

As long as Peter kept his eyes on Jesus the sea beneath him was paved.  The moment he took note of the wind, he began to sink.  

We are admonished in scripture not to be tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine.  We begin to sink when we embrace thoughts and behavior or whatever else that is contrary to sound doctrine.  Many churches in my lifetime have voted to make many ancient truths of faith into some meaningless pablum.  It happens slowly at first.  An adjustment here and there and before you know it babies die in the womb, the invalid are starved and the elderly are neglected.  Keeping up with the times and being politically correct is the mission of those who are departing from the deposit of faith.  The frog in the pot helps us understand this.  At first the frog doesn't notice that the water he's in is starting to warm up.  Slowly the temperature increases, but still the frog is unaware of the impending danger of being boiled to death.  Finally the water begins to boil and the life of the frog is finally snuffed out.  

Neglecting the gift of salvation given at Baptism imperils the believer.  To keep from sinking we must discern the spirits that desire our allegiance.  Always we must live up to our baptism.  But alas some have departed from the faith having loved this present world.  Anything that gets between us and Jesus can become bigger than Jesus.  Take an inventory of your life and see if anything makes the Lord's day just another day in your week.  And let us consider how to stir one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encourage one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.  The common experience of the baptized is being baptized.  Worshipping together as the community of the baptized is the natural event of the baptized.  To be a Christmas and Easter only Christian is to neglect the great gift of God given you in Baptism.  It is to miss the weekly experience of the Eucharist and to miss growing in faith together with your brothers and sisters in Christ.  Christianity is more than just 'me and Jesus.'  We need each other and cannot be complete in Christ without one another.  Many are sinking and don't know they are drowning in a sea of good intentions and holy things but have never tasted for themselves that the Lord is good.

Jesus is not another truth.  He is the way, the truth and the life.  We will sink like a lead pellet if Jesus is only a good man among many.  Jesus Christ the same, yesterday, today and forever was the powerful affirmation of the early Church.  It was momentous to have been with Jesus.  Worshipping in the caves and dens of the earth early Christians tested every spirit.  Every spirit that did not confess that Jesus was come in the flesh from the Father by the Holy Spirit in the Womb of Mary was anti-Christ.  This was and is the faith of the Church.  Everything we believe as Christians about life and the life to come hinges on the incarnation.  Those who seek to accommodate the spirit of the age are sinking into a world of fear and unbelief.  There is nothing new about modern times.  Doubt and unbelief and resistance to the truth have existed since the Garden of Eden.  However, in these last days, God has spoken to us by a Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world.  

Today let us be as docile to Jesus and his will as are the winds and waves.

Let us pray:  Holy Spirit assist me that I may ever keep my eyes on Jesus, the author and finisher of my faith.  Anoint my eyes to see the Lord in all of humanity.  Eating and drinking the body and blood of Jesus, make my faith strong so that I may say Amen with all that is within me.  And in the time of trial keep me from sinking into self preservation.  Make me a faithful witness of all that I have seen and heard, even Jesus.  Amen.