September 24 , 2006 I – …if the just one be the son of God, God will defend him and deliver him from the hand of his foes. R – The Lord upholds my life. II – …the wisdom from above is first of all pure, then peaceable, gentle, compliant, full of mercy and good fruits without inconstancy or insincerity. G – If anyone wishes to be first, he shall be the last of all and the servant of all…whoever receives one child such as this in my name, receives me; and whoever receives me, receives not me but the One who sent me. In the gospel passage today Jesus tells us that if anyone wants to be the first he shall be the last of all and the servant of all. This is contrary to everything that contemporary society preaches to us day in and day out: the secular world cries out- First is best! Claw your way to the top! Compete-compete-compete! Jesus, however, says NO! - it is only by serving one another’s needs – from a position of insignificance and lowliness - that anyone can feel any sense of power, any sense of accomplishment, any sense of worth in one’s life. We can clearly see in the role of his blessed mother, Mary, the perfect example of this: Mary was poverty, humility and insignificance incarnate: and God filled her with the greatest amount of worth that a human being could attain: as the dwelling place of the Word of the Father, made flesh! In her poverty she served the needs of Jesus and she was blessed among all women. Jesus closely associates this message with the message of welcoming a little child. A child will only go to a person who seems pure, through and through, and peaceable and gentle, compliant and full of mercy without inconstancy or insincerity. These are the attributes of wisdom – as we heard in the second reading from James. They are also the attributes of Jesus himself and his Father - and even a child can recognize them as desirable. And so welcoming a child and being received warmly by the child can be a sign of one’s interior disposition and relationship with God. And just as children need their parents – someone stronger and wiser than they are to defend them from all that could harm them, so too God will uphold the life of the just one – the one who tries to live a life guided by his wisdom, and direction in the many different forms in which he gives it. In living such a life – primarily and above all else - we are all called to be servants! We are members of the Body of Christ – and members of the Body need to be cared for and helped out by other members. We each have someone waiting each day to receive what we have to give them. If we miss our opportunity to give – then they miss their opportunity to receive. The feeling of being connected with God, his people – our true brothers and sisters – and ourselves gets stronger the more we give ourselves away out of love for God. We owe God everything because without him we are nothing – and we have nothing – for ourselves or for anyone else. September 17 , 2006 I – The Lord God opens my ear that I may hear…The Lord God is my help, therefore I am not disgraced…See, the Lord God is my help. who will prove me wrong? R – I will walk before the Lord, in the land of the living. II – …faith of itself, if it does not have works, is dead. G – …the Son of Man must suffer greatly...and be killed, and rise after three days…Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. The absolute essence of our Christian lives lies in this: we must be cross carriers! There is no way around it. Just as there was no way around it for Jesus, there is no way around it for us who bear his name, who bear his life, who bear his cross. On the day of our baptism we were fitted with our own personal cross to carry throughout our lives. What is unique and special about this cross is that it is always the right size – for it is a resizable cross. Each and every morning it is slightly changed and modified depending on the circumstances and situations of our lives. But what is also unique is that it will never go away. And we would not want it to: if we view it correctly – the way it is meant to be viewd: for it is our own personal “key to heaven.” Peter did not understand why Jesus had to endure the cross – but this was before the Resurrection – and the coming of the Spirit at Pentecost when everything became clear. Peter most certainly embraced and accepted his own cross – being leader of the newly founded church – and he even gave his life for the sake of the cross of Jesus and his own. The psalm response today says: I will walk before the Lord, in the land of the living. This is all well and good – God takes care of us and saves us and helps us – but we need to add – I will walk before the Lord, in the land of the living – carrying my cross! For God is always there to help! His mercy and love are never – ever - failing! St. James today - when speaking about faith and works – is also talking about these same ideas. We can say we believe in God all we want – and his cross – and we can accept, behold and stand there holding our own cross for the world to see! – but unless we put our faith into action: unless we put one foot in front of another and actually carry that cross – then our faith is useless – and it will get us no where. We must live our lives totally for others: which is the true message of the cross. Jesus gave himself utterly and completely by dying on the cross – giving his last drop of blood FOR US! We are called to put our faith, our trust and our belief in him – and to live lives of giving and service for one another. In many ways this is our true cross – loving in good times and in bad; in season and out of season; when we feel like it and when we don’t. We pray today that the Lord God opens our ears that we may hear…that we may be helped and not disgraced… and that we may put into practice what we hear! September 10 , 2006 I – Say to those whose hearts are frightened: Be strong, fear not! Here is your God, he comes with vindication; with divine recompense he comes to save you. R – Praise the Lord, my soul! The God of Jacob keeps faith forever…The Lord gives sight to the blind; the Lord raises up those who were bowed down. The Lord loves the just; the Lord protects strangers…The fatherless and the widow the Lord sustains. II – … show no partiality as you adhere to the faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ…God chose those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and hiers of the kingdom that he promised to those who love him! G – And people brought to him a deaf man who had a speech impediment and begged him to lay his hand on him….the man’s ears were opened, his speech impediment was removed, and he spoke plainly…He makes the deaf hear and the mute speak. Once again today we hear the very simple message that God wants to - and can do - so much for us if we but have faith. Jesus, by his words and actions relates to us that we can be free from what interferes with our freedom – with our proper and right use of free-will. The only requirement is that we engage the free gift of faith that he bestows on those who ask for it. Let us first understand that faith is not just simply “belief” – as in “I believe it will not rain tomorrow.” This faith still leaves room for a great deal of doubt. We all daily watch the weather channel – and things just never seem to turn out the way we “believe” they will. No, the kind of faith we are talking about here is “certitude” about things that we cannot see with our human eyes – but things that have very clearly been revealed to us by God: things like: he loves us very, very much; things like – he went out of his way to demonstrate that love by sending Jesus to remove all the obstacles of our loving him back and loving others as we love ourselves; things like knowing for sure that because of the Death and Resurrection of Jesus all of the negativity of the world has been mortally wounded – and that fullness of life is possible here and hereafter. This gift of faith is the gift that we receive and accept at our baptism. It is meant to be the key factor in everything we do in life. By it we can participate in communicating with God on his own level – his own spiritual level – the flesh is useless – the spirit gives life – life here and life hereafter. This is the kind of faith that Jesus was looking for when he was asked to perform a miracle on someone’s body. Does this person have the spiritual connection with him so that the gift of healing can be fully and really transferred? This is the question Jesus asked himself – and some times asked out loud! When we communicate with Jesus on his own spiritual level – which we can do because of our baptism – great things can happen: The Lord gives sight to the blind; the Lord raises up those who were bowed down. The Lord loves the just; the Lord protects strangers…The fatherless and the widow the Lord sustains. And again: And people brought to him a deaf man who had a speech impediment and begged him to lay his hand on him….the man’s ears were opened, his speech impediment was removed, and he spoke plainly…He makes the deaf hear and the mute speak. And so, this day, as we face life as it is, with all of its joys and sorrow; its anxious moments and it peaceful moments – let us remember the words that Isaiah prophesied about Jesus: Say to those whose hearts are frightened: Be strong, fear not! Here is your God, he comes with vindication; with divine recompense he comes to save you. Jesus saves us. It was his pleasure. It was his joy to do it – because his Father asked him to do it – and loving his Father, he always obeyed to the fullest! Praise the Lord, my soul! - Father William Steven Dinga, Jr. September 3 , 2006 I – …Moses said to the people: “Now, Israel. her the statutes and decrees which I am teaching you to observe, that you may live, and may enter in and take possession of the land which the LORD, the God of your fathers, is giving you. R – One who does justice will live in the presence of the Lord. II – Humbly welcome the word that has been planted in you and is able to save your souls. Be doers of the word and not hearers only, deluding yourselves. G – “Well did Isaiah prophesy about you hypocrites, as it is written: This people honors me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me…nothing that enters one from outside can defile that person; but the things that come out from within are what defile…evil thoughts, unchastity, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, licentiousness, envy, blasphemy, arrogance, folly. All these evils come from within (a person) and they defile. Our impassioned readings today are about LISTENING to what God has to say, and then doing what he says - so that we may be justified in the sight of God – as well as avoiding what might defile us – and cause us to be rejected by God in the end. The Word of the Lord is meant to be this very alive and active two-edged sword, which strikes to the heart: to prune what is good, and the cut out what is bad. St. James in the second reading urges us to humbly welcome the word that has been planted in you (at your baptism) and is able to save your souls. Be doers of the word and not hearers only, deluding yourselves. The Pharisees were those who were hearers only and not doers. They knew the laws and statutes of Moses through and through – they could recite them jot and tittle. They instructed others and insisted that they keep them – but personally – they considered themselves exempt. In the gospel passage however Jesus includes them in a sweeping condemnation – enumerating those things that were not only condoned by most of the Pharisees but most likely practiced by a lot of them: evil thoughts, unchastity, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, licentiousness, envy, blasphemy, arrogance, folly. He made it very clear that all these evil come from within (a person) and they defile. So, even though they were apparently fooling a lot of people on the outside, the Pharisees were actually defiled through and through on the inside…and if they did not re-pent; con-vert – turn and walk towards Jesus, in all humility asking his grace, his mercy and his forgiveness – chances were that when the last trumpet is sounded they will be consigned to a place of abject miserableness forever! Should we find ourselves identifying with the Pharisees in anyway, it is never too late to repent, convert – turn to Jesus and his mercy, his love and his forgiveness. It is always available to us. One who does justice will live in the presence of the Lord. This is not just a pious platitude – it is the truth! We pray that we may be found among the just on the Last Day! - Father William Steven Dinga, Jr. August 27 , 2006 I – …decide today whom you will serve, the gods your fathers served beyond the River…the gods of the Amorites…As for me and my household, we will serve the LORD…the people answered…we also will serve the LORD, for he is our God. R – Taste and see the goodness of the Lord. II – Live in love, as Christ loved us. Husbands love your wives, even as Christ loved the church and handed himself over for her to sanctify her…that she might be holy and without blemish…He who love his wife loves himself…For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh. This is a great mystery…[that of] Christ and the church. G – Many of Jesus’ disciples who were listening (to the “bread of life discourse”) said, This saying is hard; who can accept it?...As a result of this, many of his disciples returned to their former way of life and no longer accompanied him. Jesus then said to the Twelve, “Do you also want to leave?” Simon Peter answered him, “Master, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and are convinced that you are the Holy One of God.” We begin today by reflecting for a moment on how St. Paul in the second reading exhorts us to LIVE IN LOVE, as Christ loved us. We have been talking the last couple of weeks about the manifestation of Christ’s extensive love for US by his discourse on his presence to us as “bread of life” – the “bread of his flesh and blood.” The reason he feeds us with his body and blood is so that we can LOVE OTHERS as he loved us! Wholly, completely, totally and generously! The image St. Paul uses for this type of love is that of the love between husband and wife. Married love and life is an image of the very mystery of Christ’s love for the church! It is an amazing analogy – and it is meant to be of the very essence of marriage: married love is to be the sign of Christ’s selfless love for his Body, the church; and the church’s dependent self-giving love for him! It is sad how far off track this understanding has wandered. Few seem interested in such an analogy. Marriage has been reduced almost to a business proposition between consenting partners, until something better comes along. There is serious multi-level fall-out from such a mistaken attitude. The gospel reading today from St. John recounts the fall-out from Jesus’ “bread of life” discourse. He told his disciples that they must eat his flesh and drink his blood in order to have richness of life here and now; and eternal life when we die: for he himself is the bread of life. The explanation on how this actually occurs eluded most of them. They did not grasp fully that he was talking about the spiritual realm – the realm of the resurrection of the dead, the realm of new life, the realm that would be opened up to them by his own Death and Resurrection. The flesh and blood of which Jesus was speaking was his risen flesh and blood – his spiritual flesh and blood – but nonetheless his real and substantial flesh and blood – substantial in that he gives himself completely as a person in the bread and wine, as he gave himself completely on the cross – FOR US AND FOR OUR SALVATION. When we receive him person-to-person in Holy Communion, he also receives us – and we are spiritually fed, nourished and strengthened to live out our Christian way of life – of loving one another SELFLESSLY! And so– when those who had serious doubts as to how this could all happen made the decision to turn and walk away from Jesus and return to their unfulfilled meaningless lives – Jesus asked the Twelve “Do you too want to walk away?” This was reminiscent of Joshua speaking in the first reading today: DECIDE! which God you will serve! the gods of your fathers - or - the LORD who brought you and your fathers out of the land of Egypt…who performed great miracles before your very eyes…and who protected you on your journey? Jesus says: YOU! TWELVE! DECIDE! and Peter speaks up immediately and says: “Master, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and are convinced that you are the Holy One of God.” Even though there were still many question in their minds about just exactly how it all is supposed to work out – there was something about Jesus that captivated the Twelve, and led them believe that he was authentic, genuine and worthy of their trust and their attention – and their love! It was not until the coming of the Spirit at Pentecost that they FULLY and truly understood everything! But this act of faith today by Peter was a very great in the right direction! You and I are invited to make the same very great step: to simply believe the words of Jesus – all of them – for they are words of eternal life - because he IS eternal life! and he is the way to get there. One last time for the row this summer – from the responsorial psalm - we are invited to taste and see the goodness of the Lord. He loves us so very much! He wants nothing better than for us to freely love him back and to accept his love and his mercy! It is up to us! - Father William Steven Dinga, Jr. August 20 , 2006 I – Wisdom has built her house…she has spread her table…to the one who lacks understanding, she says, Come, eat of my food, and drink of the wine I have mixed! Forsake foolishness that you may live, advance in the way of understanding. R – Taste and see the goodness of the Lord. II – Watch carefully how you live, not as foolish persons but as wise, making the most of the opportunity, because the days are evil…Do not continue in ignorance, but try to understand with is the will of the Lord. G – “Amen, amen, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you do not have life within you. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him on the last day. For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. For the second week in a row we hear Jesus relating to us that he is the bread of life. Jesus tells us that if we do not eat his body and drink his blood then we will not really be alive here on this earth; and we will not live for ever when we die; we will not be happy here, we will not be happy there. AND HE WANTS US TO BE HAPPY! AND HE WANTS US TO BE WITH HIM when we die. His death destroyed death and opened the gates for us. HE WANTS US TO WALK THROUGH THEM. But the choice is ours, always! He can, and does tell us in a million different ways of his love and his desire for us to follow him through those gates, yet the choice to respond to that love and those gifts is completely ours! He respects our freedom! It’s his most precious gift to us, other than the gift of his own Self to be our redeemer and our brother! Last week we heard the same basic theme – but at that time Jesus spelled out that the changed elements of bread and wine truly become him! His body! His blood! He – being the Son of God and Son of Man – is the only person in all of human history who could make the statement and really make it happen – who could give himself totally in the bread and wine just as the next day he would give his body and his blood on the cross with the same completeness and absoluteness and intention – BECAUSE HE LOVED US WITH ALL HIS HEART! It is this death that makes the Last Supper and our Eucharist here today real and effective! This is still difficult to understand: and so we find some help in the first reading today from the book of Proverbs. Wisdom built a house and invited to it those who find it difficult to understand (the ways of God) – and she says Come, eat of my food, Drink of my wine…forsake foolishness that you may live; advance in the way of understanding. This means that if we seek wisdom; if we yearn for the truth; if we freely open our minds and our hearts to the Divine Light and to what God has to say to us: then through the working of the Holy Spirit he will surely teach us what we need to know. God does not want us to be ignorant – especially about such vitally important matters! However, even though he provides many ways to explain things to us, ultimately there comes a point where reason can only take us so far, and then faith must take over. For the reality involved here is supernatural. It is not in the spiritual order. We receive Christ in the Eucharist wholly, really, truly, body, soul and divinity – but we receive his Risen Body and Blood – which exist in the spiritual plane – which is available to us through faith. Perhaps many people feel that they are one of the ones that didn’t get a fair helping of faith. This is not so! GOD FREELY GIVES FAITH TO ALL THOSE WHO ASK FOR IT! Everyone then has access to the TRUTH, to the WAY and to the LIFE. EVERYONE! And so, today, once again we are invited to taste and see the goodness of the Lord. - Father William Steven Dinga, Jr. August 13 , 2006
R – Taste and see the goodness of the Lord. II – Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with which you were sealed for the day of redemption…Be kind to one another, compassionate, forgiving one another as God has forgiven you in Christ…Be imitators of God and live in love, as Christ loved us and handed himself over for us as a sacrificial offering to God for a fragrant aroma. G – Stop murmuring among yourselves. No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draw him, and I will raise him on the last day...Everyone who listens to my Father and learns from him comes to me…I am the bread of life…whoever eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world. I am pretty sure that everyone here can understand what it means to “eat until we are filled!” But, interestingly enough, we will all get hungry again! (some sooner than others)! Thus it is: life in the body! But there is another dimension to our life as human beings that is very real – even though we cannot see it (like we can see our body) – and that is our spiritual dimension – our spiritual life! Just like our physical body needs exercise, care and food; so too does our spiritual dimension. My question then is: in addition to taking the best care that we can of ourselves physically, are we taking the best care that we can of ourselves spiritually? There are all kinds of “experts” out there today to help us with the physical part (‘make-over” TV); but are we going to the right “experts” to take care of ourselves spiritually! Are we turning to the Church and its treasury of sound practices to enhance our spiritual growth: especially active participation in the sacraments; are we availing ourselves of spiritual exercise programs that though ancient, are tried and true and have become simplified and much easier to use in recent years; are we getting away from it all for brief periods at venues designed especially for LISTENING and RENWAL and REFOCUSING; but most importantly of all – are we eating the spiritual food that God himself has provided for us – the gift of the Eucharistic presence of Jesus in the transubstantiated Bread and Wine that happens at each Mass – not by our willing it – but by God’s plan and action! At the Last Supper Jesus totally gave himself - in the bread and wine - as much as he did the next day on the Cross. In the changed bread and wine he became really and truly, though spiritually, present in his entirety: body, soul and divinity. When we hear this our first response often is: now how could he do that? how can that be? There is a picture hanging in the church hall at St. Ambrose Church in Richmond (just up the road) of the Last Supper. It is worth the trip out there to see it. Jesus must have just said those mysterious words that only he in all of human history could have said – and really make happen. THIS IS MY BODY! THIS IS MY BLOOD WHICH IS FOR YOU! Now we turn to the look on Jesus’ face: it is reminiscent of what he told them in another place and time: in very strong words: (AMEN AMEN I SAY TO YOU) NO! I AM NOT KIDDING! AT ALL! UNLESS YOU EAT MY FLESH AND DRINK MY BLOOD YOU WILL NOT HAVE ETERNAL LIFE! And he means it! For Jesus says not only “This is my body! This is my blood which is for you!” But he also says: I AM THE BREAD OF LIFE. He can’t make it any plainer than that! And if you eat this bread not only will you have great spiritual help during your days on earth – but you will also live for ever with me in the Kingdom of my Father – in the Kingdom of our Father! This is truly awesome! Only Jesus could make this statement! Only Jesus makes it happen at Mass! Only Jesus can fulfill his promise! The only thing we need to do is to OPEN OUR MINDS AND OUR HEARTS AND OUR HANDS with FAITH and accept this and all of the amazing gifts that he has to offer us to help us on our way! Once we eat this spiritual food – and that is what happens when we receive communion at Mass – we receive Jesus spiritually and he receives us – our primary duty then is to go out and live as he taught: to love unconditionally, and constantly to the very end – being kind to one another, compassionate, forgiving one another as God has forgiven us in Christ. He taught us most eloquently that living is for giving! And when we give – we truly love! we truly experience real love – we truly experience him! If there is no giving - if there is giving only to ourselves - then there is no loving! And Jesus is not present in us! And so Jesus says to us today too: STOP MURMURING AMONG YOURSELVES about how all this can be possible! He says that everyone who LISTENS to my Father and LEARNS from him will understand all these things and will come to me for friendship, and for food, and for eternal life. Each person is at a different stage of being drawn by God – depending on his / her own life experiences and willingness to receive what God has to give. God understands this – and so we need to be tolerant of one another as we each grow at our own pace! But it all begins in each of us by LISTENING TO THE STILL SMALL VOICE OF GOD speaking all kinds of marvelous things to us in the depths of our minds and hearts – teaching us through the working of the Holy Spirit - all we need to know! The bottom line today is this: that the goodness of the Lord is available to everyone to taste and see to some degree – here, now let us reach out and receive the portion that is determined by God - and just perfect - for us - today! How good God is to us! How much he loves us! How eager he is to have us home with him!
August 6 , 2006 I – …the Ancient One took his throne. His clothing was bright as snow, and the hair on his head as white as wool….thousands upon thousands were ministering to him…The court was convened and the books were opened…As the visions…continued, I saw: One like a Son of man coming, on the clouds of heaven; when he reached the Ancient One (he) was presented before him…(and he) received dominion, glory and kingship; all peoples…serve him. R – The Lord is king, the Most High over all the earth. II – …we had been eyewitnesses of his majesty…we heard the voice from heaven…you would do well to listen to this prophetic message. G – …and he was transfigured before them (Peter, James and John)…and his clothes became dazzling white…then Elijah appeared to them along with Moses, and they were conversing with Jesus…Then a cloud came, casting a shadow over them; from the cloud came a voice, “This is my beloved Son. Listen to him.” Our feast today – depicting the transfiguration of Jesus on the mountain in the company of Peter, James and John - is all about the Kingship of Jesus: The Lord is king, the Most High over all the earth. He received his Kingship from his Father: the Ancient One on the throne. From him he received dominion, glory and kingship. The chronology of what we are describing here today needs to be understood. The transfiguration event was clearly distinct from and prior to the events of Holy Week – including the Palm Sunday entry into Jerusalem, and then the Passion, Death and Resurrection of Jesus – which quite obviously lead us to think of him in “kingly” terms. Yet one of the main points of the narration as we have it here today - was to relate the already present and active kingship of Jesus. Jesus always was king, and always will be. This reality was given him by his Father: and it is magnificent in every respect. A second point of the transfiguration narration concerns the light and the glory emanating from Jesus. Jesus is God from God, Light from Light. In him there is no darkness. It is true that when we live in him we too live with and by that light, we live in that radiance, we live where there are no shadows. It is by our Baptism that we are gifted with that same light! The only darkness and shadows that come are of our own, and the world’s making. We must remember, however, that we can always turn and come back to the light! We can always turn and come back to Jesus – fully! A third point is the conversation Jesus is having with Moses and Elijah. This is a very important conversation and revelation for by it he is relating that in him the Old Testament (Law and Prophets) are now complete, and fulfilled - in themselves, becoming null and void. There is no longer any need for them. We can still read them and they can help us understand how they point to the coming of Jesus, but now in Jesus we have something altogether new: a new law of love. And it is only he that points to our future. He is the new prophet pointing us to the future – to himself – who is also our goal! One day all will be one in him, and then he will hand us all over to the Father where all will be all in all. A fourth point is the voice from the cloud (the Father) saying: This is my Son. LISTEN to him! This posture of LISTENING is absolutely essential in the life of a Christian. God the Father and his Son Jesus are all about speaking: speaking truth, speaking love, speaking mercy, speaking forgiveness, speaking healing, speaking salvation, speaking eternal life…Our response as God’s children must be that of LISTENING - in order to OBEY – listening in order to put into practice – listening in order to respond to God’s amazing love in all of its manifestations. A fifth and final point is this: St. Peter tells us in the second reading today that we would do well to be attentive to the message, as to a lamp shining in a dark place until day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. This is sage advice coming from one who was there at the transfiguration, who was there at the Last Supper, who was there on that first Easter night, who was there on that great day of Pentecost. Our future is awaiting us! As church we march towards it. The way is marked by the Light of Christ – until the dawn of that day when there will be no more need for light from lamps or the sun, for the glory of God – Jesus, the Morning Star - will rise and be the light in the new and heavenly Jerusalem – for ever. What a magnificent day that will be! The Lord is King; let the earth rejoice – - Father William Steven Dinga, Jr.
July 30, 2006 I – A man came…bringing to Elisha, the man of God, twenty barley loaves made from the firstfruits, and fresh grain in the ear. Elisha said, “Give it to the people to eat.” But his servant objected, “How can I set this before a hundred people?”…Elisha insisted: for thus says the Lord, ‘They shall eat and there shall be some left over.’ And when they had eaten, there was some left over. R – The hand of the Lord feeds us; he answers all our needs…You open you hand and satisfy the desire of every living thing. II – I…urge you to live in a manner worthy of the call you have received, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another through love. G – Andrew said to him: There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish; but what good are these for (the five thousand), for so many? Jesus said: Have the people recline…Then Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed them to those who were reclining, and also as much of the fish as they wanted…Then twelve wicker baskets with fragments from the barley loaves were collected, so that nothing was wasted. This is the time of the year when we see baby birds in their nests waiting for the parent bird to come and deposit food into their waiting, always open, mouths! They are so cute! Feeding is a very important activity in the world of being a bird. A bird eats, so that it can, just, be a bird! – bringing song and joy to all of God’s creation! They can even be quite entertaining when domesticated, as pets! On the other hand, for human beings the feeding process is meant to be something quite different. It is meant not only to be an eating-simply-for-the-sake-of-eating event, but it is meant to be a time of gathering together other human beings, for a well-thought out “dining” experience which refreshes the mind, body and spirit: so that all can go out from the meal to love better our fellow men and women: thus accomplishing God’s will. God – since the days in the Garden – has provided mankind with food. Throughout the centuries he has reassured us that he will not only provide for us, but that the provision would be superabundant: so that we might accomplish his holy will! Elisha insisted: for thus says the Lord, ‘They shall eat and there shall be some left over.’ And when they had eaten, there was some left over. In sending Jesus he not only demonstrated fully his parental obligation to feed his children - Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed them to those who wre reclining (about 5000 men), and also as much of the fish as they wanted - but also he showed us exactly how we are to accomplish his will, after being nourished and strengthened by the food - and that is: by loving! For humans: eating is for loving! Eating for ourselves alone, like birds, is not in keeping with our human dignity; dining with family and friends in order to celebrate and share our lives and plan out how we can best go out and effectively and compassionately help others is the highest form of “banqueting” (any meal can thus be a banquet) and it greatly enhances our human dignity! St. Paul urges us to live in a manner worthy of the call you have received (the call to be a Christian), with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another through love. The church is all about forbearance and love! And the “food of the church:” the Body and Blood of Jesus himself, is the finest food of all. We receive it at a “sacrificial banquet!” It nourishes not only physically, but more especially spiritually. There is a never-ending supply and it’s primary purpose is to empower us to live for others – all others – all the days of our lives!
If we place our trust in God’s mercy and love we will always have a superabundance of the food we need to do the will of God – to live for others – to live for giving! This is true of those who are blessed with material food, and those who are not so fortunate. But especially and even when it seems that God has abandoned his people – there are so many starving members of his family throughout the world – what is amazing is that even these precious one’s in God’s sight are the first to share with one another the very little that they possess – thus demonstrating God’s special presence and nearness to them – for they are truly accomplishing his mysterious will – even in their lack - and these beloved children will be richly blessed, interiorly, in this life and then fully in the next. Birds glorify God by singing and being wonderful to look at! The hand of the Lord feeds us; he answers all our needs…You open you hand and satisfy the desire of every living thing. - Father William Steven Dinga, Jr. July 23, 2006 I – Woe to the shepherds who mislead and scatter the flock of my pasture, says the LORD…I myself will gather the remnant of my flock from all the lands to which I have driven them and bring them back to their meadow; there they shall increase and multiply. I will appoint shepherds for them who will shepherd them so that they need no longer fear and tremble; and none shall be missing, says the LORD...I will raise up a righteous shoot to David. R – The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want. II – He came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near, for through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. G – The apostles gathered together with Jesus and reported all they had done and taught. He said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while.”…So they went off in the boat by themselves to a deserted place….When he disembarked and saw the vast crowd, his heart was moved with pity for them, for they were like sheep without a shepherd; and he began to teach them many things. Twenty-five hundred years ago Jeremiah the prophet delivered an emphatic message from God to the people of Israel regarding “bad shepherds.” Woe to the shepherds who mislead and scatter the flock of my pasture, says the LORD…I myself will gather the remnant of my flock from all the lands to which I have driven them and bring them back to their meadow; there they shall increase and multiply. I will appoint shepherds for them who will shepherd them so that they need no longer fear and tremble; and none shall be missing, says the LORD. At the same time he promised that he would raise up a “Good Shepherd” – and helper shepherds, who would shepherd after his own heart! That is so that we can say: The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want. In the gospel passage, Jesus, who is training his chosen shepherds relates to them the necessity of rest and renewal – a periodic recharging of their resources – physical, mental and spiritual! – and it is up to the shepherds of our own day to follow Jesus’ advice – to take that day off, that day of recollection, that annual retreat. It would also seem appropriate for gentle reminders from the flock – when they see that their shepherds are become frazzled! Jesus himself, though, seemed never to tire in his activity of ministering to the flock wherever and whenever it was necessary. After Pentecost and the coming of the Spirit – the Apostles found that they had an amazing new capacity to work tirelessly in proclaiming the Kingdom of God, and shepherding God’s new chosen people. This fire and energy they passed on to their successors and their helpers: the bishops and priests of today. The more the bishop and the priest loses his life and his self in Christ by giving himself totally to the mission at hand, the more capacity and empowerment of the Spirit is effected in his life. The contrary is also true. This steady supply of strength from above explains how so few priests can still do so much for the church. It is the presence of the Spirit who enflames and energizes, but it is also the dynamic experience of what they are preaching: the peace of Christ (far and near): He came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near, for through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father – that actually produces peace, calm, recollection and a deep sense of joy and hope for the priest and for those who are receiving his message. In this day in age – we can also identify with the notion of “bad bishops” and “bad priests” – but we need to understand that there are O so many more “good bishops” and “good priests” than “bad ones.” God continues to raise up very good, very holy, very spiritual and very hard working priests and bishops who need our good thoughts, our prayers, our respect and our love. Let us never forget that someday all of us will stand before the judgment seat of God: and we will be responsible for no thoughts, words and deeds other than our own! - Father William Steven Dinga, Jr. July 16, 2006 I – Amaziah, priest of Bethel, said to Amos, “Off with you, visionary, flee to the land of Judah!...never again prophesy in Bethel…Amos answered Amaziah, “I was no prophet, nor have I belonged to a company of prophets; I was a shepherd and a dresser of sycamores. The LORD took me from following the flock, and said to me, Go, prophesy to my people Israel. R – Lord, let us see your kindness, and grant us your salvation. II – Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavens…In love he destined us for adoption to himself through Jesus Christ…for the praise of the glory of God’s grace that he granted us in the beloved…In him we have redemption by his blood, the forgiveness of transgressions, in accord with the riches of his grace that he lavished upon us. In all wisdom and insight, he has made known to us the mystery of his will in accord with his favor that he set forth in him as a plan for the fullness of times, to sum up all things in Christ, in heaven and on earth. G – Jesus summoned the Twelve and began to send them out two by two and gave them authority over unclean spirits. He instructed them to take nothing for the journey but a walking stick - …Wherever you enter a house, stay there until you leave. Whatever place does not welcome you or listen to you, leave there and shake the dust off your feet in testimony against them…So they went off and preached repentance. The The Twelve drove out many demons, and they anointed with oil many who were sick and cured them. Isn’t it amazing! God picks and chooses those whom he wants, to do what he wants, when he wants it done! What is also amazing is that every one that he chooses is free to say “No!” or “Yes!” Today we see him choosing Amos, a shepherd and dresser of sycamores to be a prophet! The LORD took me from following the flock, and said to me, Go, prophesy to my people Israel. Speaking is a very big part of who God is! And when God speaks, things happen! God’s word is creative, it is loving, it is efficacious, it is healing! What should also happen is that when God speaks, people LISTEN! – especially his people! – his chosen ones – his beloved! Listening and speaking go hand-in-hand. But this is not always so. God’s people seemed always to be short on listening and long on complaining. And even when he sent chosen spokesmen (the prophets) to clarify a matter – they did not give him the hearing he deserved. And thus their actions were not pleasing to God, as well. This was true at the time of the ancients; it was true at the time of Christ and St. Paul; and it would seem that it is very much the same today! What is it that many are so unwilling to hear from God? What could God possibly have to say to us that would be threatening or anything but loving, compassionate and merciful – he being our Father? What is the “story” here? In short it is this: God has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavens… He has adopted us as his own children (we are no longer just creatures) through the merits of Jesus, His Son, and our elder brother! In the blood of Jesus we have won redemption and the forgiveness of our sins. He has made known to us the mystery of his will: to sum up all things in heaven and earth in CHRIST! THIS IS IT! This is utterly astounding information! We know the mystery of God’s own will (because he spoke it in Jesus): and it is JESUS HIMSELF! God’s will is summed up in the person of Jesus Christ – who was his own word, who was his own teaching, who was his own healing, who was his own love, who was his own mercy and forgiveness – who is everything, for all of us – and for all of creation! This is what Amos the prophet was talking about when he prophesied. This is what St. Paul was talking about when he taught! And this is what we need to talk about – prophesy – in our every day lives – in small and great ways – depending on the circumstance. Our baptism made us a prophetic people! Our message is this: CHRIST JESUS! EVEYTHING IN CHIRST JESUS! he is the summation of all things in this life and in the next! WE MUST FOCUS on CHRIST – and during our sojourn it means FOCUSING ON THE CROSS OF CHRIST! This give utter depth and meaning to it all – because without the Cross – and the Resurrection – we would have nothing – and our faith would be pointless! Considering all of these things: the repeated antiphon of the responsorial psalm today take on an amazing depth: Lord, let us see your kindness, and grant us your salvation. He is so ready to show us the richness of his kindness, and grant us not only salvation but everlasting life! - Father William Steven Dinga, Jr.
July 9, 2006 I – The spirit entered me and set me on my feet…I am sending you to the Israelites, rebels who have rebelled against me; they and their ancestors have revolted against me to this very day…You shall say to them: Thus says the LORD GOD! And whether they heed or resist they shall know that a prophet has been among them. R - Our eyes are fixed on the Lord, pleading for his mercy!...have pity on us, O LORD, have pity on us. II – That I might not become too elated because of the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, an angel of Satan, to beat me, to keep me from being too elated. Three times I begged the Lord about this that it might leave me, but he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness.” I will rather boast most gladly of my weaknesses, in order that the power of Christ may dwell with me….for when I am weak, then I am strong. G – Jesus came to his native place…When the Sabbath came he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were astonished. They said: “Where did this man get all this?...What mighty deeds have been wrought by his hands! Is he not the carpenter, the son of Mary…And they took offense at him…Jesus said to them: “A prophet is not without honor except in his native place and among his own kin and in his own house.” So he was not able to perform any mighty deed there…He was amazed at their lack of faith! We see in our three readings today very different settings for the necessity of the Mercy of God.
In each instance God takes the initiative to reconcile the situation and to establish balance for those involved. Yet, each set of circumstances plays out differently.
In all three cases the unifying element is MERCY!
- Father William Steven Dinga, Jr.
July 2, 2006 I – God did not make death, nor does he rejoice in the destruction of the living. For he fashioned all things that they might have being…But by the envy of the devil, death entered the world, and they who belong to his company experience it. R – I will praise you, Lord, for you have rescued me…At nightfall, weeping enters in, but with the dawn, rejoicing. II – As you excel in every respect…may you excel in this gracious act also…the gracious act of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, for your sake be become poor, so that by his poverty you may become rich. G – My daughter is at the point of death. Please, come lay your hands on her that she may get well and live. Today, in our Gospel passage, we see Jesus doing something that he, no doubt, took a great delight in doing – restoring life, when all seemed hopeless. Isn’t this really the whole story of why he came to earth in the first place – to restore life when all not only seemed hopeless, lost and dead – but truly was hopeless, lost, dead, and condemned to be so for all eternity. The synagogue official was a concerned father who went to Jesus to plead for the life of his little girl. Is it not also possible to see God the Father going to Jesus to plead for help in rescuing all of humankind from its slavery to sin and it’s effect of eternal death?! On both accounts, Jesus, freely, generously and immediately, did not hesitate to act. Jesus, though rich, for our sakes became poor…so that we could become rich. (This is a poetic way of saying that Jesus completely left everything behind in heaven with the Father, and came into this world not only as a poor carpenter’s son – but as royalty who gave up everything to become one of us – one of his own creatures!)…..And to the synagogue official he said: Don’t be afraid, just have faith! God is all about life, not death! God did not make death, nor does he rejoice in the destruction of the living. For he fashioned all things that they might have being…But by the envy of the devil, death entered the world, and they who belong to his company experience it. This is why Jesus came - to make rich, abundant life possible for all of us, both here, and hereafter. And he did this by his incredulous death on the Cross; and Resurrection to a whole new dimension of life. Think of the pain that the centurion went through in the process of having his daughter restored to life. The anguish he must have felt at seeing her lifeless body, the thoughts of perhaps never seeing her walk, and talk and laugh and receive the good things that his fatherly love could provide for her. But it was because he so loved us, that he sent his Son; and it is because his Son so loved us that he went through what he went through – so that he could restore our life, forever! This then was prefigured by the raising to life of the synagogue official’s little girl. It was because of the father’s faith that the little girl was restored. And he was astounded at what that faith produced! We are called upon to have that much faith as well, and to be astounded at what it can produce! Whatever areas of our lives that need to be renewed and restored to life – this is across the board, even into how our lives influence the social and political life around us - can be so – if we but come before Jesus, and ask him, simply ask him with faith – to help us!
I will praise you, Lord, for you have rescued me…At nightfall, weeping enters in, but with the dawn, rejoicing. - Father William Steven Dinga, Jr. June 25, 2006 I – The Lord addressed Job out of the storm and said: Who shut within doors the sea, when it burst forth from the womb;…When I set limits for is and fastened the bar of its door, and said: Thus far shall you come but no farther, and here shall your proud waves be stilled! R – Give thanks to the Lord, his love is everlasting….They cried to the Lord in their distress; and from their straits he rescued them. He hushed the storm to a gentle breeze, and the billows of the sea were stilled. II – Whoever is in Christ is a new creation: the old things have passed away; behold, new things have come. G – A violent squall came up and waves were breaking over the boat…Jesus was in the stern, asleep on a cushion. They woke him and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” He woke up, rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Quiet! Be still!” The wind ceased and there was great calm. Then he asked them, “Why are you terrified? Do you not yet have faith?” They were filled with great awe and said to one another, “Who then is this whom even wind and sea obey? One of the most colorful, powerful and dramatic images recorded in the gospels is the one described in the gospel selection today. A violent squall came up – the wind was howling, the waves were crashing and breaking over the boat – darkness was enveloping the scene – frightened fishermen were panicking (you know it must have been bad if the fishermen were terrified) – and here we have – despite all of this chaos – Jesus…in the stern of the boat, asleep on a cushion. As we begin today the “green teaching Sundays,” this is a perfect image to set the stage for all of the rest of the 21 Sundays that are to follow. They woke him and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” He woke up, rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Quiet! Be still!” The wind ceased and there was great calm. Then he asked them, “Why are you terrified? Do you not yet have faith?” They were filled with great awe and said to one another, “Who then is this whom even wind and sea obey? These are the questions we will ask and seek answers for this Summer and into the Fall Seasons: who is this Jesus of Nazareth? who is this carpenter’s son? who is this unconventional rabbi? who is this healer? who is this worker of wonders? – who is he who apparently has a special relationship with God, with people and with nature? Who is he? Who is he? Who is he? And he will have but two questions for us each week. Why are you still terrified? Do you not yet have faith? In the coming weeks and months we will learn more and more about this person, Jesus – who changed everything about everything – and he will learn more about us – who need everything about us changed! The lesson for today is this: we need not be afraid – we need not be terrified - in the storms of life! And we hourly, daily, weekly face any number of and intensity of squalls, deluges and storms. Jesus, awake or asleep, is in our boat! He is there for us individually and corporately as his Church. We are always safe, because he is always near! He does not wish us to perish! The wind and the sea obey him! The forces that weigh upon us obey him as well – sooner or later. And he can calm them all. Give thanks to the Lord, his love is everlasting….They cried to the Lord in their distress; and from their straits he rescued them. He hushed the storm to a gentle breeze, and the billows of the sea were stilled. All he asks us to do is to have faith and to ask for his help, his mercy, his grace and to trust him completely in all things – and to be helpful, merciful and gracious to all our neighbors at all times – and we will have nothing to worry about! We can do these things because whoever is in Christ (by baptism) is a new creation: the old things have passed away; behold, new things have come. …Give thanks to the Lord, for his love is everlasting…and, he hushed the storm to a gentle breeze, and the bellows of the sea were stilled!... - Father William Steven Dinga, Jr.
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